Surra, Joiner, Miller Jr., Schaffer, Connor, and Frey Are 2021 Champions At Hummingbird
For Immediate Release
Saturday, September 4th, 2021
By: Steven Curry - Race Reporter
Reynoldsville- After two consecutive weeks of rainouts, racing returned to Hummingbird Speedway on Saturday night for Season Championship Night. Double points were awarded in all six of our divisions as we crowned our 2021 point champions. A whopping 119 cars filled the pit area which made for a very exciting night of racing across all divisions. A couple of drivers found themselves in victory lane for the first time this season including: Gabe Shaffer in the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models and Jim Bloom in the Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks. All of the other winners added to their win totals including: Blake Joiner in the Andy Man's Car Care Four-Cylinders, Gary Miller Jr. in the Close Racing Supply Economods, Jon Lee in the Carns Equipment Super Late Models, and Bryce Swauger in the Sunny 106.5 FM Pure Stocks. At the end of the night, the 2021 point champions were crowned. Doug Surra earned his fourth career track championship and his third in the Semi Late Model division. Brandon Connor captured his fourth track title and his fourth in the Pro Stocks. Blake Joiner, Gary Miller Jr., Kenny Schaffer, and Andy Frey all clinched their first career championships in their respective divisions. The final race of the PAGO PowderPuff Series was run as well with Stephanie Mayes picking up the win in the race and in the points chase to become the Inaugural PAGO PowderPuff Series points champion.
The Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models kicked off the feature racing action with Gabe Shaffer and Joe Loffredo leading a nearly full-field to the green flag of their 20-lap feature race. After three caution flags to start, the race was finally able to get a lap completed. Shaffer got the lead on the restart following the caution flags and led lap 1 over Joe Loffredo and Paul Ivory. The first lap was completed before another caution flag came out, setting up the first extended green flag run. Shaffer jumped out to the lead on the restart over Joe Loffredo and Ivory. On lap 3, Ivory used the lowline to his advantage to work his way past Joe Loffredo to move into the second spot. Shaffer began to extend his lead a bit as the laps clicked away. The race stayed green until lap 8 when a caution for a stopped car on the highside of turns 1 and 2 brought about the final restart of the race. On the final restart, Shaffer got the lead over Ivory and Joe Loffredo. At the halfway mark on lap 10, Shaffer continued to lead over Ivory and Joe Loffredo. Shaffer extended his lead as the 5-to-go signal was displayed. Shaffer went unchallenged in the final laps on his way to capturing his first checkered flag of the season at the Bird. Ivory, Joe Loffredo, Eddie Connor, and Doug Surra rounded out the top 5. Doug Surra clinched the points championship in the Semi Late Models by a narrow 10 point margin over second place Eddie Connor. Doug's championship is the fourth of his career and his third in the Semi Lates. Shaffer, Joe Loffredo, and Ivory won the heat races.
D.J. Clark and Shawn Hadden led a full-field of Andy Man's Car Care Four-Cylinders trackside for their 15-lap feature event. Hadden jumped out to the lead on the start over Clark and Blake Joiner. Hadden continued to lead the way over Clark and Joiner as the laps clicked away. On lap 6, a caution for Clark and Hadden getting together while battling for the lead set up the first and only restart of the race. The caution forced both Clark and Hadden to retire from the race, which dashed Hadden's title hopes. That moved Joiner into the race lead with Jimmy Ogden and Jeff Huber in second and third for the restart. On the restart, Joiner pulled out to the lead over Ogden and Jeff Huber. At the halfway point on lap 8, Joiner continued to lead the way with Ogden and Jeff Huber in second and third respectively. Joiner extended his lead over Ogden, Jeff Huber, and the rest of the field in the closing laps. Joiner would go on to maintain his lead and pick up his sixth win of the season as well as the 2021 points championship. Ogden, Jeff Huber, Eric Luzier, and Ryan Lippert rounded out the top 5. Blake Joiner won the points championship in the Four-Cylinders by a 44 point margin over Shawn Hadden. Blake's championship is the first of his career. Clark, Hadden, Joiner, and Ogden won the heat races.
