Hoffner Ends Winless Drought at Hidden Valley
For Immediate Release July 31, 2021
Clearfield, PA - The Turbotville Tornado touched down at Hidden Valley Speedway Saturday night, as Luke Hoffner ended a two-year dry spell by winning the Subway of Clearfield Super Late Model feature as part of the Bobby Roos and Larry Schultz Memorial race sponsored by the Schultz Family.
Cody Schultz of Hyde picked up the win for his grandfather's memorial race in the PA Thunder of Dirt Vintage Modified feature, the Modified portion, while Dale Zimmer of Erie copped the Sportsman's portion of the race. Zach Gustafson of Weedville picked up the Winter’s Signs Penn-Ohio Street Stock feature.
Repeat winners on the smooth, multi-groove surface included: BJ Hudson of Clearfield in the TH Porta John Semi Lates, Todd English of Clearfield in the Hugill Sanitation Small Block Modifieds and Kevin Criswell of Wellsville, WV.
Paul Schreckengost and Luke Hoffner led the Subway of Clearfield Super Late Models to the green flag, with Schreckengost taking the lead and keeping Hoffner at bay early on but heading down the backstretch while working lap four, Hoffner pulled under Schreckengost as they entered the third turn, taking the lead. Hoffner then led as the fans turned their eyes on seventh place starter Billy Eash who was working through the traffic.
Working the seventh lap, Eash moved into second and set his sights on Hoffner, sometimes reeling the leader in, but not finding the extra surge to take the lead, as Brian Biancuzzo threw the double checkered flags, it was Hoffner getting his first win since 2019 and his 192nd career win over all. Eash was a close second with Derek Rodkey coming from eight to third. Schreckengost held on to fourth and Jamie Barber was fifth. Heat wins went to Schreckengost and Hoffner.
It was a case of survival of the fittest in the TH Porta John Semi Lates, as George Bailey and BJ Hudson led the field to Biancuzzo’s green flag, as Bailey led the field into the first turn, before the yellow waved regrouping the field. On the complete restart, it was Hudson who took the lead, and he never considered giving it up. Five cautions through the first half of the feature slowed the race, and the attrition took its toll, but the second half went non-stop, as Hudson went on to pick up his fifth win of the season over Gary Little, Bailey, Merv Killion and Ron Laubscher. Bailey won the lone heat.
The Hugill Sanitation Small Block Modifieds saw Chris Luzier and Milton Owens on the front row for the start, with Luzier taking the initial lead. While he led, Owens was working the low groove and went under Luzier going into the third turn for the lead. Owens then began to open a small lead over Luzier, who lost second on lap five when Todd English took the second spot. English was reeling in Owens as he was all over the 38ss, trying the high and low grooves to get the lead. A pair of late cautions may have been the downfall for Owens, as English drove low on the lap 18 restart going into the first turn, taking the lead and holding on the final two laps to get his seventh win of the season. Owens held on to second with Shannon Casher in third, Josh Henry was fourth and Luzier held on to fifth. Heat wins were split between English and Luzier,
The PA Thunder on Dirt Vintage Modified special saw Steve Longo beat Dale Zimmer off the line at the start, leading the opening two laps, before Mark Hahn took the lead. His stint at the top was short lived, as Zimmer took the lead on lap four. As he set the pace, Cody Schultz was coming to the front from his ninth place starting spot. He was up to second by lap five and working on the leader. As the field worked lapped traffic, Schultz found an opening and took the lead from Zimmer on lap 11 and went on to claim the win in his grandfather’s memorial race. Zimmer was second with Hahn third, Longo was fourth and John Marks was fifth. Heat wins went to Zimmer and Schultz.
The Winter’s Signs Penn-Ohio Street Stocks saw Zach Gustafson and Ron Boardman on the front row, with Gustafson taking the lead and never relinquishing it. As he lead, he sat through multiple cautions that sent all three of the top point drivers to the pits for the night. Gustafson was able to hold Chris Withers at bay for his first win of the season. Withers was second, Gary Luzier was third with Todd Coble and Boardman rounding out the top five. Gustafson and Luzier split the heat wins.
