Dave Scott Comes Out of Retirement to Win 3rd Annual Eric Witherite Memorial

Reynoldsville- The 18th consecutive season at Hummingbird Speedway came to a close Saturday night, but not before making history in several ways. After a rash of rainouts, fans and drivers were treated to a combination of the 3rd Annual Eric Witherite Memorial, along with the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau Fall Fest. First, the youngest driver ever to win a track championship was crowned, and by only one point. Shortly thereafter, two drivers who battled hard throughout the season would find themselves in a tie for first place in points, which is a first in the Speedway’s whole history. The night would be capped off by a father/son tandem of drivers each finding victory lane in the same class on the same night, also something that has never been done at ‘The Bird’, if anywhere at all.

Greg Blystone of Indiana and Mike Anderson of Dubois led the Sunny106 Pure Stocks Trackside for the first event of the evening. It was the season championship race that was rained out two weeks ago, with a very tight points battle heading in. Blystone jumped to the early lead followed by Anderson and Justin Watt. Blystone would go on to lead the first ten laps of the race with Anderson in tow. Anderson would make his move for the lead on the tenth lap, and go on to lead the remain five circuits. Blystone would finish second, followed by Watt, Raven Fuller, and Andy Frey. With Fuller finishing ahead of Frey at the finish line, he would move ahead of Andy Frey for the points lead and become the youngest ever track champion at only 16-years of age.

Nick Erskine of Bells Landing and Joe Martin of Mahaffey made up the front row of the first of two Swanson Heavy Truck Repair feature events. This one was also a Season Championship double-points event. Martin jumped out to the early lead followed by Erskine and “Fast Eddy” Connor. Connor was able to overtake Erskine on lap 2 for the second spot. Martin and Connor would hold onto the top two positions, but a late-race caution would restack the field. Erskine was then able to retake the second spot away from Connor, but a super-smooth Joe Martin would continue to stretch out his lead. Martin would go on to lead the final five laps and claim his first victory at The Bird. Erskine, Connor, Cheyenne Reed and Adam Nixon would round out the top five. The points leader going into the race, Doug Surra, was the sixth place car. Erskine was trailing Surra headed into the evening by 22 points. Coincidentally, the points gap between second and sixth on a double-points night was 22 points, leaving Erskine and Surra tied for the lead as the season concluded. For the first time in its 30-season history, Hummingbird Speedway would award track championships to two drivers in one division.

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The main event of the evening was The 3rd Annual Eric Witherite Memorial Late Model Special. Jon Lee and Andrew Wylie led the field as the field set their sights on over $3000/win including lap money in the 35-lap feature event. Flagman Bob Connor showed the field of twenty four late models the green flag, and one of the most memorable races in Hummingbird History was underway. Wylie jumped to the early lead over Lee, with Dan Angelecchio of Mt. Pleasant in third, followed by the red-hot Michael Lake of Uniontown in fourth, and 2018 Track Champion, Chris Farrell, in fifth. Colbey Frye would come to a stop in turn two, resetting the field. Two laps later, Angelecchio would also experience some mechanical issues, causing him to stop on the track and retire for the evening. On the ensuing start, the recently-retired “Slow Ride” Dave Scott would work his way under Farrell to enter the top-four. By lap ten Lee was starting to look for a way around Wylie for the lead. Lee would make his move and overtake Wylie for the lead on lap twelve. Wylie, Lake, and Scott would end up engaging in an incredible three-wide battle for second place. The three drivers ran door-to-door and even swapped lanes for a couple laps, but Wylie would eventually fall off the pace leaving Lake and Scott to battle for second. Lee and Scott pulled away from Lake and began to maneuver through lapped traffic. A caution on lap-16 would restore order to the racing surface, and as the dust settled, Lee would retain his lead followed by Scott, Lake, Farrell, and Wylie. Brockway native, Paul Kot, would also find himself in sixth after starting seventeenth. On the restart, Scott started to look for a lane under Lee and challenge for the lead. Lake wasn’t going away and was also trying to get into second and challenge for the lead. Lake would eventually lose his grip and fall behind the top-two. Scott finally pulled alongside Lee but couldn’t complete a pass before the final caution fell on lap 20.After the restart, Scott picked up where he left off by pulling alongside Lee in pursuit of the lead. Scott would utilize the inside line to make the pass, but Lee would get the run off the middle to retake the lead. Scott would finally make his move and overtake the leader on lap 24. Kot would also get by Lake for fourth on the same lap, with Farrell retaining the third position. As the laps would wind down, Dave Scott stretched his lead to half a straightaway, with Lee in a comfortable second, followed by Farrell and Kot dueling for third. As the checkered flag dropped, it was the “Slow Ride” of Dave Scott claiming the big check, followed by Lee, Farrell, Kot, and Lake. A jubilant crowd showed their approval of the results, as Scott entered victory lane accompanied by his son, and fellow competitor Wyatt.

The father/son duo of Dave and Wyatt Scott weren’t finished yet, as Wyatt Scott would go on to win the Season Championship make-up race later in the evening for the BWP Bats Late Models, followed by Chris Farrell and Jon Lee. Joe Martin would also go onto win the second feature in the evening in the Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi Lates. Mike Anderson and John Campisano also found victory lane for a second time on the evening in their respective divisions. Eric Luzier would also go on to win the track Championship in the Aaron’s 4-Cylinders in the evening. A King of the Hill event sponsored by BWP Bats, The Sub Hub of Reynoldsville, Jim Mays, and Penny Kay Photography was also held earlier in the night, with Michael Lake taking home the top prize. A total of eight feature events and one special event were held. A Chinese Auction and T-Shirt sales were held by the Witherite family with proceeds going towards the ALS Association in memory of Eric Witherite, who succumbed to ALS(Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

This concluded the 2018 Season at Hummingbird Speedway. The Speedway would like to thank all of our drivers, sponsors, fans, and local media for helping us continue to bring dirt-racing action to the tri-county area. We’re looking forward to doing it all again in 2019!

