McMillen, Erskine, Steis, And Hadden Add To 2022 Win Totals At The Bird
For Immediate Release
Saturday, August 20th, 2022
By: Steven Curry - Race Reporter
Reynoldsville- After a brief light shower passed over the speedway just before race time, it was time to go racing on Saturday night at Hummingbird Speedway for the twelfth time in 2022. The Young Guns Jr Sprints made their fourth and final visit to the Bird this season with the #6 of Brandt Cramer taking his first Hummingbird Speedway checkered flag. In our six regular divisions, four drivers added to their win totals while two others found victory lane for the first time this year. In the Carns Powersports/Mountain Extreme Super Late Models, it was the #27 of Michael Lake taking the checkered flag, his first win at the track in 2022 as well as his 3rd career. In the Andy Man's Car Care Economods, the #50 of Bob McMillen collected his third career Economod victory, putting him in a three-way tie for first on the relatively new division's win list. The #5X of Nick Erskine earned his fourth winner's check of the season in the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models. The win was Erskine's 24th career win in the division at the track, which continues to be the most of any driver. The #983 of Zack Gustafson was victorious for the first time this year in the Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks. The win was Gustafson's second career in the division at Hummingbird. In the PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau Pure Stocks, the #34 of Tim Steis took his second trip of the season to Carns Powersports/Mountain Extreme victory lane. It was Steis's 17th career Pure Stock win at the Bird. The #3H of Shawn Hadden notched a whopping sixth win of the season in the Sunny 106 Four-Cylinders. The win was Hadden's 15th career Four-Cylinder win at Hummingbird. His six wins thus far tie him with Pure Stock driver Josh Fields for the most wins by a single driver so far this season. Also, in addition to the on-track activity, the fans helped raise $1,231 for Kole "Ripper" Colwell, the son of sprint car driver Kyle "Honey Badger" Colwell, who was seriously injured in a karting accident on Thursday.
The Young Guns Jr Sprints kicked off the feature racing action with Randy White and Colton Guiher on the front row for their 10-lap feature. Guiher got out to the lead on the start and led the opening lap as Brandt Cramer and Easton Corbin both made their way past White to move into the second and third positions respectively. On lap 3, Corbin made the pass on Cramer to move into second behind Guiher. At halfway on lap 5, it was Guiher continuing to lead the way as Cramer was able to retake the second spot from Corbin on the inside of turns 3 and 4. The race among the top 3 heated up as the race entered its closing laps. On lap 8, Corbin made the pass on Cramer for second once again as Corbin took a look to the inside of Guiher for the lead. Guiher was able to fend off the challenge from Corbin as Cramer took advantage and moved back into second as the field came to get the white flag. Cramer looked to the inside of Guiher in turns 3 and 4 of the final lap and made the pass to take the lead and get the win as Corbin followed Cramer past Guiher to finish second with Guiher then in third. The full field rundown was as follows: Cramer, Corbin, Guiher, Karley Miller, and White. Miller won the heat race.
Dylan Cecce and Paul Kot led the Carns Powersports/Mountain Extreme Super Late Models trackside for their 25-lap feature event. The field made it to turns 1 and 2 on the start before Kot lost the handle on his car and spun in front of the field, collecting three others. The caution forced Kot and two of the three other cars involved to retire from the race. That moved Michael Lake to the outside of row 1 alongside Cecce for the restart. Lake jumped out to the lead on the restart and led lap 1 over Cecce and Scott Alvetro. On lap 2, Denny Fenton worked his way past Alvetro on the lowside to move into third behind Lake and Cecce. Fenton got the second position from Cecce a couple of laps later, on lap 4, before the caution flag was displayed for Cecce off the pace on the highside of turns 1 and 2. Cecce took his car to the pit area and retired from the race. That moved Alvetro back into the third spot for the restart. Three laps were completed on the restart, to lap 7, before the caution flag was displayed for debris on the frontstretch. After another quick caution flag with just one additional lap getting completed, it was Lake out to the lead over Fenton and Alvetro. At the halfway mark on lap 13, it was Lake continuing to lead the way over Fenton and Alvetro. The race stayed green until lap 17 or so when the caution flag was thrown for a spin on the frontstretch. On the final restart of the race, it was Lake out to the lead once again over Fenton and Alvetro. On lap 21, Fenton got loose in turns 3 and 4 which allowed Alvetro to get by and move into second behind Lake. Lake would go unchallenged in the final four laps enroute to his first win of the season at Hummingbird in his second visit. Alvetro, Denny Fenton, Rich Runyan Jr., Dylan Fenton, Johnny Lindenpitz, Cecce, Kot, Dwayne Brooks, Derek Rodkey, and Joe Loffredo rounded out the field. Lake and Loffredo won the heat races.
