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Kortz Takes USPRO Event At Midvale

June 7, 2003
<p align=center>Kortz Takes USPRO Event At Midvale</p>The USPRO Racing Series' second race was held at Midvale Speedway in Ohio Saturday night. Mark Kortz won the U.S. Navy 50 despite missing most of the left side fiberglass on his #113. Brent Hook and Mike Carter made up the front row with Hook getting the jump on the start.

The field didn't complete a lap when first and second fast qualifiers, Mark Kortz and Steve Shlater Jr tangled in turn one. Both cars went for the same spot with Shlater Jr's car climbing up and over Kortz's car. Kortz's car was able to continue after stopping by series officials to have his car checked out, despite not having a driver's side door anymore. Shlater Jr's car was able to drive back to the pit area, but was through for the night with a broken panhard bar.

The field lined up to try again, with better success. Hook again jumped into the lead followed closely by Robbie Johnson, who was making his USPRO debut. For seven laps the 17 year old R. Johnson pressured Hook before he dipped low to take the lead. R. Johnson built his lead to a half straightaway before he caught the end of the field and began passing cars lap 17.

With R. Johnson out in front running by himself, focus was on the battle for second between the cars of Hook, Bob Varney, Shaun Whitney, Mike Carter and Kortz. As the group jostled for position several cars came together and Whitney ended up losing his left front fender. The caution was thrown to remove the debri from the front stretch and all cars continued on.

On the restart, Dave Peffer's car came off of turn four too high and he hit the front stretch wall. A shower of sparks followed his car as he came to a stop in turn one with suspension damage. During the caution, Hook's tire went down and he had to give up his second place position to go to the pits and change it.

When the race resumed Varney dogged R. Johnson as the pair raced hard for the top position. On lap 23, Varney made a push for the inside and the duo tangled in turn four with Varney's car climbing over R. Johnson's car, nearly tipping on it's side. R. Johnson continued with severe damage to the rear of the car after checking in with the officials. ( USPRO does have the spinner/spinee rule, but also has a gentlemen's agreement that if one of the competitors involved admits they were the cause of the caution they go to the rear while the other driver gets their original spot back). R. Johnson told officials he was in the wrong and Varney was placed into the lead, with R. Johnson going to the rear.

Despite an ill handling car, Varney held off repeated challenges from Kortz over the next 14 laps. Kortz tried to pass Varney high on the tight 3/10 mile track and when that didn't work, moved low. He finally completed the pass on lap 38 and once on the point stretched out his lead. Varney fought back the challenges of Whitney and Carter for the second position as the trio raced nose to tail over the final 12 laps, with Varney retaining second place, followed by rookies Shaun Whitney and Mike Carter.

Kortz aboard his U.S. Air Force, Phelps Towing, Speedway Motors Taurus, finished nearly 2/3 of a straightaway ahead of the group at the checker.

Next on the track was the Smokers Paradise Late Model division 25-lap feature. It was setup to be interesting, as in qualifying the competitive Late Model field had Mike Miller as fastest qualifier and eighth fast qualifier Tom Newman, Jr. within less than two tenths of each other. John Tantarelli, Jr. and Tom Newman, Jr. started on the front row for the event, with Newman easily taking the lead a pulling away. Ryan Tedesco, looking for his first feature win of 2003, moved into second. As lap-after-lap clicked off, Newman was able to maintain a comfortable distance over Tedesco. In the field, Don Harvey, Jr. was again putting on an exciting show, by using the outside lane. During the race’s mid-stage, he worked on the outside of Bear Schwartz, Tantarelli, and Farmer Smith, trying to better his position. Eventually, he would fall back in line, unable to get to the front, with the division’s stellar field. At the finish, it was Akron, Ohio’s Tom Newman, Jr. in his HYNRG Promotions/Performance Metal Works #10 picking up his first feature win of 2003 over Tedesco, Smith, Harvey, and Miller. Tantarelli, Bob Gainer, Greg Beule, John Miller, and Schwartz rounded out the top ten. A.P. Ren and Mike Enos won the heats.