Marc Whetstone Jr. and Austin Fedder subbing for Rob Williams brought the field to the start, with Fedder taking the lead. As the beating and banging continued throughout the field, Fedder was able to keep leading, but Kevin Criswell was in second and then on lap 5, Criswell took the lead and was able to keep a persistent Fedder at bay the rest of the race. At the waving of Bancuzzo’s double checkered flags it was Criswell getting his second win of the season over Fedder, Tyler Gill, Ryan Lippert and Virgil Meyer. Heat wins went to Whetstone, Fedder and Greg Kiehl.
PIT NOTES: 73 cars filled the pits, including: 9 Subway of Clearfield Super Late Models, 7 TH Porta John Semi Lates, 10 Hugill Sanitation Small Block Modifieds, 10 PA Thunder of Dirt Vintage Modified, 10 Winter’s Signs Street Stocks (Penn Ohio Series) and 27 Little's Auto Sales Four Cylinders...The Winburne Fire Co. 50/50 was $750 for their first time at the speedway...Semi Late Driver Ron Laubscher was evaluated by Rescue Hose and Ladder EMS after a hard hit into the wall. He was ok and later returned to run the feature...August is a month of specials, stay tuned for an upcoming press release with the details. Hidden Valley Speedway will be closed this Saturday, Aug. 7, due to the Clearfield County Fair. Watch our Facebook page for more details.
Summary:
Subway of Clearfield Super Late Models: 1. Luke Hoffner, Turbotville; 2.Billy Eash, 3. Derek Rodkey, 4. Paul Schreckengost, 5. Jamie Barber, 6. Joe Moyer, 7. Allen English, 8. Carl Pearce, 9. Jeff Weakland.
TH Porta John Semi Lates: 1. BJ Hudson, Clearfield; 2. Gary Little, 3. George Bailey, 4. Merv Killion, 5. Ron Laubscher, 6. Justin Owens.
Did Not Start: Jeremy Lippert.
Hugill Sanitation Small Block Modifieds: 1. Todd English, Clearfield: 2. Milton Owens, 3. Shannon Casher, 4. Josh Henry, 5. Chris Luzier, 6.Adam Nixon, 7. Hayden Holden, 8. Trent Ogden, 9. Jordan Luzier, 10. Jim “Dingo” Kirkwood.
Winter’s Signs Street Stocks (Penn Ohio Series) 1. Zach Gustafson, Weedville; 2. Chris Withers, 3. Gary Luzier, 4. Todd Coble, 5. Ron Boardman, 6. Todd Geyer, 7. Cregen Brady, 8. Rich Howell, 9. Chad Rougeux.
Did Not Start: Derek Lippert.
PA Thunder of Dirt Vintage Modified: 1. Cody Schultz, Hyde; 2. Dave Zimmer, Erie*; 3.Mark Hahn, 4. Steve Longo, 5. John Marks*, 6. Todd Warburton, 7. Jaff Manners*, 8. Geoff Romesburg, 9. Dave Phillips*, 10. Jeff Mitchell*
* Denotes Sportsmans class
Little's Auto Sales Four Cylinders: 1. Kevin Criswell, Wellsville, WV; 2. Austin Fedder, 3. Tyler Gill, 4. Ryan Lippert, 5. Virgil Meyer, 6. Marc Whetstone, Jr., 7. Levi Luzier, 8. Eric Luzier, 9. Tanner Ogden, 10. Jake Pennington, 11. Larry Conklin, Sr., 12. Kyler Henry, 13. Dustin Kemp, 14. Kyresten Whetstone, 15. Jason Elensky, 16. Matthew Brown, 17. Jason Dotts, 18. Dylan Yastro, 19. Austin Hockenburry, 20. Jake Adams, 21. Greg Kiehl, 22. Justin Fedder, 23. Dustin Miller, 24. Michael Shobert, 25. Chad Lidwell, 26. Isaac Irvin
Did Not Start: Todd Fedder.