Midvale Speedway
WELCOME RACE FANS!!............ Thunder In The Valley 2024..............Night of Destruction kicks off our 2024 season on Saturday April 13th......
Friday, March 29th
Ohio's Fun Place to Race!!
2024 Race Season
2-Day Fall Classic Is In The Books
October 1, 2016
2-Day Fall Classic Is In The BooksFirst of all, THANK YOU to all the Driver's, Team's, Sponsor's, Worker's, Official's and ESPECIALLY THE FANS for spending your weekend with us and again, please keep the Page family in your thoughts and prayers!!

The return of the 2-Day Budweiser Fall Classic this past weekend treated fans of all ages to some fun activities and some GREAT RACING!!! We hosted a Trunk or Treat at intermission on Saturday for the kid's and it was a huge success!! Almost every Driver and Team participated, quite a few fans dressed up and EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME!! DJ Justin C spun some tunes as fans "Pigged Out" on our Hog Roast after the races, many campers stuck around and partied well into the night!!!
Ninety three car and truck combinations and twenty three trailer racers made the trip to "Thunder In The Valley". Skies Saturday were partly cloudy and 64 degrees at race time and Sunday the skies were mostly cloudy and it was 63 degrees.

The first feature to pull onto the Speedway was the 30 lap feature for the Canton Auto Salvage Compact's. The #19 of Clayton Oliver and the #69 of Dan Buckey led the field to the green flag. After a two failed starts and some cars having to go pit side with damage, Oliver would lead lap #1 with Buckey close behind. As the duo entered turn one, the #19 appeared to check up slightly in the middle of the corner and he and the Buckey ride made contact, sending Oliver to the infield. Being the sportsman that he is, Buckey admitted fault and would restart at the tail. That moved the #77 of Zach Cogar to the outside of Oliver for the restart. After a side by side battle for a lap, the #27 of Britt Vanmeter shot straight through the middle of them both and took the top spot on lap 3. The #22 of Kyle Rector quickly worked his way around Oliver and Cogar to second from the 7th starting position. Rector, looking to completely sweep the weekend, was applying the pressure to Vanmeter as Gage Jaberg in the #21 moved up to the 3rd position. Rector would make the inside pass and take over the top spot on lap 6. Chase Beatty in the #75 would make contact on the front straightaway, ending both their nights, bringing out the races final caution on lap 10. Rector and Vanmeter would restart side by side with Jaberg and the #24 of Brent Shreffler in row 2. Rector would shoot out to the lead, bringing Jaberg with him. The machine on the move was Buckey, who was on a mission to get back into contention after being sent to the tail earlier. Buckey sliced and diced his way up through the field to take over 5th on lap 16. Rector continued out front with a 4 or 5 car length lead over Jaberg. As the laps wound down, traffic was becoming an issue as they started to overtake some good cars. That allowed Jaberg to close, but Rector was able to manage the lapped traffic and pick up another feature victory. Following the Dover OH driver in the black #22 to the stripe was Jaberg, Vanmeter, Shreffler and Buckey. Vanmeter and Jaberg will decide the championship in the Compact Division on Saturday night Oct 15th. A special THANK YOU to Michael Taylor Allstate Insurance for additional sponsorship towards the winner's purse.

