Casher gets career first win in SB Mods; Fields, Wallace and Anderson new winners at HVS
June 7, 2024
Clearfield, PA - After many years of racing, Craig Casher of Mineral Springs finally put it all together and picked up his first career Small Block Modified win during the Marlin and Jean Luzier Memorial races Friday Night at Hidden Valley Speedway. He wasn’t the only new winner, as Marlon “Fuzzy” Fields of Brockway put his Penn-Ohio Pro Stock in the Carnes Equipment victory lane, while Andrew Wallace of Cresson won the Pure Stock main and it was Cassville driver Chris Anderson picking up the actual Marlin and Jean Luzier Memorial race in the Little’s Drive In Four Cylinders. The Thundercars made their first visit to HVS with Jeremy Ott of Carlisle taking the win and the Aquaholic Powder Puff race was won by Verlee Elensky of West Decatur.
Repeat winners were: Gary Little of Clearfield in the Semi Lates and Craig Bainey of Osceola Mills in the Econo Late class.
The Semi Late feature hit the track with Dan Smeal and Ron Laubscher on the front row, as Smeal took the lead and was setting a pretty good pace with Josh Henry holding on to second for the first lap, when Gary Little took the second spot and tried to reel in the leader. As The top two were setting the pace, Henry was holding off the challengers for third, but on lap five BJ Hudson was able to wrestle third away from Henry and he set his sights on Little when the yellow waved for a spin. The restart saw Smeal continue to lead as Little and Hudson ran side-by-side for second before Hudson was able to hold the position on lap eight when another caution waved. This relined the field and on the restart, Little went to the outside of Smeal in turns one and two and they drag raced down the back stretch and into the third turn, where Little was able to take the lead and once out front her was gone. Hudson was able to steal second from Smeal who went his in the fourth turn and lost third to Dan Gill. When Sam McClellan waved the double checkered flags, it was Little with his third win of the season over Hudson, Gill, Smeal and Henry. Heat wins went to Little and Hudson.
The Small Block Modifieds are growing a little each week, with seven on hand this week. Chris Luzier led the field to the start with Craig Casher on the outside of the front row. As McClellan threw the green flag, with was Casher taking the lead and setting the pace, with Luzier running second for the first six laps, when Jimmy Holden came from last to second and he brought his son, Hayden along to third. Jimmy was trying to reel in the leader, when the younger Holden looped the car in the corner. While Hayden was rejoining the field, his dad coasted to a halt on the backstretch, ending his night. On the restart Casher was still leading as his nephew, Shannon Casher, was in hot pursuit and throwing everything he had Craig Casher. Shannon was trying the high line and the low side, but Uncle Caig was hooked and flying as he was able to go on to get his first career feature win. Shannon Casher was a close second, his dad, Aaron Casher was third and Hayden Holden was fourth. Jimmy Holden completed the top five. The heat was won by Hayden Holden.
First wasn’t the best place to be in the Penn-Ohio Pro Stock feature, as no less than five drivers led at some point. Allen Lamb and Pernell Beimel led the first to the start, but it was fourth place starter Cregen Brady who led the first completed lap. By lap two Brandon Connor was leading with Brady still in second. Nathan Yaney moved into the second on lap three and Fuzzy Fields moved to third by lap five. On lap eight, Connor tangled with a lapped car, ending his night. This gave the lead over to Yaney, but a lap later, he lost first to Jim Bloom, then on lap 10 a three wide battle going into turn three didn’t quit work, as Fields tried to go between Bloom and Yaney and Bloom ended up spinning. Bloom would get his position back, putting him in the lead, but his stint in first was short lived, as Brady took the lead on lap 10 when another yellow waved. This put Lamb on the bumper of Brady and Fields had worked back to third. On the restart it was still Brady setting the pace, but Fields was right there and he took the lead away from Brady on lap 13 and held on to get his first win of the season. Brady held on for a strong second over Lamb, Raymond Reynolds and Bloom. Heat wins went to Connor and Bloom.
Eddie Gardner and Noah Bloom brought the Pure Stocks to the green flag, with third place started Eric Lucas taking the lead and Bloom running second for two laps. On lap three, Mitch Stiles moved into second and then lap four saw Bloom back in the runner up spot. On lap five, with second still the race to watch, Andrew Wallace moved from fifth into second and set his sights on Lucas. When the field completed lap 9, Wallace was looking for a way around the leader, and a lap later Wallace dove under Lucas in turn one and coming out of turn two, Wallace was able to muscle the lead away from Lucas and continue for his first win of the season. Lucas held on to second over Stiles, Bloom and Eric Luzier. Heat wins went to Wallace and Tim Steis.
