HUMBOLDT — Merchant Night was a hot one at the Humboldt Speedway when fans filled the stands and great racing took place on the track Friday.
The night started with the Home Savings Bank Factory Stocks where a familiar winner, the No. 7 of Dallas Joyce, was out in front early.
But fate intervened, and something went wrong on Joyce’s car as he slowed out of turn four.
That left the door open for the 21C of Matt Collins, who picked up his second straight feature victory. Mathew Kay piloted his way to second. Grant Reeves took third, Tevyn James fourth and Braden Bowman rounded out the top 5.
Clint Haigler returned to victory lane by topping all comers in the USRA Tuners feature. Trenton Wilson tried to catch up to the leader, but ran out of laps and took second. Taking third was Travis Bockover, while Jesse Stair placed fourth and Larry Trester finished in fifth.
A scary scene unfolded in the first half of The Extrusion Inc. Midwest Mods feature when Joey Decoster rolled on the front stretch right in front of the flag stand, but the driver emerged unscathed.
Then when the action resumed, pole driver Mathew Kay — who was pulling double duty — picked up the win. Jesse Folk Jr. stayed close for second. Casey Jesseph finished third, followed by Ryan Smith in fourth. Tyler Davis took fifth.
There was some excitement in the ARMI Contracting USRA Modifieds as Brendon Gemmill got out in front early, but a caution midway through put the crowd in a bunch once again.
Gemmill wobbled just a bit on the restart, allowing Tyler Davis to get the advantage. Davis held on from there to claim the win. T.J. Tolan, who started in eighth, worked his way up to the runner-up position. Gemmill wound up in third, Rick Beebe placed fourth and Paden Phillips took fifth.
Rounding out the night was the Rays Metal Depot USRA B Mods and they helped finish the night with a bang. Tyler Kidwell and Brian McGowen put on a heck of a show and battled to the finish, which ended in a photo finish.
Kidwell took the checkered by a nose ahead of McGowen. Third went to the points leader Brian Bolin and fourth went to Henry Chambers. Rounding out the top-five was Chase Sigg.
Time is running short for fans to catch Humboldt race action, with only two Fridays remaining.
