 137 cars were in the pits for Redneck Night at the races, a night that featured a 50-lap Late Model main event. The 50 lapper, redneck games, and regular racing made the evening a night to remember.
An excellent field of Late Models were on hand for the $1,500 to win event, as 20 cars turned laps in qualifying with Bob Gainer setting fast time with a 14.82. The whole top ten was within two-tenths of the quickest lap. Since the number ten pill was drawn, Farmer Smith, the tenth fastest qualifier, and Bob Sibila, the ninth fastest time trailer, made up the first row for the 50-lapper. On the start, 1999 and 2000 track champion, Smith took the lead. However, within the first ten laps, the veteran Sibila was determined to take the lead. Sibila ducked to the lowside of the race leader and darted out front, immediately pulling away from the strong field. Mike Miller, the 2001 track champion, followed Smith for many laps, and was finally able to get around toward the race’s midstage.
Amazingly, with the strong field, the first caution did not come out until lap 36, and it was for liquid spillage on the track. The race then had a couple of more yellows in the last fourteen laps, as several spins took place. The cautions were not good for Sibila, as he had over a straightway lead built up over the second place car of Miller. Over the final circuits, Miller tried several times to go low on the race leader, but Sibila, despite failing brakes was able to hold on. Following the Shoobie’s Lounge/R&R Auto Sales #83 across the line were Miller, Marcus Malcuit, Tom Garbrandt, and Smith. John Miller, A. P. Ren, Don Harvey, Jr., Duane Dunn, and Mike Enos completed the top ten. Sibila and Enos won the heat race events.
The Tolloti Pipe Modifieds were actually involved in the first race of the night, as a makeup feature had to be completed. Butch Erickson, who held the lead over the first seven laps, a couple of weeks ago, had thirteen to go when the green dropped on the event. Erickson, with Mark Willison in tow, was hounded lap after lap to the lowside, to the much better handling car of Willison. However, Erickson was able to keep his momentum up, and get down the stretches better to hang on for the exciting win. Willison, Randy Gray, Mark Striker, and Tim Allensworth completed the top five behind the Enhanced Imaging/Wrisco Aluminum #19. The rest of the finishers were John Wilson, Ron McBride, Jim Beatty, Jr., and Mike Bowers.
In the regular Tolloti Pipe Modified feature, rookie Ron McBride was in front, until Mark Willison took over and looked to be on his way to the checkered flag. However, on one of several restarts during the caution plagued race, Willison and the second place car of Striker made contact, collecting Mark Enos, whose car had the most damage. Willison retired from the race, but Striker was able to continue and hold off strong challenges from Glen Jewell and Randy Gray to pick up the win. Following the McBride’s Auto/Cua’s Body Shop #77 were Jewell, Gray, Ron McBride, and Tim Allensworth. Jeff Smith, George Bowers, Willison, Christy Bowers, and Enos completed the top ten. John Wilson and Jim McCune won heats, while Enos set fast time.
Again, one of the most exciting races of the night was the Tusco Net Pro Stock 20 lap feature. Roger Butler and Jimmy Orr ran first and second for many laps with Don Rufener, Jr. challenging around the race’s mid-stage. However, Rufener’s throttle hung going into turn three and plowed the wall in turn four, destroying his racer. Luckily, Rufener was okay. With a couple of laps to go, Butler looked like he was on his way to a win, but on the white flag lap, point’s leader Keith Thomas positioned his car in the outside lane and challenged for the lead. As the cars worked through the turns, the #34 of Thomas pulled out front and crossed the stripe first, for his second feature win of the season. Rounding out the top five behind the D&B Machine/Hoop Design Graphics #34 were Butler, Orr, Roger Linard, and Greg Mazzoleni. Tim Skinner, Gabe Pringle, Dan Gasser, Paul Murray, and Dave McMillen completed the top ten. Rufener and Butler won the heats, while Linard set fast time.
