Rougeux and McGinley New Winners as Hidden Valley ends season
August 28, 2021
Clearfield, PA - The Inaugural Fay Lumadue Memorial Race for the Hugill Sanitation Small Block Modifieds was held Saturday night at Hidden Valley Speedway with JR McGinley of Frogtown picking up the $1,500 win.
Del Rougeux of Frenchville picked up first career first Subway Super Late Model feature win while other winners included: Gary Little of Clearfield in the TH Porta John Semi Lates, Zach Gustafson of Weedville in the Winter’s Signs Street Stocks and Rob Williams of Williamsport in the Little’s Drive In Four Cylinders. Pauline Meyer of Benton won the powder puff race for the four cylinders.
The 2021 unofficial point champions, until all points are triple checked include: Billy Eash in the Late Models, BJ Hudson in the Semi Lates, Milton Owens in the Small Block Modifieds, Chad Rougeux in the Street Stocks and Rob Williams in the Four Cylinders.
Del Rougeux and Billy Eash led the Subway of Clearfield Super Late Models to the green flag with Rougeux taking the lead, but no laps were completed when a multi-car tangle forced a complete restart.
On the restart, Rougeux once again took the lead and set the pace, sitting through three more cautions, as Eash, Rodkey and Luke Hoffner were on his bumper early on in the event, but as the race continued, Rougeux was able to put a few car lengths between him and Eash, and when Allen Luzier waved the double checkered flags, it was Rougeux getting his first career Super Late Model win. Rouguex had won in a Big Block Modified before, but this was his career first in the Super Late Model. Eash held on to second, Hoffner was third, Rodkey was a close fourth and Kevin Clark was fifth. Heat wins went to Clinton Hersh and Rougeux.
The TH Porta John Semi Late feature saw Eric Lucas and Justin Ownes on the front row, as Owens would bring out the first yellow before Lucas would spin on the restart, while leading. This put Levi Ardery in the lead, as he then was setting the pace through the eighth lap, that’s when Gary Little finally made the inside lane work, as he took the lead out of turn two, going down the backstretch. Ardery battled back in turns three and four, but Little began to open up a slight lead as he went on to get his third win of the season. Ardery held on to second with George Bailey a close third, Matt Howell was fourth and Ron Laubscher was fifth. Lucas and Little split heat wins.
The race of the evening, the event that took three times to finally make happen, the Inaugural Fay Lumadue Memorial for the Hugill Sanitation Small Block Modifieds, was led to the start with JR McGinley and Todd English on the front row, as the green waved from guest starter Billy Auman an immediate yellow waved for a spinning Jim “Dingo” Kirkwood. The restart saw McGinley take the lead and set the pace with Max Smoker moving into second and Kyle Fink in third. As McGinley led, the battle from second back was intense. English looped the 7-11 in turn two and tailed the field on lap 11. The restart saw McGinley still leading, with no less than five drivers vying for second place, with Smoker, Fink, English and Jimmy Holden and Tom Holden all trying to not only advance their positions, but trying to run down McGinley.
As the 25-lapper continued, Fink was able to find a way around Smoker on lap 20, and with five laps to go he was slowly chipping away at McGinley’s lead, but he ran out of time and McGinley collected the $1,500 top prize. Fink was second with Smoker holding on to third, Jimmy Holden was fourth and Tom Holden was fifth. McGinley and English split the heat wins.
Chad Rougeux got off the line before Brad Benton to start the Winter’s Signs Street Stocks, with Rougeux taking the lead for the opening two laps, before Zach Gustafson took the lead on lap three. Cregen Brady moved into second from his fifth place start and Zach Gustafson was third, but quickly moved into the lead on lap three. Rougeux fell off the pace, pitting with a flat on lap five. As he was losing laps, the race continued, with Gustafson setting the pace and Brady trying to reel him in, but at the waving of Luziers Double Checkered Flags, it was Gustafson getting his second win of the season over Brady, Stan Mayhew, coming out of retirement after 19-years, was third, Benton and Lester Hudson rounded out the top five. Heat wins went to Rougeux and Gustafson.
The always entertaining Little’s Drive In Four Cylinders, saw Ryan Lippert and Rob Williams lead the way to the green flag with Williams taking the lead, but not before a red flag halted the action. Austin Fedder, subbing for Jake Adams, slammed into the backstretch before being hit hard from behind by Hunter Flook. Winburne Fire Co. and Rescue Hose and Ladder Co. EMS of Curwensville were on the scene quickly to assess the drivers. Following a thorough examination, all drivers were released and deemed ok.
Williams remained the leader on the restart with Jim Ogden in second and Lippert third, but Ogden spun on lap four and pitted. This gave Greg Kiehl the opportunity to reel in Williams, but he could not muster up the power, as Williams went on to get his fifth win of the season. Keihl was second with Tyler Gill, Tanner Ogden and Marc Whetstone Jr. completing the top five.
