 Over 75 cars were in the pits, despite only two divisions being in action this past Wednesday night, July 16. Celebrating Midvale Speedway’s 50th anniversary, the special Fan Appreciation Night was highlighted by a 50-lap Compact feature and free grandstand admission for all. Needless to say, the place was jam-packed.
In Compact qualifications, Randy Smart set fast time with an 18.30, Kelly McNutt (18.37), Cody Kahler (18.41), Terry Colletti (18.49), and Greg Grove (18.54) completed the top five. The top twenty qualifiers were locked into the night’s 50-lapper.
Josh Grove and Randy Hahn made up the first row for the $200 to win event, with Grove jumping into the lead and setting the early pace. Hahn slid back some as Willie Grove, Josh’s father, moved into second with David Breehl taking third. Two cars were clearly on the move during the race’s mid-stage, Greg Grove and Randy Smart. Grove was coming from his 10th starting spot, while Smart started 14th. G. Grove was able to get into the top five quicker, but once Smart got there he had the car capable of making the right moves to get the top spot. With the night’s top qualifier out front and pulling away, G. Grove was able to take third from his brother, Willie, and second from his nephew, Josh, in a matter of laps. However, at the end, the handling and the power, along with the driving ability of the division’s point leader was able to pull away from last year’s top competitor for the huge feature victory. The Kurt Garren, MD/Valley Rentals #6 was followed across the line by G. Grove, W. Grove, J. Grove, and Kelly McNutt. David Breehl, Cody Kahler, Terry Colletti, Randy Hahn, and Jim Poole completed the top ten. The racing was excellent, as there were no yellows, and it was by far, the best 50-lapper of the season. All but a couple of cars, at the most, made it to the checkered in the flag-to-flag event.
The Papa John’s Pure Stock division had two feature events, as one was a make-up from several weeks ago. It was held to start the night’s program and was a pretty decent race, as Larry Smith and Al Street looking for their first 2003 feature wins started up front. Smith would turn out to have the better luck though, as Street retired from the event after an early accident. Smith, whose car has gotten stronger week-after-week, was able to hold off strong challenges from Rich Schweitzer, who was back after a week off, Teddy Oliver, who was the top qualifier, D.J. Radanovich, an improving third year competitor, and Justin Courtney the class’s leading rookie. Those drivers completed the top five at the checkered. Finishing off the top ten were Joe Oliver, the point leader, Adam Mackey, the track announcer who started 18th and picked up 11 spots, Tom Feller, Jr. a competitor in his Sophomore year, Shawanna Myers, who has a new ride that picked up a lot of time this week, and Chris Miller, another second year driver.
In the regularly scheduled Pure Stock feature, Larry Smith was able to start on the pole again, as the scheduled polesitter, Rick Hoffman had mechanical problems in the heat and did not start. Rick Elkins, Jr. started alongside, but when the green dropped, it was clear to see that the inside lane was the place to be, as Smith was again the man to beat. The race’s only caution came out when Adam Mackey, running the outside lane, had his car break loose coming out of two unfortunately collecting the Norm Stutler driven machine. Stutler was done with a broke axle. Back to green flag racing and again Smith was unstoppable as he went on to victory in his Frame’s Tavern/Canton Auto Salvage #8. Following him across the line were Elkins, D.J. Radanovich, Al Street, and Joe Oliver. Teddy Oliver, Brian Wood, Bubba Smith, Tom Feller, Jr., and Rich Schweitzer completed the top ten. Justin Courtney, Bubba Smith, and Ron Myers won the heats, while Teddy Oliver set fast time.
In the second Compact feature, Bob Passwaters, Jr. picked up his first victory while driving the Thughouse Records/Ken’s Body Shop #74. Jimbo Roup, Bruce Gibson, Bob Passwaters, Sr., and Phil Wade completed the top five. Kenny Jewell, Ray Hoover, Will Miller, Tye Kelly, and Joe Oliver finished off the top ten.
The third and final feature win went to the king of the third feature, Lennie Orr. Orr piloted the McComb’s Market/Tusky Transmission #8 from his tenth starting spot for the victory. Earl Scranton, Eric Feister, Jamie Leslie, and John Baker rounded out the top five. Completing the top ten were Kyle Grewell, Gary Murray, Jesse Page, Steven Feister, and Eric Sell.