An excellent field of Tolloti Pipe Modifieds was on hand for the night’s racing action, as 17 were in the pits. Tim Allensworth and Jeff Smith paced the field, when the green dropped with Allensworth taking the lead. With Smith hanging onto second, Mark Striker, Mark Willison, Randy Gray, and the night’s top qualifier Glen Jewell were trying to race through the pack. However, the competition up front was too fierce, and they could never get to the front. At the end of the 20-lap event, the Raco Transmission/Buckeye Precision #11 of Allensworth was the winner with Smith, Mark Enos, Striker, and Gray completing the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Willison, Jewell, Dusty Woodie, George Bowers, and Ron McBride. Coshocton, Ohio’s Allensworth and Butch Erickson won the heats.

In what probably turned out to be the best race of the night, Greg Mazzoleni and Roger Butler made up the front row for the 20-lap Tusco Net Pro Stock feature. Over the first half of the race, the top twelve cars were double-wide, as neither Mazzoleni nor Butler could secure the top spot. Finally, close the halfway point, the race’s first caution came out, as the night’s top qualifier Keith Thomas had spun in turn two. Thomas, upset after spinning, had to go to the back and would have just over half of the laps left to get back to the front. While passing more than one car per lap, till the end, Thomas was right back up front, and in fourth, when a caution slowed the pace with three to go. When the green flag again was waved, Thomas wasted little time in taking the next two spots. On the race’s final circuit, Thomas had only one driver between he and his second win of 2003 – Midvale veteran Roger Linard. Linard, though would turn out to be to much, as Thomas looked to the outside on the backstretch, but dashed back to the inside in turn four, but fell short by mere feet at the stripe. Linard, of Dover, Ohio, crossed the line victorious with his first feature win of 2003. Rounding out the top five behind the Uncle Primo’s/Bobby Knight’s Claymont Tire #2 were Thomas, Mazzoleni, Doug McMillen, who was going for the lead before the lap 17 caution, and Butler. Kevin McClintock, Waylon Orr, Tim Skinner, Don Rufener, Jr., and Jimmy Orr completed the top ten. Rufener and Dan Gasser won the heats.

As did two of Midvale’s other divisions, the Papa John’s Pure Stocks had their best car count of the year, so two feature events were held. In the first of two, Curtis Collins and Brian Wood started up front, but it was action in the back of the field that made the race exciting. Top competitors rookie Bubba Smith and track record holder Teddy Oliver slowed the race twice, as the duo ran hard at the back of the field, bringing out back-to-back cautions. Once, it came out for Smith and Chester McMasters, as they tried to race through the field, and yet another when Al Street spun into the infield. Meanwhile, point’s leader Joe Oliver was darting through the field, picking off one car at a time. Eventually, he would take over the top spot, and race away for the win, with rookie competitor Justin Courtney making a last lap challenge. Following the Courtney Painting/Used Tire Company #50 were Courtney, John Leasure, Rich Schweitzer, and Larry Smith. D.J. Radanovich, Bubba Smith, Rick Hoffman, Paul Parson, and Curtis Collins completed the top ten.

In the second feature, a mid-race crash-em-up took place at the start finish line, as race leader Shawanna Myers brought the field in for green on a restart. Myers who looked like she may be on her way to a first Pure Stock feature win, slowed and got hit from behind by Chris Miller. Myers car then turned sideways on the frontstretch, and was wiped out by the oncoming car of Mike Daugherty. After the battered machines were removed from the frontstretch, Barney Gerber took over the race lead and went on to the win. Following the Zoar Air Design/Swiss Auto Mart #2T were Vic Paul, Dick Aubihl, Tom Feller, Jr., and Dan Moore. Completing the top ten were Ray Van Lehn, Chris Miller, Daugherty, Myers, and Mike Martin. Brian Wood, Gerber, and Brian Oliver won the heats, while Teddy Oliver set a new track record in qualifications.

