Gordon Victorious In 3rd Annual Gateway Special At The Bird
For Immediate Release
Saturday, August 14th, 2021
By: Steven Curry - Race Reporter
Reynoldsville- The Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks continued to hold center-stage Saturday night with the running of the 3rd Annual Gateway Special. The race is run every year to honor former car owner, Tommy Scott, who passed away a few years ago. The race was 25-laps and $1,500/win thanks to Flock Services of Reynoldsville. There was also $600 worth of lap money on the line bringing the potential winnings up to over $2,000. Andrew Gordon led 21 of the 25 laps on his way to collecting the big payday and his third win of the season at Hummingbird. The PA Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Modifieds made their first visit of the year with Mark Hahn picking up the win in the Modified division and Dale Zimmer in the Sportsman division. Two drivers recorded their fifth wins of the year including: Tim Steis in the Sunny 106.5 FM Pure Stocks and Shawn Hadden in the Andy Man's Car Care Four-Cylinders. The other winners all won for the first time this season including: Wyatt Scott in the Carns Equipment Super Late Models, Mitchell Wright in the Close Racing Supply Economods, and Joe Loffredo in the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models. There was a Pure Stock Mechanic's Race that was run at the end of the night with Paul Metz Jr. capturing the checkered flag in that event.
First on the track at feature time were the Sunny 106.5 FM Pure Stocks with Caleb Bloom and Jake Foradori leading the field to the opening green flag for their 15-lap feature event. After a couple of caution flags on the opening lap, the race was finally able to get a lap completed. Foradori led lap 1 over Tim Steis and Andy Frey as they all made the pass on Bloom to move into positions 1-3 respectively. On lap 2, Josh Fields used the low line to his advantage to work his way past both Frey and Steis to move into the second spot behind Foradori. A caution for a spin on the backstretch later that lap set up another restart. After another caution flag, Fields used the lowside to make the pass on Foradori and move into the top spot on lap 3. On lap 5, Steis got around Foradori to move into second behind Fields. At the halfway mark on lap 8, it was Fields continuing to lead the way with Steis and Foradori in second and third respectively. A caution for a spin on the frontstretch later that lap brought about another restart. On the restart, Fields was able to get out to the lead as he received pressure from Steis for the top spot. The race remained under green flag conditions until a caution for a wreck in turns 3 and 4 on lap 12 brought about what would ultimately be the final restart. Steis put the pressure on Fields on the restart as they got the two-to-go signal. Steis was able to get his nose to the outside of Fields coming off of turn 4 to get the white flag. They were side-by-side at the line to get the white flag. Steis was able to use the momentum on the highside in turns 3 and 4 to complete the last lap pass on Fields and capture his fifth checkered flag of the season at the Bird. Fields, Foradori, Dennis Harrison Jr., and Andy Frey rounded out the top 5. Harrison Jr., Steis, and Fields won the heat races.
Seventeen cars made up the starting lineup for the 3rd Annual Gateway Special Tommy Scott Memorial for the Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks. Andrew Gordon and Brandon Connor led the field to the green flag for their 25-lap, $1,500+/win special. Connor got the lead on the highside on the start over Gordon and Tim Bish. Gordon worked the low line over the next handful of laps as he challenged Connor for the top spot. On lap 5, Gordon completed the pass on Connor to take the race lead. Then, on lap 7, Bish closed in on Connor and made the pass to move into second behind Gordon. The race stayed green for another lap or so before a caution for Connor spinning in turn 4 set up the first restart of the race. The caution moved Jackson Humanic into the third position for the restart. After another quick caution flag, Gordon jumped out to the lead over Bish and Humanic. On lap 10, Zack Gustafson used the inside line to his advantage to work his way past Humanic to move into the third position behind Gordon and Bish. A caution for a spin in turn 4 on lap 12 set up another restart. At the halfway point on lap 13, Gordon continued to lead the way over Bish and Gustafson. Gordon began to extend his lead over Bish, Gustafson, and the rest of the field as the laps continued to click away. At the 5-to-go signal on lap 20, Gordon maintained a comfortable lead over the field. The race remained under green flag conditions for another couple of laps until a caution for a stopped car at the pit entrance on lap 22 set up the final restart. Bish gave Gordon all he could handle in the final few laps but it was not enough as Gordon held on to collect the $1,500+ payday and notch his third win of the year at Hummingbird. Bish, Gustafson, Connor, and Jim Bloom rounded out the top 5. Gordon, Connor, and Bish won the heat races.