Next up was the Open Modified 40 lap feature with Jesse Adams in the #1 and Brandon Bailey in the #55 on the front row. Starting positions were determined by the Heat Race finishes on Saturday evening. Adams would lead lap one with Bailey still along side. Braden Swaney in the #27 was able to make a sporty move on Bailey for the second spot on lap 3. Swaney looked to have a very stout race car and made a quick, surprising move to the inside of Adams in turn one and the two made contact, sending the #1 spinning. After looking at multiple replays, it was determined that Swaney wasn't quite up far enough, and he was sent to the tail for the restart. After another quick caution, the #53 of Dave Dobbins was on the outside of Adams for the restart. Dobbins, who had won the two previous Open Modified races this season at Midvale, was looking for three in a row. Adams would continue to lead after the restart in his brand new black and pink #1 with Dobbins trying to get by on the outside. Going into turn one on lap 7, the lead duo banged wheels, which sent them both spinning. Bob Sibla Jr in the #82 also got caught up in the accident as an innocent bystander. Unfortunately, it would be the end of the day for all three of them as they received damage in what was nothing more than a hard racing incident. That put the #55 of "The Rooster" in the lead with Kevin McClintock in the #38 along side. McClintock, who talked before the race about needing some sunshine to put some heat in the track, got what he hoped for as the sun peeked through the clouds. McClintock would get a good restart and take over the top spot with Bailey, Rick Elkins in the #51 and Doug Meyer in the #31 following. Caution #4 would come out on lap 12 as the #0 of Nathan Embree and the #15 of new track record holder Craig Phillips, getting together in turn one. Looking at the replay, it was almost the same scenario as what happened to Swaney and Adams earlier. That sent Embree to the tail for the restart. McClintock was now restarting on the inside and Bailey on the top. Bailey got a great restart and took the lead back off turn 2. McClintock would tuck in behind the #55, opening the outside lane for Meyer. Meyer would take over the second spot and brought Elkins with him up to third. With a green flag run settling in, Bailey was starting to pull away from the field. The final caution waved on lap 23 for the #92 of Mike Hutson, who spun off turn 2. That was a caution Bailey didn't want to see. Swaney had worked his way back up through the field into the top 6 for what would be the final restart, but was starting to have some battery issues. Meyer would rocket to the lead, showing why he is one of the best Modified drivers around. Bailey was determined to not let Meyer get away as Elkins hounded McClintock for the 3rd position. McClintock was able to get around Elkins on the restart via the outside lane, if only he could have had his choice of lanes earlier. The lead duo would continue to distance themselves from the field as the laps wound down. Bailey needed just a bobble, one mistake by Meyer to give him a chance. But Meyer never put a wheel wrong and would finally take a Modified win at Midvale Speedway. Following the Canton OH driver in Direct Detail, Bob's Auto Sales, McIntosh Oil Company, All Parts Auto Care sponsored #31 was Bailey, McClintock, Elkins Jr and Phillips. The top 3 crate engines who picked up an extra bonus was Justin Courtney in the #5, Lee McCreery in the #2 and Lucas Ripley in the #0. Ripley stsrted the weekend with a big motor, but broke a crank in practice. The team swapped engines and he was abke to make the 3rd heat race later that night. Bryce Allensworth, Ripley and McClintock will settle the Championship a week from Saturday. A special THANK YOU to Vanmeter's Auto Repair for bringing the winner's purse up ton $2000!!!

After about a 90 minute delay for a passing shower, The Finish Line Motor's Mini Truck's pulled onto the Speedway for their 20 lap event. The #21 of Dewayne Powell and the #72 of Derek Cordia brought the field down for the start. Powell would get ping ponged back through the field off turn two as Rolly Heyder Jr in the #10 shot out to the lead with the #58 of Jerry Gardner in second. After a quick caution as Rich Schweitzer in the #84 spun and bicycled in the turn two grass on lap 2, Heyder would again race out front. Heyder would build up a 9 or 10 truck length lead as Joe Linard in the #82 would work his way up to second and Schweitzer now back up to third. As the laps clicked off the board, Linard was starting to reel in the #10. Lap after lap Heyder's lead was shrinking. Just as Linard caught Heyder, the #87 of Andrew Fishburn spun wildly off turn four, bringing out the second caution. Before the restart, Heyder held Linard way up high through turns three and four. The two would bang off each other a few times and Heyder would again, have the lead. Schweitzer would make a late pass attempt on Linard going into turn three, trying to take over the runner-up spot. The two made contact, bringing out the caution and forcing Schweitzer to retire with a flat right front tire. That put Linard to the outside of Heyder again for the restart and again, Heyder held Linard up into the 3rd groove. As the green waved, Linard and Heyder made contact a few times before the start/finish line, resulting in Heyder spinning and hitting the wall. Heyder was sent off for not adhering to the officials warning him to stay in the bottom lane for the restart multiple times. Linard was sent to the tail for the final restart for initiating the contact. That put the 2016 Mini Truck Track Champion Colt Locker in the #118 up front with Gardner along side. Locker, who benefitted from running a conservative race early on, shot out to the lead. Linard was rocketing thru the field but was in desperate need of a caution. That caution waved on lap 18 as the #4 of Tim Scott spun after contact with Gardner racing for second. That would set up a green-white-checkered finish between the two trucks that dominated the Division all year long. Locker had the power on the straightaway and Linard had a better handling truck through the turns. The horsepower made the difference as the two drag raced to the line. Locker would take the photo finish by about a foot. Following the Somerdale OH driver in the Townhouse Drive Thru, My Water Doctor, The Lindentree and GM Electric sponsored #118 was Linard, Gardner, Michael Varnes and Cordia. A special THANK YOU to Pro Core Power Equipment who increased the winner's purse.

