Ohio's Fun Place to Race!!
2024 Race Season |
 | July 3, 2015 |
 The Racing God's smiled on Midvale Speedway Friday Night as all the pop up showers steered to the north and south leaving us dry. An absolutely beautiful crowd packed the grounds and the racing action and an outstanding fireworks display left them wanting more. Sixteen Main Event Racing Series Super Late Models and forty nine machines in three weekly divisions made the tow to the 3/10 mile oval under cloudy skies and 78 degrees.
The Main Event Racing Series Super Late Model's took to the speedway for The Downtown Ford 100 with the #25 of Josh Way and 3-time Main Event Series Champion Rich Rohrer in the #7 starting on the front row. At the drop of the green from Series Chief Starter Chuck Barrett, Rohrer raced out to the early lead. Alex Rosenberry, the race's defending champion was marching from his 5th starting spot up to 3rd via the inside lane. Emerson Huffman brought out the races first caution at lap 3 for a mechanical issue on the front straightaway. After the restart Rosenberry wheeled his #2 into the second position and brought Mike Mazzagatti with him on the bottom. Caution number two was for Wyoming, MI driver Dave Stehouwer in the #33, who had to repair the right front suspension after a crash in opening practice in turn four. This time it was in turn one, with something breaking again on the right front, sending him into the wall. That put the youngster on the outside of not only The Main Event Series all-time win leader, but the all-time win leader at Midvale Speedway. Youth versus experience and this time youth got the upper hand as Rosenberry raced out to the lead on lap #11. Rohrer would pull off on lap #13 for a windshield that was fogging up, putting Mazz up to second and defending Series Champion Harold Fair Jr in the third spot. On lap 18, 2-time Series Champion and the winner of the Labor Day weekend Main Event Race last fall Bud Perry, had worked his way up to third around Fair Jr. Just as Rosenberry and Mazzagatti started to put some distance on the field, caution three waved as the #18 of Jeff Ganus and Billy Roberts in the #88 got together. Mazz seemed to have a little bit better car at that point as he really got into the turns and through the center better than Rosenberry. Alex was holding onto the lead because he was a rocket off the corners. That's when things got interesting. Fair Jr had an issue under the caution, forcing him to retire from the event. Then, we found out why Rosenberry wasnt as good getting into the turns, he had a front brake issue and that forced him to pit road. Ganus was also forced to pit for an adjustment, as his machine just wasnt to his liking after winning the Series first to races. The duo would restart 10th and 11th with a lot of work to do. Mazz inherited the lead but he was never really challenged after that. A scary moment when Chief Starter Chuck Barrett was hit by a piece of debris, putting the field under red at lap 41. Chuck was checked out by the EMT's from Smith Ambulance and was ok, but Midvale Chief Starter Terry Colletti took over the duties for the remainder of the event. The race was slowed by only one more caution on lap 58 that allowed the Ganus and Rosenberry tandem to close up on the top five, but Mazz had other ideas. After a failed restart that involved contact between the top 2, Mazz was able to put almost a straightaway distance over Perry and the rest of the field. Over the final 42 green flag laps, Perry took a couple runs at him, but was only able to close to within about 10 car lengths. Mazz would have a career defining night picking up his first career Main Event Racing Series win in the Downtown Ford 100. Following the FLF Race Cars, Arlington Auto Wrecking, Holub Recycling, Shakers Auto Recycling sponsored #87 to the finish was Perry, Ganus, Roberts and Rosenberry rounding out the top 5.
Next to take to the track was The Finish Line Motors Mini Trucks for their 10 lapper. Chad Squires in the #4 and the #95 of Michael Varnes brought the field in for green. Varnes was able to wrestle the lead away off turn two. The truck on the move was fastest qualifier and heat race winner Kevin Locker in the #118 who made a 3 wide pass on the outside to move up to second. As the laps clicked away, Locker reeled Varnes in slowly until he pounced on lap five. After that, it was Locker cruising off into the night to pick up his first victory in something other than a spectator drag, in a number of years. Following The Locker Racing sponsored #118 was Varnes, Squires and Keith Anderson who pulled off with mechanical issues.
The #44 of Aaron Prater and the #14 of Andrew Wise brought the field of twenty Summit Racing Economy Modified's down for Chief Starter Terry Colletti's Green Flag. Prater was able to get the jump and take over the top spot with Lucas Ripley in the #0 following him up thru to second. This division has been a head scratcher this season. One night everything is clean and green and the next it is a mess. Tonight, it unfortunately was the latter. Caution after caution after caution.......did I mention caution? Ripley was able to get a nice restart on about the 4th one and make the move around Prater on the outside to take over the top spot. Ripley and Prater would remain that way thru quite a few more cautions and restarts until lap 17. Thats when Prater got loose in the outside lane off turn four and clipped the Ripley machine, bringing out our final caution, sending Prater to the tail. That would move Bubba Smith to the outside of Ripley. Bubba and company haven't brought the modified out of mothballs until mid week from last September's accident. He was glad they did! Smith was able to finally clear Ripley in the outside lane after a four lap battle and deny Lucas his first career win. Following The Finish Line Motors, Finish Line Design sponsored #7 was Ripley, Bryce Allensworth who worked his way up after transferring in from the Consi, Brandon Bailey and Glen Jewell.