In the Papa John’s Pure Stock fast feature, Blake Mackey held the early lead, but track record holder Teddy Oliver took over shortly thereafter as his brother Joe Oliver and rookie Bubba Smith were working quickly to the front. Towards the end, Smith was working on the outside lane and had just got around T. Oliver for the lead, when the two’s contact in turn one, on the final lap took them both out of contention after an exciting side-by-side battle. That gave the lead to Rich Schweitzer. Over the final circuit, Schweitzer was able to hold off a strong challenge from the night’ stop qualifier Rick Elkins, Jr. Following the New Philadelphia, Ohio driver were Elkins, Curtis Collins, Justin Courtney, and Brian Wood. Teddy Oliver, D.J. Radanovich, Rick Hoffman, Bubba Smith, and Dick Aubihl completed the top ten.
In the second Pure Stock feature, Norm Stutler, driving the Brian Oliver car, came from near the back to take over the lead and go on to the win in the Midas Auto Service Experts #48. Barney Gerber, Douglas Higgins, Tom Feller, Jr., and Paul Parson completed the top five. Finishing in positions six through ten were Ray Van Lehn, Chris Miller, Gordon Conway, Bill Page, and Anthony Bissett. Pure Stock heat wins went to Smith, Wood, and Bissett.
A very exciting fireproofcar.com Compact feature took place, in the first of three features for the beginner’s division. Phil Veno and Randy Hahn were the race leader, early on, and Hahn’s was one of very few “non-Cavalier” makes on the track. Hahn held the top spot in his Escort, until Terry Colletti worked his way through the pack and went into the lead for the second week in a row. However, this week he did not relinquish the lead, as all four tires held air well, and went on to the win in the Stonecreek Bar & Grille/Pied Piper Muffler & Tire #27. Kelly McNutt, a charging John McNutt, Greg Grove, and Hahn completed the top five. The rest of the top ten were Jason Morgan, Randy Smart, Russell Grandison, David Breehl, and John Nealey.
In the second Compact feature, Tom Barrett, by way of the outside lane, worked his way to the front and stayed there for his first feature win of 2003. Following the East High Arby’s/Walton’s Auto & Glass #157 were Jason Anthony, Jim Keller, Jr., Kenny Jewell, and Shawn Smarsh. Bruce Gibson, Josh Irwin, Jamie Leslie, Tammy Rufener, and Kevin Rennicker rounded out the top ten.
And in the third and final Compact event, Kenny Ford picked up his first feature win, driving the Ken’s Body Shop/Passwater Racing #67. Dale Beatty, Jason Grewell, Kyle Grewell, and Brian Oliver followed Ford across the stripe. Ben Gibson, Jeff Lanzer, Dan Gray, Eddie Huscusson, and John Wissman completed the top ten. Colletti, Jack Grove, Keller, Shawn Smarsh, and Ford won the heats. The top qualifier was Randy Smart.
Coming up this Saturday, June 21, the Papa John’s Pure Stocks will have a 50-lap feature event. Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, and Compacts will also be on hand. Qualifying begins at 3:50 and racing starts at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Qualifying (Top 10) – Bob Gainer 14.82, Tom Garbrandt 14.83, A.P. Ren 14.87, Marcus Malcuit 14.87, Tom Newman, Jr. 14.89, Don Harvey, Jr. 14.91, Ryan Tedesco 14.91, Mike Miller 14.92, Bob Sibila 14.93, Farmer Smith 15.02
Heat #1 – Bob Sibila, Mike Miller, Don Harvey, Jr., Farmer Smith, Tom Garbrandt
Heat #2 – Mike Enos, John Tantarelli, Jr., Todd Ripley, Greg Beule, Darrel Dexter
Feature – Bob Sibila, Mike Miller, Marcus Malcuit, Tom Garbrandt, Farmer Smith, John Miller, A.P. Ren, Don Harvey, Jr., Duane Dunn, Mike Enos, Ed Middaugh, Ryan Tedesco, John Tantarelli, Jr., Bob Gainer, Greg Beule, Bear Schwartz, Darrel Dexter, Todd Ripley, Bob Eichel, Tom Newman, Jr.