A solid field of fireproofcar.com Compacts were again on hand as three features were held. In the fast feature, Randy Hahn and Russell Grandison started up front, but it was the top two qualifiers, Randy Smart and Greg Grove, that were putting on a show. In afternoon time trials, Grove set a new track record with an 18.36, but moments later Smart did him one better at an 18.35. During the race, both were coming to the front in a hurry. Once out front, Smart and Grove, in that order, were easily working into lapped traffic. Smart eventually crossed the line in first, with Grove several car lengths back. After the event, the top three cars were torn down, with the #3 of Grove found not to meet rule specifications. Following the Kurt Garren, M.D., Inc./Nutrition Plus #6 in the official rundown were John McNutt, Kelly McNutt, David Breehl, and Russell Grandison. The rest of the top ten were Willie Grove, Dougie Cross, Randy Hahn, Phil Veno, and Robert Mizer.

In the second feature, Shawn Smarsh held the lead for many laps, somehow defending the challenges of Jack Grove and Lennie Orr. In what was a very exciting race, Smarsh held off the hungry challengers until breaking out of his qualifying time towards the race’s latter stage. That left it to Orr and Grove, and with the latter’s brakes failing, Orr went on to pick up the win. Following the #8 of Orr were Grove, Jim Poole, Jason Anthony, and John Nealey. Completing the top ten were Jimbo Roup, Kevin Rennicker, Ray Hoover, John Baker, and Shawn Royer.

In the third feature, Steven Feister, who had earlier won his first career heat race, held the lead for many of the 25-laps, before breaking out of his qualifying time. That opened up the opportunity for Bob Passwaters, Sr. to pick up th feature win in his Italo’s Pizza/Ken’s Body Shop #66. Following him were Kyle Grewell, Jeff Lanzer, Gary Murray, and Eddie Huscusson. Gary Gibson, Jesse Page, Dale Beatty, Jaimie Huebner, and Jamie Leslie completed the top ten. Randy Smart, Tom Barrett, Tammy Rufener, Kyle Grewell, and Steven Feister won the heats.

Coming up this Saturday, June 14th, Midvale Speedway presents the first annual Redneck Night At The Races. The fun night will be packed with racing action featuring Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts. The evening will open with the finish of the Tolloti Pipe Modified feature from a couple of weeks ago. Seven laps are already completed in the event. The Late Models will be running 50 laps for $1,500 to win and $200 to start on Saturday, the 14th. And, don’t forget to bring your riding lawn mower, as a lawn mower race and a farmer’s tan contest will be held at intermission. Qualifying for the night’s racing program begins at 3:50 and runs until 5:50, with the racing to begin at 6:30.

