 Racing action was exciting in all four divisions this past Saturday, May 21 at Midvale Speedway. Late Models, Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts were all in action. Spectator drags were also held at intermission.
Tom Feller, Jr. and Ed Middaugh started up front for the 25-lap Performance Race Fuels Late Model feature. Middaugh, a driver from Massillon, Ohio, raced into the lead looking for his second feature win of the early season. Feller dropped back to second for a lap or so before Mike Enos was able to get by. 2003 point champion Mike Miller was on the move from his fifth starting position. A caution came out with three laps in, as Farmer Smith spun in turn four. By lap 6, Canton, Ohio driver Rich Rohrer had moved from 11th to 4th. At that point, Miller looked to the outside of Enos, but Rohrer raced by on the inside. By lap ten, Rohrer moved his Miller Lite/Esber Beverage #7 car to the second groove to work around Enos and the race leader, Middaugh for the top spot. From that point on, the many time track champion was in cruise control pulling away from a stellar field of Late Models. The story of the Late Model feature was veterans, as Rohrer, Miller, and Phil Rozum had great runs. Rozum, from Cleveland, Ohio, was the night’s top qualifier but started scratch in the feature due to a pursuit race wreck. He and Rohrer put on the best shows of the night. Rohrer came across the line as the victor, while Miller, Middaugh, Rozum, and Mike Enos completed the top five. The rest of the top ten were Todd Ripley, Bubba Smith, Tom Garbrandt, Farmer Smith, and Ryan Tedesco. Duane Dunn was impressive in preliminary action by taking the heat and pursuit. Feller won the second heat.
In the Tusco Net Sport Stock feature, Paul Murray and Don Rufener, Jr. brought the 15-car field in for the green flag. With many fast drivers throughout the field, Murray and Rufener kept a two-wide battle in tact over the first handful of laps. Caution flew for the first time when Bill Hilliker and Keith Thomas had contact in the third corner. That lined the field up single file for the first three spots and double file for the remaining cars. However, as soon as the green flag dropped, Rufener raced to the outside of Murray to again start a train of two-wide battles. As the laps wore down, it looked as though Rufener was going to race out front with the victory. However, over the last couple of circuits, Murray edged ahead to cross the line in first. A post race inspection found Murray’s carburetor not meeting division specs handing the win to Dover, Ohio driver Josh Grove. Following the Hartzler’s Quality Housing/Grove Home Medical #4 were Rufener, Glen Jewell, Keith Thomas, and Roger Linard. The rest of the top ten were Kurt Waller, Kevin McClintock, Gabe Pringle, John Tantarelli, Jr., and Bill Hilliker. Tantarelli and Hilliker won heats, while Waller took the pursuit race win. The night’s top qualifier was Wes Gilland with a new track record.
The first two races were excellent but the third feature was a little rough. The Papa John’s Pure Stock 15-lapper started with the front row starters of David Breehl and Bob Passwaters, Jr.,smashing the turn two wall on the first lap. Once the green dropped again, it only took until turn four to have the next problem as Greg Grove had a right rear wheel come off and eliminate himself and Blake Mackey with a flat left front. Finally, the race got started with Chuck Elkins and Teddy Oliver the new front row starters battling. Oliver was edging ahead in the second corner when contact sent him spinning into the infield. The caution came out one lap later, putting Oliver to the back of the pack. Once back to racing, Randy Smart raced by on the outside lane to take the lead from Elkins. Top qualifier, Al Street also raced by. A lap or so later, Street made an inside lane pass on Smart for the top spot, as the two drivers raced to turn one. At the checkered flag, Street, was followed by Smart, Rich Schweitzer, Rick Elkins, Jr., and Danny Archer. The rest of the top ten were John Leasure, Bryant Smith, Paul Parson, Teddy Oliver, and Bob Passwaters, Sr. Preliminary heats were won by Grove, Smith, and Leasure, while the pursuit win went to Grove. Street was also the night’s top qualifier, as he set a new track record. By way of the top qualifying time and the feature win, the Malvern, Ohio driver picked up an additional $100 courtesy of J.D. Byrider of Dover.
In the fast feature for the Musick & Myers heating and Cooling Compact division, John McNutt set the fastest time and for the third time this season put on a show racing his #35 racer through the field. The Uhrichsville, Ohio driver ran a great race to pick up his third feature win of the year. Tad Grove came home second, while Russell Grandison finished third, Tom Barrett fourth, and Adam Mishler fifth. The rest of the top ten were Otto Polilli, Dale Beatty, Jason Morgan, Troy McMath, and Mike Pyle.
Jesse Page won the second compact feature. The Waynesburg, Ohio driver was followed by Kenny Ford, Kyle Grewell, Mike Gribble, and Eric Feister. Mickey Green, Earl Scranton, Mike Hostetler, Eric Anderson, and Neil Rolli completed the top ten.
The third and final Compact feature victory went to Cody Shuss. The New Philadelphia, Ohio driver was able to beat Jason Anthony, Ryan Kopp, Paul Stull, and Bob Viertel. John Wissman, Mike Jones, Buzz Bender, Tammy Ondo, and Steve Roth completed the top ten.
Compact heat wins went to Jack Grove, Jason Shaw, Jesse Page, Kenny Jewell, and Cody Shuss. The pursuit was taken by Perry Nave.
