 125 racecars were back in the pits for night #7, after week #6 fell to the first rainout of the season. Late Models, Modifieds, Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts were in action along with the Legend cars seeing their second visit of the year.
Tim Williams and Wally Kosicki started on the front row for the 25-lap Legend feature, with Columbus, Ohio’s Williams leading the first couple of laps. On the third lap, Tim Davis, always a strong competitor at Midvale, took the lead on the inside lane. As the cars made their way to the halfway mark, Davis, from Norton, Ohio, was started to stretch his lead from top challenger Dennis Knox. Canfield, Ohio’s Rick Riffle took over second when Knox slid up, and shortly thereafter, took the top spot as Davis pulled to the infield with problems mechanically. With 15 laps of the 25 complete, the race’s only yellow came out. That put Knox and Midvale’s first event winner Larry Young on the leader’s rear bumper. However, Riffle was not to be denied, as he brought his black and blue #98 across the stripe as the winner. Knox, Young, Kosicki, and Jason Knox completed the top five, while the rest of the top ten were Fred Davis, Tom Spisak, Mike Luke, Bob Swann, and Tim Williams. Fred Davis and Tim Davis won the heats, while Riffle set fast time.
Next on the track was the Performance Race Fuels Late Model 25-lapper. Rich Marcum and point leader Bear Schwartz started on the front row, with Marcum taking the first lead. On the second lap, though, Schwartz dropped his car to the low lane on the backstretch and took over the lead spot. During the whole race, the car to watch was that of top qualifier, Bob Sibila. Sibila put on an absolute show as he worked the outside lane to move through the field. As the veteran racer tried to move by Marcum for the second position, they touched, and Sibila fell back to fourth. Again, he started his work, as he got by Tom Garbrandt for third, and moments later went to the inside of Marcum for second. However, at that point, Schwartz had a straightaway lead built up with less than ten laps to go. What Sibila needed was a caution, what Schwartz needed was for the race to stay green-Schwartz got his wish and his second win in a row. Following the New Philadelphia, Ohio driver in his New Image Homes/Trico Construction #77 were Sibila, Garbrandt, Darrel Dexter, and Greg Beule. Rounding out the top ten were Farmer Smith, Doug McMillen, Marcum, Duane Dunn, and Bob Eichel. Schwartz won the heat for the clean sweep, while Sibila set fast time.
In the Tolloti Pipe Modified 20-lapper, Mike Bowers and Doug Meyer started on the front row. Meyer, who was making his first start of the season at Midvale, was strong in the fast heat race by picking up the win, and everyone knew that he would again be strong in feature action. As the green flew, the Canton, Ohio driver moved quickly into the lead, while Keith Thomas took second. While running for position in the top five, point leader Glen Jewell and polesitter Mike Bowers brought out a caution in the second turn. That relegated the duo to the tail, as green once again came out. Over the second half of the race, several positions changed hands in the field, but none involved race leader Doug Meyer who had checked out. Meyer brought home the checkered flag, but unfortunately for the winner, in post-race inspection the car was found to be 45 pounds light of its required weight. That gave the win to Mark Willison, while Keith Thomas, John White, Randy Gray, and Glen Jewell completed the top five. Rounding out the rest of the top ten were Mark Enos, John Wilson, Jim Beatty, Jr., Dave Watson, and Rick Kapple. Wilson was credited with the fast heat win, while Gray won the second. Jewell set fast time.
Rich Stalnaker and Shane Billiter brought a strong field of Tusco Net Sport Stocks in the for the green in their 20-lapper. Stalnaker took the lead at the get-go, while Billiter fell back. As he and Roger Butler were racing for position in the top five, slight contact between the two sent the Billiter car up the track where Roger Linard was clipped and went slamming into the turn four wall. Back to green flag racing with 18 laps to go, Stalnaker led Don Rufener, Jr. and Kurt Waller. With three laps complete, Rufener went low on Stalnaker for the first spot. After a badly oiled down track from a blown Eric Sell motor, Joe Linard ran in second and followed Rufener closely. Near the halfway mark, Kevin McClintock had taken third and started to work on Linard for second. Shortly after a restart, the Dover, Ohio driver went to the outside of Linard and Rufener and started to pull away from the rest of the field. McClintock, driving the Glass Lumber Company/Broadrun Cheesehouse #38 picked up his second feature win in a row, while Rufener, Will Walker, Bubba Smith, and Doug McMillen finished off the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Kurt Waller, Joe Linard, Butler, Gabe Pringle, and Stalnaker. Roger Linard and Stalnaker won the heats, while Rufener won the Pursuit. The night’s fastest lap in qualifying was set by McMillen.