Results:

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BWP Bats Late Models/Eric Witherite Memorial:
1. 4s David Scott, Garland
2. 61 Jon Lee, mahaffey
3. 53 Chris Farrell, Clearfield
4. 36 Paul Kot, Brockway
5. 27 Michael Lake, Uniontown
6. X-3 Wyatt Scott, Garland
7. 44M Ralph Morgan Jr.
8. 84 Andrew Wylie,
9. 11 Kirk Baker
10. 20C Shawn Claar
11. 24 Dylan Yoder
12. 27Y Jim Yoder
13. 10 Gary Lyle
14. 78K Denny Kienitz, Hyde
15. 28D Del Rougeux, Frenchville
16. 44 Dan Smeal, Houtzdale
17. 34 Joey Malobicky, St Marys
18. 64 Scott Alvetro, Reynoldsville
19. 44P Joe Petyak, Gallitzin
20. 57s Levi Sikora, Punxsutawney
21. 14R Derek Rodkey, Osceola Mills
22. 25 Dylan Fenton, Clearfield
23. 14 Dan Angeleccio, Mt. Pleasant
24. 0F Coleby Frye, Dover

BWP Bats Late Model Season Championship(9/1 Make-up):
1. X-3 Wyatt Scott,
2. 53 Chris Farrell
3. 61 Jon Lee
4. 36 Paul Kot
5. 57s Levi Sikora
6. 32 Billy Dickson
7. 44p Joe Petyak
8. 25 Dylan Fenton
9. 64 Scott Alvetro
10. 10 Ron Mentz
11. 14R Derek Rodkey

Swanson Heavy Truck Repair Semi-Lates(9/1 Make-Up):
1. 5L Joe Martin, Mahaffey
2. 5X Nick Erskine, Bell’s Landing
3. 27c Eddie Connor, Sabula
4. 12jr Cheyenne Reed, Punxsy
5. 93, Adam Nixon, Grampian
6. 3xAA Doug Surra, Kersey
7. 8L Eric Lucas, Clearfield
8. 46 Dustin Challingsworth, St Marys
9. Josh Frantz, Reynoldsville
10. 15w Casey Wolfe, Kersey
11. 44 Jim Challingsworth, St Marys
12. 211T Rich Wicker,
13. 17 Deegan Watt, Punxsy
14. 92 Josh Henry, Clearfield
15. 38 Joey Kot, DuBois
16. 38s Justin Owens, Woodland
17. 7 Neil Wilson Jr., Clearfield
18. 1 B.J. Hudson, Clearfield
19. 69 Gary Little, Clearfield
20. 33JR Bernie Whiteford, Hastings
21. 1w Caleb Whiteford, Hastings

Semi Lates PAGO-Night
1. 5L Joe Martin
2. 3xAA Doug Surra
3. 5X Nick Erskine
4. 93 Adam Nixon
5. 1 B.J. Hudson
6. 27c Eddie Connor
7. 88B Luke Barnett
8. 94 Josh Frantz
9. 17 Deegan Watt
10. 46 Dustin Challingsworth
11. 44 Jim Challingsworth
12. 69 Gary Little
13. 15w Casey Wolfe
14. 211T Rich Wicker
15. 38 Raven Fuller
16. 8L Eric Lucas
17. 7 Todd English

Sunny 106 Pure Stocks(9/1 Make-Up)
1. 76 Mike Anderson
2. 6-29 Greg Blystone
3. 00w Justin Watt
4. 10R Raven Fulle
5. 55X Andy Frey
6. 71s Richard Herman
7. 88 Mike Miller
8. 33 Jenna Pfaff
9. 8L Todd Coble
10. 00 Shannon Casher
11. 17C Derek Conrad
12. 516 Rich Anderson DNS
13. 45 Mike Annis DNS

Sunny106 Pure Stocks
1. 76 Mike Anderson, Dubois
2. 615 Bill Bartlebaugh, Punxsy
3. 55x Andy Frey, St Marys
4. 88 Mike Mille, Rockton
5. 6-29 Greg blystone, Indiana
6. 10R Raven Fuller, Luthersburg
7. 25J Joe Wilshire, Cranberry
8. 00 Shannon Casher, Mineral Springs
9. 71s Richard Herman,
10. 00w Justin Watt, Broackway
11. 33 Jenna Pfaff, DuBois
12. 17c Derek Conrad, Reynoldsville
13. 8JR Rich Waltman, Coolsprings
14. 8L Todd Coble, Morrisdale DNS

Aaron’s 4-Cylinders:
1. 8C John Campisana
2. 6 Eric Luzier
3. 54 Wayne Truitt
4. 17 Randy Albert
5. 4p Cory Price
6. 16 Keegan Bell
7. 154 Ricky Nelson
8. 33s Bryan Snyder
9. 13c Larry Conklin
10. 6x Adam Plubell
11. 55 Joe Anthony
12. Jason Rittenour
13. 11 Jim Boyer

Aaron’s 4-Cylinder(9/1 Make-Up)
1. 8C John Campisano
2. 8A Joe Huber
3. 6 Eric Luzier
4. 16 Keegan Bell
5. 4p Cory Price
6. 54 Wayne Truitt
7. 3k Jason Rittenour
8. 154 Ricky Nelson
9. 6x Adam Pluebell
10. 13c Larry Conklin
11. 39 Cody Cassler
12. 11 Jim Boyer
13. 58R Ryan Lippert

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