Hidden Valley Opens 30th Season
For immediate release May 21, 2022
Clearfield, PA - Hidden Valley Speedway opened its 30th Season on Saturday night, and held the first race under the DMS Motorsports banner.
A fast, multi-groove track saw Gary Little of Clearfield copping the Semi Late feature with Rick Regalski of Slippery Rock picking up the Small Block Modified feature, Todd English won the Street Stock main with Indiana’s Greg Blystone taking the Amsoil Pure Stock main and it was William Kephart of Shilo besting the Craig’s Welding and Fabrication Four Cylinders.
The Semi Late feature saw George Bailey and Gary Little on the front row, with Bailey taking the initial lead with Larry Conklin drawing a caution on lap one. The restart saw Bailey bobble in turns three and four, and Little took advantage and took the lead. Bailey had mechanical problems and dropped out on lap eight causing the second and final caution. Little was able to continue to hold off Eric Lucas the rest of the way, to open the season with a victory. Lucas was second with Brandon DeBrakeleer, Steven Scaife Jr., and Conklin. Bailey won the heat.
Rick Regalski and Robert Garvey brought the Small Block Modifieds to the start as Regalski took the lead and set the early pace. As he led, only one caution slowed the race, when second place Garvey spun. He tried to keep going but ended up in the drainage ditch that is being installed. He was out for the night but unhurt.
This put Hayden Holden in the second spot, and he did not let Regalski drive off to the win. Holden was right there, throwing everything he had at the leader, but he could not get the extra push he needed, coming up about a half a car length short at the finish. The finish was Regalski winning over Holden, Jordan Luzier and Garvey. Regalski also picked up the heat win.
“The track was awesome and worth the two hour trip,” the winner said. “We’ll be back.”
The Street Stock field was a little on the short side for opening night but that didn’t deter Todd English from leading flag to flag for his first ever Street Stock win. CHad Rougeux came home second and Allen Lamb was third. English also won the heat.
The Amsoil Pure Stock feature saw Greg Blystone and Ron Benton on the front row, as Blystone and Benton were first and second the opening six, when Benton became part of a tangle in the first turn which sent him to the pits. Blystone was able to lead the rest of the way, with Todd Coble holding on to second over newcomer and rookie Tyler Rougeux. Benton was fourth and Bryan Joens was fifth. Blystone also won the heat.
The Craig’s Welding and Fabrication Four Cylinders saw Austin Fedder and William Kephart on the front row, with Kephart taking the lead and Fedder sitting in second and keeping close, but as he pursued Kephart, Tyler Gill was trying to get past Fedder for second, and Gill made that move work on lap nine. He then set his sights on the leader when the only caution of the race unraveled on lap 12 and it quickly became a red when Fedder detonated an engine in a ball of fire on the front stretch. A quick response from Winburne Fire Company and Elk EMS (Subbing for Rescue Hose and Ladder of Curwensville). Fedder quickly exited the car under his own power and was evaluated by EMS. He was ok.
Gill continued to chase Kephart after the green came back out, but he could not get by the leader as Jon Shipley threw the checkered flag. Tanner Ogden was third, Steve Martell was fourth and Allen Robinson was fifth. Heat wins went to Fedder, Kephart and Ogden.
PIT NOTES: 44 teams were in the pits for opening night including: 8 Semi Lates, 5 Small Block Modifieds, 3 Street Stocks, 6 Amsoil Pure Stocks and 22 Craig’s Welding and Fabrication Four Cylinders…A great opening night crowd saw some of the many improvements that have already taken place at the speedway…Coming up this Saturday night is the first of two appearances by the Super Late Models, as the Shawn “Sheetz” McGarvey memorial is held as part of the Memorial Day festivities. Joining the Super Late Models are the Semi Lates, Street Stocks, Amsoil Pure Stocks and Craig’s Welding and Fabrication Four Cylinders an an Enduro 100. Gates open at 4 in the pits, for spectators and racing is at 7 p.m. For more information check out our Facebook page and our website www.hiddenvalleyspeedway.net
SUMMARY:
Semi Lates: 1. Gary Little, Clearfield; 2. Eric Lucas, 3. Brandon DeBrakeleer, 4. Steve Scaife Jr., 5. Larry Conklin Jr., 6. George Bailey.
Did Not Start: Ryan Jacoby and Jeremy Lippert.
Small Block Modifieds: 1. Rick Regalski, Slippery Rock; 2. Hayden Holden, 3. Jordan Luzier, 4. Robert Garvey.
Did Not Start: Chris Luzier
Street Stocks: 1. Todd English, Clearfield; 2. Chad Rougeux, 3. Allen Lamb.
Amsoil Pure Stocks: 1. Greg Blystone, Indiana; 2. Todd Coble, 3. Tyler Rougeux, 4. Ron Benton, 5. Bryan Jones, 6. Bob Holt.
Craig’s Welding and Fabrication Four Cylinders: 1. William Kephart, Shilo; 2. Tyler Gill, 3. Tanner Ogden, 4. Steve Martell, 5. Allen Robinson, 6. Jason Elensky, 7. Michael Shobert, 8. Eric Luzier, 9. Greg Kiehl, 10. Kevin Trimpey, 11. Ryan Lippert, 12. Jason Dotts, 13. Austin Fedder, 14. Wild Bill Hassenplug, 15. Isaac Irvin, 16. Isaac Exley, 17. Kyler Henry, 18. John Brown.
Did Not Start: Matt Brown, Levi Luzier, Matt Kephart, Blake Ardery.