Qualifying wins went to: Lippert, Williams, Jim Ogden and Isaac Irvin in the heats and Justin Fedder won the B-main
The final event of the night was the Little’s Drive In Powder Puff race, with Pauline Meyer beating Verlee Elensky off the line and leading the race the whole way, with Elensky in second much of the race, before Nikki Fedder took second from Madyson Harper, who took second from Elenskey on lap six, on the final lap. At the line it was Meyer taking the win with Fedder second, Harper third, Michele Conklin fourth and Samanthat Lippert fifth.
PIT NOTES: 83 teams filled the pits, including: 11 Late Models, 10 Semi Lates, 14 Small block Modifieds, 10 Street Stocks and 38 Four Cylinders...McGinley picked up $2,597.00 for his win. He got $1,500 for the feature win, $1,037 in lap money and $60 for the fastest lap during the feature...The hard charger award of $100 went to Shannon Casher for advancing five spots while the hard luck award of $100 went to Chris Luzier for breaking on the first lap...The Speedway lost a great friend and employee this week, with the unexpected passing of Karen Condon. Karen worked at our pit gate. Her sons, Wes and Brad Condon also work at the speedway, assisting with parking and security. They are both hospitalized and the entire family could use your prayers right now. RIP Karen, we will miss seeing you at all of the speedways...Also another employee needing prayers in George Baney, who is fighting cancer. Please keep them and their families in your prayers...The Winburne Fire Co. 50/50 was worth $864...The 2021 season has now ended and the awards ceremony will be held soon. Watch the Facebook page for details on that.
Summary:
Subway of Clearfield Super Late Models: 1. Del Rougeux, Frenchville; 2. Billy Eash, 3. Luke Hoffner, 4. Derek Rodkey, 5. Kevin Clark, 6. Rick Hemphill 7. BJ Hudson, 8. Clinton Hersh, 9. Gary Stahl, 10. Kenny Shaffer, 11. Josh Whetstone.
TH Porta John Semi Lates: 1. Gary Little, Clearfield; 2. Levi Ardery, 3. George Bailey, 4. Matt Howell, 5. Ron Laubscher, 6. Larry Conklin, Jr.,7. Eric Lucas, 8. Justin Owens, 9. Derek Lippert.
Did Not Start: Merv Killion.
Hugill Sanitation Small Block Modifieds, Fay Lumadue Memorial: 1. JR McGinley, Frogtown; 2. Kyler Fink, 3. Max Smoker, 4. Jimmy Holden, 5. Tom Holden, 6. Todd English, 7. Shannon Casher, 8. Milton Owens, 9. Trent Ogden, 10. Jordan Luzier, 11. Adam Nixon, 12. Jerry Bowser, 13. Jim “Dingo” Kirkwood, 14. Chris Luzier.
Winter’s Signs Street Stocks: 1. Zach Gustafson, Weedvlle; 2. Cregen Brady, 3. Stan Mayhew, 4. Brad Benton, 5. Lester Hudson, 6. Bob Holt, 7. Chad Rougeux, 8. Rich Howell, 9. Todd Coble.
Did Not Start: Derek Lippert.
Little’s Drive In Four Cylinders: 1. Rob Williams, Williamsport; 2. Greg Keihl, 3. Tyler Gill, 4. Tanner Ogden, 5. Marc Whetstone Jr., 6. Bill Hassenplug, 7. Coty Maines, 8. Eric Luzier, 9. Virgil Meyer, 10. Anthony Sones, 11. Levi Luzier, 12. Justin Fedder, 13. Isaac Irvin, 14. Jake Pennington, 15. Ryan Lippert, 16. Jason Elensky, 17. Matthew Brown, 18. Jim Ogden, 19. Dylan Yastro, 20. Michael Shobert, 21. Austin Fedder, 22. John Brown, 23. Hunter Flook, 24. Andrew Ricketts.
Did Not Qualify: Larry Conklin, Sr., Shane Wagner, Donald Wynn, Mitch Stiles, Jason Dotts,Dustin Miller, Gavin Webber, Kyresten Whetstone, Sam Pennington, Isaac Exley, Gage Riggle.
Did Not Start: Devin Kaufman, Kyler Henry, Ernie Irvin
Little’s Drive In Four Cylinders Powder Puff: 1. Pauline Meyer, Benton; 2. Nikki Fedder, 3. Rebecca Irvin, 4. Michele Conklin, 5. Samantha Lippert, 6. Miranda Wormuth, 7. Madyson Harper, 8. Johnene Nixon, 9. Verlee Elensky, 10. Melody Luzier, 11. Lynnette Irvin, 12. Melissa Rock, 13. Lindsey Bickle.
Did Not Start: Isabella Pollack, Angel Whetstone and Linsey McClellan.