 Over 115 cars and vans were pitside for racing action this past Saturday night, May 29. Dale’s Heating & Cooling night featured Late Models, Modifieds, Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, Compacts, and a season opening Mini-Van Figure 8 race.
In the opener for the Dale’s Heating & Cooling Mini-Vans, Minerva, Ohio driver Jason Morgan started up front and led for a handful of laps before being overtaken by Canton’s Vic Paul. Paul was out front, leading somewhat comfortably, but action behind him was fierce, as a hit near the intersection was imminent. As the first hit took place, a van slid through the infield, but the race stayed under green conditions. However, the second hit was more brutal. As Mike Hammerling’s pink #73 was clipped, it rolled violently over near the finish line. The red flag was displayed, but moments later, Hammerling climbed from his upside down van with his hands in the air. When the race went back to green, it didn’t take long for the new division to see its second rollover. It happened when early leader Jason Morgan’s van got clipped in the right rear while turning. It flipped on the frontstretch, and again the driver climbed from his mangled racer to the crowd’s jubilation. As the race wound down, Paul continued out front and eventually crossed the line as the winner in the TeenKillers.Com #9. Shawn Smarsh, Mike Diaz, Chip Fry, and Butch Riggle completed the top five. The next Mini-Van race will take place on June 26.
In the Performance Race Fuels Late Model division, a 50-lapper was scheduled, but a 25-lapper was run due to the continued small car count. Racing in the division was exciting again, though, as Uhrichsville, Ohio driver Tom Garbrandt started a couple of rows deep in the field, but worked quickly toward the front. After a few laps, the veteran driver had moved into the second spot. With only the #27 of Rich Marcum separating him from his first victory of the year, Garbrandt moved to the outside lane and into the top spot. As laps wound down, no one had anything for the Trenton Service/CJ’s Drive Thru #64, as Garbrandt picked up victory #1 of the season. Marcum, Darrel Dexter, Doug McMillen, and Bear Schwartz finished off the top five. Completing the top ten were Duane Dunn, Greg Beule, Farmer Smith, Bob Gainer, and A.P. Ren. Garbrandt and Marcum won the heats, Bob Eichel the pursuit, and Smith was top qualifier with a new track record of 14.50.
Jim McCune started up front in the 20-lap Tolloti Pipe Modified feature. His first challenger was the #0 of Mark Enos. As the duo raced through three and four, they touched, sending the Massillon, Ohio driver spinning. However, Enos took blame, giving the lead back to McCune. Point leader Glen Jewell was the next challenger. As the top two came off of the fourth turn, Jewell got a run to the inside. However, as the pair raced into turn one, contact caused McCune to spin again. This time, Jewell admitted fault and McCune went back up front. Finally, Mark Willison was able to move by McCunes #22 racer and into the lead. At the finish, Minerva’s Willison picked up his third win of the year and was followed by Dave Watson, Randy Gray, McCune, and Mel Robinson. John Wilson, Mike Bowers, Tim Skinner, Mark Enos, and Rick Kapple. Robinson and Gray won the heats, Enos the pursuit, and rookie Dave Watson set fast time.
Doug McMillen and Kevin McClintock, the two fastest drivers in the Tusco Net Sport Stock class, drew the number one and number two pills respectively for the 20-lap feature. Over the first two circuits, the two raced side-by-side for the lead. However, on the third lap, McMillen slid high in turn two and into the lead, as McClintock fell back a couple of car lengths. McClintock worked all race long to get a run on the outside, but the cars were too equal for him to get the run he needed. At the end, McMillen, of Uhrichsville, Ohio broke McClintock’s streak of two in-a-row, and picked up his second feature win in the Sport Stock class and his fourth feature win of the year overall. Following the Dale’s Heating & Cooling/Haas Body Shop #54 were McClintock, Don Rufener, Jr., Kurt Waller, and Joe Linard. Rich Stalnaker, Roger Butler, Calvin Collins, Jimmy Orr, and Cody Kahler finished off the top ten. Rufener and Larry Pringle won the heats, Linard took the pursuit, and McMillen set fast time tying the track record set by McClintock.
19 cars started the 15-lap Papa John’s Pure Stock feature. Rick Elkins, Jr., Greg Grove, Blake Mackey, and Al Street drove cars that were moving toward the front looking for the feature win. After a late caution, Elkins, looking for his first feature win this year, moved quickly to the outside lane and moved away from the rest of the field. Grove took the second spot, Mackey third, Larry Smith fourth, and Street wound up fifth. Teddy Oliver, John Leasure, Doug Higgins, Rob Scott, and Bob Passwaters, Jr. finished up the top ten. Grove, Smith, and Scott won the heats, Oliver won the pursuit, and Street set fast time.
Uhrichsville driver John McNutt made quick work of the field in the fast feature for the Compact division. As the #35 raced out front, Josh Grove, Jason Nealey, and Terry Colletti raced for second, third, and fourth. In the official rundown, Jason Nealey, Terry Colletti, Russell Grandison, and Jack Grove followed McNutt. Adam Mishler, Jason Morgan, Tye Kelly, Willie Grove, and Josh Irwin finished off the top ten.
Kenny Jewell won the second feature with Charles Ritch, Tammy Rufener, Earl Scranton, and Steven Feister following. In the third feature, Joe Elerick picked up his first feature win and was followed by Jamie Leslie, Cody Shuss, Chris Smith, and Mike Roth.
