Owens, Connor and Holden Among ‘26 Opening night winners at Hidden Valley
For Immediate Release April 24, 2024
Clearfield, PA – Hidden Valley Speedway kicked off the 2026 season on Friday night with several drivers not making it due to not being ready yet.
Feature winners on opening night include: Justin Owens of Shilo in the Semi Lates, Jimmy Holden of Tiona in the Small Block Modifieds, Brandon Connor of Rockton in the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks, Josh Fields of Brockport in the Pure Stocks and Scott Robison of Clearfield in the Four Cylinders. Brenda Snell of Punxstawney picked up the win in the Aquaholic Powder Puff event.
Craig Bainey beat Dan Beatty off the line at the start of the Semi Late feature, and was setting the pace, as Beatty got high and faded to fourth early on. Justin Owens moved into second place on the lead lap and was throwing everything he had at the leader, with Jeremy Lippert running third. As the race was continuing, Ownes was able to reel in the leader, and they often were door to door, when Bainey got a little squirrely on the backstretch and got into Owens, bringing out a caution.
On the restart, Bainey was at the rear and Owens had the pole, with Beatty now back in the mix. Bainey had worked his way into third and Beatty was now second and he was all over the 38s of Owens. On laps 18 and 19, Beatty had the lead at the line, but on the final lap, Owens was able to pull slightly ahead of Beatty and took the win. Beatty was a close second, with Bainey third, Lippert was fourth and Chad Desmett rounded out the top five. Bainey won the heat.
Jimmy Holden and Levi Pickard led the Small Block Modifieds to Sam McClellan’s green flag, with Holden taking the lead and setting the pace. While he was leading, Pickard was a very close second the entire 20 lap distance. When McClellan waved the double checkered flags, it was Holden taking the win. Pickard was second with Craig Casher in third and Trent Ogden was fourth. Holden won the heat.
An exciting Penn Ohio Pro Stock feature saw Mitch Stiles and Zack Gustafson on the front row, as Gustafson took the lead and Stiles was in second, when a caution came out for Fuzzy Fields. The restart saw Gustafson leading with Bradon Connor now second and Stiles in third, as Connor went to the outside off the second turn on lap three and took the lead from Gustafson, but Gustafson wasn’t giving up, as he battled Connor back, using the bottom and working the inside, the duo were often side by side, but when the final checkered flags flew, it was Connor holding on to get the win over Gustafson, Stiles, Josh Bloom and Fields. Stiles won the heat.
The Pure Stock feature was all Josh Fields, as he beat George Bailey off the line at the start and never looked back, leading the main flag to flag as the race went non-stop. Caleb Bloom and Bailey completed the rundown. Fields also won the heat.
Brett Hanley and Scott Robison led the four cylinders to the start, with Robison taking the lead and Hanely falling to second. As they battled for position, Hanley was trying to maneuver into the lead but Robison was holding strong. The race came to a halt when the red flag waved on lap 11 for Robison’s brother, Allen, who had a fire in his car. Glendale Fire Department handled that quickly and the action resumed, with S. Robison still in command and Tyler Gill getting by Hanley for second on lap 13. Gill tried to get by Robison, but he was too tough as he picked up his first HVS win. Gill was second over Hanley, Greg Kiehl and Eric Luzier. Heat wins went to Hanley and Robison.
The Aquaholic Powder Puff feature saw Donna Orcutt get the lead at the start from Veda Robison. Orcutt led until lap six, when Brenda Snell took the lead and held on for the eventual win. The finish was Snell winning, over Orcutt, Melissia Robison and Veda Robison.
PIT NOTES: 31 drivers were registered, including 5 Semi Lates, 4 Small Block Modifieds, 5 Penn Ohio Pro Stocks, 3 Pure Stocks, 9 Four Cylinders, 4 Aquaholic Powder Puffs and one 600 Micro…Several cars are still being put together and more are anticipated over the next couple weeks, plus this week the points starts…This coming week is the opener for regular points for the Semi Lates, Small Block Modifieds, Penn Ohio Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Four Cylinders pulse the Rear Wheel Drive Thundercars will be in action…Coming on May 8 is the Mothers Day Special with regular racing and ATV and UTV actions…Coming up on May 22 is the Annual Shawn “Sheetz” McGarvey Memorial for the Super Late Models, paying $3000 to win and $300 to start along with a regular program for our regular classes and the first Spectator Race of the season and a Late Model King of the Hill…Watch our Facebook page for more details, as our Website is currently down.
Summary:
Semi-Lates – 1. Justin Owens, Shilo; 2. Dan Beatty, 3. Craig Bainey, 4. Jeremy Lippert,
- Chad Desmett
Small Block Modifieds – 1. Jimmy Holden, Tiona; 2. Levi Picard, 3. Craig Casher,
- Trent Ogden
Penn Ohio Pro Stocks – 1. Brandon Connor, Rockton; 2. Zack Gustafson, 3. Mitch Stiles,
- Josh Bloom, 5. Fuzzy Fields
Pure Stocks – 1. Josh Fields, Brockport; 2. Caleb Bloom, 3. George Bailey
Little’s Drive-In Four Cylinders – 1. Scott Robison, Clearfield; 2. Tyler Gill, 3. Brett Hanley, 4. Greg Kiehl, 5. Eric Luzier, 6. Josh Lindenmuth, 7. Allen Robison
Did Not Start – Benton Wriglesworth & Bradley Ross
Powder Puff Four Cylinders – 1. Brenda Snell, Punxsutawney; 2. Donna Orcutt, 3. Melissa Robison, 4. Veda Robison
600 Micros – 1. Shawn Rumbaugh, Kittanning
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