 Despite a weekend forecast that called for rain, thunder, wind, and cold weather, officials at Midvale Speedway worked diligently in completing the 2003 Budweiser Fall Classic, as 145 racecar drivers, including regulars from Midvale Speedway, Barberton Speedway, Painesville Speedway, and Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, showed up to compete in both days of racing.
In Saturday qualifications, Rick Riffle, last year’s Fall Classic winner, set fast time in the Legend car class with a 16.25. Dennis Knox (16.31), Larry Young (16.32), Tim Davis (16.35), and Jason Knox (16.36) rounded out the top five in a very close time trial session. Saturday night Legend action saw Randy Burns win the first heat and Bill Richards pick up the win in the second heat race.
In the 30-lapper on Sunday afternoon, Randy Burns started on the pole, with Jason Knox alongside. Going for the $400 top prize, Burns, who used to be a regular at Midvale Speedway in the old Sport Stock division, jumped out front, as Knox slipped back in the outside lane. Other drivers that looked to have a shot at the win included Larry Young, Dennis Knox, Rick Riffle and Tim Davis. All were running nose-to-tail at one point of the race with some contact being made, causing Rick Riffle and Tim Davis to spin. Davis admitted fault in the accident caused by close racing, but Riffle had to go pitside due to damage on his #98 racer. Back to green racing, Davis was fun to watch, coming from the back of the field, to work his way into the top five at one point. Meanwhile, Burns had his hands full with Young and D. Knox. Both were hounding the race leader at times, but at the end, the Magnolia, Ohio driver Randy Burns came home victorious. Young, D. Knox, J. Knox, and Fred Davis, who started the race at the back of the field, completed the top five. T. Davis, Wally Kosicki, Tom Spisak, Bob Swann, and A.J. Kramer completed the top ten.
Tom “The Farmer” Smith set fast time in the Late Model division with an extremely fast lap of 14.55, a new track record. John Ambrose, Jr. (14.72), Ryan Tedesco (14.73), Bob Gainer (14.75), and Bear Schwartz (14.82) rounded out the top five. Saturday night preliminary action saw Tom Garbrandt win the fast dash and Mike Enos pick up the heat, while John Crumrine bested five other drivers in the “Race Of Champions” dash.
In the Sunday morning pill draw for starting positions, second fast qualifier John Ambrose, Jr. got the lucky #1, and started on the pole alongside Todd Ripley for the 50-lap feature. Ambrose immediately pulled into the lead when the green flag was waved, while Ripley ran a strong second. Cars making moves during the race were those of first and second place point finishers at Midvale this season, Mike Miller and Farmer Smith. Miller started in the number ten spot, while Smith started ninth. By the final stages of the race, both had moved into the top five, while Smith, the stronger of the two, was able to run down the leader as soon as he moved into second. Over the last several laps, Smith hounded Ambrose for the top spot, getting to the inside off of the second corner a couple of times to no avail. Despite the two making contact a couple of times, Ambrose was able to hang on to the hard fought victory, while Smith raced home to a great second place finish. Following the American Thunder Racing Engines/Majestic Trailer #24 of Akron, Ohio’s Ambrose, were Smith, Miller, Ripley, and Tom Garbrandt. John Miller, John Crumrine, Ryan Tedesco, Greg Beule, and Kenny Stevens finished off the top ten.
Tolloti Pipe Modified qualifying ended with Mark Willison setting fast time with a 14.65. Glen Jewell (14.72), Dusty Woodie (14.81), Randy Gray (14.85), and Jeff Smith (14.91) rounded out the top five. Preliminary races were won by Randy Gray (fast dash) and Tim Allensworth (heat). Baldy Baker, Jr., the Ohio Modified champ at Mansfield, won the “Race of Champions” dash.
On Sunday, top qualifier, Mark Willison, was the lucky one, as he drew the #1 pill to start on the pole. When the green dropped for the 40-lapper, Willison beat outside polesitter Ron McBride around the track to lead lap one. McBride settled into second, while Glen Jewell raced in third and Randy Gray, Tim Allensworth, and Dusty Woodie raced for fourth, fifth, and sixth. Those three drivers put on a display of close racing, as Allensworth had his car running well in the outside lane. Meanwhile, Willison was checking out on the rest of the field, as McBride and Jewell had nothing for the Minerva, Ohio driver. At the finish, the Selway Heating & Cooling car of Willison picked up the win, while McBride, Jewell, Gray, and Woodie completed the top five. Allensworth came home sixth, while Baldy Baker, Jr., John Wilson, Jeff Smith, and Mark Enos finished off the top ten.
In Tusco Net Pro Stock qualifying, Kevin McClintock set fast time with a 15.76, just missing his own track record by one tick. Tim Skinner (15.85), Will Walker (15.96), Larry Page (16.12), and Bubba Smith (16.19) finished off the top five. Saturday night racing saw Bubba Smith pick up the victory in the fast dash, making his first ever start in Pro Stock action. Bill Aubihl won the heat race, while top qualifier Kevin McClintock won the “Race of Champions” dash.