The Close Racing Supply Economods were next to the track for their 15-lap main. Mike Anderson and Gary Miller Jr. led the field to the opening green flag. Anderson got the lead on the start over Miller Jr. and Bob McMillen. Anderson began to extend his lead over the field as the laps passed by. At the midway point on lap 8, Anderson continued to lead the way by a healthy margin over Miller Jr. and McMillen. The race stayed green until lap 11 when a caution for a spin in turn 4 brought about the first restart of the race. On the restart, Anderson jumped out to the lead over Miller Jr. and McMillen. Anderson built a bit of a lead over the field as they got the two-to-go signal. A caution came out later that lap for a spin on the backstretch, setting up another restart. On the ensuing restart, Anderson got the lead with Miller Jr. and McMillen in hot pursuit. As they came to get the white flag, Miller Jr. and Anderson were side-by-side for the lead as Ed Vogel edged McMillen out for third. Miller Jr., McMillen, and Vogel all got together going down the backstretch on the final lap, bringing out one final caution flag. The caution forced McMillen out of the race, ending his championship hopes. That made the top 3 Miller Jr., Anderson, and Vogel for the final restart. Miller Jr. and Anderson ran side-by-side for the lead on the final restart as Vogel was challenged for third by Dennis Asel. Miller Jr. cleared Anderson as the white flag was displayed. Behind them, Asel completed the pass on Vogel to move into the third spot. Miller Jr. held on to the lead on the final lap enroute to taking his second trip to victory lane this season. Anderson, Asel, Tyler Davis, and Lane Reinwald rounded out the top 5. Gary Miller Jr. became the first points champion in the newly-formed Economod division. He won it by 29 points over Mike Anderson. Anderson and Miller Jr. won the heat races.
Doug Eck and Jon Lee led the Carns Equipment Super Late Models to the track for their 25-lap feature. Lee jumped out to the lead on the start with Eck in second and Kenny Schaffer in third. Lee led the way for the opening eight laps or so before a caution for a spin in turns 1 and 2 set up the first restart of the race. On the restart, Lee pulled out to the point over Eck and Schaffer. On lap 9, Jeremy Ohl made the pass on Schaffer to move into the third position behind Lee and Eck. Lee began to extend his lead over the field as the race neared halfway. At the cross flags on lap 13, Lee continued to lead the way over Eck, Ohl, and the rest of the field. The race remained under green flag conditions for another couple of laps before a caution flag came out, bringing about another restart. On the ensuing restart, Lee got out to the lead over Eck and Ohl. At the five-to-go signal on lap 20, Lee continued to be on cruise control with Eck and Ohl in second and third respectively. Later that lap, newcomer Kenny Schaltenbrand worked his way past Ohl to move into third. The race stayed green all the way until the final lap when a caution for a spin in turns 3 and 4 set up one final restart. Lee rode the cushion in the final couple of laps to victory for his second win of the season at Hummingbird. Eck, Schaltenbrand, John Wayne Weaver, and Schaffer rounded out the top 5. Kenny Schaffer won the championship in the Super Late Models by a mere 20 points over second place Doug Eck. Schaffer's championship is the first of his career. Eck, Lee, and Del Rougeux won the heat races.
