Michael Jr. Wins Inaugural Renegades Of Dirt Modified Tour Event At Hummingbird
For Immediate Release
Saturday, July 3rd, 2021
By: Steven Curry - Race Reporter
Reynoldsville- Hummingbird Speedway celebrated the Independence Day holiday Saturday night by hosting the Renegades of Dirt Modified Tour for the first time ever for a 30-lap, $2,000/win special. Rich Michael Jr. started on the pole and led all but three laps on his way to capturing the big payday. Five of our regular divisions were in action on the night as well. Two drivers visited victory lane for the first time this season while three others added to their win totals. Tim Bish in the Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks and Kenny Schaffer in the Carns Equipment Super Late Models both captured their first checkered flags of the season. Bryce Swauger in the Sunny 106.5 FM Pure Stocks, Blake Joiner in the Andy Man's Car Care Four-Cylinders, and Nick Erskine in the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models all notched their third wins of 2021.
The Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks kicked off the feature racing action with their 20-lap feature event. Dylan Cecce and Jamie Colwell led the field to the opening green flag. Cecce jumped out to the lead on the start over Colwell and Tim Bish. On lap 2, Bish used the low line to his advantage to edge ahead of Colwell for the second spot. Cecce was challenged for the lead by Bish on the lowside for the next handful of laps. After laps of battling, Bish completed the pass on Cecce to take the top spot on lap 6. The race remained green for the next few laps before a caution for a spin in turns 1 and 2 on lap 9 set up the first restart. On the restart, Bish jumped out to the point over Cecce in second and Brandon Connor now in third. At the halfway mark, it was Bish beginning to extend his lead over Cecce, Connor, and the rest of the field. On lap 13, Connor made the pass on Cecce on the bottom to move into second behind Bish. The race stayed under green flag conditions until a caution on lap 18 with just two laps to go brought about another restart. After another quick caution flag involving Connor, the race saw its final restart. The caution moved Cecce back to second and Jim Bloom to third for the final restart. On the final restart, Bish pulled out to the lead once again over Cecce and Bloom. Cecce gave it all he had in the last couple laps but it was not enough as Bish held on for his first win of the season. Colwell was able to make the pass on Bloom on the final lap to finish third behind Bish and Cecce. Bish was followed by: 2) Dylan Cecce 3) Jamie Colwell 4) Jim Bloom 5) Bruce Hartzfeld 6) Jim Challingsworth 7) Tim Steis 8) Brandon Connor 9) Matt Bernard 10) Erik Wise 11) Brian Fabiano 12) Pernell Beimel. Connor and Bish won the heat races.
Jake Foradori and Dalton Gustafson led the Sunny 106.5 FM Pure Stocks trackside for their 15-lap feature race. Gustafson got the lead on the start over Foradori and Dennis Harrison Jr.. A lap or two was completed before a caution for a spin in turns 3 and 4 set up the first restart of the race. Another quick caution flag on the restart for Foradori spinning on the backstretch set up another restart. The spin moved Harrison Jr. to second and Josh Fields to third for the restart. On the ensuing restart, Gustafson jumped out to the lead over Fields as Bryce Swauger took the third position from Harrison Jr.. Another lap or so was completed before a caution for a spin in turn 4 on lap 5 brought about another restart. Gustafson pulled to the pit area under caution which gave the lead to Fields for the restart. Fields got the lead on the restart over Swauger and Andy Frey. At the halfway point of the race, it was Fields leading the way over Swauger and Frey. Caution flags plagued the middle to late stages of the race with the top 3 staying the same. Swauger began to close in on Fields and challenge him for the top spot with just a few laps remaining. One more caution flag came out with just a couple of laps left, setting up one final restart. On the final restart, Fields went to the bottom of the track and Swauger used the high line for the two lap shootout. Swauger closed the gap a good bit on the top as they came to get the white flag. In turns 3 and 4 of the last lap, Swauger used the momentum on the highside to pull side-by-side with Fields and edge him out at the line by about a nose to capture his third checkered flag of the 2021 season. The official margin of victory for Swauger was a mere 0.059 seconds. Swauger was followed by: 2) Josh Fields 3) Andy Frey 4) Dustin Challingsworth 5) Jake Foradori 6) Jenna Pfaff 7) Ashley Kilhoffer 8) Dennis Harrison Jr. 9) Bob Holt 10) Steve Brugmann 11) Lester Hudson 12) Cody Wolfe 13) Shawnee Sturgeon 14) Kyle Lindemuth 15) Casey Wolfe 16) Raven Fuller 17) Dalton Gustafson 18) Josh Bloom. DNS: Wayne Garvey, Cody Cassler, and Ben Ecelberger. Swauger, Fields, and Harrison Jr. won the heat races.