Results For Midvale Speedway


USPRO Series
Top Qualifier – Mark Kortz 14.76
Feature – Mark Kortz, Bob Varney, Shaun Whitney, Mike Carter, Brent Hook, Rick Everidge, Robbie Johnson, Mike Simon, James Johnson, Bill Tomlinson, Dave Peffers, Steve Schlater, Jr.
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Mike Miller 14.73
Heat #1 – A.P. Ren, Don Harvey, Jr., Ryan Tedesco, Bear Schwartz, Bob Gainer
Heat #2 – Mike Enos, Tom Newman, Jr., Darrel Dexter, Greg Beule, John Tantarelli, Jr.
Feature – Tom Newman, Jr., Ryan Tedesco, Farmer Smith, Don Harvey, Jr., Mike Miller, John Tantarelli, Jr., Bob Gainer, Greg Beule, John Miller, Bear Schwartz, Darrel Dexter, Mike Enos, A.P. Ren
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Glen Jewell 14.71
Heat #1 – Tim Allensworth, Jeff Smith, Mark Willison, Randy Gray, Glen Jewell
Heat #2 – Butch Erickson, Ron McBride, George Bowers, Jim Beatty, Jr., Mel Robinson
Feature – Tim Allensworth, Jeff Smith, Mark Enos, Mark Striker, Randy Gray, Mark Willison, Glen Jewell, Dusty Woodie, George Bowers, Ron McBride, Butch Erickson, Mel Robinson, John Wilson, Bill Page, Jim Beatty, Jr., Rick Kapple
Tusco Net Pro Stocks
Top Qualifier – Keith Thomas 15.87
Heat #1 – Don Rufener, Jr., Gabe Pringle, Doug McMillen, Roger Butler, Kevin McClintock
Heat #2 – Dan Gasser, Bill Aubihl, Dan Smith, Bill Weaver, Paul Murray
Feature – Roger Linard, Keith Thomas, Greg Mazzoleni, Doug McMillen, Roger Butler, Kevin McClintock, Waylon Orr, Tim Skinner, Don Rufener, Jr., Jimmy Orr, Bill Aubihl, Gabe Pringle, Dan Gasser, Phil Wade, Dan Smith, Bill Weaver, Joe Sanford, Jr., Kurt Waller, Paul Murray
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Teddy Oliver 17.84 (NTR)
Heat #1 – Brian Wood, John Leasure, Joe Oliver, Al Street, Teddy Oliver
Heat #2 – Barney Gerber, Chester McMasters, Mike Martin, Paul Parson, Dick Aubihl
Heat #3 – Brian Oliver, Mike Daugherty, Shawanna Myers, Vic Paul, Chris Miller
Feature #1 – Joe Oliver, Justin Courtney, John Leasure, Rich Schweitzer, Larry Smith, D.J. Radanovich, Bubba Smith, Rick Hoffman, Paul Parson, Curtis Collins, Al Street, Chester McMasters, Blake Mackey, Teddy Oliver, Brian Wood, Rick Elkins, Jr.
Feature #2 – Barney Gerber, Vic Paul, Dick Aubihl, Tom Feller, Jr., Dan Moore, Ray Van Lehn, Chris Miller, Mike Daugherty, Shawanna Myers, Mike Martin, Justin Lawson, Brian Oliver, Bill Page
Fireproofcar.com Compacts
Top Qualifier – Randy Smart 18.35 (NTR)
Heat #1 – Randy Smart, Russell Grandison, Terry Colletti, David Breehl
Heat #2 – Tom Barrett, Jack Grove, Rocky Moore, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Phil Veno
Heat #3 – Tammy Rufener, Jason Anthony, Shawn Smarsh, Kevin Rennicker, Lennie Orr
Heat #4 – Kyle Grewell, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Will Miller, Jeff Lanzer, Otto Polilli
Heat #5 – Steven Feister, Dave Fox, Jr., Jamie Leslie, Jaimie Huebner, Eddie Huscusson
Feature #1 – Randy Smart, John McNutt, Kelly McNutt, David Breehl, Russell Grandison, Willie Grove, Dougie Cross, Randy Hahn, Phil Veno, Robert Mizer, Bill Coburn, Eric Feister, Josh Irwin, Tom Barrett, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Rocky Moore, Terry Colletti, Jason Morgan
Feature #2 – Lennie Orr, Jack Grove, Jim Poole, Jr., Jason Anthony, John Nealey, Jimbo Roup, Kevin Rennicker, Ray Hoover, John Baker, Shawn Royer, Will Miller, Kenny Jewell, Tye Kelly, Chuck Harshey, Charles Ritch, Bruce Gibson, Tammy Rufener, Shawn Smarsh, Dave Simons
Feature #3 – Bob Passwaters, Sr., Kyle Grewell, Jeff Lanzer, Gary Murray, Eddie Huscusson, Gary Gibson, Jesse Page, Dale Beatty, Jaimie Huebner, Jamie Leslie, Steven Feister, Dave Fox, Jr., Kenny Ford, Ben Gibson, Jason Grewell