The 20-lap Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stock feature event was next to the track with Brandon Connor and Jim Bloom leading the field to the green flag. A few caution flags to start the race kept the field close. Only a lap or two was completed through the cautions with Connor leading the way over Bloom and Jay Blum. On the restart following the cautions, Connor jumped out to the lead with Bloom and Blum following behind. A few more laps were completed, to lap 5, before another caution flag came out. On the ensuing restart, Connor pulled out to the lead once again over Bloom and Blum. On lap 7 or 8, Bloom began to challenge Connor for the top spot on the lowside. The battle persisted as the leaders came to the cross flags on lap 10. The race remained under green flag conditions until lap 12 when a caution for a spin in turns 1 and 2 brought about another restart. One lap was completed on the restart before a caution for a spin by Blum set up the final restart. The caution flag put Cregen Brady into the third position behind Connor and Bloom. On the final restart, Bloom took his car right to the bottom of the track in turns 1 and 2 and was able to complete the pass on Connor to take the top spot. With five laps remaining, Bloom led the way over Connor and Brady. Connor began to close back in on Bloom in the final laps, setting up a fantastic finish. On the final lap, Connor actually got to the inside of Bloom as they battled side-by-side. At the line, it was Bloom edging out Connor by about half a car length to capture his first checkered flag of the season. Connor, Brady, Michael Miller, and Stan Mayhew rounded out the top 5. Brandon Connor clinched the championship in the Pro Stocks by a comfortable 123 points over Jamie Colwell. Connor's championship is his fourth track championship and fourth in the Pro Stock division. Connor and Bloom won the heat races.
Season Championship Night was capped off with the 15-lap Sunny 106.5 FM Pure Stock feature. Tim Steis and Cody Cassler led the nearly full-field of cars to the opening green flag. Steis jumped out to the point on the start as Jenna Pfaff and Bryce Swauger both got by Cassler to move into second and third respectively. On lap 2, Swauger looked to the inside of Pfaff and made the pass to move into second behind Steis. Three laps were completed before a caution for a spin in turn 3 set up the first restart. Another lap was completed on the restart before another caution flag came out just after Josh Fields took the third position from Pfaff. A number of caution flags plagued the first half of the race which kept the field close. At the halfway mark on lap 8, Steis led the way with Swauger in second and Fields in third. The race stayed green for another lap until a caution for a spin in turn 4 on lap 9 brought about another restart. On lap 11, Fields spun out but kept moving to keep the race under green flag conditions. That moved Jake Foradori into the third spot behind Steis and Swauger just before another caution flag came out. Swauger began to close in a bit on Steis as they got the two-to-go signal. One final caution flag came out just before the leaders got the white flag. On the final restart, Steis jumped out to the lead over Swauger and Foradori. Foradori was quickly challenged by Dennis Harrison Jr. for third. Harrison Jr. made the pass on Foradori for third as the leaders got the white flag. Swauger stuck the nose of his car to the inside of Steis going into turns 3 and 4 on the final lap. They exited 3 and 4 side-by-side before a cut tire sent Steis spinning, giving the win to Swauger. Harrison Jr., Foradori, Andy Frey, and Casey Wolfe rounded out the top 5. Frey was able to clinch the championship in the Pure Stocks by 30 points over Dennis Harrison Jr.. Frey's championship is the first of his career. Steis, Cassler, and Pfaff won the heat races. Cassler's heat win was the first of his career.
Speedway Notes: 119 cars packed the pit area for Season Championship Night. That breaks down to: 23 Semi Late Models, 31 Four-Cylinders, 11 Economods, 18 Super Late Models, 15 Pro Stocks, and 21 Pure Stocks. Next Saturday will feature our final race of the 2021 season with the running of the 2nd Annual Spider Barnett Memorial for the Super Late Models. The race will be extra laps and will have an increased payout. All the rest of our regular divisions will be in action as well plus the Young Guns Jr Sprints will make their final visit of the season. 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:
Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Late Models
1st) #28S Gabe Shaffer
2nd) #4A Paul Ivory
3rd) #9J Joe Loffredo
4th) #27C Eddie Connor
5th) #3xAA Doug Surra
6th) #69 Gary Little
7th) #5X Nick Erskine
8th) #D1 Brandon Debrakeleer
9th) #16 Jack Sarnovsky
10th) #2 Nick Fulmer
11th) #38S Justin Owens
12th) #49 George Bailey
13th) #12JR Cheyenne Reed Jr.
14th) #8L Eric Lucas
15th) #13C Larry Conklin Jr.
16th) #60 Jeremy Lippert
17th) #25K Merv Killion
18th) #23JR Bill Phillips Jr.
19th) #18 Rich Runyan Jr.