In Sunday feature action, Dan Gasser started on the pole with Will Walker alongside. Walker, who had won two features in a row in the Pro Stock class, took the lead at the green flag of the 35-lap feature. Track champion, Tim Skinner, who started fourth, and top qualifier, Kevin McClintock, who started sixth, all moved into a three car breakaway. Walker had his hands full, as Skinner hounded him lap after lap from the get-go. Several times making slight contact, and several times looking to the outside, Skinner tried hard to get around the race leader for the top prize. However, at the finish, Uhrichsville, Ohio driver Will Walker came home victorious for his third feature win in a row driving the Haas Body Shop #15. Skinner finished a close second, while McClintock, Doug McMillen, and Bill Aubihl rounded out the top five. Bill Hilliker, Bubba Smith, Jimmy Orr, Kurt Waller, and Dan Gasser finished out the top ten.
Justin Courtney set fast time with a new track record in the Papa John’s Pure Stock division. His lap of 17.54 bested Rick Elkins, Jr. (17.71), Scott Archer (17.83), Gavin Sekulich (17.90), and Steven Krunich (17.94). Ray Ewing was victorious in the fast dash, while Dennis Wood and Dave Fox, Jr. won the heats. Courtney finished off his good night by coming home first in the “Race of Champions” dash.
For the 25-lap Pure Stock feature, Scott Archer and Ray Ewing made up the front row. Ewing took the lead with Archer right behind. Other drivers running in the top five were Gavin Sekulich, Justin Courtney, and Dennis Wood. Slight jostling for position took place during the event, throughout the 24-car field, and high attrition also played a factor. Ewing, who won the 2003 Barberton track championship, came home as the winner. Archer finished second, while Sekulich, Wood, and Courtney completed the top five. Teddy Oliver finished sixth, Chris Miller seventh, Bill Aubihl eight, Adam Mackey ninth, and Bob Passwaters, Jr. tenth.
Saturday qualifying for the fireproofcar.com Compact saw Jim Beatty, Jr. set fast time with an 18.29. Terry Colletti (18.38), Greg Grove (18.44), John McNutt (18.45), and Phil Veno (18.64) finished off the top five. Beatty came from the back to win the fast dash, while Willie Grove, Jeff Lanzer, Rocky Moore, and Kenny Jewell won the heats. Beatty also won the “Race of Champions” dash driving the Kelly McNutt track championship car.
In the Sunday morning pill draw, Jim Poole got the number one starting spot, while Jim Beatty, Jr. filled in the front row by starting second for the first of three 20-lappers. As expected, Beatty shot into the lead and pulled away from the rest of the field. His only challenge during the 20-laps was from Willie Grove and Terry Colletti when the duo caught him in the final stages of the race. However, the #36 of Beatty proved to be a little too strong for Grove and Colletti, as Beatty picked up the feature win. Grove, Colletti, John McNutt, and Dale Beatty finished off the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Rich Fox, Jack Grove, Russell Grandison, Jason Morgan, and Phil Veno.
Jeff Lanzer won the second feature event, while Dick Aubihl, Bo Hayes, Josh Irwin, and Steve Lute followed. Kenny Jewell took home the victory in the third feature, followed by Mickey Green, Jerry Royer, Linda Morgan, and Dale Beatty.
In Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8 feature action, Dan Grewell finished off his strong Figure 8 season with his first win of the year. Grewell was followed by Bo Hayes, last year’s season ender winner, Jason Morgan, Dale Beatty, and Jason Grewell. Steve Lute, Mike Hammerling, and Jamie Leslie rounded out the finishers.
With that, the 2003-season has come to an end. Thanks to everyone that competed at Midvale Speedway this season, all race fans that attended, all teams that helped your drivers make it to the track, all officials and track personnel, and all families for understanding the time it takes to get a car ready on a week to week basis. The 2003 Awards banquet will be held at the New Philadelphia Elks, once again, on January 31, 2004. For other news and updates during the offseason, go to midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Legends>
Top Qualifier – Rick Riffle 16.25
Heat #1 – Randy Burns, Dennis Knox, Jason Knox, Tim Davis, Larry Young
Heat #2 – Bill Richards, A.J. Kramer, Bob Swann, Jeff Burton, Charlie Williams
Feature – Randy Burns, Larry Young, Dennis Knox, Jason Knox, Fred Davis, Tim Davis, Wally Kosicki, Bob Swann, A.J. Kramer, Charlie Williams, Jason Stoddard, Jeff Burton, Bill Richards, Mark Wills, Jim Bennett, Mike Luke, Rick Riffle
Late Models
Top Qualifier – Farmer Smith 14.55
Fast Dash – Tom Garbrandt, Ryan Tedesco, Farmer Smith, Bear Schwartz, and John Ambrose, Jr.
