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| Tuesday, April 14th |
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Ohio's Fun Place to Race!!
2026 Race Season |
 | July 3, 2005 |
 The biggest night scheduled for 2005 lived up to expectations this past Sunday, July 3. The Main Event Racing Series Super Late Models were joined by Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts on an action packed night of racing. Over 100 drivers were pitside, while the crowd was the biggest in several years.
In qualifying for the Main Event Racing Series, Barberton, Ohio driver Don Harvey, Jr. set on top of the chart until near the end. That’s when Doylestown, Ohio driver Gary Whipkey worked his usual qualifying magic to take the top spot by over two tenths. Whipkey blistered the asphalt with a 13.65, about one-tenth off of his track record from several years ago. Harvey was second with a 13.88, while Lee Anderson 13.90, Rich Rohrer 13.95, and Joe Bush 13.95 completed the top five.
After the time trial session, Whipkey drew the highest inversion pill possible, a “10”. That slated Doug Ehret and A.P. Ren, both drivers who were competing for the first time this season, for the front row. As the green dropped, Ehret slid up the banking clipping Ren and creating a complete restart. The second start went much smoother.
As Ehret took the number one spot and led the field, Ren was caught in the outside lane and dropping back. On the move was Akron, Ohio driver Scott Baker. Baker raced into the lead with an inside lane pass during the race’s early going. Driving the Al Reeves’ owned #6, Baker set the pace as John Crumrine and Rich Rohrer started to make their moves to get to the front. Crumrine moved into second, while Rohrer raced into third.
On a restart in the first half of the race, Crumrine quickly jumped to the inside of Baker and stuck his nose in the inside lane in turn one. The top two cars made contact, and it looked as though Baker would spin as he shut the door, but was able to steer out of it. Exiting turn two, Crumrine drew alongside Baker and flew by for the top spot. Behind him, Rohrer used a bonsai move to race past as well. Immediately, both drivers started pulling away from the rest of the field after coming from the fifth and seventh starting positions respectively.
Crumrine was strong on restarts, as the driver brought the field in at a slow pace on the backstretch, then picked up the pace in three, and raced off of turn four for a several car length advantage each time. During a long green flag run from lap 40 to lap 69, Crumrine worked up a big lead, before seeing Rohrer close right in to the rear bumper. Over the final laps of the 29-lap green flag period, Rohrer hounded Crumrine for the top spot, while Whipkey, who had taken third from his tenth starting position, started to fade. Caution moments later, thwarted Rohrer’s strong run at the leader.
With 30 to go, Crumrine only had to fend off a couple of smaller challenges from Rohrer. No one else in the starting field had anything for the two drivers, as each time a restart took place, they pulled away from the rest of the pack.
At the checkered, it was John Crumrine picking up his first career Main Event Racing Series victory, as he made it two-for-two on the weekend following his Super 6 Late Model win at Lorain the previous night. Following the Automotive Electric/Tallmadge Asphalt #44 were Rohrer, Whipkey, Don Harvey, Jr., and Bobby Parsley. Robbie Johnson, Ryan Tedesco, Dino Long, Baker, and Cord Ehrhart finished off the top ten.
In Tusco Net Sport Stock divisional action, Gabe Pringle was looking for his third feature win in a row and had taken the lead in the early laps. However, just as he edged ahead, the car got loose coming off of turn two and spun on the backstretch. That put Midvale, Ohio driver Keith Thomas in position to win his second feature of the season and after a couple of strong moves he was out front and on his way to victory. Doug McMillen, the night’s top qualifier, had taken the second spot but had nothing for the leader. At the finish, the Renner & Daughter Concrete Construction/Musick & Myers Heating & Cooling #34 was followed by McMillen, Roger Linard, Kevin McClintock, and Josh Grove. The rest of the top ten were Don Rufener, Jr., Jerry McNealy, Nick Grubbs, Chad Dixon, and Steve Lute. Linard and Rufener won the heat races.
In the Papa John’s Pure Stock 15-lapper, polesitter Paul Parson led the early laps. However, after a mid-race restart, Scott Archer and Al Street started their usual moves quickly to the front, as Archer beat him to the punch and raced into the lead. Later in the race, Street took the second spot. At the checkered, it was Archer picking up his fifth feature win of the season behind the wheel of the Arch-a-motive #28. Street, Blake Mackey, Randy Smart, and Paul Parson completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Chad Nickison, Chuck Elkins, Rick Elkins, Jr., Rich Schweitzer, and Joe Oliver. Schweitzer, Doug Higgins, and Joe Fewkes won the heats, while Street set fast time.
In the fast feature for the Musick & Myers Heating & Cooling Compacts, Perry Nave led the early laps from his pole starting spot. However, on the move was Dennison, Ohio driver Tom Barrett, as he looked for his second feature win of the year. As Barrett used inside and outside moves, the East High Arby’s/Green Ridge Auto Body #157 raced into the lead and onto victory. Following him were Adam Mishler, Perry Nave, Josh Irwin, and Ron Myers. The rest of the top ten were Kelly McNutt, Jason Morgan, Tad Grove, Don Rufener, Jr., and Kyle Grewell.
Kenny Ford was victorious in the second Compact feature after Bruce Gibson was clocked under his qualifying time and sent to the pits. Ford was followed at the finish by Earl Scranton, Jesse Page, Jill Harshey, and Kenny Jewell. Mike Pyle, Bill Burkholder, Cody Shuss, John Wissman, Jr., and Bob Viertel completed the top ten.