Larry Smith in the #44 and Josh Moss in the #77 brought the field down for the start of the JD Byrider Street Stock 30 lap feature. After two failed starts, one that eliminated one of the best cars in Mark Lushes in the #112 with mechanical problems, Smith was able to race out to the early lead. Moss would battle with Colton Ritchey in the #21, but would lose that battle on lap 3. The car on the move was the #30 of Don Harvey Jr. Harvey, a former Late Model and Main Event competitor, was driving the new white and green Foster Mackey ride and was on the move from the 11th starting position. The first caution waved on lap 5 as the race leader spun in turn two. Replay would show that there was no contact between he and Ritchey, sending Smith to the tail. Ritchey would lead with Kyle Grove in the #3 to his outside for the restart. Grove would lead into turn one, but was starting to show some smoke out the back of his #3. Denver Carte in the #21c took over the second spot as the bigger motored guys were starting to come to the front. After a caution on lap 9 for a spin by Bill Aubihl in the #31, Carte was able to get by Grove after a good, hard 3 lap battle. The #12 of Jeff Kuykendall moved up to 3rd until Harvey put him back to 4th a lap later. Harvey would work around Grove as the smoke continued to get worse out of the #3. Grove would be black flagged just before the 3rd caution waved on lap 17 for a spin by the #91 of Anthony Lefelhoc. On the restart, Carte tried to hang with Harvey, but the #30 was just too strong. A couple late race cautions slowed the field, but the only thing that was effected was the margin of victory. Following the Barberton OH driver in the Moto Mom's Design's Sponsored #30 was Carte, fastest qualifier Hunter Combs, Dennis Wood and Kuykendall. Gabe Pringle will clinch his 1st Championship by qualifying on the 15th.

The final Fall Classic feature was for the McIntosh Oil Company Late Model's as Jesse Page in the #02 and Bryant Smith in the #1 brought the field to Chief Starter Terry Colletti's green flag. Page had just got back from the hospital after his mother had a medical issue during practice. From her hospital bed, Mrs. Page told Jesse to go back and race, and race he did. Page would lead lap 1 by a fender over Smith. Smith would prevail on the outside and lead lap 2, bringing veteran Ryan Tedesco in the #701 with him. Tedesco, making his first appearance of the season, tucked in behind Bryant as Alex Rosenberry in the #2 worked around Page in the high lane. The first caution flew on lap 6 as the #69 of Don Rufener III lost a motor in turn four. Bryant would battle with Tedesco for a lap after the restart, but Tedesco was strong in the outside lane, just like he usually is. Rosenberry would get around Smith on lap 9 and set his sites on the leader. Rosenberry would look lap after lap for a way around Tedesco. On a couple of occasions, Rosenberry was able to get along side in the second lane, but each time he would either lose traction or a lapped machine would force him back in behind. Tedesco continued to protect the bottom, forcing Rosenberry to attempt a pass on the outside. As the front two battled, Bubba Smith, the 2016 Late Model Point Champion, was closing in on younger brother Bryant. The two separate battles would continue throughout the 32 lap green flag run. Those 4 raced very hard and clean with each other. Tedesco was protecting the bottom and almost daring Rosenberry to the outside. Rosenberry worked all over the rear deck lid of Tedesco, becoming more desperate as the laps wound down. As they took the white flag and dove into turn one, Rosenberry got in just a little bit too deep, made contact with Tedesco and spun himself out. The caution waved, setting up a 1 lap shootout for the win as Rosenberry pulled pit side with no brakes. These were the story's that looked to be written: Tedesco was looking for his first win in his first start. Bryant Smith looking for his 3rd win of 2016. Bubba Smith looking to cap off an incredible Championship season. Doug Mate in the #14 looking to spoil the party and Jesse Page racing for his mom. The field took the green and Tedesco answered all those questions quickly. One of the best wheelmen to turn laps at Midvale Speedway would add another chapter to his outstanding, storied career. Rounding out the top 5 behind the New Philadelphia OH driver in the Tedesco Racing Graphics, CC Performance, Lee's Famous Recipe and Vanmeter's Auto Repair sponsored #701 was Bryant, Bubba, Mate and Page. Again, our thoughts and prayers are extended to the Page family for a speedy recovery for Mrs Page!!!!

