HUMBOLDT — Racing fans saw a rarity on the track and plenty of hard-charging dirt track, stock car racing Friday night.
Humboldt Speedway was back in business after not holding races a week ago because of rain. Along with the four regular divisions at the Speedway, the Midwest Outlaw Vintage Racers were back on the local dirt track.
Zac Simmons, driving a former late model chassis draped with a Studebaker body from somewhere in the 1950s, claimed the checkered flag in the Vintage car feature race.
But the crowd was sent a buzzing from the start of the feature races when the pure stock division came down to a photo finish.
Derek Michael had the lead early but ran into technical troubles that put him out of contention. Tyler Kidwell, who has had a string of wins this season at Humboldt, got out front.
Kidwell appeared to have the win almost in hand. On the final lap, Levi Phillips found the speed and edged Kidwell out by inches at the finish line. Kidwell was second followed by Mike Churning, Jared Hayden and Timothy Beth.
In a field of 19 cars, Trevor Hunt set the pace early and drove to a victory in the B-Mod division. The race had a wreck on the back straight away which thinned the field.
Tim VanGotten battled Scott Drake and the two drivers finished second and third, respectively in the B-Mod race. Riley Whitworth ran fourth and Jimmie Davis was fifth.
Scott Stuart nailed down another feature win in the factory stock competition. After a back-and-forth tussle for the runner-up spot throughout the race, David Matlock finished second. Derrek Wilson, Nick Fritch and Clint Drake rounded out the top five finishers.
Johnny Bone Jr. captured the checkered flag in the USRA modified feature race. John Allen held off Jess Folk Jr. for second place. Al Purkey was fourth in the field of 18 cars and Travis Smith took fifth.
The USMTS modified return to the Speedway on June 22. It is a $4,000-to-win feature race.
The MLRA Late Models come to Humboldt July 27 after being rained out June 1.
Here are Friday’s results:
Humboldt Speedway
Race Results
Friday, June 8, 2012
Whitworth Construction
Pure Stock
HEAT 1 — Tyler Kidwell, Derek Michael, Jared Hayden, Danah Hampton, Timothy Beth, Floyd Taggart