Chris Miller and Doug Higgins started on the front row for the 15-lap Papa John’s Pure Stock feature. Miller quickly worked into the lead with Vince Martin and Tim Postel following closely. With a few laps in, Martin moved to the outside of Miller for first, and the duo ran side-by-side for a few laps before Martin was able to move out front. Following him closely was Teddy Oliver, as the first yellow came out with 10 laps in for a Chris Miller/Tim Postel accident. Miller admitted fault to give Postel position back, as the original polesitter had lost his brakes. When the green came back out, Martin, Oliver, and Greg Grove were the three battling for the top spot. As the strong field took the checkered Grove came across the line in first, as he took over using the outside lane. However, in post-race inspection, the car was found to have aftermarket rockers. That handed the win to Canton, Ohio’s Teddy Oliver, while Al Street, Larry Smith, Rick Elkins, Jr., and Blake Mackey completed the top five. Finishing off the top ten were Randy Smart, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Doug Higgins, Mike Martin, and Nick Cross. Oliver, Smith, and Moore won the heats, Elkins won the pursuit and also set fast time.
In the Compact fast feature, Josh Irwin and Bryant Smith started on the front row for the 15-lap grind. Irwin led the first lap, while Jim Poole took second and Willie Grove moved up to third. It didn’t take long for Grove to get to the front, either, as he made quick work of Poole and Irwin. A huge crash took place a couple of laps later, as Poole and Jason Morgan went up the track in the second turn, sending Morgan’s car into a tire barrier protecting the end of the backstretch wall. Once back to green, Grove had John McNutt and Terry Colletti on his tail, and Colletti moved to the outside. Colletti had worked by Grove, but a yellow put him in second again. However, as the checkered flew, Colletti had worked by Grove for the second time, and won his third feature of the year. Grove, McNutt, Josh Grove, and Kelly McNutt completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Adam Mishler, Tom Barrett, Tye Kelly, Bubba Smith, and Kenny Jewell.
Chris Grubbs finished the second feature out front, but the win was negated, despite a new paint job, because of an issue with the springs. The third place car of Scranton also was found not meeting requirements of the tech team. Charles Ritch picked up the win, while Tracy Lovell, Kenny Ford, Dale Beatty, and Tammy Rufener completed the top five. Otto Polilli, Richard Duvall, Mike Gribble, Steve Cooper, and Brian Wilson finished the top ten.
Cody Shuss of New Philadelphia, Ohio won the final feature of the evening. Mike Roth, James Domer, Janna Shaw, Joe Elerick, Bruce Stull, Ben Gibson, Kenny Griffith, John Wissman, Jr., and Bob Viertel finished off the top ten.
Compact preliminary races were won by Terry Colletti, Jesse Page, Tammy Rufener, Cody Shuss, and Mike Roth. Colletti won the pursuit and set fast time.
