 In what seemed like only the third week of the season, due to the many rainouts, 142 drivers showed up to run for the mid-season championships. Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts were on hand.
The Tolloti Pipe Modifieds were first on the track for their 20-lap feature event. Butch Erickson and Jeff Smith made up the first row with strong runners Tim Allensworth and Glen Jewell in row two. When the green dropped, Smith used the outside lane to shoot into the lead and beat Erickson to the first turn. By the completion of the first lap, Jewell had taken second, while Mark Willison had moved into third. After an early yellow, Dusty Woodie, the night’s fastest qualifier, moved to the outside lane and passed Willison for third. Close to the halfway point, Smith’s #34 started to ill-handle in front of the field. Willison took advantage from his fourth running spot and darted his way to the lead via the outside lane in about one and one half laps in his Selway Heating & Cooling #18. At the finish, Willison was able to hold off Woodie for the top spot, while Jewell, Mark Striker, and Randy Gray completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Mark Enos, Ron McBride, Smith, Jim Beatty, Jr., and Erickson. Willison and Jewell won the heats.
In the 25-lap Late Model feature, Darrel Dexter and Bob Eichel started on the front row for the event, with Eichel taking the lead in turn two. On the second lap, Tom Garbrandt had taken second, as he battled to hold of John Miller. Garbrandt, looking for his first 2003 win, went to the outside lane on the fourth lap to wrestle the lead away from Eichel. Farmer Smith and Miller followed Garbrandt by. At the finish, Garbrandt was able to cross the line in first, despite a solid run by Smith. Following the Selway Heating & Cooling/D&B Machine #64 were Smith, Miller, Mike Miller, and A.P. Ren. Eichel, Dexter, Todd Ripley, Mike Enos, and Greg Beule completed the top ten. Garbrandt also won the heat, while Mike Miller set fast time.
Don Rufener, Jr., and Travis Devore made up the front row for the 20-lap Tusco Net Pro Stock mid-season championship race. Rufener took the lead immediately, as last week’s feature winner, Kurt Waller moved into second to challenge. Later in the race, Gabe Pringle made his run at Rufener for the top spot to no avail, and the last challenger for the Auto Zone/Wainright Auto Parts #7 was Roger Linard, as he looked to the outside lane. At the finish, it was Rufener picking up his first win in a few years, while Keith Thomas, Linard, Tim Skinner, and Doug McMillen completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Pringle, Greg Mazzoleni, Kevin McClintock, Jimmy Orr, and John Tantarelli, Jr. Linard, Rufener, and Calvin Collins won the heats, while Tim Skinner set fast time.
In the Papa John’s Pure Stock feature, Brian Oliver started on the pole and took the lead going into one. Luckily for him, as the outside pole-sitter Mike Daugherty lost control in the second turn, spun in front of oncoming traffic and collected about six cars. From that point, Oliver in his Midas Auto Service/Waterloo Transmission #48 was able to go onto the mid-season championship victory followed by Adam Stewart, Joe Oliver, John Leasure, and D.J. Radanovich. Rich Schweitzer, Rick Elkins, Jr., Rick Hoffman, Curtis Collins, and Brian Wood finished off the top ten.
In the second feature, Ray Van Lehn, sporting a new purple paint scheme, was victorious over Chris Miller, Douglas Higgins, Matt Wallick, and Mike Martin. Vic Paul, Tom Feller, Jr., Chuck Sampson, Dick Aubihl, and Shawanna Myers completed the top ten. Schweitzer, Collins, and Van Lehn won the heats, while Teddy Oliver set fast time.
Russell Grandison and Tom Barrett made up the first row for the 15-lap fireproofcar.com Compact fast feature. Grandison led the first lap, but last year’s track champion Greg Grove had already moved from seventh to fourth. By the completion of lap three, Grove was sailing in his J.D. Byrider/AAA Travel #3. The longer the race stayed green the further the #3 pulled away and at the finish Grove picked up the win by over a straightaway in front of Terry Colletti, Randy Smart, Jason Morgan, and Josh Grove. Randy Hahn, David Breehl, John McNutt, Kelly McNutt, and John Nealey completed the top ten.
In the second feature, Cody Kahler picked up the victory in his Yesterday’s On The Canal/Penso’s Pizza #96. He was followed across the stripe by Bob Passwaters, Jr., Bob Passwaters, Sr., Otto Polilli, and Jamie Leslie. Jeff Lanzer, Joe Oliver, Charles Ritch, Justin Courtney, and Bruce Gibson completed the top ten.
Dale Beatty was victorious in the third and final Compact feature. Following the Healthridge.com/DA Construction #97 were Jim Keller, Jr., Mike Phillips, Jr., Steven Feister, and Kenny Ford. Heats were won by Jason Morgan, Will Miller, Tammy Rufener, Mike Phillips, Jr., and Bobby Courtney. The top qualifier was Randy Smart.
In the Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8’s, Randy Hahn looked to have the victory in hand, when on the last lap, he got hit at the intersection, and went the wrong way, losing the lead and the win to Otto Polilli. Following Polilli were Joe Fewkes, Randy Hahn, Jamie Leslie, and Dale Beatty. The rest of the finishers were Ron McMasters, Brian Oliver, Jim Beatty, Jr., and Mitch Fergeson.