The Andy Man's Car Care Economods took to the track next with their 15-lap feature race. Orin Taylor and Bob McMillen led the field to the green flag. McMillen jumped out to the lead on the start and led the opening lap as Royce Stanley Jr. moved into the second position after a pass on Taylor. Then, on lap 3, Nate Fleck made his way past Taylor to move into third behind McMillen and Stanley Jr.. The first and only caution flag of the race was displayed on lap 4 for a spin on the backstretch. On the final restart, McMillen led the way over Stanley Jr. and Fleck. On lap 6, Taylor made his way back past Fleck to move back into the third spot behind the leaders. At the halfway point on lap 8, it was McMillen continuing to lead the way over Stanley Jr. and Taylor. Stanley Jr. gave it all he had in the closing laps to try to put the pressure on McMillen, but it was to no avail as McMillen held on for his third win of the season as well as his third career Economod win. McMillen was followed by: Stanley Jr., Taylor, Mike Anderson, Alex Siekkinen, Josh Fields, Fleck, and Brad Curran Jr.. Stanley Jr. won the heat race.
Dan Smeal and Nick Erskine led the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models to the 1/3 mile bullring for their 20-lap main. Smeal and Erskine raced side-by-side for most of the opening lap before Erskine edged ahead of Smeal at the line to lead lap 1 over Smeal and Nick Loffredo. On lap 2, Smeal got loose in turns 3 and 4 which allowed Loffredo and Kyle Shannon to get by and move into second and third respectively behind Erskine. Erskine continued to lead the way over Loffredo and Shannon as the race neared halfway. At the cross flags on lap 10, it was Erskine still out front over Loffredo and Shannon. On lap 15, Doug Surra used the inside line to his advantage to make the pass on Shannon to move into third behind Erskine and Loffredo. Erskine would go unchallenged in the remaining five laps on his way to capturing his fourth checkered flag of the season at the Bird in a caution-free feature. The win was Erskine's 24th career Semi Late victory at the speedway, the most of any driver in the division. Loffredo, Surra, Shannon, Smeal, Dennis Curry, and Andy Vancuren rounded out the field. Shannon won the heat race.
The Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks were next to the track for their 20-lap feature. Fuzzy Fields and Jim Bloom led the field to the green flag. Fields pulled out to the lead on the start and led the opening lap as Bob Connor made the pass on Bloom to be in second and third respectively. A quick couple of caution flags after the first lap was completed kept the field close. On the restart following the cautions, it was Fields out to the lead over Connor and Bloom. On lap 5, a mechanical issue on Bloom's car forced him to the pit area. That moved Zack Gustafson into the third position. Later that lap, a wreck involving both of the leaders, Fields and Connor, brought out the caution flag once again. The wreck forced Fields to retire from the race and Connor was able to return after some quick repairs. Gustafson assumed the lead after the caution with Jay Blum and Connor following behind. The race was shortened to 15-laps after the wreck due to the low number of cars and the number involved in the wreck. On the final restart of the race, it was Gustafson leading the way over Blum and Connor. At halfway on lap 8, it was Gustafson still out front as Connor was able to grab the second spot from Blum on the inside of turns 3 and 4. Connor gave it all he had in the closing laps with a damaged car to close in on Gustafson, but it was not enough as Gustafson held on for his first win of 2022. Gustafson was followed by: Connor, Blum, Bloom, Fields, Amber Brady, Brian Fabiano, and Shawnee Sturgeon. Connor won the heat race.
Jake Foradori and Jenna Pfaff led a field of 14 PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau Pure Stocks trackside for their 15-lap feature race. A quick caution flag on the start involving Pfaff kept the field close to start. The wreck forced Pfaff to the pit area for some quick repairs and then she returned to the race. One lap was completed before the caution flag was displayed. The caution moved Tim Steis and newcomer Mike Parmenter into second and third for the restart. On the restart, it was Foradori out to the lead over Steis and Parmenter. One additional lap was completed before a caution for a spin in turns 3 and 4. On the ensuing restart, Foradori got out to the lead briefly as he was hounded for the top spot by Steis with Parmenter following behind both of them. Steis made the pass on Foradori on the inside of turns 3 and 4 to take the race lead on lap 3. At the halfway mark on lap 8, it was Steis continuing to lead the way over Foradori, Parmenter, and the rest of the field. Another lap was completed before a caution for a spin in turns 1 and 2 on lap 9 brought about another restart. Steis pulled out to the lead on the restart over Foradori and Parmenter. On lap 10, Josh Fields used the high line to his advantage to make the pass on Parmenter for third. Another couple of laps were completed, to lap 12, before the final caution flag of the race was displayed for a stopped car on the inside of turns 1 and 2. On the final restart, it was Steis pacing the field with Foradori and Fields following behind. Fields made the pass on Foradori on the inside of turns 3 and 4, just before the field took the white flag. It was too little too late for Fields as his trek from the back of the field came up one spot short as Steis held on for his second win of the season at Hummingbird. The win was Steis's 17th career Pure Stock win at the track. Fields, Foradori, Dalton Gustafson, Parmenter, Dustin Challingsworth, Casey Wolfe, David Lowe, Andy Frey, Caleb Bloom, Devin Dickey, Jon Caine, Pfaff, Cody Wolfe, and Wayne Truitt rounded out the field. Fields, Parmenter, and Steis won the heat races.
