 The 2004 racing season continues to roll along at Midvale Speedway. Week #5 was another exciting night of racing, as the 108 drivers on hand put on a great show.
The Performance Race Fuels Late Models started feature action. Bear Schwartz drew the number one pill, putting him on the pole, while teammate A.P. Ren started alongside. Schwartz, who has been top qualifier on a couple of occasions this season, raced out front as Marcus Malcuit took the second spot. With five laps in, the first caution flew, as Rich Marcum and Tom Garbrandt had problems on the backstretch. The caution did not hurt Schwartz’s chances and once again he pulled away from the rest of the field. Meanwhile, Farmer Smith, the night’s top qualifier and point leader, was moving up in the outside lane. Smith was trying to take the third spot from Duane Dunn when the two made contact and brought out the yellow. Smith told officials to give Dunn his spot back, and Smith took the tail. Dunn was able to move by the #22 of Malcuit past the halfway mark, but needed a late caution by Smith and Garbrandt to close in. Over the last six green flag laps, Dunn gave up no ground, but New Philadelphia, Ohio’s Schwartz took home his first 2004 feature win. Following the New Image Homes/Cutting Edge #77 were Dunn, Doug McMillen, Malcuit, and Ren. Garbrandt, Smith, Darrel Dexter, Marcum, and Bob Eichel completed the top ten. Dexter won the heat, while Smith won the pursuit from the back.
The Tolloti Pipe Modified drivers drew for their starting spots, and top qualifier Glen Jewell got the lucky number one. At the start of the 20-lap grind, Jewell immediately took the lead with John Wilson running a close second. The point leader, Jewell, then started stretching his lead, as the race eventually went flag-to-flag. Following the Texas Roadhouse/Hydraulic Parts Store #24 to his third feature victory were Wilson, Dave Watson, Mark Willison, and Mark Enos. Randy Gray, Keith Thomas, Mike Bowers, Mel Robinson, and Rick Kapple finished off the top ten. Robinson won a heat, while Enos won a heat and pursuit. New Philadelphia’s Glen Jewell set fast time.
Joe Linard, the point leader, and Kevin McClintock, the night’s top qualifier and new track record holder made up the first row for the 20-lap Tusco Net Sport Stock feature. Linard held the advantage at the get-go, but coming in for the completion of lap two he slid sideways, allowing McClintock to race by on the outside. From that point on, McClintock made no mistakes and pulled away for his first feature victory since September 15, 2001. Following the Dover, Ohio driver in his Blick Tool & Die/Square Deal Auto Parts #38 were Linard, Gabe Pringle, Doug McMillen, and Bubba Smith. Will Walker, Kurt Waller, Roger Linard, Don Rufener, Jr., and Calvin Collins finished off the top ten. Smith won a heat, while Roger Linard won a heat and pursuit.
Tom Feller, Jr. raced into the lead in the Papa John’s Pure Stock 15-lap main event. At the halfway point, Teddy Oliver was on the move as he was trying to run down Feller. However, Rick Elkins, Jr. took over the second spot. On a later restart, though, Oliver and Elkins got together in the first corner causing them both to spin in turn two. That moved them to the back and gave Rich Schweitzer, the point leader, and Randy Smart, who started at the back, a chance to challenge for the win. Feller beat them to the stripe, though, as it looked like he had his first feature victory. However, in post race inspection, his car was deemed illegal and Schweitzer was handed the victory. Following the Roundhouse Auto Tech/Sugarcreek Industries #84 in the official rundown were Smart, Greg Grove, Al Street, and Larry Smith. Adam Mackey, Tim Postel, Rick Elkins, Jr., Bob Passwaters, Jr., and Rob Scott finished out the top ten. Grove, Passwaters, Jr., and Mike Martin won the heats. Greg Grove is credited with the pursuit win, while Elkins set fast time.
That brought up the Compact 15-lap fast feature. Tye Kelly raced from the pole position into the lead with Randy Hahn and Jack Grove in the next two spots. The field raced that way for a couple of laps until Josh Grove started his track in the outside lane. At last, the Dover, Ohio driver darted to the outside of Kelly for first. The Grove Home Medical/J.D. Byrider #4 then pulled away with its first feature victory of the season. Grove was followed by Kelly McNutt, Randy Smart, Willie Grove, and Tye Kelly. John McNutt, Randy Hahn, Terry Colletti, Jimmy Orr, and Brian Wilson rounded out the top ten.
Allen Andrews raced on the outside of Richard Duvall for several laps before finally taking the lead and win in the second Compact feature of the evening. Russell Grandison and Josh Irwin made advances during the race, but were unable to move by the Canton, Ohio driver. Following the Bowlings Used Cars/C&C Wholesale #42 were Irwin, Grandison, Barb Feister, and Eric Feister. Kenny Jewell, Billy Hilliker, Jesse Page, Charles Ritch, and Patrick Wade.