Willie Grove, Josh Grove, Will Miller, Lennie Orr, and Joe Fewkes won the heats.
The powder puff races saw a clean sweep, as Carrollton’s Linda Morgan won the Pure Stock race in the Joe Oliver #50 and the Compact event in the Jason Morgan #2.
Last, but not least was the Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8 feature. Randy Hahn was again the man to beat, but this time, unlike the opener, he would not be denied. On the final lap, he slowed at the intersection to avoid a hit with a slower car. That allowed Dan Grewell to draw alongside and nearly take home the victory. Hahn will become the point leader in the championship standing with his win.
Coming up this Saturday, July 19, the MSA Supermodifieds will make their only visit to the 3/10-mile oval. The fastest cars that ever compete at the speedway will be joined by the Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts. Qualifying runs from 3:50-5:50 and racing starts at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Teddy Oliver
Make-up Feature – Larry Smith, Rich Schweitzer, Teddy Oliver, D.J. Radanovich, Justin Courtney, Joe Oliver, Adam Mackey, Tom Feller, Jr., Shawanna Myers, Dick Aubihl, Curtis Collins, Brian Wood, Ron Myers, John Leasure, Rick Elkins, Jr., Bubba Smith, Al Street, Rick Hoffman, William Page
Heat #1 – Justin Courtney, Al Street, Joe Oliver, Teddy Oliver, Rich Schweitzer
Heat #2 – Bubba Smith, Rick Elkins, Jr., Larry Smith, D.J. Radanovich, Tom Feller, Jr.
Heat #3 – Ron Myers, Chris Miller, Justin Lawson, William Page, Shawanna Myers
Feature – Larry Smith, Rick Elkins, Jr., D.J Radanovich, Al Street, Joe Oliver, Teddy Oliver, Brian Wood, Bubba Smith, Tom Feller, Jr., Rich Schweitzer, Chris Miller, Dick Aubihl, Adam Mackey, Ray Van Lehn, Ron Myers, Curtis Collins, William Page, Shawanna Myers, Norm Stutler, Justin Courtney
Fireproofcar.com Compacts
Top Qualifier – Randy Smart
Heat #1 – Willie Grove, David Breehl, Greg Grove, Terry Colletti, Randy Smart
Heat #2 – Josh Grove, Randy Hahn, Jason Grewell, Jimbo Roup, Kenny Jewell
Heat #3 – Will Miller, Josh Irwin, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Ray Hoover, Jeff Grove
Heat #4 – Lennie Orr, Eric Feister, Earl Scranton, John Baker, Kenny Ford
Heat #5 – Joe Fewkes, Mike Powell, Kyle Grewell, Rob Hooper, Ben Gibson
Feature #1 – Randy Smart, Greg Grove, Josh Grove, Willie Grove, Kelly McNutt, David Breehl, Terry Colletti, Randy Hahn, Jim Poole, John Nealey, John McNutt, Jason Grewell, Phil Veno, Rich Fox, Jason Morgan, Jeff Lanzer, Charles Ritch, Rocky Moore
Feature #2 – Bob Passwaters, Jr., Jimbo Roup, Bruce Gibson, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Phil Wade, Kenny Jewell, Ray Hoover, Will Miller, Tye Kelly, Kevin Rector, Adam Mishler, Jeff Grove, Kenny Ford, Dale Beatty, Bobby Courtney, Josh Irwin, Jaimie Huebner, Allen Andrews, Shawn Musick, Tom Barrett
Feature #3 – Lennie Orr, Earl Scranton, Eric Feister, Jamie Leslie, John Baker, Kyle Grewell, Gary Murray, Jesse Page, Steven Feister, Eric Sell, Gary Gibson, Rob Hooper, Jack Grove, Leo Smith, Jimmy Jones, Ben Gibson, Joe Fewkes, Mike Powell
Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8’s
Feature – Randy Hahn, Dan Grewell, Allen Andrews, Shawn Musick, Mike Powell, Dale Beatty, Ben Gibson, Keith Thomas, Joe Fewkes, Rob Hooper
Powder Puffs
Pure Stock – Linda Morgan
Compact – Linda Morgan
Written by: Adam Mackey |
