 125 racecars competed in night #3 of the 26 scheduled nights at Midvale Speedway. The regular five divisions were on hand, while the Legend cars made their first of five appearances this season.
The ever-growing Tolloti Pipe Modified class had a competitive field looking to win their first of the season. Veteran drivers Jeff Smith and Jim McCune, from Massillon and Richville, Ohio respectively, made up the first row. At the drop of the green, Smith’s Ford powered #34 raced out front. Ron McBride, a second year Modified driver, gave Smith a run for his money early, as the New Philadelphia, Ohio driver looked outside for several laps. Later in the race, though, Smith again pulled away, and with a couple of laps to go, Smith was caught for the second time in the race under his time, sending him to the tail during a caution for a spinning McBride. That handed the lead, and the win, to New Philadelphia driver Glen Jewell, who patiently worked his way through the field. Jewell picked up his second win, in two tries, in the Texas Roadhouse/J.D. Byrider #24. Dave Watson, a “rookie” in the full meaning of the word, picked up an outstanding second place finish in only his second career race. Mark Willison, John Wilson, and Mark Enos rounded out the top five. Completing the top ten were Keith Thomas, Mike Bowers, McCune, Smith, and Mel Robinson completed the top ten. McBride and McCune won the heats, while John Wilson set fast time for the second straight week.
A small field of Performance Race Fuels Late Models competed in the 25-lap feature event. Duane Dunn took the commanding lead early, but like Smith, was clocked under his qualifying time. Dunn was sent to the back, but he did make a strong run back towards the front toward the race’s latter stage. After the repositioning of Dunn, Doug McMillen, a first-year Late Model competitor was handed the top spot. McMillen, looking for his second win in two tries this season, did not find the second half of the race easy though, as top qualifier Bear Schwartz was slotted behind him. Schwartz tried low a couple of times, but never got the run needed to wrestle the number one spot away. The Tusco Net/Pangrazio’s Pizza #78 was followed by Schwartz, Farmer Smith, Dunn, and Tom Garbrandt. Darrel Dexter, Ron Jaberg, Jr., and Bob Eichel rounded out the field. Dunn won the heat.
Don Rufener, Jr. and Will Walker brought the field of Tusco Net Sport Stocks in for the green in their 20-lap main event. Rufener took the lead, while Walker dropped to second. As the field paced the 3/10-mile asphalt oval, Doug McMillen, Joe Linard, and Kevin McClintock, three of the division’s best, had contact in two separate accidents and took themselves out of contention. That gave Kurt Waller, the second fastest qualifier a chance at victory, but Rufener was able to hang on at the end. Rufener, driving the Auto Zone/R&R Towing #7 was followed by Waller, Walker, Bill Aubihl, and Greg Mazzoleni. Joe Linard, Roger Linard, Gabe Pringle, Kevin McClintock, and Roger Butler finished off the top ten. Doug McMillen and Bill Aubihl won the heats, while McClintock timed the fastest for the third week straight to start the season.
Tim Williams, the fast heat winner, and Tom Spisak started on the front row for the 25-lap Legend car feature. The Legends, making their first of five appearances this season, turned their quickest laps at Midvale Speedway in time trials. After turning a 16.12 to best all Legends in qualifying, Larry Young started in the eighth spot, but quickly moved through the starting field to the front. Young, once out front, had only minor challenges from Tim Davis over the race’s final period. Davis eventually dropped to third, while Jason Knox came home second, Randy Burns fourth, and Dennis Knox fifth. Fred Davis, Tom Spisak, Mike Denny, Rick Riffle, and Bill Richards completed the top ten. Williams and Bill Southworth won the heats.
In Papa John’s Pure Stock action, Malvern driver Al Street started on the front row with Tom Feller, Jr. alongside. Street easily moved out front, and luckily for him, away from the beating and banging going on behind him. In fact, enough cautions during race action, prompted what could have been a shortened race due to time constraints had another caution come out. The race did finish with the complete 15-laps, but many cars did not make it until the end. Street picked up his first victory of the season in his Southwest Automotive/Canton Auto Salvage #73. Rich Schweitzer, Brian Oliver, Larry Smith, and Tom Feller, Jr. completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Vince Martin, Teddy Oliver, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Doug Higgins, and Mike Martin. Doug Decker, Schweitzer, and Dave Fox, Jr. won the heats, while fast time was set by Randy Smart.
John McNutt raced through the field from his ninth starting spot, but came up short as top qualifier, Terry Colletti, passed him with a couple of laps to go for the fast feature Compact victory. Colletti, a New Philadelphia, Ohio, native, was followed by McNutt, Josh Grove, Kelly McNutt, and Jason Morgan. Bubba Smith, Tye Kelly, Jimmy Orr, Jason Grewell, and Jack Grove finished off the top ten. The victorious driver is sponsored by Stonecreek Bar & Grille and Russ Moore & Sons Concrete.
Josh Irwin won the second Compact feature in his J&B Sounds/Best Racing #89. Russell Grandison, Jim Miller, Kenny Jewell, and Bryant Smith completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Jesse Page, Jim Poole, Charles Ritch, Earl Scranton, and Patrick Wade.
