 One week after all of the point battles had been decided at Midvale Speedway, 110 drivers battled it out on the 3/10-mile asphalt oval. Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts were all on hand.
For the second week in a row, the Late Model 25-lap feature was a pretty good one. Greg Beule, who was still looking for his first feature win of the season, led the early laps. Beule was right where he needed to be, but Tom Garbrandt, last week’s feature winner, was coming on strong again. Garbrandt, using the outside lane, worked hard at trying to pass the race leader. Finally, just when it looked like he was able to get the run he needed, Beule drove a little too deep into turn one, looking to stay side-by-side. Beule’s car spun, handing Garbrandt the lead. For the second week in a row, Garbrandt came home victorious with Darrel Dexter crossing the line behind the Trenton Service/CJ’s Drive Thru #64. Duane Dunn finished third, Mike Enos fourth, and Larry Page fifth. Beule charged back to get sixth, Tom Newman, Jr. seventh, John Miller, who won the spectator drags eighth, Bob Eichel ninth, and Ron Jaberg, Jr. tenth. Dexter won the heat race, while Newman set fast time.
In the Tolloti Pipe Modified 20-lapper, last week’s feature winners stayed red hot, as Jeff Smith was again the man to beat. Smith, who picked up his first feature win of the season last week, started outside pole in the feature event and immediately took the lead. Drivers that were a challenge this week included Mark Enos and Glen Jewell, both of whom just came up short and finished second and third respectively. Smith, whose car has never been accused of being down on power, finally has the setup it needs to take him to victory lane. Also following the Downtown Ford #34 in the top five were Randy Gray and Tim Allensworth. Completing the top ten were Dusty Woodie, Mark Striker, Shawn Nastasi, Ron McBride, and John Wilson. Jewell and Enos won the heats, while Striker set fast time.
Last week’s Season Champion, Greg Mazzoleni, had a great shot to make it three-for-three in repeat winners this week, as he was the polesitter for the Pro Stock 20-lapper. After a horrible start to the race that saw several complete restarts, a lap was finally completed, and the race was great from there on. John Tantarelli, Jr. looked to be on his way to a feature victory, his first this year, as he was going to be strong enough to keep Mazzoleni from winning two in a row. However, Will Walker, also looking for his first of the season, was on the move despite heavy sheet metal damage on the front and rear of the car. Walker would not be denied as he worked his dilapidated machine by Tantarelli and into the lead. Following the Haas Body Shop #15 were Tantarelli, Kurt Waller, Jamie Warner, and Tim Skinner. Kevin McClintock, Jimmy Orr, Roger Butler, Mazzoleni, and Bill Hilliker completed the top ten. Tantarelli and Travis Devore won the heats, while Tim Skinner set fast time.
In the Papa John’s Pure Stock 15-lapper, 22 cars took the green flag. Bubba Smith, the polesitter, was looking for his first feature win as a rookie. Out front, he had follow rookie competitor, Justin Courtney, and Al Street in tow. Street tried several times to get by Courtney, as they had a great battle going on, and Rick Elkins, Jr. was trying to move up, by using the outside lane. At the finish, though, Smith driving the JLK Hood Cleaning/Smith’s Auto Sales entry was victorious with Courtney, Street, Elkins, and Gerber completing the top five. Rich Schweitzer, Blake Mackey, driving the Shawanna Myers entry, Scott Archer in the Paul Parson car, Chris Miller, and Joe Linard in the Oliver Racing #50 finished the top ten. Schweitzer, Bubba Smith, and Randy Smith won the heats, while Adam Stewart set fast time with a new track record.
The Compact division fast feature saw Cody Kahler and Russell Grandison start up front. Kahler took the early lead and was in the driver seat until Dale Beatty made his move to take the top spot. Beatty, looking for his first career “fast” feature win, stayed out front, despite Kahler trying to get back around. Following the Terry McNutt owned #37 were Kahler, Jack Grove, who had a good run, Jim Poole, driving a new car, and Kelly McNutt, the track champion of 2003. Greg Grove came home sixth, while Terry Colletti, John McNutt, Jason Morgan, and Jason Grewell finished off the top ten.
Tom Barrett was victorious once again in the second Compact feature. Barrett was able to come from his ninth starting spot to pick up the win, while Phil Wade, Don Rufener, Jr., Kyle Grewell, and Adam Mishler completed the top five. Josh Irwin, Eric Feister, Ben Gibson, John Baker, and Charles Ritch rounded out the top ten. For Barrett, it was his third feature win in his Musick & Son Heating & Cooling/East High Arby’s #157.
In the third and final Compact main event, an amazingly exciting race took place. On the last lap, race leader John Wissman closed in on slower traffic. Coming off of the second turn, he along with the second place car split the lapped car, and it looked as though Wissman was going to lose a race in which it looked like he would win. However, he dove hard into turn three to try and wrestle the lead back, but an accident between the top couple of cars allowed Bruce Gibson to race by and go across the stripe with the feature victory, his first of the season. Kenny Jewell, Kenny Ford, Earl Scranton, and Lennie Orr completed the top five. Wissman, Joe VanFossen, Jr., McMath, Jesse Page, and Paul Stull completed the top ten.
Linda Morgan won both powder puff races once again and Dale Beatty was victorious in the Dale's Heating & Cooling Figure 8's.