The spectator drag event was won by Adam Long in his eagle talon.
This coming Saturday, May 28, the 305 Winged Sprint Cars will race for the first and only time at Midvale this season, and be joined by the Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts. Heats, pursuits, and features will be run. Admission prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 62+, and $6 for kids 6-15. Anyone riding a motorcycle to the track on Saturday night will receive $2 off grandstand admission. Qualifying is from 4:00-6:00 and the racing will start at 6:30.
The Late Model top qualifier will be racing for the All Parts & Supply $250 bonus if he can win the feature. The Sport Stock top qualifier will be running for the $125 Fuel Depot award and if the Pure Stock top qualifier wins the feature, he will pick up an additional $25 courtesy of J.D. Byrider of Dover. Rich Rohrer, of Canton, picks up this week’s DLC Racing Equipment Hard Charger Award. Rohrer came from the 11th starting position to win the Late Model feature.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Racing Action On Television Sunday Night At 9:00. Tuscarawas County Adelphia Channel 99, Stark County Warner Digital Cable 585, and Massillon Cable Channel 21.
Performance Race Fuels Late Models
Top Qualifier – Phil Rozum 14.63
Heat #1 – Duane Dunn, Todd Ripley, Mike Miller, Tom Garbrandt, Farmer Smith
Heat #2 – Tom Feller, Jr., Mike Enos, Mark Enos, Claude Hilton, Jr., Bob Gainer
Pursuit – Duane Dunn, Todd Ripley, Phil Rozum, Bubba Smith, Mike Miller
Feature – Rich Rohrer, Mike Miller, Ed Middaugh, Phil Rozum, Mike Enos, Todd Ripley, Bubba Smith, Tom Garbrandt, Farmer Smith, Ryan Tedesco, Duane Dunn, Bob Gainer, Mark Enos, Tom Feller, Jr., Doug McMillen, Mark Willison, Bob Eichel, Claude Hilton, Jr.
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Qualifier – Wes Gilland 15.39 NTR
Heat #1 – John Tantarelli, Jr., Keith Thomas, Roger Linard, Kurt Waller, Kevin McClintock
Heat #2 – Bill Hilliker, Josh Grove, Don Rufener, Jr., Glen Jewell
Pursuit – Kurt Waller, Gabe Pringle, Wes Gilland, Roger Linard, John Tantarelli, Jr.
Feature – Josh Grove, Don Rufener, Jr., Glen Jewell, Keith Thomas, Roger Linard, Kurt Waller, Kevin McClintock, Gabe Pringle, John Tantarelli, Jr., Bill Hilliker, Cody Kahler, Jerry McNealy, Wes Gilland, Rob Hooper
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Al Street 17.20 NTR
Heat #1 – Greg Grove, Scott Archer, Blake Mackey, Rich Schweitzer, Al Street
Heat #2 – Bryant Smith, Teddy Oliver, Danny Archer, David Breehl, Dick Aubihl
Heat #3 – John Leasure, Tim Oliver, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Dan Moore, Joe Fewkes
Pursuit – Greg Grove, Al Street, Doug Higgins, Teddy Oliver, Scott Archer
Feature – Al Street, Randy Smart, Rich Schweitzer, Rick Elkins, Jr., Danny Archer, John Leasure, Bryant Smith, Paul Parson, Teddy Oliver, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Dick Aubihl, Dan Moore, Tim Rodgers, Chuck Elkins, Joe Fewkes, Tim Oliver, Blake Mackey, Greg Grove, Scott Archer, Doug Higgins, Bob Passwaters, Jr., David Breehl
Musick & Myers Heating & Cooling Compacts
Top Qualifier – John McNutt 18.47
Heat #1 – Jack Grove, Otto Polilli, Josh Irwin, John McNutt, Jason Morgan
Heat #2 – Jason Shaw, Kyle Grewell, Eric Feister, Mike Hostetler, Eric Anderson
Heat #3 – Jesse Page, Kenny Ford, Mickey Green, Richard Duvall, Earl Scranton
Heat #4 – Kenny Jewell, Jason Anthony, John Wissman, Bill Wilkin, Ryan Kopp
Heat #5 – Cody Shuss, Chris Bloom, Tammy Ondo, Buzz Bender, Violet McMasters
Pursuit – Perry Nave, Josh Irwin, Tad Grove, John McNutt, Tom Barrett
Feature #1 – John McNutt, Tad Grove, Russell Grandison, Tom Barrett, Adam Mishler, Otto Polilli, Dale Beatty, Jason Morgan, Troy McMath, Mike Pyle, Lissa Courtney, Jack Grove, Tammy Rufener, Perry Nave, Jason Shaw, Don Rufener, Jr., Lee McCreery
Feature #2 – Jesse Page, Kenny Ford, Kyle Grewell, Mike Gribble, Eric Feister, Mickey Green, Earl Scranton, Mike Hostetler, Eric Anderson, Neil Rolli, Richard Duvall, Kenny Jewell, Jason Dotson, Jill Harshey, Bill Wilkin, Shaun Wade
Feature #3 – Cody Shuss, Jason Anthony, Ryan Kopp, Paul Stull, Bob Viertel, John Wissman, Mike Jones, Buzz Bender, Tammy Ondo, Steve Roth, Tommy Fantin, Laura Green, Chris Bloom, John Wissman, Jr.
Written by: Adam Mackey |