The Renegades of Dirt Modifieds were next to the track for their 30-lap, $2,000/win special. Rich Michael Jr. and Drake Troutman led the nearly full field of modifieds to the green flag. Michael Jr. jumped out to the lead on the start with Troutman in second and Carl McKinney in third. A lap was completed before a caution for a spin on the backstretch set up the first restart. On the restart, it was Michael Jr. out to the lead over Troutman and McKinney. On lap 3, Michael Jr. got loose coming off of turn 4 which allowed Troutman to take the lead. The race stayed green until a caution for a wreck in turns 3 and 4 on lap 5 brought about another restart. There was another wreck on the restart which set up another one. While under caution, Troutman headed to the pit area with a mechanical issue of some kind. That moved Michael Jr. back to the lead with McKinney in second and Matt Alexander in third. On the ensuing restart, Michael Jr. led the way over McKinney and Alexander. On lap 6, Casey Bowers made the pass on Alexander to move into third behind the leaders. Michael Jr. began to extend his lead over McKinney, Bowers, and the rest of the field as the laps continued to click away. At halfway on lap 15, it was Michael Jr. in control over McKinney and Bowers. Michael Jr. continued to lead the way as the 5-to-go signal was given to the drivers on lap 25. The race remained under green flag conditions until a caution for a wreck in turn 2 on the final lap set up one final restart. On the final restart, Michael Jr. pulled out to the lead over McKinney and Bowers. McKinney gave Michael Jr. a valiant challenge in the final couple of laps but it came up short as Michael Jr. held on to win and earn the $2,000 payday. Michael Jr. was followed by: 2) Carl McKinney 3) Casey Bowers 4) Steve Rex 5) Dustin Demattia 6) Brandon Grossman 7) Matt Alexander 8) Jim Plance 9) Ed Vogel 10) Alyssa Rowe 11) Gary Sullivan 12) Kyle Adkins 13) Alex Siekkinen 14) Emily Stoyer 15) Drake Troutman 16) Alan Atkinson 17) Tim Fedder 18) Jesse Gould 19) Dale Reiser 20) Mitchell Rex 21) Mike Harmon. DNS: Colton Shaw. Troutman set the fastest time in time trials. Michael Jr. won the dash and Steve Rex and Fedder won the heat races.
Kenny Schaffer and Paul Kot led the Carns Equipment Super Late Models to the track for their 25-lap main. There were a number of caution flags to start the race with only one lap getting completed. Schaffer led the first lap over Doug Eck and Kot. The last of the caution flags to start the race was for a spin by Kot on one of the restarts that collected several other drivers. That forced Kot and another driver out of the race and moved Jerry Redden into the third spot for the restart. On the restart following all of the cautions, Schaffer jumped out to the lead over Eck and Redden. Eck began to close in on Schaffer for the lead as the laps continued to click away. Eck got right to the back bumper of Schaffer as they encountered heavy lap traffic. On lap 11, Eck made slight contact with Schaffer which sent him spinning, bringing out another caution flag. Eck was charged with the caution which moved Redden to second and Dwayne Brooks to third for what would ultimately be the final restart. On the final restart, Schaffer pulled out to the point over Redden and Brooks. At the halfway mark on lap 13, Schaffer continued to lead the way over Redden and Brooks. On lap 18, Brooks was able to work his way around Redden to move into second behind Schaffer. At the 5-to-go signal on lap 20, Schaffer had a comfortable lead over Brooks, Redden, and the rest of the field. On lap 21, Scott Alvetro worked his way around Redden to move into the third spot behind the leaders. Schaffer went unchallenged in the final 4 laps on his way to capturing his first checkered flag of the 2021 season. Schaffer was followed by: 2) Dwayne Brooks 3) Scott Alvetro 4) Garrett Mott 5) Jerry Redden 6) Dan Smeal 7) Doug Eck 8) Nathan Brady 9) Orvis Newcome lll 10) Joey Malobicky Jr. 11) Dylan Fenton 12) Paul Kot 13) Denny Fenton. DNS: Chris Farrell and Drake Troutman. Kot and Schaffer won the heat races.