The night cap was the 20 lap JD Byrider Street Stock feature. Rookie phenom Colton Ritchey in the #21 and Late Model Veteran John Ambrose Jr brought the field to the stripe. Ambrose was able to get a good start and dive to the bottom lane and take over the point with Ritchey in tow. After a couple early cautions, Waylon Orr was able to bring his #28 ride up into the third position behind the front 2. Two things were working against Ambrose tonight. Number one, he hasnt drove at Midvale in a few years. The other, he hasn't drove a Street Stock at Midvale........ or anywhere for that matter. As the closing laps clicked by, Ambrose started to pull away from the Ritchey and Orr battle. Ambrose, who hasn't been to victory lane in a long time at Midvale Speedway, got the call to fill in for the vacationing Robbie Patterson and sailed into victory lane. Following the Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Fence Enterprises, The Outlaws, Natural Falls Landscaping, Patty's Busy Bee Cleaning, ET Lawn Care sponsored #80 was Ritchey, Orr, fastest qualifier Kyle Grove and Bob Passwaters Sr.
Next Saturday Night July 11th is Van Meter's Auto Repair / Federated Auto Parts Christmas In July Night at Midvale Speedway. Kid's Bicycle giveaways and prizes for Adults. Everyone is reminded to keep their ticket stubs handy next week and listen during the Heat Races for their number to be called. If you would like to donate a Bicycle or any Items to be given away, PLEASE contact track office or email (Info@midvalespeedway.com)!!!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for another OUTSTANDING Night at "Thunder In The Valley"!!
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Main Event Super Late Models
Top Qualifier: Jeff Ganus 13.362
Downtown Ford 100: Mike Mazzagatti, Bud Perry, Jeff Ganus, Billy Roberts, Alex Rosenberry, Tim Ice, Nick Grodi, John Sanquist Jr, Doug Sommers, Josh Way, Virgil Ravenscroft III, John Flynn, Harold Fair Jr, Emerson Huffman, Rich Rohrer, Dave Stehouwer.
Summit Racing Economy Modifieds
Top Qualifier: Kevin McClintock 14.642
Heat 1: Bubba Smith, Glen Jewell, Preston Walker, Kevin McClintock, Bob Sibla Jr, Rick Elkins Jr, Brandon Bailey.
Heat 2: Doug McMillen, Mike Bowers, Adam Stewart, Tad Grove, Aaron Prater, Andrew Wise, Mike Green, Lucas Ripley.
Consi: Bryce Allensworth, Don Boron Jr, Phillip Cox, Keith Krebs, Nathan Embree, Matt Hutchinson, Mike Hutson, Joe Slentz, Chris Piehl, Austin Harvey, Braden Swaney.
Feature: Smith, Ripley, Allensworth, Bailey, Jewell, McMillen, Bowers, Cox, Krebs, Lee McCreery, Green, McClintock, Prater, Elkins Jr, Stewart, Sibla Jr, Boron Jr, Walker, Wise, Grove.
JD Byrider Street Stocks
Top Qualifier: Kyle Grove 16.083
Heat 1: Kyle Grove, John Ambrose Jr, Colton Ritchey, Bob Passwaters Jr, Bob Passwaters Sr, Tom Powell.
Heat 2: Bill Aubihl, Larry Smith, Dennis Wood, Cyler Bertram, Tim Lynn, TJ Barker, Gary Hoopingarner.
Feature: Ambrose Jr, Ritchey, Waylon Orr, Grove, Passwaters Sr, Hoopingarner, Aubihl, Barker, Passwaters Jr, Josh Moss, Wood, Powell, Lynn, Smith, Bertram.
Finish Line Motors Mini Trucks
Top Qualifier: Kevin Locker 17.263
Heat: Kevin Locker, Keith Anderson, Michael Varnes, Chad Squires.
Feature: Locker, Varnes, Squires, Anderson.
Written by: Chris Kail |
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07/03/2015 Race
Economy Modifieds Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Smith, Bubba |
| 2. | Ripley, Lucas |
| 3. | Allensworth, Bryce |
| 4. | Bailey, Brandon |
| 5. | Jewell, Glen |
| 6. | McMillen, Doug |
| 7. | Bowers, Mike |
| 8. | Cox, Philip |
| 9. | Krebs, Keith |
| 10. | McCreery, Lee |
| More |
07/03/2015 Race
Street Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Patterson, Robbie |
| 2. | Ritchey, Colton |
| 3. | Orr, Waylon |
| 4. | Grove, Kyle |
| 5. | Passwaters Jr, Bob |
| 6. | Parker, Cody |
| 7. | Aubihl, Bill |
| 8. | Barker, TJ |
| 9. | Passwaters Sr, Bob |
| 10. | Miller, Todd |
| More |
07/03/2015 Race
Mini Truck Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Locker, Colt |
| 2. | Varnes, Michael |
| 3. | Kelly, Preston |
| 4. | Nicholas, Billy |
| 5. | Anderson, Keith |
| More |
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