Written by: Adam Mackey

Driver Results
Pro Stocks
Feature
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
12002Roger Linard
219034Keith Thomas
318019Greg Mazzoleni
417054Doug McMillen
5160OORoger Butler
615038Kevin McClintock
714028Waylon Orr
813023Tim Skinner
91207Don Rufener, Jr.
1011049Jimmy Orr
1110031Bill Aubihl
12908Gabe Pringle
138029Dan Gasser
147099Randy Doolin
1560O4Luke Huff
165094Bill Weaver
17409Joe Sanford, Jr.
183018Kurt Waller
192020Paul Murray
 
Heat #1
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
1407Don Rufener, Jr.
2308Gabe Pringle
32054Doug McMillen
410OORoger Butler
5038Kevin McClintock
 
Heat #2
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
14029Dan Gasser
23031Bill Aubihl
320O4Luke Huff
41094Bill Weaver
5020Paul Murray
 
Late Models
Feature
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
120010Tom Newman, Jr.
21901Ryan Tedesco
31807Farmer Smith
417012Don Harvey, Jr.
516053Mike Miller
615067John Tantarelli, Jr.
714023Bob Gainer
813021Greg Beule
91206John Miller
1011077Bear Schwartz
1110055Darrel Dexter
129070Mike Enos
138057A.P. Ren
DNS069Bob Eichel
 
Heat #1
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
14057A.P. Ren
23012Don Harvey, Jr.
3201Ryan Tedesco
41077Bear Schwartz
5023Bob Gainer
 
Heat #2
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
14070Mike Enos
23010Tom Newman, Jr.
32055Darrel Dexter
41021Greg Beule
5067John Tantarelli, Jr.
 
Modifieds
Feature
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
120011Tim Allensworth
219034Jeff Smith
3180OMark Enos
417077Mark Striker
516027Randy Gray
615018Mark Willison
714024Glen Jewell
813044Dusty Woodie
912099George Bowers
1011013Ron McBride
1110019Butch Erickson
129072Mel Robinson
138033John Wilson
147016Bill Page
156080Jim Beatty, Jr.
165056Rick Kapple
DNS022Jim McCune
 
Heat #1
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
14011Tim Allensworth
23034Jeff Smith
32018Mark Willison
41027Randy Gray
5024Glen Jewell
 
Heat #2
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
14019Butch Erickson
23013Ron McBride
32099George Bowers
41080Jim Beatty, Jr.
5072Mel Robinson
 
Pure Stocks
Feature #1
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
120050Joe Oliver
2190O3Justin Courtney
31803John Leasure
417084Rich Schweitzer
51608Adam Stewart
615075D.J. Radanovich
714012Bubba Smith
8130ORick Hoffman
912044Paul Parson
1011066Curtis Collins
1110073Al Street
129081Chester McMasters
13807Blake Mackey
147049Teddy Oliver
156054Brian Wood
165053Rick Elkins, Jr.
 
Feature #2
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
11502Barney Gerber
214026Vic Paul
313047Dick Aubihl
412031Tom Feller, Jr.
511029Dan Moore
6100O4Ray Van Lehn
79070Chris Miller
88083Mike Daugherty
970O5Shawanna Myers
10606Mike Martin
115016Justin Lawson
124048Brian Oliver
133061William Page
DNS099Gordon Conway
DNS0O6Ron Myers
 
Heat #1
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
14054Brian Wood
2303John Leasure
32050Joe Oliver
41073Al Street
5049Teddy Oliver
 
Heat #2
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
1402Barney Gerber
23081Chester McMasters
3206Mike Martin
41044Paul Parson
5047Dick Aubihl
 
Heat #3
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
14048Brian Oliver
23083Mike Daugherty
320O5Shawanna Myers
41026Vic Paul
5070Chris Miller
 
Compacts
Feature #1
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
14006Randy Smart
238035John McNutt
336036Kelly McNutt
434049David Breehl
532072Russell Grandison
63004Josh Grove
728063Dougie Cross
826088Randy Hahn
924085Phil Veno
1022021Willie Grove
1120057Bill Coburn
1218016Eric Feister
1316089Josh Irwin
14140157Tom Barrett
1512074Bob Passwaters, Jr.
1610015Rocky Moore
178027Terry Colletti
18602Jason Morgan
Disqualified03Greg Grove
DNS0O7Gary Musick
DNS01Gene Morgan
 
