Wilson, Toto Capture First Checkered Flags On Mid-Season Championship Night At The Bird
For Immediate Release
Saturday, July 8th, 2023
By: Steven Curry - Race Reporter
Reynoldsville- After a rain out and a week off for the Independence Day holiday, racing returned to Hummingbird Speedway Saturday night for Mid-Season Championship Night. Double points were awarded in all 6 divisions. Also, the Aquaholics PowderPuff Series was on-hand for their 2nd of 3 scheduled races at the Bird this season. A couple of drivers added their names to the Hummingbird Speedway Win Lists. The #27W of Eric Wilson picked up his first career Late Model win in the Srock Contracting Super Late Models. In the Andy Man's Car Care Economods, the #8B of Brian Toto captured his first Hummingbird victory and his first feature win in 7 years. The rest of winners all added to their 2023 win totals at the Bird. The #9N of Nick Loffredo notched his third win of the season in the Dan Joiner Heating & Cooling Semi Late Models. Josh Fields in the #88 also collected his third win of the year in the Brian Savino Motorsports Pure Stocks. The #3H of Shawn Hadden made it a trio of drivers to join the three-win club Saturday night by winning in the Brooks Services Four-Cylinders. In the Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks, the #101 of Bruce Hartzfeld became the first driver to four wins after capturing his fourth checkered flag of the season in his fourth appearance at the Bird so far this season. The night concluded with Kim Nelson, driving Justin Finland's #56, picking up the win in the Aquaholics PowderPuff Race. Kim is the current points leader in the series after the race Saturday night by a mere 12 points over Melissa Rock in the #4T1.
First to the track at feature time were the Dan Joiner Heating & Air Semi Late Models with Nick Erskine and Doug Surra leading the field to green for their 20-lap feature event. Erskine jumped out to the lead on the start and led lap 1 over Surra and Kyle Shannon. The first four laps of the race were completed before a caution for a spin on the frontstretch. On the restart, it was Erskine leading the way over Surra and Shannon. On lap 5, a mechanical issue on Shannon's car forced him to retire from the race which allowed points leader Nick Loffredo to move all the way up to second with Surra behind in third. Erskine maintained a comfortable lead over Nick Loffredo, Surra, and the rest of the field as the laps continued to click away. At the halfway point on lap 10, it was Erskine leading the way over Nick Loffredo and Surra. Nick Loffredo began to close in little by little each lap as the race closed in on 5-to-go. Nick Loffredo closed right up behind Erskine with just a few laps remaining on lap 17. A caution for a spin later that lap would set up a green-white-checkered finish with Erskine still leading the way over Nick Loffredo and Surra. On the green-white-checkered restart, it was Erskine edging out to the lead with Nick Loffredo close behind and Surra in third. Nick Loffredo got to the inside of Erskine in turns 3 and 4 as the two leaders came to the line side-by-side to get the white flag from flagman Earl Jackson. Also, Joe Loffredo was able to make the pass on Surra for third on lap 19. Nick Loffredo edged ahead of Erskine down the backstretch and completed the pass going into turns 3 and 4. Erskine gave it all he had trying to mount one last charge and he spun out coming off of turn 4, collecting Surra. Nick Loffredo went to take the checkered flag, his third of the season, as neither Erskine or Surra made it to the start/finish line. That allowed Joe Loffredo to grab second and Dan Smeal to take third. The wreck relegated Erskine and Surra to 5th and 6th place finishes respectively. Joe Loffredo, Dan Smeal, Adam Nixon, and Erskine rounded out the top 5. Erskine and Surra won the heat races.
The Brian Savino Motorsports Pure Stocks were next to the track for their 15-lap feature race with points leader Dustin Challingsworth and Josh Fields leading the field to the start. Challingsworth and Fields raced side-by-side for most of the opening lap before Fields edged ahead at the line to lead lap 1 over Challingsworth and Tim Steis. Fields began to extend his lead over Challingsworth, Steis, and the rest of the field as the laps went by. On lap 7, the lone caution flag of the race was displayed for a spin coming off of turn 4. This set up the first and only restart of the race just before halfway. On the restart, it was Fields out to the lead over Challingsworth as Mike Anderson challenged Steis for the third spot. At the halfway mark on lap 8, it was Fields still leading the way over Challingsworth and Anderson as he completed the pass for third on Steis. Fields began to check out on the field as the race neared its closing laps. Steis began to challenge Anderson to try to retake the third spot with just a couple of laps remaining. Fields, who had checked out to an over 2.5 second lead over Challingsworth, cruised to his third win of 2023. Steis was able to make a last-lap pass on Anderson to grab the third position. The top 5 was completed by: Challingsworth, Steis, Anderson, and Dalton Gustafson. Challingsworth, Fields, and Gustafson won the heat races.