20th) #11W Cody Wissinger
21st) #152 Kyle Corah
22nd) #9N Nick Loffredo
23rd) #68L Ron Laubscher
Andy Man's Car Care Four-Cylinders
1st) #569 Blake Joiner
2nd) #007 Jimmy Ogden
3rd) #42 Jeff Huber
4th) #6L Eric Luzier
5th) #58R Ryan Lippert
6th) #17 Randy Albert
7th) #11L Chad Lidwell
8th) #92A Anthony Sones
9th) #419 Matthew Brown
10th) #03C Coty Maines
11th) #72 Tanner Ogden
12th) #54S Mitch Stiles
13th) #25D Devin Kaufman
14th) #79W Josh Whetstone
15th) #24K Kevin Killinger
16th) #43 Shane Wagner
17th) #419B John Brown
18th) #88 Cory Price
19th) #62N Martin Neeper
20th) #35 Heidi Miller
21st) #3H Shawn Hadden
22nd) #7 D.J. Clark
23rd) #8H Joe Huber
24th) #4 Trevor Hoffman
DNQ: Christina Killinger, Carl Killinger, Larry Conklin, Jake Pennington, Louis Young, Jason Elensky, Krysten Whetstone
Close Racing Supply Economods
1st) #1M Gary Miller Jr.
2nd) #76 Mike Anderson
3rd) #0 Dennis Asel
4th) #14D Tyler Davis
5th) #L5 Lane Reinwald
6th) #83E Ed Vogel
7th) #71 Nate Fleck
8th) #66 Ian Degolier
9th) #21T Orin Taylor
10th) #122 Mark Bell
11th) #50 Bob McMillen
Carns Equipment Super Late Models
1st) #5L Jon Lee
2nd) #20 Doug Eck
3rd) #29 Kenny Schaltenbrand
4th) #W3 John Wayne Weaver
5th) #13X Kenny Schaffer
6th) #36 Paul Kot
7th) #9 Levi Yetter
8th) #1S Rod Phillips
9th) #3-D Bill Davis
10th) #5R Jerry Redden
11th) #11V Curtis Teats
12th) #66N Orvis Newcome lll
13th) #5J Jeremy Ohl
14th) #34 Joey Malobicky Jr.
15th) #43X Garrett Mott
16th) #28D Del Rougeux
17th) #29L Johnny Lindenpitz
18th) #27W Eric Wilson
Cypress Clock & Gift Shop Pro Stocks
1st) #37A Jim Bloom
2nd) #55 Brandon Connor
3rd) #2 Cregen Brady
4th) #Tri6 Michael Miller
5th) #11S Stan Mayhew
6th) #24W Erik Wise
7th) #35 Brian Fabiano
8th) #51J Jay Blum
9th) #81D Duke Davidson
10th) #8 Rich Waltman Jr.
11th) #54J Jamie Colwell
12th) #11Y Dale Yeaney
13th) #60 Derek Lippert
14th) #44 Jim Challingsworth
15th) #43 Pernell Beimel
PAGO PowderPuff Series - Race 4 of 4
1st) #25D Stephanie Mayes
2nd) #58R Samantha Lippert
3rd) #57 ???
4th) #3H Tessa Spearing
5th) #6L Melanie Luzier
6th) #24K Erika Killinger
7th) #62N Tori Rothrock
Sunny 106.5 FM Pure Stocks
1st) #28 Bryce Swauger
2nd) #42H Dennis Harrison Jr.
3rd) #50 Jake Foradori
4th) #55X Andy Frey
5th) #6/2P Casey Wolfe
6th) #88 Josh Fields
7th) #113 Ben Ecelberger
8th) #33 Jenna Pfaff
9th) #72G Wayne Garvey
10th) #37B Noah Bloom
11th) #97W Cody Wolfe
12th) #14C Cody Cassler
13th) #13 Shawnee Sturgeon
14th) #21M Ron Majewsky
15th) #34 Tim Steis
16th) #31H Bob Holt
17th) #29 Kyle Lindemuth
18th) #21Y Nathan Yeaney
19th) #24 Lester Hudson
20th) #1 Okaley Wolfe
21st) #46 Dustin Challingsworth