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Mark Enos 14.83
Heat #1 – John Wilson, Mark Striker, Mark Willison, Randy Gray, Jeff Smith
Heat #2 – Jim McCune, Ron McBride, George Bowers, Rick Kapple, Christy Bowers
Feature – Mark Striker, Glen Jewell, Randy Gray, Ron McBride, Tim Allensworth, Jeff Smith, George Bowers, Mark Willison, Christy Bowers, Mark Enos, Butch Erickson, Rick Kapple, Jim McCune, John Wilson
Make-up Feature (May 17) – Butch Erickson, Mark Willison, Randy Gray, Mark Striker, Tim Allensworth, John Wilson, Ron McBride, Jim Beatty, Jr., Mike Bowers
Tusco Net Pro Stocks
Top Qualifier – Roger Linard 15.98
Heat #1 – Don Rufener, Jr., Ryan Tedesco, Jimmy Orr, Tim Skinner, Kevin McClintock
Heat #2 – Roger Butler, Greg Mazzoleni, Dave McMillen, Paul Murray, Ron Carothers
Feature – Keith Thomas, Roger Butler, Jimmy Orr, Roger Linard, Greg Mazzoleni, Tim Skinner, Gabe Pringle, Dan Gasser, Paul Murray, Dave McMillen, Ryan Tedesco, Don Rufener, Jr., Kevin McClintock, Ron Carothers, Joe Sanford, Jr.
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Rick Elkins, Jr. 18.00
Heat #1 – Bubba Smith, Rich Schweitzer, Teddy Oliver, Justin Courtney, D.J. Radanovich
Heat #2 – Brian Wood, Blake Mackey, Tom Feller, Jr., Adam Stewart, John Leasure
Heat #3 – Anthony Bissett, Norm Stutler, Vic Paul, Chris Miller, Mike Daugherty
Feature #1 – Rich Schweitzer, Rick Elkins, Jr., Curtis Collins, Justin Courtney, Brian Wood, Teddy Oliver, D.J. Radanovich, Rick Hoffman, Bubba Smith, Dick Aubihl, Adam Stewart, Blake Mackey, Joe Oliver, John Leasure, Al Street
Feature #2 – Norm Stutler, Barney Gerber, Douglas Higgins, Tom Feller, Jr., Paul Parson, Ray Van Lehn, Chris Miller, Gordon Conway, Bill Page, Anthony Bissett, Justin Lawson, Vic Paul, Mike Daugherty, Chuck Sampson
Fireproofcar.com Compacts
Top Qualifier – Randy Smart 18.37
Heat #1 – Terry Colletti, John Nealey, John McNutt, Randy Hahn, David Breehl
Heat #2 – Jack Grove, Rich Fox, Jim Poole, Rocky Moore, John Baker
Heat #3 – Jim Keller, Jr., Kenny Jewell, Tom Barrett, Jamie Leslie, Kevin Rennicker
Heat #4 – Shawn Smarsh, Jason Anthony, Ben Gibson, John Wissman, Kyle Grewell
Heat #5 – Kenny Ford, Brian Oliver, Larry Pringle, Josh Feister, Dave Simons
Feature #1 – Terry Colletti, Kelly McNutt, John McNutt, Greg Grove, Randy Hahn, Jason Morgan, Randy Smart, Russell Grandison, David Breehl, John Nealey, Dougie Cross, Phil Veno, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Robert Mizer, Rich Fox, Jim Poole, Eric Feister, Jack Grove
Feature #2 – Tom Barrett, Jason Anthony, Jim Keller, Jr., Kenny Jewell, Shawn Smarsh, Bruce Gibson, Josh Irwin, Jamie Leslie, Tammy Rufener, Kevin Rennicker, John Baker, Rocky Moore, Will Miller, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Tye Kelly
Feature #3 – Kenny Ford, Dale Beatty, Jason Grewell, Kyle Grewell, Brian Oliver, Ben Gibson, Jeff Lanzer, Dan Gray, Eddie Huscusson, John Wissman, Jesse Page, Jimmy Jones, Bill Page, Eric Sell, Larry Pringle, Dave Simons
Written by: Adam Mackey |