Clay Ruffo and Eric Wilson led the Srock Contracting Super Late Models trackside for their 25-lap feature. A couple of quick caution flags plagued the start of the race with just one lap getting completed. Wilson got the lead from Ruffo and led that opening lap with Rich Runyan Jr. following behind in third. On the restart following the cautions, it was Wilson leading the way as Runyan Jr. made the pass on Ruffo to move into the second spot. On lap 3, points leader Paul Kot looked to the inside of Ruffo and made the pass to move into third behind Wilson and Runyan Jr.. A couple of laps later, on lap 5, Kot worked his way past Runyan Jr. for second place. A caution for a slow car later that lap brought about another restart. On the ensuing restart, it was Wilson leading the way over Kot and Runyan Jr.. At halfway on lap 13, it was still Wilson pacing the field over Kot and Runyan Jr.. The race stayed green until lap 17 when a caution for a wreck in turns 3 and 4 brought about the final restart. The wreck involved Runyan Jr. which moved Ruffo back into the third spot for the restart. On the final restart, Kot looked to the inside of Wilson as he challenged him for the top spot. That was happening as Doug Eck looked to the inside of Ruffo for third. Wilson was able to fend off Kot as Eck completed the pass on Ruffo to move into third behind the leaders. Kot gave it all he had in the final 7 to 8 laps, but it was to no avail as Wilson held on by about one second to pick up his first career win in a Late Model. The win was also Eric's first at Hummingbird. Kot, Eck, Ruffo, and Derek Rodkey rounded out the top 5. Ruffo and Wilson won the heat races.
A nearly full-field of Brooks Services Four-Cylinders entered the 1/3-mile bullring next for their 15-lap main. Points leader Camden Frantz and Shawn Hadden led the field of 23 to green. Hadden jumped out to the lead on the start and led the opening lap over Frantz and Ben Lehane. On lap 2, Lehane made the pass on Frantz to move into second behind Hadden. Then, on lap 3, Greg Kiehl made his way past Frantz to move into the third position. A caution for a spin in turn 4 later that lap set up the first restart of the race. One lap was completed on the restart before another caution flag, this time for a wreck in turns 1 and 2. Another lap was completed on the restart before another caution flag was displayed. On the restart, it was Hadden out front over Lehane and Kiehl. At the cross flags on lap 8, it was still Hadden leading the way over Lehane and Kiehl. On lap 9, Kiehl made the highside work to edge ahead of Lehane for second at the line. Another caution flag was displayed later that lap for a wreck involving both Kiehl and Lehane. That sent both cars to the rear of the field for the restart. Matt Urey assumed the second spot while newcomer Kyler Stahl moved into third for the restart. A couple of more laps were completed on the restart before one final caution flag came out on lap 11 for a spin in turn 1. That brought about the final restart with just 4 laps remaining. Hadden pulled out to the lead on the final restart and never looked back in the final four laps enroute to his third win of 2023 at Hummingbird by a nearly two second margin. The top 5 was completed by: Urey, Stahl, Frantz, and Holden Farr. Frantz, Hadden, Kiehl, and Lehane won the heat races. Bruce Long won the Last Chance Qualifier.
The Andy Man's Car Care Economods were up next for their 20-lap feature event. Brian Toto and Bob McMillen led the field to the opening green flag. Toto jumped out to the lead on the start over McMillen and points leader Nate Fleck. Toto began to incrementally extend his lead over McMillen, Fleck, and the rest of the field as the laps clicked away and as they negotiated lap traffic. At the halfway point on lap 10, it continued to be Toto leading the way over McMillen and Fleck. The race stayed green all the way until the white flag lap on lap 19 when Fleck spun out of third place in turns 1 and 2. The spin moved Ed Vogel into the third position for the green-white-checkered finish as the race headed into overtime. On the first and only restart, it was Toto out to the lead over McMillen and Vogel. McMillen gave it all he had in the final couple of laps, but it was not enough as Toto held on to capture his first Hummingbird Speedway checkered flag and his first feature win in 7 years. McMillen, Vogel, Orin Taylor, and Brad Curran Jr. rounded out the top 5. Toto and McMillen won the heat races.
Bruce Hartzfeld and points leader Fuzzy Fields headed the field of Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks for their 20-lap feature race to conclude Mid-Season Championship Night. Hartzfeld got out to the lead on the initial start over Fields and Allen Lamb. Hartzfeld led lap 1 as Lamb edged ahead of Fields for second. On lap 2, Jim Bloom made the pass on Fields to move into third behind the leaders. Later that lap, a caution flag was displayed for Lamb spinning in turn 2. The spin moved Nathan Yeaney into third for the restart. A couple more quick caution flags with maybe one lap getting completed kept the field close. The second caution forced Yeaney to retire from the race which moved Jim Challingsworth up to third for the restart. On the lap 3 restart, it was Hartzfeld still out front over Bloom and Challngsworth. Hartzfeld checked out on the field as the race neared halfway. On lap 9, Fields, recovering from some earlier incidents, was able to retake the third spot from Challingsworth. At the halfway mark on lap 10, it continued to be Hartzfeld setting the pace with Bloom and Fields in second and third respectively. On lap 11, Bloom took his car to the pit area with some sort of issue. That moved Fields to second and Challingsworth back into third. Fields and Challingsworth swapped back and forth the second and third positions on the restart before Fields took the position for good on lap 14. One more caution flag came out the rest of the way, but it did not phase Hartzfeld as he cruised to his track-leading fourth victory of the season. He now has four wins in four appearances at the Bird. The top 5 was completed by: Fields, Challingsworth, Lamb, and Kyle Corah. Hartzfeld and Fields won the heat races.