The Andy Man's Car Care Four-Cylinders were trackside next for their 15-lap feature. Blake Joiner and Wayne Truitt led the field to the opening green flag. Truitt led lap one over Joiner and Cory Price. On lap 2, Joiner passed Truitt on the lowside to take the lead as Shawn Hadden got by Price for the third spot. Then, on lap 3, Hadden got by Truitt to move into second behind Joiner. Hadden began to close in on Joiner for the lead as the race neared halfway. At the midway mark, it was Joiner out front followed by Hadden and Truitt. On lap 9, Hadden used the momentum on the highside to power past Joiner and take the lead. Later that lap, Hadden had a mechanical failure which sent his car sideways and eventually rolled over on its roof. Thankfully, he walked away from that uninjured. With Hadden retired from the race, Joiner moved back to the top spot with Truitt and Adam Bales following behind for the restart. On the restart, Joiner jumped out to the lead as Bales challenged Truitt for second. On lap 10, Bales completed the pass on Truitt to move into second behind Joiner. The race stayed green for another lap before a caution for a stopped car in turns 1 and 2 brought about what would be the final restart. On the final restart, Joiner pulled out to the lead over Bales and Truitt. Bales gave it all he had in the final laps but it was not enough as Joiner held on for his third trip to victory lane in 2021. Joiner was followed by: 2) Adam Bales 3) Wayne Truitt 4) Cory Price 5) Devin Kaufman 6) Carl Killinger 7) Martin Neeper 8) Randy Albert 9) Jim Boyer 10) Heidi Miller 11) Shawn Hadden 12) Christina Killinger 13) Kevin Killinger. DNS: Ryan McCanna. Joiner and Hadden won the heat races.
Kyle Shannon and Nick Erskine led the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models to the green flag of their 20-lap feature event to conclude the evening. Erskine got the lead on the start over Shannon and Doug Surra. Two laps were completed before a caution for a wreck in turns 1 and 2 set up the first restart of the race. On the restart, Erskine jumped out to the lead over Shannon and Surra. On lap 3, Surra passed Shannon on the low line to move into the second position. Erskine began to extend his lead over the field as the laps clicked away. At the halfway point on lap 10, it was Erskine leading the way with Surra in second and Shannon in third. On lap 12, Rich Runyan Jr. worked his way past Shannon to move into the third spot. The race remained green until a caution for a spin on the frontstretch on lap 16 set up one final restart. On the final restart, Erskine pulled out to the advantage once again as Surra felt the pressure from Runyan Jr. for second. On lap 17, Runyan Jr. used the momentum on the highside to power his way past Surra and move into the second position behind Erskine. Erskine was untouchable the rest of the way enroute to his third win of the season at Hummingbird. Erskine was followed by: 2) Rich Runyan Jr. 3) Doug Surra 4) Eddie Connor 5) Nick Loffredo 6) Kyle Shannon 7) Cheyenne Reed Jr. 8) Joe Loffredo. Erskine won the lone heat race.
