The BRP Modified Tour Makes First 2022 Visit To The Bird
For Immediate Release
Saturday, June 4th, 2022
By: Steven Curry - Race Reporter
Reynoldsville- A picture-perfect early June evening welcomed fans, drivers, and teams from three different states and Canada to Hummingbird Speedway on Saturday night for Modified Night. The states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York along with the country of Canada were all represented in the pit area. The BRP Modified Tour made their first of two scheduled visits to Hummingbird this season along with the PA Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Modifieds. The BRP Big Block Modifieds competed in a 35-lap, $2,500/win race with the #25 of Erick Rudolph coming out on top. In the PA Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Modifieds, it was the #20 of Steve Longo taking the checkers in the Modified Division and the #11 of Tim Harris doing so in the Sportsman Division. All of our other regular divisions were also in action Saturday night with the exception of the Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks. The winners in our regular divisions included the: #57S of Royce Stanley Jr. in the Andy Man's Car Care Economods, the #36 of Paul Kot in the Carns Powersports/Mountain Extreme Super Late Models, the #3xAA of Doug Surra in the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models, the #88 of Josh Fields in the PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau Pure Stocks, and the #3H of Shawn Hadden in the Sunny 106 Four-Cylinders. The May 21st Makeup Feature for the Andy Man's Car Care Economods was run at the end of the night with the #76 of Mike Anderson picking up the win.
Royce Stanley Jr. and Orin Taylor made up the front row for the 20-lap Andy Man's Car Care Economod feature to kick off the night's racing action. Stanley Jr. jumped out to the lead on the start, but he was quickly challenged and overtaken by Mike Anderson and Bob McMillen as they moved into first and second respectively as they completed the opening lap. On lap 2, McMillen edged ahead of Anderson on the lowside of turns 3 and 4 to take the lead away. Then, on lap 3, Stanley Jr. made the high line work to get back around Anderson and move into the second spot behind McMillen. As the race neared halfway, it was three cars under a blanket for the lead with McMillen in front over Stanley Jr. and Anderson. At the cross flags on lap 10, Stanley Jr. made the highside work for him once again as he made the pass on McMillen to take the lead. Another lap or two were completed before a couple of quick caution flags came out, keeping the field close. On the restart following the cautions, Stanley Jr. pulled out to the lead as a side-by-side battle commenced behind him for second between McMillen and Anderson. Anderson worked McMillen over on the high line for the next handful of laps. With just a couple laps remaining on lap 18, Anderson completed the pass to move into second. Stanley Jr. went unchallenged in the final couple of laps on his way to capturing his first checkered flag at the Bird and his first in over 10 years. Anderson, McMillen, Nate Fleck, Orin Taylor, Gary Sullivan, Brad Curran Jr., Chip Davis, and Mark Bell rounded out the field. McMillen won the heat race.
The BRP Big Block Modified 35-lap, $2,500/win feature race was next to the track with Brian Swartzlander and Dave Murdick leading the field of 20 to the start. Swartzlander got the lead on the start over Murdick and Garrett Krummert. On lap 3, Krummert made the pass on Murdick on the lowside to move into the second position behind Swartzlander. Another lap was completed before a caution for debris brought about the first restart of the race. On the restart, it was Swartzlander out to the lead over Krummert and Murdick. On lap 6, both Murdick and Rex King Jr. were able to make their way around Krummert to move into second and third respectively. After another couple of quick caution flags, it continued to be Swartzlander out front over Murdick and King Jr.. The race remained under green flag conditions until about lap 12 when a caution for a wreck in turns 3 and 4 set up another restart. After another quick caution flag, Swartzlander was out to the lead as both King Jr. and Krummert worked their way around Murdick to move into second and third respectively. On lap 14, Erick Rudolph used the inside line to make the pass on Krummert to move into third behind the leaders. On lap 16, King Jr. closed in and got to the inside of Swartzlander to take the race lead. King Jr. and Swartzlander raced side-by-side for another lap or so before a caution for a wreck in turns 3 and 4 brought about another restart. On the ensuing restart, King Jr. pulled out to the lead as Swartzlander was challenged for second by Rudolph. As the race reached its halfway point on lap 18, it was King Jr. out front as Rudolph made the pass on Swartzlander for the second position. On lap 19, Brad Rapp was able to make his way around Swartzlander for third as Rudolph closed in and began to pressure King Jr. for the top spot. On lap 20, Rudolph was able to edge ahead of King Jr. on the inside at the line to take the lead. King Jr. tried to hang on the highside, but Rudolph completed the pass down the backstretch. The race stayed green all the way to the two-to-go signal from flagman Earl Jackson on lap 33. This would make for a green-white-checkered finish. Rudolph jumped out to the lead on the restart and never looked back on his way to picking up the win and the $2,500 payday. Rudolph was followed by: King Jr., Rapp, Murdick, Swartzlander, Rick Regalski, Adam Hilton, Mike Kinney, Krummert, Chas Wolbert, Steve Slater, Tyler Willard, Kyle Fink, Mark Frankhouser, Mike Dougherty, Ray Bliss, Steve Barr, Shawn Kozar, Rodney Beltz, and Colton Walters. Rudolph, Fink, and Murdick won the heat races.