The Carns Equipment Super Late Models were next to the track with Wyatt Scott and Garrett Mott on the front row for their 25-lap feature race. Wyatt Scott jumped out to the lead on the start over Mott and Paul Kot. Three laps were completed before a caution for a spin in turns 1 and 2 set up the race's first restart. On the restart, Wyatt Scott pulled out to the lead over Mott and Kot. On lap 4, Bill Davis made the pass on Kot to move into the third spot behind the leaders. Another couple of laps were completed before a caution for a spin on the backstretch on lap 6 brought about another restart. Wyatt Scott led the way on the restart over Mott and Davis. On lap 10, Kot was able to close in on Davis and make the pass to retake the third position behind Wyatt Scott and Mott. Wyatt Scott had checked out on the field as the race neared its midway point. At the cross flags, it was Wyatt Scott holding a comfortable lead over Mott, Kot, and the rest of the field. A caution for a wreck in turn 4 later that lap brought about another restart. Wyatt Scott paced the field on the restart with Mott and Kot following behind. On lap 15, Kot was able to edge past Mott on the lowside to move into second. A couple of laps later, on lap 17, a caution for a mechanical issue on Kot's car forced him to the rear of the field. The caution put Kyle Scott into third for what would ultimately be the final restart. Wyatt Scott jumped out to the lead on the restart over Mott and Kyle Scott. At the 5-to-go signal on lap 20, Wyatt continued to lead the way over Mott and Kyle Scott. On lap 21, Kyle Scott made the pass on Mott to move into second. Wyatt Scott would go unchallenged in the final 4 laps on his way to winning at the Bird in his first start this season. Kyle Scott, Mott, Jerry Redden, and Orvis Newcome lll rounded out the top 5. Kot and Doug Eck won the heat races.
Jeff Manners and Mark Hahn headed the field of PA Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Modifieds to starter Bob Connor's green flag for their 15-lap main. Manners jumped out to the lead on the initial start but he was quickly passed by Hahn as he led lap one over Manners and Gene Wrightstone. Wrightstone made the pass on Manners for the second position on lap 3. A caution for a spin in turns 1 and 2 on lap 4 set up the first restart. Hahn pulled out to the lead on the restart over Wrightstone and Manners. Hahn continued to lead the way as the race neared halfway. At the halfway mark on lap 8, Hahn led the way over Wrightstone, Manners, and the rest of the field. A caution for a spin on the backstretch later that lap brought about another restart. On the ensuing restart, it was Hahn out front with Wrightstone and Manners following behind. Hahn paced the field with five laps remaining. With just a few laps left, Dale Zimmer made the pass on Manners to move into the third spot behind Hahn and Wrightstone. Wrightstone pressured Hahn for the lead in the final few laps but it was not enough as Hahn held on to pickup the win in the Modified division. With Zimmer's late-race pass on Manners, Zimmer earned the win in the Sportsman division. Wrightstone, Zimmer, Manners, Thomas Warburton, Bill Romesburg, and Fred Hildenbrand rounded out the field. Hahn won the heat race.
In Close Racing Supply Economod action, Mitchell Wright and Mike Anderson brought the twelve car field to the start of their 15-lap feature event. Wright jumped out to the lead on the start over Anderson and Dennis Lunger Jr.. On lap 2, Lunger Jr. used the low line to his advantage to work his way past Anderson and move into second behind Wright. Wright began to extend his lead over the field as the laps clicked away. At the midway point on lap 8, Wright led the way over Lunger Jr., Anderson, and the rest of the field. The race stayed green for another lap before a caution for a spin on the frontstretch set up the first restart. One lap was completed on the restart before a caution for Anderson spinning in turns 1 and 2 brought about another restart. The caution moved Bob McMillen into the third spot for the restart. After another quick caution flag, the race saw its final restart. On the final restart, Wright pulled out to the lead over Lunger Jr. and McMillen. Wright extended his lead over the field in the final five laps and never looked back on his way to picking up his first win at Hummingbird. Lunger Jr., McMillen, Orin Taylor, and Tyler Davis rounded out the top 5. Anderson and Wright won the heat races.
Joe Loffredo and Eddie Connor led the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models trackside for their 15-lap feature. Connor got the lead on the start and led lap 1 over Joe Loffredo and Nick Loffredo. One lap was completed before a caution for a stopped car in turns 3 and 4 set up the first restart. On the restart, Connor jumped out to the lead over the Loffredo's. A couple of laps were completed before another caution came out, setting up another restart. Connor pulled out to the lead on the restart. On lap 5, Joe Loffredo used the momentum on the highside to get past Connor and take the lead. A caution for a slow car on the backstretch later that lap brought about another restart. Joe Loffredo led the way on the restart with Connor and Nick Loffredo following behind. At halfway on lap 8, Loffredo continued to lead the way over Connor, Loffredo, and the rest of the field. Another lap was completed before one final caution flag came out, setting up the final restart. Connor gave it his all in the final six laps but it was to no avail as Joe Loffredo held on to capture his first feature win at the Bird. Connor, Nick Loffredo, Cheyenne Reed Jr., Doug Surra, Nick Fulmer, and Rich Runyan Jr. rounded out the field. Joe Loffredo won the heat race.
The Andy Man's Car Care Four-Cylinders capped off the night with their 15-lap feature race. Randy Albert and Jason Elensky led the field to the opening green flag. Albert jumped out to the lead on the start over Shawn Hadden and Cory Price. On lap 2, Hadden looked to the inside of Albert and made the pass to take the race lead. Then, on lap 3, Price made the pass on Albert to move into the second position. Hadden continued to lead the way over Price and Albert as the laps continued to click away. On lap 7, Blake Joiner caught and made the pass on Albert to move into the third spot behind the leaders. At the halfway point, Hadden led the way over Price, Joiner, and the rest of the field. Hadden extended his lead as the race neared its final laps. On the final lap, Joiner was able to close in on Price and make the pass to move into the runner-up position. No one had anything for Hadden as he held on to win in dominating fashion in a caution-free feature. Hadden's win was the fifth of the year at Hummingbird. Joiner, Price, Albert, and Isaac Irvin rounded out the top 5. Elensky, Albert, and Hadden won the heat races.
