 Another great crowd saw possibly the best night of racing this season, Saturday night, June 4. Late Models, Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts all put on great shows in preliminary and feature action.
16 Performance Race Fuels Late Models lined up for the 25-lap feature. Todd Miller and Bubba Smith started up front for the main event, and Miller raced into the lead on the green. Behind Miller, Smith was fighting hard in the outside lane, while two fastest qualifiers, Mike Miller and Phil Rozum were racing toward the front. Miller, setting fast time for the second time this season, was in line for the All Parts and Supply $250 bonus, which is available to the fastest qualifier if winning the feature. The Clinton, Ohio driver started in 10th, but used the outside lane to race to the lead. Following him closely all the way was Rozum. Over the last ten laps, Rozum hounded Miller but never got the run he needed to work by. Including the bonus, Miller took home nearly $1000 for his victory Saturday night. Following the A-1 Auto & Spring/Allied Auto #53 were Rozum, Todd Miller, Smith, and Duane Dunn. The rest of the top ten were Dave Watson, Tom Garbrandt, Mark Enos, Mike Enos, and Ron Jaberg, Jr. Garbrandt and Mark Enos won the heats, while Bob Schneider, Jr. won the pursuit race. The Allied Auto Bonus will be reset for $50 this week.
Don Rufener, Jr. and Glen Jewell made up the first row for the Tusco Net Sport Stock feature event. When the green dropped on the 20-lapper, Jewell wasted no time in racing out front. Jewell trying desperately to pick up a win for his sponsor and the night’s sponsor at the track, Texas Roadhouse, led through the halfway point. On the move was fast heat race winner, Keith Thomas. Thomas used the outside lane to race from his ninth starting spot, but just as he had closed on the leader, caution came out for the first and only time. With nine laps to go, everyone knew that Jewell would have his hands full, but as soon as the green flag waved, Thomas shot to the inside and raced out front. Kurt Waller also got by Jewell but had nothing for Thomas. At the checkered, it was the Midvale, Ohio driver picking up his first feature win of the season, followed by Waller, Jewell, Roger Linard, and Wes Gilland. Also following the Musick & Myers Heating & Cooling/Renner & Daughter Concrete Construction #34 in the top ten were Doug McMillen, Josh Grove, Paul Murray, Don Rufener, Jr., and Chris Kail. Thomas and Grove won the heats, while Grove also took the pursuit. The night’s fastest qualifier was Gilland.
The first two features were exciting and nearly caution free, which led us into the Papa John’s Pure Stock 15-lapper. Bryant Smith and Bob Passwaters, Sr. were up front for the start. After one failed start, Smith raced into the lead to pace the 20+ car field. Behind him, Randy Smart, Blake Mackey, and Al Street, three drivers that finished in the top 3 in points last year, were racing forward. After a crash eliminated the cars of Lee McCreery and David Breehl, Mackey was slotted fifth, the first car in the outside lane with the three in front single file. When the green dropped, the Midvale, Ohio driver instantly started working forward. Once making it into the second spot, only one driver stood between he and his first win of the year. Smith, looking for his first Pure Stock win during his rookie season ran the inside lane, while Mackey ran the second groove. After battling side-by-side for a handful of laps, Mackey took an advantage into turn three on the final lap. Smith trying to pull back alongside, made some slight contact as both cars turned sideways and Mackey came across the line as the winner. Following the Tusco.Net/Claymont Tire #7 were Smith, Smart, Rich Schweitzer, and Scott Archer. Joe Oliver, John Leasure, Al Street, Doug Higgins, and Chuck Elkins completed the top ten. Schweitzer, Leasure, and Dan Moore won the heats, while Schweitzer took the pursuit. Al Street again set fast time.
Musick & Myers Compact division racing was again exciting, yet clean. In the fast feature, John McNutt, who had won the heat and pursuit, was slotted eighth in the starting field. The Uhrichsville, Ohio driver was the favorite to win the feature event, as he had claimed 3 out of 4 this season. Just like most expected, McNutt used a series of strong passes to eventually work into the race lead by taking it from Josh Grove, the early leader. Once out front, only teammate Dale Beatty could compete, but his run was not enough, as McNutt claimed his fourth victory in five tries. Beatty, Grove, Tom Barrett, and Russell Grandison completed the top five. The rest of the top ten were Adam Mishler, Josh Irwin, Kyle Grewell, Jim Poole, and Steve Lute.
In the second Compact feature event, Mike Gribble started on the pole of the 15-lapper and was able to hold off the other 15 cars for his first feature victory. Kenny Ford came home in second, Earl Scranton third, James Domer fourth, and Paul Stull fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Tammy Rufener, Jesse Page, Mike Hostetler, Jill Harshey, and Mickey Green.
Coming from the eighth starting spot, Carla Pringle was on the move in her first career feature event. Pringle won the chance to drive the car two weeks ago, by way of a drawing. Each week, fans sign up for a chance to drive the Midvale Speedway house car. Pringle nearly won her heat earlier in the night, but was black flagged on the final lap for breaking out of her qualifying time. In the feature, however, she would not be denied. Pringle picked up the feature win and was elated in victory lane. Jason Anthony was second, while Ryan Kopp, Bill Wilkin, and Cody Shuss finished off the top five. The rest of the top ten were Richard Duvall, John Riehl, Chris Bloom, Tammy Ondo, and John Wissman, Jr.