Kenny Schaffer and Kyle Knapp led the Carns Powersports/Mountain Extreme Super Late Models trackside for their 25-lap feature event. Schaffer got out to the lead on the start, but was quickly challenged and passed by Denny Fenton as he led lap 1 over Schaffer and Knapp. One lap was completed before a caution for a spin in turns 1 and 2 set up the first restart of the race. After another quick caution flag, it was Fenton out front over Schaffer and Knapp. Knapp got loose coming off of turn 4 on the restart and spun out, which moved Doug Eck into the third spot for the restart. On the restart, it was Fenton still leading the way over Schaffer and Eck. A hard-charging Paul Kot was making his way through the field as the laps began to click away. Around lap 9 or 10, Kot caught the top 3 as Eck made the pass on Schaffer for second. Later that lap, Kot made his way around Schaffer for the third position. On lap 11, Eck used the high line to his advantage to get around Fenton and take the top spot away. Also on that lap, contact was made as Kot battled Fenton for second which led to Fenton spinning and bringing out the caution flag once again. This would set up what would ultimately be the final restart with Eck leading the way over Kot and Schaffer back in third. Eck got out to the lead on the restart with Kot and Schaffer following behind. At halfway on lap 13, Kot began to put the pressure on Eck for the lead. On lap 14, Kot made the inside line work in turns 3 and 4 to take the top spot. Kot pulled away from Eck, Schaffer, and the rest of the field in the closing laps on his way to collecting his second victory in as many races at Hummingbird. Eck, Schaffer, Dylan Fenton, Nathan Brady, Dwayne Brooks, Joe Loffredo, Denny Fenton, Rich Runyan Jr., Knapp, and Scott Alvetro rounded out the field. Eck and Fenton won the heat races.
The PA Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Modifieds were next to the track with Mark Hahn and Thomas Warburton leading the field to green. Hahn jumped out to the lead on the initial start and led lap 1 over Warburton and Steve Longo. One lap was completed before a caution for Longo spinning in turns 3 and 4 set up the first restart. The spin moved Jeff Manners into the third spot for the restart. On the restart, Hahn led the way over Warburton and Manners. A couple of more laps were completed before a caution for Warburton spinning in turn 2 brought about another restart. Warburton's spin moved Manners and Fred Hildebrand into second and third respectively. On the ensuing restart, Hahn got out to the lead as Hildebrand made his way by Manners for second. Around lap 5, Longo, who was recovering from an earlier spin, made the pass on Manners to move into the third position. At the cross flags on lap 8, it was Hahn leading the way over Hildebrand and Longo. Another lap was completed before a caution for a spin on the backstretch. Hildebrand took his car to the pit area and retired from the race which moved Longo to second and Tim Harris to third. Hahn led the way on the restart over Longo and Harris. Longo put the pressure on Hahn for the lead in the closing laps. Longo made the pass on Hahn on the final lap and held on to pick up the win. Longo was victorious in the Modified Division and was followed by Hahn, Hildebrand, Warburton, and Don Swingle. Harris was the winner in the Sportsman Division and was followed by Manners and Jeff Mitchell. Hahn won the Modified Heat Race and Manners won the Sportsman Heat Race.
