 Over 150 cars were on hand to compete in week #3 of the 50th Anniversary Season, this past Saturday night, at Midvale Speedway. The regular five divisions were on hand, plus the first visit of the season from the Northern Ohio Legend cars.
Mike Bowers and Jim McCune started on the front row of the Tolloti Pipe Modified feature event. Coming into the night, two different feature winners had graced victory lane through two weeks of racing action. Those two winners, Glen Jewell and Mark Striker, started at the complete tail of the field, and had a long way to go to repeat. When the green dropped, Bowers, for the second week in a row jumped out front to pace the field. First, Mark Enos would challenge the leader, but to no avail. Then during the race’s mid-stage, Tim Allensworth, last week’s runner-up drove on the high lane to battle for the spot. The duo raced for several laps, before Allensworth eventually slipped back. Then, at the end of the event, a yellow helped Glen Jewell make a last lap charge to the front, as he sped around the oval on the high lane. Jewell, however, came up short in his bid for two in a row and Mike Bowers, a Massillon native, came home to his first career Modified feature win. Following the Tim’s Custom Car Care/Sibila Race Engineering #02 were Mark Willison, Jewell, Striker, and Allensworth. Completing the rest of the top ten were Enos, John Wilson, Jeff Smith, Jeff Christy, and Jim McCune. Willison, who had a strong run in the feature, won the heat race, while Jewell set fast time for the second week in a row.
A large inversion, black flags, and yellow flags were the topics of discussion in the Smokers Paradise Late Model 25-lapper. Starting up front, Bob Sibila and Gary Hoopingarner brought the field in for the green. Sibila would race into the lead, while Hoopingarner brought out the yellow flag when he slipped up the banking on the start. The next start was a little better, but it took only two laps to bring out a yellow when the very loose handling car of Hoopingarner lost it in the fourth turn collecting John Miller for the race’s second caution. Eventually, the field of racers was able to get some green laps in with Sibila leading the field. It was easy to see that no one had much for the Massillon driver, but one thing stood between he and victory lane, his qualifying time. In qualifications, Sibila’s car broke loose coming out of turn two on both laps, causing him to turn a much slower time than he is accustomed to. Eventually, during the feature, a yellow flew, sending him to the back of the field for breaking out. That gave Tom Newman, Jr. the race lead. Newman looked strong in his #10 racer, before the Akron driver had the same problem, he went under his qualifying time. That moved Newman to the back and gave Mike Miller the lead with Ryan Tedesco and Don Harvey, Jr. in tow. Harvey, the quickest of the three never could get around Tedesco, and Miller raced on for the victory. Following the A-1 Auto Parts/Allied Auto #53 were Tedesco, Harvey, Marcus Malcuit, and Duane Dunn. Sibila raced back to take sixth, while Newman, Bob Gainer, Larry Page, and Keith Thomas finished out the top ten. M. Miller and Bob Eichel won the heats, while Harvey was top qualifier.
The Tusco Net Pro Stocks had several new competitors in week #3, and a pretty good feature was held. During the 20-lapper, the race was run under mostly green flag conditions. Travis Devore held the early lead in the Pro Stock event, while Roger Butler and Bill Aubihl raced through the field. Aubihl, making his first appearance of 2003, used the inside and outside lanes to get to the front and take the lead. The Dover driver, with a quick car and no cautions was able to extend his lead during the green flag runs and never looked back to garner his first victory in his first attempt this year. Following the Best Wireline #31 to the stripe was Roger Butler, who made a huge stride in the point standings with a great night, Roger Linard, Gabe Pringle, with his best run this year, and Waylon Orr who started at the back and still finished in the top five. Tim Skinner, Kevin McClintock, Tim Gowins, Travis Devore, and Don Rufener, Jr. completed the top ten. Winning heats were McMillen and Gowins. Kevin McClintock set the fast time.