Kenny Ford won his third feature in a row in the final feature of the night for the Compacts. Mike Gribble picked up his best career finish with a second, while James Domer finished third, Dale Beatty fourth, and Bruce Gibson fifth. Jason Anthony, Kenny Griffith, Violet McMasters, John Wissman, Jr., and Laura Tedrick completed the top ten.
Compact heat winners were Josh Grove, Kenny Jewell, Kenny Ford, and Bruce Gibson. Terry Colletti won the pursuit, while he also set fast time with a new track record.
Week #6 of the season will be this coming Saturday night, May 15. Spectator Drag Races will be held. Fans will be able to sign up to compete in a one lap race around the speedway, driving in their own streetcar. The first 20 fans to sign up on Saturday will race at intermission. Qualifying is at 4:00, while the racing will start at 6:30. For more information, go to midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Performance Race Fuels Late Models
Top Qualifier – Farmer Smith 14.61
Heat – Darrel Dexter, Rich Marcum, Marcus Malcuit, Farmer Smith, Tom Garbrandt
Pursuit – Farmer Smith, Darrel Dexter, Rich Marcum, Marcus Malcuit, Doug McMillen
Feature – Bear Schwartz, Duane Dunn, Doug McMillen, Marcus Malcuit, A.P. Ren, Tom Garbrandt, Farmer Smith, Darrel Dexter, Rich Marcum, Bob Eichel, Dan Stemple
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Glen Jewell 14.68
Heat #1 – Mark Enos, Mark Willison, Randy Gray, John Wilson, Glen Jewell
Heat #2 – Mel Robinson, Mike Bowers, Rick Kapple, Keith Thomas, Jim Beatty, Jr.
Pursuit – Mark Enos, Mark Willison, Randy Gray, Glen Jewell, Keith Thomas
Feature – Glen Jewell, John Wilson, Dave Watson, Mark Enos, Randy Gray, Keith Thomas, Mike Bowers, Mel Robinson, Rick Kapple, Jim Beatty, Jr., Jim McCune
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock 15.63 NTR
Heat #1 – Bubba Smith, Don Rufener, Jr., Doug McMillen, Gabe Pringle, Kevin McClintock
Heat #2 – Roger Linard, Kurt Waller, Joe Linard, Calvin Collins, Cody Kahler
Pursuit – Roger Linard, Bubba Smith, Will Walker, Kevin McClintock, Don Rufener, Jr.
Feature – Kevin McClintock, Joe Linard, Gabe Pringle, Doug McMillen, Bubba Smith, Will Walker, Kurt Waller, Roger Linard, Don Rufener, Jr., Calvin Collins, Cody Kahler, Rich Stalnaker, Shane Billiter
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Rick Elkins, Jr. 17.55
Heat #1 – Greg Grove, Teddy Oliver, Al Street, Rick Elkins, Jr., Randy Smart
Heat #2 – Bob Passwaters, Jr., Adam Mackey, Rocky Moore, Larry Smith, Doug Higgins
Heat #3 – Mike Martin, Dave Knepper, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Will Miller, Nick Cross
Pursuit – Greg Grove, Rich Schweitzer, Rick Elkins, Jr., Bob Passwaters, Jr.
Feature – Rich Schweitzer, Randy Smart, Greg Grove, Al Street, Larry Smith, Adam Mackey, Tim Postel, Rick Elkins, Jr., Bob Passwaters, Jr., Rob Scott, Doug Higgins, Mike Martin, Teddy Oliver, Tim Rodgers, Will Miller, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Chris Miller, Joe Oliver, Dave Knepper, Nick Cross
Compacts
Top Qualifier – Terry Colletti 18.08 NTR
Heat #1 – Josh Grove, Bryant Smith, Tye Kelly, John McNutt, Jason Morgan
Heat #2 – Kenny Jewell, Eric Feister, Jimmy Orr, Bubba Smith, Tammy Rufener
Heat #3 – Kenny Ford, Allen Andrews, Billy Hilliker, Jason Anthony, Ryan Kopp
Heat #4 – Bruce Gibson, Chris Grubbs, James Domer, Kenny Griffith, Mike Roth
Pursuit – Terry Colletti, Josh Grove, Randy Hahn, Kelly McNutt, Jack Grove
Feature #1 – Josh Grove, Kelly McNutt, Randy Smart, Willie Grove, Tye Kelly, John McNutt, Randy Hahn, Terry Colletti, Jimmy Orr, Brian Wilson, Jason Morgan, Bryant Smith, Jim Miller, Jack Grove
Feature #2 – Allen Andrews, Josh Irwin, Russell Grandison, Barb Feister, Eric Feister, Kenny Jewell, Billy Hilliker, Jesse Page, Charles Ritch, Patrick Wade, Richard Duvall, Bruce Stull, Earl Scranton, Tammy Rufener, Steven Feister
Feature #3 – Kenny Ford, Mike Gribble, James Domer, Dale Beatty, Bruce Gibson, Jason Anthony, Kenny Griffith, Violet McMasters, John Wissman, Jr., Laura Tedrick, Chris Grubbs, Ryan Kopp, Jaimie Huebner, Jr., Mike Roth
Written by: Adam Mackey |