Speedway Notes: 100 cars were in attendance for Mid-Season Championship Night. That breaks down to: 11 Semi Late Models, 20 Pure Stocks, 11 Super Late Models, 32 Four-Cylinders, 10 Economods, 9 Pro Stocks, and 7 Aquaholics PowderPuff Series Cars. We will be back in action this coming Saturday, July 15th, for Louie's 95th Birthday Celebration. Join us as we celebrate track owner Louie Caltagarone's 95th birthday! It will also be Topless Night with all divisions except the Four-Cylinders permitted to run topless. All six of our regular divisions will be in action. Looking ahead on our schedule, July 22nd will be Fan Appreciation Night. All six divisions will be in action that night as well along with $10 general admission. Then, on July 29th, it will be Grady's Decision Night with the stars of the ULMS Racing Series visiting for the first time in track history. The Super Late Models will compete for $3,500/win, $450/start while the Pure Stocks will vye for $750/win. Gates open on all of those nights 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 Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.
Results:
Dan Joiner Heating & Air Semi Late Models
1st) #9N Nick Loffredo
2nd) #9J Joe Loffredo
3rd) #44 Dan Smeal
4th) #47 Adam Nixon
5th) #5X Nick Erskine
6th) #3xAA Doug Surra
7th) #39B Joe Becker
8th) #21M Zach Myers
9th) #2 Cregen Brady
10th) #11 Kyle Shannon
11th) #17 Deegen Watt
Brian Savino Motorsports Pure Stocks
1st) #88 Josh Fields
2nd) #46 Dustin Challingsworth
3rd) #34 Tim Steis
4th) #76 Mike Anderson
5th) #83 Dalton Gustafson
6th) #33 Jenna Pfaff
7th) #55X Bob McMillen
8th) #14C Cody Cassler
9th) #54 Wayne Truitt
10th) #18 Devin Dickey
11th) #37B Noah Bloom
12th) #07 Barry Burritt
13th) #72 Kyle Lindemuth
14th) #00 Justin Watt
15th) #50 Ashley Kilhoffer
16th) #01D Dominic Marchiori
17th) #56K Renae Meyer
18th) #5T Todd Geyer Sr.
19th) #54S Mitch Stiles
20th) #556 Kris Orwig
Srock Contracting Super Late Models
1st) #27W Eric Wilson
2nd) #36 Paul Kot
3rd) #20 Doug Eck
4th) #14 Clay Ruffo
5th) #14R Derek Rodkey
6th) #24J Jon Rohacevich
7th) #18 Rich Runyan Jr.
8th) #66N Orvis Newcome lll
9th) #1B Dwayne Brooks
10th) #77 Nathan Brady
11th) #08 Bob Armagost
Brooks Services Four-Cylinders
1st) #3H Shawn Hadden
2nd) #501 Matt Urey
3rd) #15K Kyler Stahl
4th) #158 Camden Frantz
5th) #5X Holden Farr
6th) #4T1 Allen Robison
7th) #12K Zak Kline
8th) #251 Dillon Morrison
9th) #1 Ben Lehane
10th) #44B Bruce Long
11th) #79 Devon Trayer
12th) #56 Justin Finland
13th) #850B Bryun Hackenberg
14th) #48 Jacob Knapp
15th) #51 Zach Rill
16th) #850A Adam Harris
17th) #17X Greg Kiehl
18th) #19R Jimmy Delozier
19th) #11 Jim Boyer
20th) #65 Louis Young
21st) #98E Ernie Irvin
22nd) #29L Josh Lindemuth
23rd) #33L Troy Bennett
24th) #187 Kevin Wice
DNQ: Kevin Piper, Nevaeh Helsel, Sam Fye, Zack Hetrick, Michael Young, Joe Anthony, Rob Williams, and Adam Pluebell
Andy Man's Car Care Economods
1st) #8B Brian Toto
2nd) #50 Bob McMillen
3rd) #83E Ed Vogel
4th) #21T Orin Taylor
5th) #C17 Brad Curran Jr.
6th) #47S Gary Sullivan
7th) #71 Nate Fleck
8th) #73 Allen Phillips
9th) #72 Jim Muma
10th) #569 Blake Joiner
Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks
1st) #101 Bruce Hartzfeld
2nd) #28 Fuzzy Fields
3rd) #44 Jim Challingsworth
4th) #104 Allen Lamb
5th) #152 Kyle Corah
6th) #47 Shawnee Sturgeon
7th) #43 Pernell Beimel
8th) #37A Jim Bloom
9th) #11Y Nathan Yeaney
Aquaholics PowderPuff Series
1st) #56 Kim Nelson
2nd) #4T1 Melissa Rock
3rd) #17 Darla Truitt
4th) #1 Reging Filangie
5th) #21J Tracy Smith
6th) #65Y Gracie Pluebell
7th) #317 Erika Anthony