Feature #2
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
13008Lennie Orr
22805Jack Grove
326014Jim Poole
424017Jason Anthony
522033John Nealey
62009Jimbo Roup
718075Kevin Rennicker
8160117Ray Hoover
9140114John Baker
10120147Shawn Royer
1110045Will Miller
128076Kenny Jewell
1360O9Tye Kelly
144086Jill Harshey
152023Charles Ritch
161032Bruce Gibson
17107Tammy Rufener
181024Shawn Smarsh
191042Allen Andrews
DNS080Phil Wade
DNS025Katrina Miller
 
Feature #3
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
120066Bob Passwaters, Sr
2180110Kyle Grewell
3160138Jeff Lanzer
414071Gary Murray
512053Eddie Huscusson
610083Gary Gibson
780O2Jesse Page
86097Dale Beatty
94058Jaimie Huebner
1020OOJamie Leslie
111078Steven Feister
121092Dave Fox, Jr.
131067Kenny Ford
141030Ben Gibson
1510101Jason Grewell
DNS010Rusty Rouse
DNS043Otto Polilli
 
Heat #1
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
1406Randy Smart
23072Russell Grandison
32027Terry Colletti
41049David Breehl
 
Heat #2
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
140157Tom Barrett
2305Jack Grove
32015Rocky Moore
41074Bob Passwaters, Jr.
5085Phil Veno
 
Heat #3
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
1407Tammy Rufener
23017Jason Anthony
32024Shawn Smarsh
41075Kevin Rennicker
508Lennie Orr
 
Heat #4
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
140110Kyle Grewell
23066Bob Passwaters, Sr
32045Will Miller
410138Jeff Lanzer
5043Otto Polilli
 
Heat #5
Finished PositionPoints EarnedCar No.Driver
14078Steven Feister
23092Dave Fox, Jr.
320OOJamie Leslie
41058Jaimie Huebner
5053Eddie Huscusson
 
Top
06/07/2003 Race
Pro Stocks Listings
Finish Pos.Driver
1.Linard, Roger
2.Thomas, Keith
3.Mazzoleni, Greg
4.McMillen, Doug
5.Butler, Roger
6.McClintock, Kevin
7.Orr, Waylon
8.Skinner, Tim
9.Rufener, Jr., Don
10.Orr, Jimmy
More
 
06/07/2003 Race
Late Models Listings
Finish Pos.Driver
1.Newman, Jr., Tom
2.Tedesco, Ryan
3.Smith, Farmer
4.Harvey, Jr., Don
5.Miller, Mike
6.Tantarelli, Jr., John
7.Gainer, Bob
8.Beule, Greg
9.Miller, John
10.Schwartz, Bear
More
 
06/07/2003 Race
Modifieds Listings
Finish Pos.Driver
1.Allensworth, Tim
2.Smith, Jeff
3.Enos, Mark
4.Striker, Mark
5.Gray, Randy
6.Willison, Mark
7.Jewell, Glen
8.Woodie, Dusty
9.Bowers, George
10.McBride, Ron
More
 
06/07/2003 Race
Pure Stocks Listings
Finish Pos.Driver
1.Oliver, Joe
2.Courtney, Justin
3.Leasure, John
4.Schweitzer, Rich
5.Stewart, Adam
6.Radanovich, D.J.
7.Smith, Bubba
8.Hoffman, Rick
9.Parson, Paul
10.Collins, Curtis
More
 
06/07/2003 Race
Compacts Listings
Finish Pos.Driver
1.Smart, Randy
2.McNutt, John
3.McNutt, Kelly
4.Breehl, David
5.Grandison, Russell
6.Grove, Josh
7.Cross, Dougie
8.Hahn, Randy
9.Veno, Phil
10.Grove, Willie
More