 Again, a great field of cars was on hand to battle in what was night #11 on the 2003/50th Anniversary season schedule, as 136 were in the pits. Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, and Compacts all battled but the special event for the evening was the Pure Stock 50-lapper.
29 cars timed in for the event, with the top 18 locked into the 24-car field. Rick Elkins, Jr. set fast time with an 18.19. Blake Mackey (18.31), Rich Schweitzer (18.33), Al Street (18.37), and D.J. Radanovich (18.39) rounded out the top five.
Mike Daugherty and Justin Courtney started up front for the 50 lap event, and Courtney, a rookie in the division, jumped out into the lead with Joe Oliver in tow. During the race’s early stage, Oliver was able to take the lead, as Larry Smith was quickly working his way through the field. Rich Schweitzer, the previous week’s winner, was also moving up quickly and challenging up front. Elkins, the top qualifier, was the strongest car on the track and was going for the lead later in the race when a yellow came out and Oliver and he collided, cutting down the left front tire on his #53. The kept the ending to a three car battle between Oliver, Smith, and Schweitzer. At the end, it was Oliver somehow holding off a great run by Smith for the event win. Following the C&C Wholesale/Courtney Painting #50 were Smith, Schweitzer, D.J Radanovich, and Mike Martin. Blake Mackey, Tom Feller, Jr., Mike Daugherty, George Scott, and Chris Miller completed the top ten. Courtney, Smith, and Douglas Higgins won the heats, while Chester McMasters won the last chance race.
The Late Model division had a drop in the number of competitors after 20 competed in last weeks 50 lapper. This week’s 25-lapper only had 13 start, but it turned out to be one of the more exciting races of the year. Ron Dague and Greg Beule started on the front row for the event, with Beule taking the lead in the outside lane. Several laps into the event, Farmer Smith, looking for his first win of 2003, took the lead by darting by on the inside lane. Smith stretched out his lead, however, a late race caution with two to go, put Bear Schwartz right on his rear bumper. This happened to be the same setup as several weeks ago, when Schwartz was able to get past Smith on a restart. This time, however, Smith was more than prepared as he went on to his first win of 2003 in the J.D. Byrider/Dover Phila Federal Credit Union #7. Schwartz, Tom Newman, Jr., Mike Miller, and Beule completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Tom Garbrandt, Duane Dunn, Mike Enos, Darrel Dexter, and Bob Eichel. Smith and Schwartz won the heats, while Garbrandt set fast time.
In the Tolloti Pipe Modified 20 lapper, Mike Bowers and Mark Enos made up the first row. Enos, who was top qualifier one week ago, but wrecked in the feature, showed up at the track late after working to get the car finished. It didn’t seem to matter, however, as he took his #0 into the lead on the start and darted away. Randy Gray, the night’s top qualifier, has been putting on some amazing shows over the past three weeks as his car has been coming around. Gray did not disappoint in this particular event either as he caught Enos with a couple to go and gave him a great challenge. For Enos, the race ended just in time, and for Gray he came up just short. Following the Generall Construction/Abram’s Head Service #0 were Gray, John Wilson, Tim Allensworth, and Mark Willison. Glen Jewell, Mark Striker, Jeff Smith, Ron McBride, and George Bowers completed the top ten. Enos and George Bowers won the heat race events.
The Tusco Net Pro Stock event was as exciting as always, producing two wide racing throughout. Roger Butler and A.P. Ren made up the first row for the start, with Butler taking the lead. However, rookie Kurt Waller, in his first season on asphalt, after four on dirt, took the lead away in his powerful #18. Joe Linard, driving for father Roger, started seventh, but was in second at the end challenging for the lead. Linard looked both low and high, but was never able to get a good run at Waller’s KR Sulzener Construction/Hoop Design Graphics #18. Following the Gnadenhutten, Ohio driver across the line were Linard, Butler, Kevin McClintock, and Keith Thomas. Greg Mazzoleni, Waylon Orr, Paul Murray, Bill Weaver, and Joe Sanford, Jr. completed the top ten. Don Rufener, Jr. and Bill Aubihl won the heats, while Tim Skinner set fast time.
The fireproofcar.com Compact division again had over 60 cars and three feature events. In the fast feature, Randy Smart, the night’s second fast qualifier was able to get by Phil Veno, after he led convincingly in the race’s early stage. Once out front, the Kurt Garren, MD/Nutrition Plus #6 pulled away for the win with Veno, Greg Grove, Jason Morgan, and John McNutt rounding out the top five. Russell Grandison, David Breehl, Kelly McNutt, Terry Colletti, and Tom Barrett finished off the top ten.
Eric Feister led early in the second feature, but his hood came loose and was dragging the track on the right side of the car, drawing a black flag. That gave the lead to Tammy Rufener who was looking for her first career feature win. Rufener, in the Animal Racing/Auto Zone #7 was able to beat Cody Kahler across the line with Bob Passwaters, Sr., Lennie Orr, and Jeff Lanzer in tow. Otto Polilli, Terry McNutt, Rocky Moore, Kevin Rennicker, and Kyle Grewell completed the top ten.
Jamie Leslie picked up the win of the third Compact feature aboard his Leslie’s Gym/416 Storage #00. Dale Beatty made a strong run and came home second with Kenny Jewell, Mitch Fergeson, and Jason Grewell in the top five. Jesse Page, Lou Francis, Eric Sell, Rusty Rouse, and Bobby Hunter all finished in the top ten.
