 Beautiful weather, 135 cars, and great racing this past Saturday, April 19, at Midvale Speedway, greeted race fans. In the first of five 50th Anniversary 50-lappers this season, the Tusco Net Pro Stocks were to race the main event of the night. Late Models, Modifieds, Pure Stocks, and Compacts were also on hand.
Sixteen Tusco Net Pro Stocks were in the pits, but only 14 lined up for, flagman, Kirk Bryan’s green flag. Polesitter Gabe Pringle and Roger Butler brought the field in for the green, with Pringle jumping out front. Midvale veteran Roger Linard was the second driver to lead the race, as he took over in the first few laps. With Linard out front, Keith Thomas was absolutely rocketing through the field. Thomas wasted very little time in disposing of Linard for the number one spot. At that point, the race looked to be Thomas’s, no doubt. However, towards the halfway point, Doug McMillen started to show his strength as he caught the leader and was all over him, trying to get around. Lap-after-lap went by with Thomas and McMillen slaughtering the field by half a track. McMillen ran as close to the bottom as possible, looking for room, but Thomas never made the mistake that McMillen needed. At the completion of lap 50, it was the Hoop Designs/D&B Machine #34 taking the win. Following the Midvale, Ohio driver were McMillen, Tim Skinner, Tim Gowins, and Kevin McClintock. Butler, Linard, Randy Doolin, Dan Smith, and Will Walker completed the top ten. Gowins and Travis Devore won the heats, while Skinner set the fast time.
Again, a competitive field of Smokers Paradise Late Models were on hand for their 25-lap feature event. Bob Eichel and John Miller started up front to lead the field in for the green, with Eichel leading the first lap. Miller would then race back in the outside lane to take over the lead. Behind him, Farmer Smith was coming, along with Don Harvey, Jr. Smith ducked to the lowside of the leader, and took over the spot, and Harvey came along. As the lead duo raced, the two touched slightly, sending Smith spinning. Harvey told track officials that fault was his and to give Smith his spot back, with Bear Schwartz running second. Under green conditions, Schwartz looked to be a little faster as he hounded Smith for the top spot. However, the key move of the race was setup by a yellow flag. When the caution fell, Schwartz started right on the rear bumper of Smith on the restart. As soon as the green lights went on, Schwartz surprised Smith with a pass to the inside on the front straightaway, in a move that would eventually give him the win. On opening night, the New Image Homes/Trico Construction #77 came home in the runner-up spot, but on this night bettered it by one spot for the win. Following New Philadelphia’s Schwartz were Mike Miller, Harvey, who went to the tail twice but raced back to a great third place finish, Ryan Tedesco, and Tom Newman, Jr. Tom Garbrandt, Smith, Duane Dunn, Eichel, and Bob Gainer who was suffering break problems completed the top ten. Schwartz and Eichel won the heats, while Marcus Malcuit set the fastest time of the night.
Mike Bowers and Jim McCune made up row #1 for the 20-lap Tolloti Pipe Modified feature. Bowers took the lead, running his first night of the early season, as McCune dropped to second. As the racing was fast and furious up front, top qualifier, Glen Jewell was dashing towards the leaders. Jewell, with a new chassis in 2003, went inside and outside of his fellow competitors to bolt his way to the front. After getting the lead, the New Philadelphia driver in his Texas Roadhouse/J.D. Byrider #24 never looked back. Coming home a strong second was Tim Allensworth followed by Mark Enos, Mark Willison, and Mark Striker. Completing the top ten were John Wilson, Mike Bowers, Butch Erickson, Ron McBride, and Jim McCune. Enos won the heat.
A win was going to be tough to come by for the Papa John’s Pure Stock field, as Canton’s Joe Oliver started on the pole with a strong #50 car. Oliver, as expected dashed into the lead and held on comfortably throughout much of the event. However, in the late stages, his brother and last week’s feature winner, Teddy Oliver was racing from very deep in the field to close in. Finally, on the last circuit, the night’s top qualifier had caught the leader, but fell just short at the end. Following the Used Tire Company/Courtney Painting #50 of Oliver were T. Oliver, Rich Schweitzer, Rick Hoffman, and John Leasure. Curtis Collins, Justin Courtney, Chester McMasters, Rick Elkins, Jr., and Barney Gerber completed the top ten. Schweitzer, J. Oliver, and McMasters won the heat races.
Jason Morgan lead the first circuit of the fireproofcar.com Compact feature event. John McNutt, who started in row #2 challenged Morgan on the outside and took the lead with a couple of laps in. McNutt, driving the K&W Used Tires/DA Construction #35 went on to pick up his first win, as no one could challenge the Uhrichsville driver at the finish. Following him were Greg Grove, Morgan, Billy Stutler, and Kelly McNutt. Terry Colletti, Willie Grove, Jimbo Roup, Josh Feister, and Jack Grove completed the top ten.
In the second Compact feature event, Gabe Pringle, filling in for David Breehl, came from the middle of the pack in the sharp #49 car to pick up the win. The New Philadelphia driver, doing double duty in both his Pro Stock and the Certified Beverage/United Sales Compact was followed by Josh Irwin, Robert Mizer, Rocky Moore, and John Baker. Rocky DeLuca, Phil Wade, Ray Hoover, Bob Passwaters, Sr., and Kenny Jewell finished off the top ten.