Speedway Notes: 94 cars filled the pits for the 3rd Annual Gateway Special Tommy Scott Memorial. That breaks down to: 18 Pure Stocks, 17 Pro Stocks, 12 Super Late Models, 7 PA Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Modifieds, 12 Economods, 7 Semi Late Models, and 21 Four-Cylinders. Next Saturday will feature a regular six division program plus the Young Guns Jr Sprints as they make their next to last visit of the 2021 season. Also, the final race of the PAGO Powderpuff Series in the Andy Man's Car Care Four-Cylinders will be run. 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:
Sunny 106.5 FM Pure Stocks
1st) #34 Tim Steis
2nd) #88 Josh Fields
3rd) #14 Jake Foradori
4th) #42H Dennis Harrison Jr.
5th) #55X Andy Frey
6th) #46 Dustin Challingsworth
7th) #33 Jenna Pfaff
8th) #37B Caleb Bloom
9th) #14C Cody Cassler
10th) #72G Wayne Garvey
11th) #121 Jake Valasek
12th) #80R Cory Wolfe
13th) #97W Cody Wolfe
14th) #13 Shawnee Sturgeon
15th) #6/2P Casey Wolfe
16th) #50 Ashley Kilhoffer
17th) #24 Lester Hudson
18th) #31H Bob Holt
Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks
1st) #25 Andrew Gordon
2nd) #11B Tim Bish
3rd) #983 Zack Gustafson
4th) #55 Brandon Connor
5th) #37A Jim Bloom
6th) #54J Jamie Colwell
7th) #17 Jackson Humanic
8th) #84S Joshua Seippel
9th) #44 Jim Challingsworth
10th) #2 Cregen Brady
11th) #24W Erik Wise
12th) #39B Josh Blum
13th) #104 Allen Lamb
14th) #35 Brian Fabiano
15th) #73 Brian Dougherty
16th) #56C Richard Chess
17th) #101 Bruce Hartzfeld
Carns Equipment Super Late Models
1st) #X3 Wyatt Scott
2nd) #3 Kyle Scott
3rd) #43X Garrett Mott
4th) #5R Jerry Redden
5th) #66N Orvis Newcome lll
6th) #00 Eric Moore
7th) #48 Kyle Nicholas
8th) #56 Dylan Fenton
9th) #3-D Bill Davis
10th) #13X Paul Kot
11th) #64 Scott Alvetro
12th) #20 Doug Eck
PA Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Modifieds
1st) #14 Mark Hahn
2nd) #10 Gene Wrightstone
3rd) #21W Dale Zimmer*
4th) #16 Jeff Manners*
5th) #31 Thomas Warburton
6th) #13 Bill Romesburg
7th) #A Fred Hildenbrand
* - Sportsman Division
Close Racing Supply Economods
1st) #M1 Mitchell Wright
2nd) #71L Dennis Lunger Jr.
3rd) #50 Bob McMillen
4th) #21T Orin Taylor
5th) #14D Tyler Davis
6th) #76 Mike Anderson
7th) #52 Zac Etzel
8th) #1 Vincent DePizzo
9th) #1M Gary Miller Jr.
10th) #C17 Brad Curran Jr.
11th) #83E Ed Vogel
12th) #16V Rod Vogel
Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models
1st) #9J Joe Loffredo
2nd) #27C Eddie Connor
3rd) #9N Nick Loffredo
4th) #12JR Cheyenne Reed Jr.
5th) #3xAA Doug Surra
6th) #2 Nick Fulmer
7th) #18 Rich Runyan Jr.
Andy Man's Car Care Four-Cylinders
1st) #3H Shawn Hadden
2nd) #569 Blake Joiner
3rd) #88 Cory Price
4th) #17 Randy Albert
5th) #14I Isaac Irvin
6th) #25D Devin Kaufman
7th) #24K Kevin Killinger
8th) #11L Chad Lidwell
9th) #23JR Bill Phillips Jr.
10th) #53X Dylan Yastro
11th) #6 Adam Pluebell
12th) #8K Christina Killinger
13th) #16D Mike Shobert
14th) #76K Carl Killinger
15th) #62N Martin Neeper
16th) #53 Jason Dotts
17th) #65 Louis Young
18th) #35 Heidi Miller
19th) #57 Jason Elensky
20th) #98E Ernie Irvin
21st) #11 Jim Boyer
Sunny 106.5 FM Pure Stocks - Mechanic's Race
1st) #14C Paul Metz Jr.
2nd) #72G Andy Akers
3rd) #14 Dominic Marchiori
4th) #37B Jacob Carfley
5th) #42H Dennis Harrison lll
6th) #31H Dan Holt