Racing will continue this coming Friday night, July 4, as the Main Event Racing Series Super Late Models make their first of two appearances in 2003. Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will run heats and features along with the Super Late Model 100 lapper. Qualifying is from 3:30-5:30, while the racing action will start at 6:00 sharp. A fireworks display will also take place. The raindate for the event is Saturday, July 5th.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Mike Miller 14.80
Heat – Tom Garbrandt, Darrel Dexter, Bob Eichel, Farmer Smith, John Miller
Feature – Tom Garbrandt, Farmer Smith, John Miller, Mike Miller, A.P. Ren, Bob Eichel, Darrel Dexter, Todd Ripley, Mike Enos, Tom Newman, Jr., Greg Beule
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Dusty Woodie 14.79
Heat #1 – Mark Willison, Ron McBride, Mark Striker, Mark Enos, Randy Gray
Heat #2 – Glen Jewell, John Wilson, Tim Allensworth, Jim Beatty, Jr., Jeff Smith
Feature – Mark Willison, Dusty Woodie, Glen Jewell, Mark Striker, Randy Gray, Mark Enos, Ron McBride, Jeff Smith, Jim Beatty, Jr., Butch Erickson, Tim Allensworth
Tusco Net Pro Stocks
Top Qualifier – Tim Skinner 15.90
Heat #1 – Roger Linard, Doug McMillen, Tim Skinner, Jimmy Orr, Keith Thomas
Heat #2 – Don Rufener, Jr., Roger Butler, Gabe Pringle, Travis Devore, Greg Mazzoleni
Heat #3 – Calvin Collins, Bill Weaver, Paul Murray, Tammy Heck, Ron Carothers
Feature – Don Rufener, Jr., Keith Thomas, Roger Linard, Tim Skinner, Doug McMillen, Gabe Pringle, Greg Mazzoleni, Kevin McClintock, Jimmy Orr, John Tantarelli, Jr., Ron Carothers, Roger Butler, Bill Weaver, Paul Murray, Travis Devore, Kurt Waller, Dan Gasser, Tammy Heck, Calvin Collins
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Teddy Oliver 17.91
Heat #1 – Rich Schweitzer, Adam Stewart, Blake Mackey, Justin Courtney, Brian Wood
Heat #2 – Curtis Collins, Brian Oliver, Chris Miller, Barney Gerber, Tom Feller, Jr.
Heat #3 – Ray Van Lehn, Mike Martin, Gordon Conway, Shawanna Myers, Shawn Royer
Feature #1 – Brian Oliver, Adam Stewart, Joe Oliver, John Leasure, D.J. Radanovich, Rich Schweitzer, Rick Elkins, Jr., Rick Hoffman, Curtis Collins, Brian Wood, Barney Gerber, Paul Parson, Teddy Oliver, Justin Courtney, Mike Daugherty, Blake Mackey, Bubba Smith
Feature #2 – Ray Van Lehn, Chris Miller, Douglas Higgins, Matt Wallick, Mike Martin, Vic Paul, Tom Feller, Jr., Chuck Sampson, Dick Aubihl, Shawanna Myers, Ron Myers, Gordon Conway
Fireproofcar.com Compacts
Top Qualifier – Randy Smart 18.40
Heat #1 – Jason Morgan, David Breehl, Josh Grove, Phil Veno, Randy Hahn
Heat #2 – Will Miller, Jack Grove, Phil Wade, Josh Irwin, Gary Musick
Heat #3 – Tammy Rufener, Bob Passwaters, Cody Kahler, Kyle Grewell, Bob Passwaters, Jr.
Heat #4 – Mike Phillips, Jr., Dale Beatty, Ray Hoover, Bruce Gibson, Mitch Fergeson
Heat #5 – Bobby Courtney, Kenny Ford, John Drescher, Luke Crawshaw, Rusty Rouse
Feature #1 – Greg Grove, Terry Colletti, Randy Smart, Jason Morgan, Josh Grove, Randy Hahn, David Breehl, John McNutt, Kelly McNutt, John Nealey, Willie Grove, Russell Grandison, Jim Poole, Gary Musick, Phil Veno, Josh Irwin, Kevin Rennicker, Rocky Moore, Phil Wade, Tom Barrett, Lennie Orr, Bill Coburn
Feature #2 – Cody Kahler, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Bob Passwaters, Sr., Otto Polilli, Jamie Leslie, Jeff Lanzer, Kevin Rector, Charles Ritch, Justin Courtney, Bruce Gibson, Gene Morgan, Jack Grove, Kyle Grewell, Jason Grewell, Tye Kelly, Tammy Rufener, John Wissman, Brian Oliver, Larry Pringle, Russ Moore, Jr., Ben Gibson, Will Miller
Feature #3 – Dale Beatty, Jim Keller, Jr., Mike Phillips, Jr., Steven Feister, Kenny Ford, Jesse Page, Ray Hoover, Mitch Fergeson, Luke Crawshaw, Justin Rennicker, Mike Gunther, Billy Hilliker, Bobby Courtney, Joe Fewkes, Rusty Rouse, Jason Anthony, Chester McMasters, Gary Gibson, Kenny Jewell, John Drescher, Justin Stewart
Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8’s
Feature – Otto Polilli, Joe Fewkes, Randy Hahn, Jamie Leslie, Dale Beatty, Ron McMasters, Brian Oliver, Jim Beatty, Jr., Mitch Fergeson
Written by: Adam Mackey |