The Marlin and Jean Luzier Memorial saw Greg Snell Sr. and Tim Raup on the front row and at the waving of guest flagman Allen “Artie” Luzier green flag, Raup took the lead and Snell was a close second with Anthony Sones in third and Ryan Lippert in fourth. Close racing at the front of the field kept the fans on the edge of their seats, as battle continued with positions changing several times a lap but only counting at the line. On lap 16, Raup lost the top spot to Chris Anderson while Travis Semple followed Anderson around Raup. When the checkers waved, it was Anderson holding on to take the memorial win of Semple, Raup, Luke Hoffner and Jason Elensky. Heat wins went to Anderson, Semple and Jimmy Moyer.
The Thundercars used the multi-groove track to their advantage for their first visit of the season and in many years, with Charlie Stallman and Brock Foster on the front row. At the start, Stallman took the lead and set the early pace, while fifth place starter Jeremy Ott was working his way to the front. Following two cautions on lap six, the rest of the race went non-stop, as Ott was headed to the front. On lap 11, Ott was able to get by Stallman for the lead and eventual win. Stallman was second over William Stener, Cameron Defenderfer and Jake Shoup. Heat race wins went to Shoup and Ott.
The Aquaholic Powder Puff feature saw Verlee Elensky lead from start to finish with Jordan Luzier in second, Janna Kiehl, Samantha Lippert and Brenda Snell completed the top five. Heat wins went to Snell and Elensky.
Craig Bainey claimed the win in the Econo Late feature.
PIT NOTES: 68 cars filled the pits, including: 10 Semi Lates, 7 Small Block Modifieds, 9 Pro Stocks, 8 Pure Stocks, 17 Little’s Drive In Four Cylinders, 9 Thunder Cars, 7 Aquaholic Powder Puffs and 1 Econo Late…The Glendale Fire Dept. 50/50 was $336 to the winner…Coming up this week is the combined Mother’s Day/Father’s Day event, with double points on the line for all divisions, PLUS the Semi Lates will be running a special paying $1,000 to win, plus the Junior Four Cyliners are on the card along with the make up UTV/ATV event, and it’s Banner Night! Make a banner of your favorite driver to display and the winning banners will receive a prize…Coming up on June 21st is the Pure Stock special paying $700 to win and on July 5th the Super Late Models return along with Spectator Race #2. Check out Facebook and website at www.hiddenvalleyspeedway.net for more details.
Summary:
Semi-Lates - 1. Gary Little, Clearfield; 2. BJ Hudson, 3. Dan Gill, 4. Dan Smeal, 5. Josh Henry, 6. Justin Owens, 7. Luke Hoffner, 8. Jeremy Lippert, 9. Ron Laubscher
Did Not Start - Adam Nixon
Small Block Modifieds - 1. Craig Casher, Mineral Springs; 2. Shannon Casher, 3. Aaron Casher, 4. Hayden Holden, 5. Jimmy Holden, 6. Chris Luzier
Did Not Start - Trent Ogden
Econo Lates - 1. Craig Bainey, Osceola Mills
Penn-Ohio Pro Stocks - 1. Fuzzy Fields, Brockway; 2. Cregen Brady, 3. Allan Lamb, 4. Ray Reynolds, 5. Jim Bloom, 6. Nathan Yeaney, 7. Brandon Connor, 8. Pernell Beimel, 9. Rich Howell
Pure Stocks - 1. Andrew Wallace, Cresson; 2. Eric Lucas, 3. Mitch Stiles, 4. Noah Bloom, 5. Eric Luzier, 6. Bud Hudson, 7. Tim Steis, 8. Eddie Gardner
Marlin & Jean Luzier Memorial - Little’s Drive-In Four Cylinders - 1. Chris Anderson, Cassville; 2. Travis Semple, 3. Tim Raup, 4. Luke Hoffner, 5. Jason Elensky, 6. Jimmy Moyer, 7. Tyler Gill, 8. Gregg Snell, Sr., 9. Josh Norton, 10. Austin Fenton, 11. Matthew Kauffman, 12. Kyler Henry, 13. Allen Robison, 14. Anthony Sones, 15. Ryan Lippert, 16. Greg Kiehl, 17. Dustin Miller
Thunder Cars Rear Wheel Driver Four Cylinders - 1. Jeremy Ott, Carlisle; 2. Charlie Stallman, 3. William Sterner, 4. Cameron Defenderfer, 5. Jake Shoup, 6. Matt Dixson, 7. Jeremy Shoup, 8. Brock Foster, 9. Michael Danner
Aquaholic Powder Puff Race - 1. Verlee Elensky, West Decatur; 2. Jordan Luzier, 3. Janna Kiehl, 4. Samantha Lippert, 5. Brenda Snell, 6. Melissa Rock
Did Not Start - Lindsay Wholaver