Dennis Curry and Nick Loffredo led the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models to the green flag for their 15-lap main. Loffredo pulled out to the lead on the start and led the opening lap over Curry and Doug Surra. On lap 3, Surra used the lowside to his advantage to make the pass on Curry to move into the second position behind Loffredo. Then, on lap 6, Surra looked to the inside of Loffredo for the lead and made the pass to take the top spot. At halfway on lap 8, it was Surra beginning to pull away from the field with Loffredo in second and Curry in third. The race stayed green until later on lap 8 when the caution flag was displayed for a spin in turn 4. Another lap or two was completed on the restart before another caution for a spin in turns 3 and 4. The caution set up what would ultimately be the final restart of the race. Surra checked out on the field on the restart and never looked back in the last 5-6 laps enroute to capturing his first checkered flag of the season at the Bird. Loffredo, Curry, Deegen Watt, Kyle Shannon, and Andy Vancuren rounded out the field. Loffredo won the lone heat race.
The PAGO Visitors Bureau Pure Stocks were next trackside for their 15-lap feature event. Andy Frey and Jenna Pfaff led the field to the opening green flag. Frey got out to the lead on the start and led lap 1 over Pfaff and Josh Fields. Later on the opening lap, contact was made between Pfaff and Frey which sent Frey spinning. The spin forced Frey to head to the pit area and retire from the race. Pfaff was put to the back of the field for the contact that was made. All of this moved Josh Fields to the point with Dustin Challingsworth in second and Ashley Kilhoffer in third. Fields led the way on the restart over Challingsworth and Kilhoffer. On lap 3, Jake Foradori made the pass on Kilhoffer to move into third behind Fields and Challingsworth. Fields continued to lead the way over Challingsworth and Foradori at the halfway mark on lap 8. The race remained under green flag conditions until lap 11 or 12 when the caution flag was displayed. This set up the final restart of the race. Fields jumped out to the lead on the restart as Foradori challenged Challingsworth for the second spot. Foradori worked Challingsworth over in the last few laps and made the pass for second on the final lap. Fields held on in the final laps on his way to picking up his first win of the season at Hummingbird. Fields was followed by: Foradori, Challingsworth, Pfaff, Kilhoffer, Cody Cassler, Devin Dickey, Frey, and Wayne Garvey. Fields and Pfaff won the heat races.
Zack Frantz and Travis Timko led the Sunny 106 Four-Cylinders to the track for their 15-lap feature. Frantz got out to the lead initially on the start, but was quickly overtaken by Shawn Hadden. Also, Adam Bales made the pass on Timko to move into third behind the leaders. Hadden led the opening lap of the race over Frantz and Bales. On lap 2, Bales used the low line to his advantage and made the pass on Frantz to move into the second position behind Hadden. On lap 5, Joe Beningo used the lowside to make his way by Frantz for the third spot. At the halfway point on lap 8, it was Hadden out in front of the field over Bales and Beningo. Hadden would go unchallenged in the second half of the caution-free race enroute to capturing his first checkered flag of 2022 at the Bird. Bales, Beningo, Frantz, Mitch Stiles, Kevin Killinger, Louis Young, Carl Killinger, Heidi Miller, and Timko rounded out the field. Bales and Hadden won the heat races.
The Andy Man's Car Care Economods capped off the night with their 20-lap Makeup Feature from May 21st. Mike Anderson and Bob McMillen led the field to the opening green flag. McMillen jumped out to the lead initially on the start, but Anderson came back on the inside in turns 3 and 4 to take the lead and lead lap 1 over McMillen and Chip Davis. On lap 4, Nate Fleck made the pass on Davis on the inside to move into the third position behind Anderson and McMillen. The race remained under green flag conditions until lap 7 when the caution flag was displayed for Fleck spinning in turn 2. The spin moved Orin Taylor into third for the restart. There was another spin on the restart which set up another one. While under caution, Taylor took his car to the pit area with a mechanical issue and thus ending his night. That moved Brad Curran Jr. into the third position for the restart. Curran Jr. got the second spot from McMillen on the lap 7 restart. At the cross flags on lap 10, it was Anderson continuing to lead the way over Curran Jr. and McMillen. Another couple of laps were completed before a caution for a spin in turn 1 on lap 12 brought about another restart. The race stayed green on the restart all the way until the white flag lap on lap 19 when the caution flag was thrown for a stopped car in turns 1 and 2. This would set up a green-white-checkered finish with Anderson leading the way over Curran Jr. and McMillen. The late caution flag and green-white-checker finish did not phase Anderson as he held on to collect win #1 of 2022. Anderson was followed by: Curran Jr., McMillen, Davis, Fleck, Taylor, and Mark Bell. Anderson won the heat race back on May 21st.