The Legend car division made their first appearance to the oval this season, and put on an exciting, flag-to-flag 25-lap feature event. Dennis Knox started on the pole of the event, but had tough Midvale challenger, Fred Davis alongside. Davis, who has won several features at the oval, fell back into second on the start. With just a couple of laps in, Knox gave too much room on the bottom of the track, and Davis raced by. However, in the late going, Knox wanted the feature bad enough to pass him back and go on to the feature win. Following him were Davis, Larry Young, Rick Hanson, and Tim Davis. Rick Riffle, Jason Knox, Randy Burns, Bill Richards, and Tom Spisak completed the top ten. Jason Knox and Bill Richards won the heats, while Young set fast time.
Joe Oliver, last week’s feature winner in the Papa John’s Pure Stock division set fast time in qualifications, by breaking the track record set by his brother a couple of weeks ago. Oliver, in his Courtney Painting #50, who started at the tail of the 23-car field because he won last week, wasted little time racing his way to the front. He was, however, helped somewhat by all of the cautions and wrecked cars that were eliminated from the event. At the conclusion of the 15-lap “demo derby” the Canton, Ohio driver crossed the stripe for his second win in a row, followed by Rich Schweitzer, Rick Hoffman, Justin Courtney, and Al Street. Schweitzer’s #84 runner-up finish was disallowed due to engine components not meeting requirements, and that moved Brian Oliver into the top five. Mike Daugherty, Brian Wood, Paul Parson, Tom Feller, Jr., and Blake Mackey completed the top ten. Bubba Smith, Daugherty, and Chester McMasters won the heats.
In fireproofcar.com Compact action, in one of the few fast Ford products left in the first feature, raced to his first feature win of 2003. Following the Dover, Ohio driver in his Stewart Reichman Sand & Gravel/Stix & Stones Landscaping #4 were Jason Morgan, Kelly McNutt, Billy Stutler, and Greg Grove. Josh Feister, John Nealey, Tom Barrett, Randy Smart, and David Breehl completed the top ten.
In the second feature, Rich Fox, a teammate to the fast feature winner, made it two-for-two for the Grove Racing stable. Phil Wade, Dougie Cross, Josh Irwin, and Jimbo Roup rounded out the top five. Completing the top ten were Eric Feister, Randy Hahn, Tye Kelly, Katrina Miller, and Dale Beatty.
The final Compact feature of the evening was won by Kenny Jewell, who was elated after his first feature win. Following Jewell to the stripe were Jason Grewell, Jamie Leslie, Ben Gibson, and Walter Cline. Rounding out the top ten were Jill Harshey, Gene Morgan, Steven Feister, William Scott, and Charles Ritch.
The heat races were won by David Breehl, Dougie Cross, Eric Feister, Jason Grewell, and Allen Andrews. The top qualifier was Greg Grove.
Coming up this Saturday, May 3, all five divisions plus the ARCA Super Trucks will make a visit for their 100-lap season opener. The Super Trucks will race for the first time at the speedway, 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
Northern Ohio Legends
Top Qualifier – Larry Young 16.38
Heat #1 – Jason Knox, James Rader, Dennis Knox, Randy Burns, Rick Riffle
Heat #2 – Bill Richards, Duane Lorens, Mark Wills, John Burns, Bob Swann
Feature – Dennis Knox, Fred Davis, Larry Young, Rick Hanson, Tim Davis, Rick Riffle, Jason Knox, Randy Burns, Bill Richards, Tom Spisak, James Rader, Geoff Hawk, Bob Swann, Tim Williams, Duane Lorens, Jeff Burton, Dave Harris, John Burns, Mark Wills