Officials of Midvale Speedway have just announced an extension to their schedule that will be known as the Fall Racing Series. For the dates of 9/13, 9/20, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, and 11/1, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will be running dashes, heats, pursuits or whips, and features. Grandstand admission will only be $6 for those nights starting with this Saturday, which will also feature the Kid’s Gold Rush on the frontstretch and a special follow the leader race for the Compacts. Fans will also get more involved with chances to ride in the pace car, throw the green flag, or even announce a race. It should be an interesting night of action. Pit gates open at 3, Hotlaps start at 3:30, Qualifying at 4:50, and Racing at 6:30. For more information, go to midvalespeedway.com .
Results For Midvale Speedway
Late Models
Top Qualifier – Tom Newman, Jr. 14.70
Heat – Darrel Dexter, Tom Garbrandt, Tom Newman, Jr., Larry Page, Greg Beule
Feature – Tom Garbrandt, Darrel Dexter, Duane Dunn, Mike Enos, Larry Page, Greg Beule, Tom Newman, Jr., John Miller, Bob Eichel, Ron Jaberg, Jr.
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Mark Striker 14.72
Heat #1 – Glen Jewell, Tim Allensworth, Randy Gray, Dusty Woodie, Ron McBride
Heat #2 – Mark Enos, Mike Bowers, Jeff Smith, John Wilson, Shawn Nastasi
Feature – Jeff Smith, Mark Enos, Glen Jewell, Randy Gray, Tim Allensworth, Dusty Woodie, Mark Striker, Shawn Nastasi, Ron McBride, John Wilson, Mike Bowers, George Bowers
Tusco Net Pro Stocks
Top Qualifier – Tim Skinner 15.90
Heat #1 – John Tantarelli, Jr., Will Walker, Jimmy Orr, Don Rufener, Jr., Kevin McClintock
Heat #2 – Travis Devore, Jamie Warner, Ron Carothers, Greg Mazzoleni, Roger Butler
Feature – Will Walker, John Tantarelli, Jr., Kurt Waller, Jamie Warner, Tim Skinner, Kevin McClintock, Jimmy Orr, Roger Butler, Greg Mazzoleni, Bill Hilliker, Dan Gasser, Travis Devore, Ron Carothers, Bill Weaver, Paul Murray, Don Rufener, Jr.
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Adam Stewart 17.65
Heat #1 – Rich Schweitzer, Rick Elkins, Jr., Justin Courtney, Adam Stewart, Al Street
Heat #2 – Bubba Smith, Norm Stutler, Justin Lawson, Barney Gerber, Chris Miller
Heat #3 – Randy Smith, Blake Mackey, Joe Linard, Anthony Bissett, Dick Aubihl
Feature – Bubba Smith, Justin Courtney, Al Street, Rick Elkins, Jr., Barney Gerber, Rich Schweitzer, Blake Mackey, Scott Archer, Chris Miller, Joe Linard, Teddy Oliver, Jeff Smith, Chester McMasters, Dick Aubihl, Matt Wallick, Randy Smith, Dave Fox, Jr., Anthony Bissett, Curtis Collins, Justin Lawson, Norm Stutler, Douglas Higgins
Fireproofcar.com Compacts
Top Qualifier – Kelly McNutt 18.24
Heat #1 – Greg Grove, Jack Grove, Dale Beatty, John McNutt, Terry Colletti
Heat #2 – Dougie Cross, Cody Kahler, Russell Grandison, Phil Wade, Phil Veno
Heat #3 – Josh Irwin, Brian Wilson, Adam Mishler, Gary Musick, Kyle Grewell
Heat #4 – Bruce Gibson, John Wissman, Ben Gibson, Jimbo Roup, Kenny Ford
Heat #5 – Ron Myers, Lennie Orr, Jamie Leslie, Joe VanFossen, McMath
Feature #1 – Dale Beatty, Cody Kahler, Jack Grove, Jim Poole, Kelly McNutt, Greg Grove, Terry Colletti, John McNutt, Jason Morgan, Jason Grewell, Dougie Cross, Phil Veno, Russell Grandison, Josh Grove, Jeff Lanzer, John Nealey, Rocky Moore
Feature #2 – Tom Barrett, Phil Wade, Don Rufener, Jr., Kyle Grewell, Adam Mishler, Josh Irwin, Eric Feister, Ben Gibson, John Baker, Charles Ritch, Jaimie Huebner, Brian Wilson, Gary Musick
Feature #3 – Bruce Gibson, Kenny Jewell, Kenny Ford, Earl Scranton, Lennie Orr, John Wissman, Joe VanFossen, Tom McMath, Jesse Page, Paul Stull, Dustin Hooper, Jimbo Roup, Ron Myers, Eric Sell
Pure Stock Powder Puff
Feature – Linda Morgan, Aundra Stutler, Suzanne Lawson, Sally Allabach, Jeanne Miller, Janette Street, Shannon Collins
Compact Powder Puff
Feature – Linda Morgan, Summer Thomas, Jennifer Lipinski, Susan McMath, Georgia Booth, Vicki Robinson-White, Bobby Jo Kugler, Dana Barrett, Wanda Abercrombie, Billie Pringle
Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8
Feature – Dale Beatty, Dan Grewell, Keith Thomas, Ben Gibson
Written by: Adam Mackey |