Speedway Notes: 92 cars filled the pits for the sixth night of racing in the 2021 season. That breaks down to: 12 Pro Stocks, 21 Pure Stocks, 22 Renegades of Dirt Modifieds, 15 Super Late Models, 14 Four-Cylinders, and 8 Semi Late Models. Next Saturday will feature a regular six division program with our Economod division back in action. Also, the Super 6 Late Models will be on hand for their second and final visit of the season. There will be a Four-Cylinder Australian Pursuit race that will be run as well. Gates open at 4:00 with racing beginning at 7:00. The Sub Hub Kids Club gets underway every Saturday night at 6 pm by the pit gate entrance. It is a great place to take your kids to do some fun kids club activities 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 Facebook and Twitter.
Results:
Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks
1st) #11B Tim Bish
2nd) #18 Dylan Cecce
3rd) #54J Jamie Colwell
4th) #37A Jim Bloom
5th) #101 Bruce Hartzfeld
6th) #44 Jim Challingsworth
7th) #34 Tim Steis
8th) #55 Brandon Connor
9th) #7B Matt Bernard
10th) #24W Erik Wise
11th) #35 Brian Fabiano
12th) #43 Pernell Beimel
Sunny 106.5 FM Pure Stocks
1st) #28 Bryce Swauger
2nd) #88 Josh Fields
3rd) #55X Andy Frey
4th) #46 Dustin Challingsworth
5th) #14 Jake Foradori
6th) #33 Jenna Pfaff
7th) #50 Ashley Kilhoffer
8th) #42H Dennis Harrison Jr.
9th) #31H Bob Holt
10th) #95 Steve Brugmann
11th) #24 Lester Hudson
12th) #97W Cody Wolfe
13th) #13 Shawnee Sturgeon
14th) #29 Kyle Lindemuth
15th) #6/2P Casey Wolfe
16th) #10R Raven Fuller
17th) #4G Dalton Gustafson
18th) #37B Josh Bloom
19th) #72G Wayne Garvey
20th) #14C Cody Cassler
21st) #113 Ben Ecelberger
Renegades Of Dirt Modifieds
1st) #17X Rich Michael Jr.
2nd) #6M Carl McKinney
3rd) #20B Casey Bowers
4th) #27REX Steve Rex
5th) #77D Dustin Demattia
6th) #17G Brandon Grossman
7th) #77 Matt Alexander
8th) #4J Jim Plance
9th) #83E Ed Vogel
10th) #55 Alyssa Rowe
11th) #47S Gary Sullivan
12th) #311 Kyle Adkins
13th) #20 Alex Siekkinen
14th) #9JR Emily Stoyer
15th) #7 Drake Troutman
16th) #32 Alan Atkinson
17th) #8 Tim Fedder
18th) #2G Jesse Gould
19th) #262 Dale Reiser
20th) #27X Mitchell Rex
21st) #09JR Mike Harmon
22nd) #01 Colton Shaw
Carns Equipment Super Late Models
1st) #13X Kenny Schaffer
2nd) #1B Dwayne Brooks
3rd) #64 Scott Alvetro
4th) #43X Garrett Mott
5th) #5R Jerry Redden
6th) #44 Dan Smeal
7th) #20 Doug Eck
8th) #77 Nathan Brady
9th) #66N Orvis Newcome lll
10th) #34 Joey Malobicky Jr.
11th) #56 Dylan Fenton
12th) #36 Paul Kot
13th) #55 Denny Fenton
14th) #53 Chris Farrell
15th) #7 Drake Troutman
Andy Man's Car Care Four-Cylinders
1st) #569 Blake Joiner
2nd) #26B Adam Bales
3rd) #54 Wayne Truitt
4th) #4P Cory Price
5th) #25D Devin Kaufman
6th) #76K Carl Killinger
7th) #62N Martin Neeper
8th) #17 Randy Albert
9th) #11 Jim Boyer
10th) #35 Heidi Miller
11th) #3H Shawn Hadden
12th) #8K Christina Killinger
13th) #24K Kevin Killinger
14th) #21R Ryan McCanna
Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models
1st) #5X Nick Erskine
2nd) #18 Rich Runyan Jr.
3rd) #3xAA Doug Surra
4th) #27C Eddie Connor
5th) #9N Nick Loffredo
6th) #11 Kyle Shannon
7th) #12JR Cheyenne Reed Jr.
8th) #9J Joe Loffredo