In the final Compact feature of the night, Billy Hilliker led for much of the 15-lapper. However, he broke out of his qualifying time with a couple of laps to go and was given the black flag as he came in for the checkered. His bad break turned out to be a victory for Canton’s Gary Murray in the Courtney Sportswear #71. Jill Harshey, Will Miller, Allen Andrews, and Mike Cottrell completed the top five. The rest of the top ten were Joe Sickels, Steven Feister, Eddie Huscusson, Jaimie Huebner, and Hilliker.
Josh Feister, Willie Grove, Gabe Pringle, Phil Wade, and Walter Cline won the heat races in the Compact division. Randy Smart turned in the top qualifying effort.
After two nights of racing in the 50th Anniversary Season, Don Harvey, Jr. and Bear Schwartz (Late Models), Glen Jewell (Modifieds), Keith Thomas (Pro Stocks), Teddy Oliver (Pure Stocks), and Terry Colletti (Compacts) are leading the point standings.
Coming up this Saturday, April 26, all five divisions plus the Legend cars will make a visit. The miniature replica sedans and coupes will be racing their 25-lap feature to go along with Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts. Qualifying will be 3:50-5:50 with racing at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Marcus Malcuit 14.79
Heat #1 – Bear Schwartz, Duane Dunn, Ryan Tedesco, Don Harvey, Jr., Marcus Malcuit
Heat #2 – Bob Eichel, John Miller, Tom Newman, Jr., Tom Garbrandt, John Tantarelli, Jr.
Feature – Bear Schwartz, Mike Miller, Don Harvey, Jr., Ryan Tedesco, Tom Newman, Jr., Tom Garbrandt, Farmer Smith, Duane Dunn, Bob Eichel, Bob Gainer, Marcus Malcuit, John Miller, Jimmy Orr
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Glen Jewell 14.80
Heat – Mark Enos, Mark Willison, Glen Jewell, Mark Striker, Mike Bowers
Feature – Glen Jewell, Tim Allensworth, Mark Enos, Mark Willison, Mark Striker, John Wilson, Mike Bowers, Butch Erickson, Ron McBride, Jim McCune, George Bowers
Tusco Net Pro Stocks
Top Qualifier – Tim Skinner 15.97
Heat #1 – Tim Gowins, Will Walker, Kevin McClintock, Bill Hilliker, Keith Thomas
Heat #2 – Travis Devore, Gabe Pringle, Roger Butler, Don Rufener, Jr., Roger Butler
Feature – Keith Thomas, Doug McMillen, Tim Skinner, Tim Gowins, Kevin McClintock, Roger Butler, Roger Linard, Randy Doolin, Dan Smith, Will Walker, Gabe Pringle, Greg Mazzoleni, Travis Devore, Don Rufener, Jr.
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Teddy Oliver 18.06
Heat #1 – Rich Schweitzer, John Leasure, Rick Hoffman, D.J. Radanovich, Al Street
Heat #2 – Joe Oliver, Curtis Collins, Ray Van Lehn, Chris Miller, Blake Mackey
Heat #3 – Chester McMasters, Shawanna Myers, Dave Hahn, Vic Paul, Rick Elkins, Jr.
Feature – Joe Oliver, Teddy Oliver, Rich Schweitzer, Rick Hoffman, John Leasure, Curtis Collins, Justin Courtney, Chester McMasters, Rick Elkins, Jr., Barney Gerber, Mike Martin, Paul Parson, D.J. Radanovich, Mike Daugherty, Tom Feller, Jr., Chris Miller, Ray Van Lehn, Brian Oliver, Bubba Smith, Al Street, Brian Wood, Blake Mackey, Vic Paul
fireproofcar.com Compacts
Top Qualifier – Randy Smart 18.69
Heat #1 – Josh Feister, Russell Grandison, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Jack Grove, Terry Colletti
Heat #2 – Willie Grove, Rocky Moore, Jim Keller, Jr., Jimbo Roup, John Baker
Heat #3 – Gabe Pringle, Mitch Fergeson, Robert Mizer, John Drescher, Bruce Gibson
Heat #4 – Phil Wade, Mike Phillips, Jr., Bill Mercier, Kevin Rennicker, Allen Andrews
Heat #5 – Walter Cline, Billy Hilliker, Eddie Huscusson, Mike Cottrell, Jaimie Huebner
Feature #1 – John McNutt, Greg Grove, Jason Morgan, Billy Stutler, Kelly McNutt, Terry Colletti, Willie Grove, Jimbo Roup, Josh Feister, Jack Grove, Jim Keller, Jr., Russell Grandison, Dougie Cross, Jim Poole, Tom Barrett, Don Rufener, Jr., Bob Passwaters, Jr., Eric Feister, Randy Smart, Rich Fox, Cody Kahler, Phil Veno
Feature #2 – Gabe Pringle, Josh Irwin, Robert Mizer, Rocky Moore, John Baker, Rocky DeLuca, Phil Wade, Ray Hoover, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Kenny Jewell, Bruce Gibson, Jason Anthony, Katrina Miller, Jamie Leslie, John Drescher, Tye Kelly, Jason Grewell, Shawn Royer, Mitch Fergeson, Dale Beatty, Kenny Ford, Bill Mercier, Ben Gibson, Adam Mishler
Feature #3 – Gary Murray, Jill Harshey, Will Miller, Allen Andrews, Mike Cottrell, Joe Sickels, Steven Feister, Eddie Huscusson, Jaimie Huebner, Billy Hilliker, Rick Smith, Charles Ritch, Walter Cline, Kevin Rennicker, Mike Phillips, Philip Murray
Written by: Adam Mackey |