The third Compact feature saw Chris Grubbs victorious. Jim Campbell, Mickey Green, Kevin Rennicker, and Pat Carnes were the rest of the top five. Ryan Kopp, Barb Feister, John Wissman, Steve Roth, and Jaimie Huebner completed the top ten.
Kyle Grewell, Kenny Ford, Bill Burkholder, Dave Conrad, and Derek Grewell were the preliminary event winners.
Racing action will continue this coming Saturday, July 9. Late Models, Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will be joined at intermission by the kid’s bicycle races. Any child 15 and under is eligible to race in the bike race, but they must bring their bike to compete. Several different races will be held. Racing will start at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Main Event Racing Series – Midvale
Burko Trucking $100 Fast Qualifier – Gary Whipkey 13.65
Lap Leaders – Doug Ehret, Scott Baker, John Crumrine
Western Reserve Asphalt $100 ½ Way Leader – John Crumrine
Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – No Winner
MERS 100 – John Crumrine, Rich Rohrer, Gary Whipkey, Don Harvey, Jr., Bobby Parsley, Robbie Johnson, Ryan Tedesco, Dino Long, Scott Baker, Cord Ehrhart, Lee Anderson, Brian Keselowski, A.P. Ren, Joe Bush, Doug Ehret, Dan Fults, Joel McKnight, Mark Willison
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Qualifier – Doug McMillen 15.56
Heat #1 – Roger Linard, Doug McMillen, Josh Grove, Keith Thomas, Kevin McClintock
Heat #2 – Don Rufener, Jr., Nick Grubbs, Steve Lute, Chad Dixon, Jerry McNealy
Feature – Keith Thomas, Doug McMillen, Roger Linard, Kevin McClintock, Josh Grove, Don Rufener, Jr., Jerry McNealy, Nick Grubbs, Chad Dixon, Steve Lute, Wes Gilland, Gabe Pringle, Paul Murray
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Al Street 17.30
Heat #1 – Rich Schweitzer, Chuck Elkins, Randy Smart, Al Street, Scott Archer
Heat #2 – Doug Higgins, Blake Mackey, Paul Parson, Bubba Smith, David Breehl
Heat #3 – Joe Fewkes, Tim Rodgers, Dan Moore, Randy Hahn, Tim Oliver
Feature – Scott Archer, Al Street, Blake Mackey, Randy Smart, Paul Parson, Chad Nickison, Chuck Elkins, Rick Elkins, Jr., Rich Schweitzer, Joe Oliver, Bubba Smith, Doug Higgins, David Breehl, Joe Fewkes, Dan Moore, Tim Rodgers, Randy Hahn, Bryant Smith, Rob Scott, Tim Oliver
Musick & Myers Heating & Cooling
Top Qualifier – Kelly McNutt 18.42
Heat #1 – Kyle Grewell, Tad Grove, Tom Barrett, Adam Mishler, Don Rufener, Jr.
Heat #2 – Kenny Ford, Bill Wilkin, Neil Rolli, Tammy Rufener, Mike Hostetler
Heat #3 – Bill Burkholder, Jesse Page, Jill Harshey, Mike Pyle, Earl Scranton
Heat #4 – Dave Conrad, Mickey Green, Chris Grubbs, Ryan Kopp, Barb Feister
Heat #5 – Derek Grewell, Billy Hilliker, Steve Roth, Jim Campbell, Jaimie Huebner
Feature #1 – Tom Barrett, Adam Mishler, Perry Nave, Josh Irwin, Ron Myers, Kelly McNutt, Jason Morgan, Tad Grove, Don Rufener, Jr., Kyle Grewell, Jack Grove, Eric Anderson, Lissa Courtney, Otto Polilli, Mike Hostetler, Bill Wilkin, Tammy Rufener
Feature #2 – Kenny Ford, Earl Scranton, Jesse Page, Jill Harshey, Kenny Jewell, Mike Pyle, Bill Burkholder, Cody Shuss, John Wissman, Jr., Bob Viertel, Bruce Gibson, Mike Roth, Paul Stull, Neil Rolli, Mike Gribble
Feature #3 – Chris Grubbs, Johnny Campbell, Mickey Green, Kevin Rennicker, Pat Carnes, Ryan Kopp, Barb Feister, John Wissman, Steve Roth, Jaimie Huebner, Tracy Lovell, Dave Conrad, Johnny Campbell, Derek Grewell, Tammy Ondo, Billy Hilliker
Written by: Adam Mackey |
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07/03/2005 Race
Pure Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Archer, Scott |
| 2. | Street, Al |
| 3. | Mackey, Blake |
| 4. | Smart, Randy |
| 5. | Parson, Paul |
| 6. | Nickison, Chad |
| 7. | Elkins, Chuck |
| 8. | Elkins, Jr., Rick |
| 9. | Schweitzer, Rich |
| 10. | Oliver, Joe |
| More |
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07/03/2005 Race
Sport Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Thomas, Keith |
| 2. | McMillen, Doug |
| 3. | Linard, Roger |
| 4. | McClintock, Kevin |
| 5. | Grove, Josh |
| 6. | Rufener, Jr., Don |
| 7. | McNealy, Jerry |
| 8. | Grubbs, Nick |
| 9. | Dixon, Chad |
| 10. | Lute, Steve |
| More |
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07/03/2005 Race
Compacts Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Barrett, Tom |
| 2. | Mishler, Adam |
| 3. | Nave, Perry |
| 4. | Irwin, Josh |
| 5. | Myers, Ron |
| 6. | McNutt, Kelly |
| 7. | Morgan, Jason |
| 8. | Grove, Tad |
| 9. | Rufener, Jr., Don |
| 10. | Grewell, Kyle |
| More |
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