Speedway Notes: 73 cars were in attendance for Modified Night. That breaks down to: 9 Economods, 20 BRP Big Block Modifieds, 11 Super Late Models, 8 PA Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Modifieds, 6 Semi Late Models, 9 Pure Stocks, and 10 Four-Cylinders. Next Saturday will feature the 2nd Annual Al Connor Memorial. The Penn Ohio Pro Stock Touring Series will be competing for a $1,500/win payday along with the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models. Also, the May 21st Makeup Feature for the Semi Late Models will be run. The full divisions for the night are TBA, so stay tuned to our Facebook page and website for the latest. Gates open at 4:00 with racing beginning at 7:00. The Sub Hub Kids Club gets underway every Saturday night at 6pm by the pit gate entrance. It is a great place to take your kids to do some fun kids club activities as well as meet some drivers prior to racing getting started. For more information call the track office at (814) 653-8400 or visit the tracks’ website at www.hummingbirdspeedway.com. You can also follow the track on Twitter.
Results:
Andy Man's Car Care Economods
1st) #57S Royce Stanley Jr.
2nd) #76 Mike Anderson
3rd) #50 Bob McMillen
4th) #71 Nate Fleck
5th) #21T Orin Taylor
6th) #47S Gary Sullivan
7th) #C17 Brad Curran Jr.
8th) #14D Chip Davis
9th) #122 Mark Bell
BRP Big Block Modifieds
1st) #25 Erick Rudolph
2nd) #165 Rex King Jr.
3rd) #11R Brad Rapp
4th) #61 Dave Murdick
5th) #83 Brian Swartzlander
6th) #96 Rick Regalski
7th) #3A Adam Hilton
8th) #20P Mike Kinney
9th) #29 Garrett Krummert
10th) #C3 Chas Wolbert
11th) #35 Steve Slater
12th) #33 Tyler Willard
13th) #6F Kyle Fink
14th) #03 Mark Frankhouser
15th) #18JR Mike Dougherty
16th) #27Z Ray Bliss
17th) #25B Steve Barr
18th) #3K Shawn Kozar
19th) #64 Rodney Beltz
20th) #18 Colton Walters
Carns Powersports/Mountain Extreme Super Late Models
1st) #36 Paul Kot
2nd) #20 Doug Eck
3rd) #13X Kenny Schaffer
4th) #56 Dylan Fenton
5th) #77 Nathan Brady
6th) #1B Dwayne Brooks
7th) #9J Joe Loffredo
8th) #55 Denny Fenton
9th) #18 Rich Runyan Jr.
10th) #33K Kyle Knapp
11th) #64 Scott Alvetro
PA Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Modifieds - Modified Division
1st) #20 Steve Longo
2nd) #14 Mark Hahn
3rd) #A Fred Hildebrand
4th) #31 Thomas Warburton
5th) #069 Don Swingle
PA Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Modifieds - Sportsman Division
1st) #11 Tim Harris
2nd) #16 Jeff Manners
3rd) #72 Jeff Mitchell
Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models
1st) #3xAA Doug Surra
2nd) #9N Nick Loffredo
3rd) #75 Dennis Curry
4th) #17 Deegan Watt
5th) #11 Kyle Shannon
6th) #15 Andy Vancuren
PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau Pure Stocks
1st) #88 Josh Fields
2nd) #14 Jake Foradori
3rd) #46 Dustin Challingsworth
4th) #33 Jenna Pfaff
5th) #50 Ashley Kilhoffer
6th) #14C Cody Cassler
7th) #18 Devin Dickey
8th) #55X Andy Frey
9th) #5 Wayne Garvey
Sunny 106 Four-Cylinders
1st) #3H Shawn Hadden
2nd) #26B Adam Bales
3rd) #21 Joe Beningo
4th) #36F Zack Frantz
5th) #54 Mitch Stiles
6th) #24K Kevin Killinger
7th) #65 Louis Young
8th) #76K Carl Killinger
9th) #35K Heidi Miller
10th) #910 Travis Timko
Andy Man's Car Care Economods (5/21 Makeup Feature)
1st) #76 Mike Anderson
2nd) #C17 Brad Curran Jr.
3rd) #50 Bob McMillen
4th) #14D Chip Davis
5th) #71 Nate Fleck
6th) #21T Orin Taylor
7th) #122 Mark Bell