The final night of racing in 2016 at "Thunder In The Valley" will be the 3rd and FINAL chance at getting the Summit Racing Equipment Season Championship Night in the books on SATURDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 15TH. We all want to let the championship battles finish up on the track, let's hope mother nature agrees!! If, for some reason we have to cancel, the point standings will finish as they are currenty. We will release the starting times and prices this week. Thanks you all once again for joining us this past weekend.....we hope you had as much fun as we did!!!!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- McIntosh Oil Company Late Model's

Fast Time: Alex Rosenberry 13.709
Dash: Ryan Tedesco, Alex Rosenberry, Bubba Smith, Doug Mate
Heat 1: Bryant Smith, Tedesco, Rosenberry, Bubba, Mate, Jesse Page
Heat 2: George Riddle, Gary Hoopingarner, Jeff Dunfee III, Larry Baker, Cody Jaberg
Non Winner: Tedesco, Mate, Page, Dunfee, Jaberg
Feature: Tedesco, Bryant, Bubba, Mate, Page, Hoopingarner, Riddle, Rosenberry, Dunfee III, Baker, Jaberg, Rufener III

Open Modified's

Fast Time: Craig Phillips 14.331 (NTR)
Heat 1: Jesse Adams, Justin Courtney, Preston Walker, Nathan Embree, Doug Meyer, Lee McCreery, Bob Sibla Jr, Jason Grewell
Heat 2: Brandon Bailey, Braden Swaney, Dave Dobbins, Kevin McClintock, Craig Phillips, Rick Elkins Jr, Rodney Saunders, Shawn Marder
Heat 3: Lucas Ripley, Bill Shimko, Eugene Kopp Jr, Mike Hutson, Jim Coffy
Feature: Meyer, Bailey, McClintock, Elkins Jr, Phillips, Courtney, Marder, McCreery, Ripley, Saunders, Grewell, Hutson, Swaney, Embree, Shimko, Walker, Sibla Jr, Dobbins, Adams, Coffey

JD Byrider Street Stock's

Fast Time: Hunter Combs 15.596
Dash: Mark Lushes, Don Harvey Jr, Dennis Wood, Hunter Combs
Heat 1: Lushes, Denver Carte, Harvey, Wood, Gabe Pringle, Combs
Heat 2: Bear Schwartz, Larry Smith, Colton Ritchey, Kyle Grove, Rick Pereces, Jeff Kuykendall, Josh Moss
Heat 3: Joe Shimko, Jimmy Beatty, Jimmy Orr, John Leasure, Anthony Lefelhoc, Bill Aubihl
Non Winner: Jeff Kuykendall, Harvey, Ritchey, Carte, Beatty, Aubihl, Schwartz, Orr, Shimko
Top Gun: Wood, Lushes, Pringle, Combs, Kuykendall, Ritchey, Orr
Feature: Harvey Jr, Carte, Combs, Wood, Kuykendall, Pereces, Pringle, Orr, Moss, Beatty, Lefelhoc, Smith, Aubihl, Ritchey, Leasure, Grove, Shimko, Ryan Tedesco, Lushes

Canton Auto Salvage Compact's

Fast Time: Kyle Rector 17.404
Dash: Kyle Rector, Britt Vanmeter, Brent Shreffler, Gage Jaberg
Heat 1: Rector, Brandon France, Shreffler, Jaberg, Dan Buckey, Clayton Oliver, Zack Cogar
Heat 2: Chris Morgan, Korey Herron, Mike McDonald, Tim Frederick, Alan Clark, Kyle Finlayson, Sam Bigham, Tyler Eichel
Heat 3: Mike Jones, Rocky Nails, Chase Beatty, Bruce Gibson, Brandon Nails, Derek Johns
Non Winner: Shreffler, Bigham, McDonald, France, Cogar, Herron, Morgan, Clark, Eichel, Beatty, Jones, Johns, Eugene Arkenberg
Top Gun: Rector, Vanmeter, Jaberg, Nails
Feature: Rector, Jaberg, Vanmeter, Shreffler, Buckey, Oliver, Frederick, Bigham, France, Clark, McDonald, Cogar, Herron, Morgan, Rocky Nailss, Eichel, Jones, Beatty, Howard Bartholow, Johns, Don Rufener III, Finlayson, Gibson, Arkenberg, Brandon Nails

Finish Line Motor's Mini Truck's

Fast Time: Joe Linard 16.380
Dash: Colt Locker, Rich Schweitzer, Joe Linard, Tim Scott
Heat 1: Rolly Heyder Jr, Linard, Schweitzer, Locker, Jerry Gardner, Scott
Heat 2: Barney Gerber, Michael Varnes, Dewayne Powell, Derek Cordia, Andrew Fishburn
Non Winner: Gerber, Powell, Varnes, Cordia
Feature: Locker, Linard, Gardner, Varnes, Cordia, Powell, Fishburn, Scott, Heyder Jr, Schweitzer, Roger Bausher, Gerber

Official's Race Winner: Justin Renicker

Trailer Race top 3: Ryan Tedesco, Kyle Rector, Robert Raber

Written by: Matthew Helms and Chris Kail

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