The Sunny 106 Four-Cylinders concluded the evening with their 15-lap feature event. Travis Timko (subbing for Joe Beningo) and Shawn Hadden led the field to the opening green flag. Hadden jumped out to the lead on the start as Zack Frantz (subbing for Travis Timko) and Dave Smail both made their way around Timko to move into second and third respectively. Hadden began to extend his lead over Frantz, Smail, and the rest of the field as the laps clicked away. At the halfway point on lap 8, it was Hadden with a fairly comfortable lead over the field with Frantz and Smail in second and third. Hadden maintained his lead over the field the rest of the way enroute to his sixth win of the season at the Bird in a caution-free feature. The win for Hadden was his 15th career Four-Cylinder victory. The win also tied him with Pure Stock driver Josh Fields for the most wins by a driver at Hummingbird in 2022 with six. Hadden was followed by: Frantz, Smail, Ernie Irvin, Timko, Dennis Harrison Jr., Heidi Miller, and Isaac Irvin. Frantz won the heat race.
Speedway Notes: 62 cars were in attendance for the 12th night of racing. That breaks down to: 5 Young Guns Jr Sprints, 11 Super Late Models, 8 Economods, 7 Semi Late Models, 8 Pro Stocks, 15 Pure Stocks, and 8 Four-Cylinders. We will be back in action this coming Saturday, August 27th, with Season Championship Night. Double points will be awarded in all six of our divisions. Join us this Saturday as we crown our 2022 Hummingbird Speedway Point Champions! 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 Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.
Results:
Young Guns Jr Sprints
1st) #6 Brandt Cramer
2nd) #7E Easton Corbin
3rd) #3 Colton Guiher
4th) #26 Karley Miller
5th) #85 Randy White
Carns Powersports/Mountain Extreme Super Late Models
1st) #27 Michael Lake
2nd) #64 Scott Alvetro
3rd) #55 Denny Fenton
4th) #18 Rich Runyan Jr.
5th) #56 Dylan Fenton
6th) #29L Johnny Lindenpitz
7th) #18* Dylan Cecce
8th) #36 Paul Kot
9th) #1B Dwayne Brooks
10th) #14R Derek Rodkey
11th) #9J Joe Loffredo
Andy Man's Car Care Economods
1st) #50 Bob McMillen
2nd) #57S Royce Stanley Jr.
3rd) #21T Orin Taylor
4th) #76 Mike Anderson
5th) #20 Alex Siekkinen
6th) #88 Josh Fields
7th) #71 Nate Fleck
8th) #C17 Brad Curran Jr.
Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models
1st) #5X Nick Erskine
2nd) #9N Nick Loffredo
3rd) #3xAA Doug Surra
4th) #11 Kyle Shannon
5th) #44 Dan Smeal
6th) #75 Dennis Curry
7th) #15 Andy Vancuren
Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks
1st) #983 Zack Gustafson
2nd) #V2 Bob Connor
3rd) #51J Jay Blum
4th) #37A Jim Bloom
5th) #28 Fuzzy Fields
6th) #27 Amber Brady
7th) #35 Brian Fabiano
8th) #13 Shawnee Sturgeon
PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau Pure Stocks
1st) #34 Tim Steis
2nd) #88 Josh Fields
3rd) #14 Jake Foradori
4th) #4 Dalton Gustafson
5th) #34X Mike Parmenter
6th) #46 Dustin Challingsworth
7th) #6/2P Casey Wolfe
8th) #21 David Lowe
9th) #55X Andy Frey
10th) #37B Caleb Bloom
11th) #18 Devin Dickey
12th) #50 Jon Caine (subbing for Ashley Kilhoffer)
13th) #33 Jenna Pfaff
14th) #97W Cody Wolfe
15th) #54 Wayne Truitt
Sunny 106 Four-Cylinders
1st) #3H Shawn Hadden
2nd) #910 Zack Frantz (subbing for Travis Timko)
3rd) #81S Dave Smail
4th) #98E Ernie Irvin
5th) #21 Travis Timko (subbing for Joe Beningo)
6th) #42H Dennis Harrison Jr.
7th) #35K Heidi Miller
8th) #14I Isaac Irvin