The night’s heats were won by Greg Grove, Rich Fox, Josh Irwin, Mitch Fergeson, and Jason Anthony. The top qualifier, by way of a new track record was Kelly McNutt.
Racing will continue this coming Saturday, June 28, with the Mid-Season championships for all five divisions. It will also mark Leg #1 of the Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8 championship series. Qualifying is from 3:50-5:50, with the racing action at 6:30. Then the following week, racing will take place on Friday, July 4, as the Main Event Racing Series comes to town. Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will also compete. The night will end with a fireworks display.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Tom Garbrandt 14.74
Heat #1 – Farmer Smith, Duane Dunn, A.P. Ren, Tom Newman, Jr., Mike Miller
Heat #2 – Bear Schwartz, Darrel Dexter, Bob Eichel, Greg Beule, Mike Enos
Feature – Farmer Smith, Bear Schwartz, Tom Newman, Jr., Mike Miller, Greg Beule, Tom Garbrandt, Duane Dunn, Mike Enos, Darrel Dexter, Bob Eichel, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Ron Dague, A.P. Ren
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Randy Gray 14.83
Heat #1 – Mark Enos, Ron McBride, John Wilson, Tim Allensworth, Mark Willison
Heat #2 – George Bowers, Jim McCune, Mike Bowers, Mel Robinson, Christy Bowers
Feature – Mark Enos, Randy Gray, John Wilson, Tim Allensworth, Mark Willison, Glen Jewell, Mark Striker, Jeff Smith, Ron McBride, George Bowers, Joe Shannon, Mel Robinson, Christy Bowers, Jim McCune, Rick Kapple, Mike Bowers
Tusco Net Pro Stocks
Top Qualifier – Tim Skinner 16.01
Heat #1 – Don Rufener, Jr., Joe Linard, Kurt Waller, Gabe Pringle, Greg Mazzoleni
Heat #2 – Bill Aubihl, Roger Butler, A.P. Ren, Tammy Heck, Bill Weaver
Feature – Kurt Waller, Joe Linard, Roger Butler, Kevin McClintock, Keith Thomas, Greg Mazzoleni, Waylon Orr, Paul Murray, Bill Weaver, Joe Sanford, Jr., Tim Skinner, Don Rufener, Jr., Luke Huff, Bill Aubihl, Gabe Pringle, Tammy Heck, A.P. Ren
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Rick Elkins, Jr. 18.19
Heat #1 – Justin Courtney, Joe Oliver, D.J. Radanovich, Rick Elkins, Jr., Blake Mackey
Heat #2 – Larry Smith, Brian Wood, John Leasure, Mike Martin, Rick Hoffman
Heat #3 – Douglas Higgins, Gordon Conway, George Scott, Shawn Royer, Chuck Sampson
Last Chance – Chester McMasters, Chris Miller, Adam Stewart, Tom Feller, Jr., George Scott, Douglas Higgins, Gordon Conway, Chuck Sampson, Shawn Royer
Feature – Joe Oliver, Larry Smith, Rich Schweitzer, D.J. Radanovich, Mike Martin, Blake Mackey, Tom Feller, Jr., Mike Daugherty, George Scott, Chris Miller, Rick Elkins, Jr., Bubba Smith, John Leasure, Brian Wood, Adam Stewart, Teddy Oliver, Douglas Higgins, Gordon Conway, Rick Hoffman, Curtis Collins, Justin Courtney, Al Street, Chester McMasters
Fireproofcar.com Compacts
Top Qualifier – Kelly McNutt 18.21
Heat #1 – Greg Grove, Jason Morgan, Randy Smart, John McNutt, Phil Veno
Heat #2 – Rich Fox, Tom Barrett, Jim Poole, Jack Grove, Shawn Smarsh
Heat #3 – Josh Irwin, Robert Mizer, Eric Feister, Rocky Moore, Ron Myers
Heat #4 – Mitch Fergeson, Dale Beatty, Mike Phillips, Jr., Kenny Ford, Brian Wilson
Heat #5 – Jason Anthony, Kenny Jewell, Dave Simons, Eddie Huscusson, Joe Fewkes
Feature #1 – Randy Smart, Phil Veno, Greg Grove, Jason Morgan, John McNutt, Russell Grandison, David Breehl, Kelly McNutt, Terry Colletti, Tom Barrett, Jim Poole, Rich Fox, Randy Hahn, Shawn Smarsh, Jack Grove, John Nealey, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Will Miller
Feature #2 – Tammy Rufener, Cody Kahler, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Lennie Orr, Jeff Lanzer, Otto Polilli, Terry McNutt, Rocky Moore, Kevin Rennicker, Kyle Grewell, Mike Phillips, Jr., Ray Hoover, Ben Gibson, John Wissman, Eric Feister, Robert Mizer, Josh Irwin, Kenny Ford, Bruce Gibson
Feature #3 – Jamie Leslie, Dale Beatty, Kenny Jewell, Mitch Fergeson, Jason Grewell, Jesse Page, Lou Francis, Eric Sell, Rusty Rouse, Bobby Hunter, Justin Stewart, Allen Andrews, Gary Gibson, Eddie Huscusson, Luke Crawshaw, Jason Anthony, Joe Fewkes
Written by: Adam Mackey |