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Don Harvey, Jr. 14.69
Heat #1 – Mike Miller, Duane Dunn, Marcus Malcuit, Don Harvey, Jr., Ryan Tedesco
Heat #2 – Bob Eichel, John Tantarelli, Jr., Tom Newman, Jr., Bob Sibila, John Miller
Feature – Mike Miller, Ryan Tedesco, Don Harvey, Jr., Marcus Malcuit, Duane Dunn, Bob Sibila, Tom Newman, Jr., Bob Gainer, Larry Page, Keith Thomas, Jimmy Orr, Bear Schwartz, Gary Hoopingarner, John Miller, Bob Eichel
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Glen Jewell 14.84
Heat – Mark Willison, Mark Striker, Glen Jewell, Mike Bowers, Tim Allensworth
Feature – Mike Bowers, Mark Willison, Glen Jewell, Mark Striker, Tim Allensworth, Mark Enos, John Wilson, Jeff Smith, Jeff Christy, Jim McCune, Ron McBride
Tusco Net Pro Stocks
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock 15.97
Heat #1 – Doug McMillen, Roger Linard, Roger Butler, Bill Aubihl, Tim Skinner
Heat #2 – Tim Gowins, Kurt Waller, Gabe Pringle, Ron Carothers, Paul Wade
Feature – Bill Aubihl, Roger Butler, Roger Linard, Gabe Pringle, Waylon Orr, Tim Skinner, Kevin McClintock, Tim Gowins, Travis Devore, Don Rufener, Jr., Doug McMillen, Will Walker, Paul Wade, Kurt Waller, Frank Heater, Ron Carothers, Greg Mazzoleni
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Joe Oliver 17.88
Heat #1 – Bubba Smith, Brian Oliver, Justin Courtney, Joe Oliver, Al Street
Heat #2 – Mike Daugherty, Rick Hofffman, Rick Elkins, Jr., Chris Miller
Heat #3 – Chester McMasters, Blake Mackey, Shawanna Myers, Adam Stewart, Ron Myers
Feature – Joe Oliver, Rick Hoffman, Justin Courtney, Al Street, Brian Oliver, Mike Daugherty, Brian Wood, Paul Parson, Tom Feller, Jr., Blake Mackey, Ray Van Lehn, D.J. Radanovich, Chester McMasters, Rick Elkins, Jr., John Leasure, Teddy Oliver, Chris Miller, Adam Stewart, Shawanna Myers, Bubba Smith, Curtis Collins, Barney Gerber
Fireproofcar.com Compacts
Top Qualifier – Greg Grove 18.71
Heat #1 – David Breehl, Josh Grove, Jason Morgan, Josh Feister, Kelly McNutt
Heat #2 – Dougie Cross, Terry McNutt, Russell Grandison, Jack Grove, Jim Keller, Jr.
Heat #3 – Eric Feister, Rocky Moore, Will Miller, Jimbo Roup, Bob Passwaters, Sr.
Heat #4 – Jason Grewell, Don Rufener, Jr., Shawn Royer, John Baker, Kenny Jewell
Heat #5 – Allen Andrews, Jaimie Huebner, Ben Gibson, Gene Morgan, Steven Feister
Feature #1 – Josh Grove, Jason Morgan, Kelly McNutt, Billy Stutler, Greg Grove, Josh Feister, John Nealey, Tom Barrett, Randy Smart, David Breehl, Russell Grandison, John McNutt, Terry Colletti, Jim Poole, Jim Keller, Jr., Phil Veno, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Jason Anthony, Jack Grove, Shawn Smarsh
Feature #2 – Rich Fox, Phil Wade, Dougie Cross, Josh Irwin, Jimbo Roup, Eric Feister, Randy Hahn, Tye Kelly, Katrina Miller, Dale Beatty, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Don Rufener, Jr., Kevin Rennicker, Kenny Ford, Will Miller, Ray Hoover, Adam Mishler, John Baker, Rocky Moore, Jeff Lanzer, Billy Hilliker
Feature #3 – Kenny Jewell, Jason Grewell, Jamie Leslie, Ben Gibson, Walter Cline, Jill Harshey, Gene Morgan, Steven Feister, William Scott, Charles Ritch, Dave Simons, Eddie Huscusson, Gary Murray, Jimmy Jones, Todd Marsh, Bruce Gibson, Jesse Page, Shawn Royer, Jaimie Huebner
Written by: Adam Mackey |