McNutt, Ford, Gribble, Page, and Bob Viertel won heats, while McNutt claimed the pursuit. The top qualifier was Adam Mishler.
The next event is this coming Saturday, June 11. Late Models, Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will race and autograph night will be held at intermission. Fans are encouraged to bring pictures, flags, or paper for the drivers to sign, while the drivers are asked to bring pens, candy, pictures, their sponsor’s coupons, etc. Heats, pursuits, and features will be run. Admission prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 62+, and $6 for kids 6-15. Qualifying is from 4:00-6:00 and the racing will start at 6:30. The following event will be the Free Fan Appreciation Night will be held on Wednesday, June 15. Pure Stocks, Compacts, and Powder Puff Races will be held. Racing will start on that Wednesday at 8:00 P.M.
The Late Model top qualifier will be racing for the All Parts & Supply $50 bonus if he can win the feature. The Sport Stock top qualifier will be running for the $150 Fuel Depot award and if the Pure Stock top qualifier wins the feature, he will pick up an additional $50 courtesy of J.D. Byrider of Dover. Keith Thomas, the Sport Stock feature winner was the DLC Racing Equipment Hard Charger of the night. Thomas came from the ninth starting position to claim the top prize.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Performance Race Fuels Late Models
Top Qualifier – Mike Miller 14.68
Heat #1 – Tom Garbrandt, Mike Enos, Mike Miller, Phil Rozum, Duane Dunn
Heat #2 – Mark Enos, Bob Schneider, Jr., Bubba Smith, Todd Miller, Mark Willison
Pursuit – Bob Schneider, Jr., Bubba Smith, Todd Miller, Phil Rozum, Mike Miller
Feature – Mike Miller, Phil Rozum, Todd Miller, Bubba Smith, Duane Dunn, Dave Watson, Tom Garbrandt, Mark Enos, Mike Enos, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Bob Schneider, Jr., Tom Feller, Jr., Bob Eichel, Bob Gainer, Mark Willison, Doug McMillen
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Qualifier – Wes Gilland 15.51
Heat #1 – Keith Thomas, Joe Linard, Kurt Waller, Wes Gilland, Gabe Pringle
Heat #2 – Josh Grove, Paul Murray, Bill Hilliker, Glen Jewell, John Tantarelli, Jr.
Pursuit – Josh Grove, Keith Thomas, Wes Gilland, Don Rufener, Jr., John Tantarelli, Jr.
Feature – Keith Thomas, Kurt Waller, Glen Jewell, Roger Linard, Wes Gilland, Doug McMillen, Josh Grove, Paul Murray, Don Rufener, Jr., Chris Kail, Gabe Pringle, Kevin McClintock, John Tantarelli, Jr., Bill Hilliker
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Al Street 17.42
Heat #1 – Rich Schweitzer, Chuck Elkins, Randy Smart, Scott Archer, Al Street
Heat #2 – John Leasure, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Paul Parson, David Breehl, Bill Coventry
Heat #3 – Dan Moore, Bryant Smith, Dick Aubihl, Tim Oliver, Chris Miller
Pursuit – Rich Schweitzer, Scott Archer, Al Street, John Leasure, Chuck Elkins
Feature – Blake Mackey, Bryant Smith, Randy Smart, Rich Schweitzer, Scott Archer, Joe Oliver, John Leasure, Al Street, Doug Higgins, Chuck Elkins, Paul Parson, Bill Coventry, Dick Aubihl, Tim Oliver, Tim Rodgers, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Dan Moore, Ken Feister, David Breehl, Lee McCreery, Chris Miller
Musick & Myers Heating & Cooling Compacts
Top Qualifier – Adam Mishler 18.42
Heat #1 – John McNutt, Josh Grove, Dale Beatty, Tom Barrett, Jim Poole
Heat #2 – Kenny Ford, Perry Nave, Shawn Musick, Lissa Courtney, Kyle Grewell
Heat #3 – Mike Gribble, Nick Grubbs, Earl Scranton, Mike Roth, Eric Anderson
Heat #4 – Jesse Page, Ryan Kopp, Chris Bloom, Jason Anthony, Richard Duvall
Heat #5 – Bob Viertel, John Wissman, Jr., Laura Green, Bill Wilkin, Carla Pringle
Pursuit – John McNutt, Tom Barrett, Adam Mishler, Shawn Musick, Troy McMath
Feature #1 – John McNutt, Dale Beatty, Josh Grove, Tom Barrett, Russell Grandison, Adam Mishler, Josh Irwin, Kyle Grewell, Jim Poole, Steve Lute, Jason Shaw, Jason Morgan, Don Rufener, Jr., Perry Nave, Shawn Musick
Feature #2 – Mike Gribble, Kenny Ford, Earl Scranton, James Domer, Paul Stull, Tammy Rufener, Jesse Page, Mike Hostetler, Jill Harshey, Mickey Green, Mike Pyle, Mike Roth, Barb Feister, Kenny Jewell, Nick Grubbs, Eric Feister
Feature #3 – Carla Pringle, Jason Anthony, Ryan Kopp, Bill Wilkin, Cody Shuss, Richard Duvall, John Riehl, Chris Bloom, Tammy Ondo, John Wissman, Jr., Laura Green, Mike Jones, Bob Viertel, Bruce Gibson
Written by: Adam Mackey |