In Compact preliminary action, Jack Grove, Tammy Rufener, Kenny Jewell, Rob Scott, and Joe Elerick won the heats. Adam Mishler picked up the pursuit race win, while Terry Colletti was top qualifier.
Racing continues this coming Saturday, June 5, as Texas Roadhouse of New Phila presents the 2nd annual Redneck Night At The Races. At intermission, a couple of fun games will be played for kids. Also, the second-ever lawn mower race will be held. If you have a riding lawn mower, bring it, and race at halftime for the big trophy. Racing will begin at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Performance Race Fuels Late Models
Top Qualifier – Farmer Smith 14.50 NTR
Heat #1 – Tom Garbrandt, A.P. Ren, Farmer Smith, Duane Dunn, Bob Gainer
Heat #2 – Rich Marcum, Bear Schwartz, Doug McMillen, Darrel Dexter, Bob Eichel
Pursuit – Bob Eichel, Darrel Dexter, Tom Garbrandt, Greg Beule, A.P. Ren
Feature – Tom Garbrandt, Rich Marcum, Darrel Dexter, Doug McMillen, Bear Schwartz, Duane Dunn, Greg Beule, Farmer Smith, Bob Gainer, A.P. Ren, Bob Eichel, Dan Stemple
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Dave Watson 14.64
Heat #1 – Randy Gray, Keith Thomas, Mark Willison, Dave Watson, Glen Jewell
Heat #2 – Mel Robinson, Mark Enos, Tim Skinner, Greg Beule, Mike Bowers
Pursuit – Mark Enos, John Wilson, Randy Gray, Glen Jewell, Dave Watson
Feature – Mark Willison, Dave Watson, Randy Gray, Greg Beule, Mel Robinson, John Wilson, Mike Bowers, Tim Skinner, Mark Enos, Rick Kapple, Glen Jewell, Keith Thomas
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Qualifier – Doug McMillen 15.63 Tied TR
Heat #1 – Don Rufener, Jr., Keith Thomas, Doug McMillen, Gabe Pringle, Kevin McClintock
Heat #2 – Larry Pringle, Joe Linard, Roger Butler, Calvin Collins, Cody Kahler
Pursuit – Joe Linard, Roger Butler, Kevin McClintock, Rich Stalnaker, Doug McMillen
Feature – Doug McMillen, Kevin McClintock, Don Rufener, Jr., Kurt Waller, Joe Linard, Rich Stalnaker, Roger Butler, Calvin Collins, Jimmy Orr, Cody Kahler, Keith Thomas, Larry Pringle, Bubba Smith, Gabe Pringle
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Al Street 17.46
Heat #1 – Greg Grove, Doug Higgins, Blake Mackey, Teddy Oliver, Al Street
Heat #2 – Larry Smith, John Leasure, Joe Oliver, Chuck Elkins, Bob Passwaters, Jr.
Heat #3 – Rob Scott, Vic Paul, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Joe Fewkes, Tim Rodgers
Pursuit – Teddy Oliver, Al Street, Greg Grove, Randy Smart, Larry Smith
Feature – Rick Elkins, Jr., Greg Grove, Blake Mackey, Larry Smith, Al Street, Teddy Oliver, John Leasure, Doug Higgins, Rob Scott, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Chris Miller, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Tim Rodgers, Joe Oliver, Vic Paul, Mike Martin, Joe Fewkes, Randy Smart, Dan Moore
Compacts
Top Qualifier – Terry Colletti 18.19
Heat #1 – Jack Grove, Jason Nealey, Kyle Grewell, Willie Grove
Heat #2 – Tammy Rufener, Charles Ritch, Earl Scranton, Jason Morgan, Mickey Green
Heat #3 – Kenny Jewell, Jason Garrett, Richard Duvall, Steven Feister, Bryant Smith
Heat #4 – Rob Scott, Chris Grubbs, Cody Shuss, Mike Roth, Kenny Griffith
Heat #5 – Joe Elerick, Ryan Kopp, Chris Smith, Jason Anthony, Janna Shaw
Pursuit – Adam Mishler, Terry Colletti, Tom Barrett, Jason Morgan
Feature #1 – John McNutt, Jason Nealey, Terry Colletti, Russell Grandison, Jack Grove, Adam Mishler, Jason Morgan, Tye Kelly, Willie Grove, Josh Irwin, Jim Miller, Mickey Green, Tom Barrett, Kyle Grewell
Feature #2 – Kenny Jewell, Charles Ritch, Tammy Rufener, Earl Scranton, Steven Feister, Bryant Smith, Chris Grubbs, Tracy Lovell, Kenny Griffith, Richard Duvall, James Domer, Gary Musick, Jesse Page, Kenny Ford
Feature #3 – Joe Elerick, Jamie Leslie, Cody Shuss, Chris Smith, Mike Roth, Jason Anthony, Gary Gibson, Mike Gribble, Allen Andrews, Janna Shaw, Rob Scott, Laura Tedrick, Ben Gibson, John Wissman, Jr., Jaimie Huebner, Jr., Ryan Kopp
Dale’s Heating & Cooling Mini-Van Figure 8’s
Feature – Vic Paul, Shawn Smarsh, Mike Diaz, Chip Fry, Butch Riggle, Terry Colletti, Jason Morgan, Jason Broome, Mike Hammerling, Bruce Gibson
Written by: Adam Mackey |