In the final Compact feature event, Dale Beatty picked up the win, while Justin Stewart, Mike Gribble, Chris Grubbs, and Nick Grubbs rounded out the top five. The rest of the top ten included Richard Duvall, Cody Shuss, Jason Anthony, Kenny Griffith, and Laura Tedrick.
A special bargain is on tap for fans this coming Saturday, May 1, as double features will be run, with racecar bingo and powder puff races. The night will start as always, with qualifying at 4:00 for all divisions. Then at 6:30, the racing action will take the green flag with the make-up features from April 17 racing action. All divisions will run their make-up features and a new set of features that will follow the intermission period. Admission prices remain locked in at 9.95 for adults, 8.95 for seniors, 6.00 for kids 6-12, and 5 and under are free. For more information, go to midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Legends
Top Qualifier – Larry Young 16.12
Heat #1 – Tim Williams, Dennis Knox, Jason Knox, Tom Spisak, Tim Davis
Heat #2 – Bill Southworth, Mike Denny, Randy Burns, Duane Lorens, Bill Richards
Feature – Larry Young, Jason Knox, Tim Davis, Randy Burns, Dennis Knox, Fred Davis, Tom Spisak, Mike Denny, Rick Riffle, Bill Richards, Mark Wills, Jerry Harlan, Larry Jewell, Bill Southworth, Tim Williams
Performance Race Fuels Late Models
Top Qualifier – Bear Schwartz 14.61
Heat – Duane Dunn, Darrel Dexter, Bear Schwartz, Doug McMillen, Bob Eichel
Feature – Doug McMillen, Bear Schwartz, Farmer Smith, Duane Dunn, Tom Garbrandt, Darrel Dexter, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Bob Eichel
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – John Wilson 14.63
Heat #1 – Ron McBride, John Wilson, Keith Thomas, Dave Watson, Mark Willison
Heat #2 – Jim McCune, Jeff Smith, Mel Robinson, Mike Bowers, Jim Beatty, Jr.
Feature – Glen Jewell, Dave Watson, Mark Willison, John Wilson, Mark Enos, Keith Thomas, Mike Bowers, Jim McCune, Jeff Smith, Mel Robinson, Rick Kapple, Ron McBride, Jim Beatty, Jr.
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock 15.75
Heat #1 – Doug McMillen, Joe Linard, Gabe Pringle, Roger Linard, Kurt Waller
Heat #2 – Bill Aubihl, Don Rufener, Jr., Roger Butler, Greg Mazzoleni, Rich Stalnaker
Feature – Don Rufener, Jr., Kurt Waller, Will Walker, Bill Aubihl, Greg Mazzoleni, Joe Linard, Roger Linard, Gabe Pringle, Kevin McClintock, Roger Butler, Rich Stalnaker, Doug McMillen
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Randy Smart 17.38
Heat #1 – Doug Decker, Blake Mackey, Brian Oliver, Rick Elkins, Jr., Greg Grove
Heat #2 – Rich Schweitzer, Al Street, Shawanna Myers, Russ Moore, Jr.
Heat #3 – Dave Fox, Jr., Mike Martin, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Will Miller, Vince Martin
Feature – Al Street, Rich Schweitzer, Brian Oliver, Larry Smith, Tom Feller, Jr., Vince Martin, Teddy Oliver, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Doug Higgins, Mike Martin, Dave Fox, Jr., Rick Elkins, Jr., Blake Mackey, Justin Lawson, Shawanna Myers, Doug Decker, Will Miller, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Randy Smart, John Leasure, Greg Grove, Russ Moore, Jr.
Compacts
Top Qualifier – Terry Colletti 18.20
Heat #1 – John McNutt, Kelly McNutt, Terry Colletti, Jack Grove, Josh Grove
Heat #2 – Josh Irwin, Charles Ritch, Jason Grewell, Kyle Grewell, Jason Morgan
Heat #3 – Earl Scranton, Kenny Jewell, Mickey Green, Patrick Wade, Jim Miller
Heat #4 – Allen Andrews, Kenny Ford, Mike Gribble, Russell Grandison, Steve Cooper
Heat #5 – Dale Beatty, Cody Shuss, Justin Stewart, Mike Roth, Ben Gibson
Feature #1 – Terry Colletti, John McNutt, Josh Grove, Kelly McNutt, Jason Morgan, Bubba Smith, Tye Kelly, Jimmy Orr, Jason Grewell, Jack Grove, Eric Feister, Willie Grove, Adam Mishler, Perry Nave, Kyle Grewell, Tracy Lovell
Feature #2 – Josh Irwin, Russell Grandison, Jim Miller, Kenny Jewell, Bryant Smith, Jesse Page, Jim Poole, Charles Ritch, Earl Scranton, Patrick Wade, Tammy Rufener, John Wissman, Mickey Green, Steven Feister, Jamie Leslie
Feature #3 – Dale Beatty, Justin Stewart, Mike Gribble, Chris Grubbs, Nick Grubbs, Richard Duvall, Cody Shuss, Jason Anthony, Kenny Griffith, Laura Tedrick, Allen Andrews, Kenny Ford, Steve Cooper, Bob Viertel, Bruce Stull, Mike Roth, Ryan Kopp
Written by: Adam Mackey |