Racing will continue this coming Saturday, May 29, with the first ever Mini-Van Figure 8 race. 10-12 mini-vans will compete on Midvale Speedway’s figure 8 track, while a 50-lap Late Model feature is also scheduled. Modifieds, Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts are also on the night’s card. Admission prices will be regular for the action that starts at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Legends
Top Qualifier – Rick Riffle 16.11
Heat #1 – Fred Davis, Bob Swann, Tom Spisak, A.J. Kramer, Mike Luke
Heat #2 – Tim Davis, Larry Young, Rick Riffle, Wally Kosicki, Tim Williams
Feature – Rick Riffle, Dennis Knox, Larry Young, Wally Kosicki, Jason Knox, Fred Davis, Tom Spisak, Mike Luke, Bob Swann, Tim Williams, A.J. Kramer, Mark Wills, Bill Richards, Duane Lorens, Tim Davis
Performance Race Fuels Late Models
Top Qualifier – Bob Sibila 14.67
Heat – Bear Schwartz, Tom Garbrandt, Farmer Smith, Darrel Dexter, Rich Marcum
Feature – Bear Schwartz, Bob Sibila, Tom Garbrandt, Darrel Dexter, Greg Beule, Farmer Smith, Doug McMillen, Rich Marcum, Duane Dunn, Bob Eichel, Dan Stemple
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Glen Jewell 14.82
Heat #1 – Doug Meyer, John Wilson, Glen Jewell, Mark Enos, Mark Willison
Heat #2 – Randy Gray, Keith Thomas, Rick Kapple, Tim Skinner, Mike Bowers
Feature – Doug Meyer, Mark Willison, Keith Thomas, John White, Randy Gray, Glen Jewell, Mark Enos, John Wilson, Jim Beatty, Jr., Dave Watson, Rick Kapple, Mel Robinson, Tim Skinner, Mike Bowers
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Qualifier – Doug McMillen 15.70
Heat #1 – Roger Linard, Bubba Smith, Kurt Waller, Gabe Pringle, Will Walker
Heat #2 – Rich Stalnaker, Don Rufener, Jr., Roger Butler, Shane Billiter, Eric Sell
Pursuit – Don Rufener, Jr., Doug McMillen, Joe Linard, Will Walker, Kevin McClintock
Feature – Kevin McClintock, Don Rufener, Jr., Will Walker, Bubba Smith, Doug McMillen, Kurt Waller, Joe Linard, Roger Butler, Gabe Pringle, Rich Stalnaker, Cody Kahler, Eric Sell, Roger Linard, Shane Billiter
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Rick Elkins, Jr. 17.55
Heat #1 – Teddy Oliver, Randy Smart, Blake Mackey, Rick Elkins, Jr.
Heat #2 – Larry Smith, Vince Martin, Mike Martin, Rocky Moore, Chris Miller
Heat #3 – Dan Moore, Nick Cross, Will Miller, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Tim Rodgers
Pursuit – Rick Elkins, Jr., Vince Martin, Al Street, Larry Smith, Blake Mackey
Feature – Teddy Oliver, Al Street, Larry Smith, Rick Elkins, Jr., Blake Mackey, Randy Smart, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Doug Higgins, Mike Martin, Nick Cross, Vince Martin, Tim Rodgers, Tim Postel, Rob Scott, Dan Moore, Chris Miller, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Will Miller, Chester McMasters, Joe Fewkes, Rich Schweitzer
Compacts
Top Qualifier – Terry Colletti 18.22
Heat #1 – Terry Colletti, Josh Grove, Tom Barrett, Kelly McNutt, Adam Mishler
Heat #2 – Jesse Page, Bubba Smith, Troy McMath, Josh Irwin, Bryant Smith
Heat #3 – Tammy Rufener, Charles Ritch, Kenny Ford, Brian Wilson
Heat #4 – Cody Shuss, Mike Gribble, Mickey Green, James Domer, Jason Anthony
Heat #5 – Mike Roth, Joe Elerick, Kenny Griffith, Jesse Crabtree, Chris Smith
Feature #1 – Terry Colletti, Willie Grove, John McNutt, Josh Grove, Kelly McNutt, Adam Mishler, Tom Barrett, Tye Kelly, Bubba Smith, Kenny Jewell, Jim Poole, Jesse Page, Troy McMath, Bryant Smith, Billy Hilliker, Josh Irwin, Jason Morgan
Feature #2 – Charles Ritch, Tracy Lovell, Kenny Ford, Dale Beatty, Tammy Rufener, Otto Polilli, Richard Duvall, Mike Gribble, Steve Cooper, Brian Wilson, Josh Miller, Barb Feister, Patrick Wade
Feature #3 – Cody Shuss, Mike Roth, James Domer, Janna Shaw, Joe Elerick, Bruce Stull, Ben Gibson, Kenny Griffith, John Wissman, Jr., Bob Viertel, Jason Anthony, Chris Smith, Laura Tedrick, Mickey Green, Jesse Crabtree
Written by: Adam Mackey |