Heat – Mike Enos, John Miller, Todd Ripley, Mike Miller, Bob Eichel
Race of Champions – John Crumrine, John Ambrose, Jr., Duane Dunn, Bob Eichel, Mike Miller, Tom Garbrandt
Feature – John Ambrose, Jr., Farmer Smith, Mike Miller, Todd Ripley, Tom Garbrandt, John Miller, John Crumrine, Ryan Tedesco, Greg Beule, John Tantarelli, Jr., Bob Eichel, Bear Schwartz, Lynn Curtis, Bob Gainer, Mike Enos, Duane Dunn
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Mark Willison 14.65
Fast Dash – Randy Gray, Glen Jewell, Jeff Smith, Mark Willison, Dusty Woodie
Heat – Tim Allensworth, Baldy Baker, Jr., John Wilson, Ron McBride, George Bowers
Race of Champions – Baldy Baker, Jr., Ron McBride, John Wilson, Glen Jewell, Mark Willison, Tim Allensworth, Joe Shannon
Feature – Mark Willison, Ron McBride, Glen Jewell, Randy Gray, Dusty Woodie, Tim Allensworth, Baldy Baker, Jr., John Wilson, Jeff Smith, Mark Enos, Rick Sibila, Mike Bowers, Joe Shannon, Jim McCune
Tusco Net Pro Stocks
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock 15.76
Fast Dash – Bubba Smith, Will Walker, Greg Mazzoleni, Tim Skinner, Kevin McClintock
Heat – Bill Aubihl, Gabe Pringle, Jimmy Orr, Dan Gasser, Bill Hilliker
Dash of Champions – Kevin McClintock, Tim Skinner, Larry Page, Will Walker, Jimmy Orr, Roger Butler, Greg Mazzoleni, Mark Thomas
Feature – Will Walker, Tim Skinner, Kevin McClintock, Doug McMillen, Bill Aubihl, Bill Hilliker, Bubba Smith, Jimmy Orr, Kurt Waller, Dan Gasser, Greg Mazzoleni, Dave McMillen, Roger Butler, Gabe Pringle, Larry Page, Mark Thomas, Joe Sanford, Jr., Paul Murray
Papa John’s Pizza Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Justin Courtney 17.54
Heat #1 – Dennis Wood, Al Street, Bill Aubihl, Chris Miller, Adam Mackey
Heat #2 – Dave Fox, Jr., Mike Martin, Don Rufener, Jr., Justin Lawson, Dick Aubihl
Race of Champions – Justin Courtney, Chris Mick, Gavin Sekulich, Teddy Oliver, Al Street, Ray Ewing, Bill Aubihl, Dennis Wood
Last Chance – Chris Mick, Dave Fox, Jr., Don Rufener, Jr., Ray Van Lehn, Dick Aubihl
Feature – Ray Ewing, Scott Archer, Gavin Sekulich, Dennis Wood, Justin Courtney, Teddy Oliver, Chris Miller, Bill Aubihl, Adam Mackey, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Dick Aubihl, Justin Lawson, Curtis Collins, Rick Elkins, Jr., Chris Mick, Gordon Conway, Steven Krunich, Al Street, Don Rufener, Jr., Vic Paul, Adam Stewart, Ray Van Lehn, Dave Fox, Jr., Chester McMasters
fireproofcar.com Compacts
Top Qualifier – Jim Beatty, Jr. 18.29
Fast Dash – Jim Beatty, Jr., John McNutt, Greg Grove, Terry Colletti, John Nealey
Heat #1 – Willie Grove, Dale Beatty, Russell Grandison, Jim Poole, Jack Grove
Heat #2 – Jeff Lanzer, Bo Hayes, Don Rufener, Jr., Josh Irwin, Jamie Leslie
Heat #3 – Rocky Moore, Linda Morgan, Dale Beatty, Charles Ritch, John Wissman
Heat #4 – Kenny Jewell, Kenny Griffith, Mickey Green, Pat Carnes, Mike Hammerling
Feature #1 – Jim Beatty, Jr., Willie Grove, Terry Colletti, John McNutt, Dale Beatty, Rich Fox, Jack Grove, Russell Grandison, Jason Morgan, Phil Veno, Jamie Leslie, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Jason Grewell, Jim Poole, Greg Grove, John Nealey
Feature #2 – Jeff Lanzer, Don Rufener, Jr., Bo Hayes, Josh Irwin, Steve Lute, Tom Barrett, Rocky Moore, Kenny Ford, Jason Anthony, Kyle Grewell, Eric Feister, John Wissman, Brandon Thomas, Chris Grubbs, Tammy Rufener, Lennie Orr
Feature #3 – Kenny Jewell, Mickey Green, Jerry Royer, Linda Morgan, Dale Beatty, Kenny Griffith, Pat Carnes, Paul Stull, Debbie Jewell, Buzz Bender, Eric Kugler, Lennie Orr, Mike Hammerling
Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8’s
Feature – Dan Grewell, Bo Hayes, Jason Morgan, Dale Beatty, Jason Grewell, Steve Lute, Mike Hammerling, Jamie Leslie
Golf Cart Race
Feature – Dan Shannon, Chris Guist
Written by: Adam Mackey |
