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Once again, over 100 drivers were pit side for another night of racing at Midvale Speedway. Drivers were battling for crucial points as the 2005 season enters its final stages. Late Model drivers were competing for the Super 6 Series victory, while Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts were racing their normal weekly show.
In the Performance Race Fuels Late Model division, 20 cars and stars lined up for the special 35-lap Lorain-Midvale Super 6 Series feature. As the competitors raced around the speedway, the first lap was exciting and clean until Bob Schneider, Jr. and Ron Jaberg, Jr. made some contact in turns three and four resulting in a six car pile-up. Only the cars of Jaberg and bystander, Mike Enos, were not able to continue. Back to green and pole sitter, Mark Willison, raced with second place starter, Duane Dunn, for the lead. This time, the field raced for six circuits before a caution came out for Ed Middaugh and A.P. Ren. Middaugh admitted fault, putting Ren back in his position. Willison and John Crumrine were the first two in the running order from that point on as Mike Miller, Paul Adkins, and Greg Beule raced in the field. Miller took over the third spot and closed in on the lead duo. However, after just one or two more cautions, it was clear to see that Willison was poised for his first career Late Model feature victory. Most thought that Crumrine or Miller would have enough for the Minerva, Ohio driver, but in the end, the Willison Trucking/Vandy’s Vinyl Graphics #18 was victorious. Crumrine came home second, while Miller, Adkins, and Doug McMillen completed the top five. The rest of the top ten were Beule, who picked up five spots from the start, Tom Garbrandt, Bubba Smith, Ed Middaugh, and Don Harvey, Jr. completed the top ten. Crumrine, Garbrandt, and Enos won the heats, while Harvey set fast time. Harvey was racing for the Bob’s Auto Sales $400 bonus for being top qualifier and winning the feature. However, two accidents relegated him to the tail and resulted in a tenth place finish. The hard charger bonus will be $450 this week for the top qualifier.
In the Tusco Net Sport Stock division, Bill Aubihl, and Don Rufener, Jr. started up front for the 20-lap main event. Aubihl shot into the lead on the green flag start. Again, like many weeks this season, Keith Thomas and Wes Gilland, the two fastest qualifiers started racing their way through the field. On a restart, Thomas was slotted in the fifth position, as he and the fourth place car were doubled up behind the top three single file cars. At that point, most knew that it would only be a matter of a couple of laps before Thomas was to race out front. Moments later, they proved to be correct, as the Midvale, Ohio driver raced into the lead. Following him into the second spot was Gilland. With just two laps to go, Thomas’ car seemed to have some handling problems, as his car slowed in the turns more than usual. It was the result of an earlier evening mishap. Gilland was able to get as close to give a little bump to the leader, in the second turn, but it wouldn’t be enough as Thomas went on to his third straight feature victory and his fifth of the season. Following him were Gilland, Aubihl, Josh Grove, and Nick Grubbs. Rufener, Jr., Chris Kail, Kevin McClintock, Joe Linard, and Steve Lute completed the top ten. Linard and Lute won the heats, while Thomas claimed the pursuit.
Chris Miller and Bryant Smith made up the first row for the 15-lap Papa John’s Pure Stock feature event. On the first circuit, all heck broke loose on the frontstretch, as Joe Oliver attempted a four wide pass on the outside. Contact between Oliver and point leader, Randy Smart, eventually sent Rich Schweitzer and Blake Mackey toward the infield with Schweitzer losing a wheel and Mackey a tire. Back to green, Doug Higgins was on the move looking for his second feature win of the year. Behind him, though, Oliver, who was especially fast on this night, worked into the second spot and looked like he was on his way to victory. However, Higgins had his car handling at a premium. The Canton, Ohio driver fended off a couple serious challenges from Oliver and ended with the victory. Oliver, Smith, Smart, and Rick Elkins, Sr. completed the top five. The rest of the top ten were David Breehl, Randy Rice, Dan Moore, Tim Rodgers, and Todd Miller. Victorious in heats were Schweitzer, Smith, and Chester McMasters. Smith also won the pursuit. Elkins, Jr. set fast time for the third week straight.
In the fast feature for the Musick & Myers Heating & Cooling Compacts, Josh Irwin and Kyle Grewell were front row starters. Irwin, racing for feature win #4 this season, took the early lead, as Don Rufener, Jr. was in second looking for the clean sweep after his heat and pursuit win. Rufener challenged to the outside, as Troy McMath worked his way into third. Racing through the field were Russell Grandison and Kelly McNutt to move into the top five in the latter stages. As the checkered waved on the exciting feature event, Irwin, a Wainright, Ohio native, picked up his fourth victory. Following were McMath, Rufener, Grandison, and McNutt. Other top ten finishers were Tad Grove, Tom Barrett, Adam Mishler, Kyle Grewell, and Jason Morgan.
The second Compact feature saw Louisville, Ohio’s Kenny Ford working his way to the front in a hurry. Car #67 raced into the lead in the early going and hung on for yet another feature victory. Jim Poole, Eric Anderson, Mike Hostetler, and Kenny Jewell finished off the top five. Mike Pyle, Tammy Rufener, Derek Grewell, Chris Grubbs, and Tommy Lute rounded out the top ten.
Earl Scranton won the third Compact feature. Following the Fresno, Ohio driver across the stripe were Mike Gribble, Bill Wilkin, Joe Elerick, and Steve Roth. Tammy Ondo, Cody Shuss, Jill Harshey, Jim Campbell, and Anthony Nicholas were top ten finishers.
In the night’s preliminary action, Rufener, Jr., Poole, Grubbs, Wilkin, and Ondo won the heats, while Rufener, Jr. also took the pursuit. Tom Barrett set fast time.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Performance Race Fuels Late Models
Top Qualifier – Don Harvey, Jr. 14.49 NTR
Heat #1 – John Crumrine, Duane Dunn, Mike Miller, Don Harvey, Jr., Paul Adkins
Heat #2 – Tom Garbrandt, Greg Beule, John Sandquist, Mark Willison, A.P. Ren
Heat #3 – Mike Enos, Ed Middaugh, Bob Schneider, Jr., Tony Urdiales, Paul Slentz
Feature – Mark Willison, John Crumrine, Mike Miller, Paul Adkins, Doug McMillen, Greg Beule, Tom Garbrandt, Bubba Smith, Ed Middaugh, Don Harvey, Jr., John Sandquist, Duane Dunn, Bob Schneider, Jr., Tony Urdiales, Bob Eichel, A.P. Ren, Paul Slentz, Mike Pizonka, Mike Enos, Ron Jaberg, Jr.
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Qualifier – Keith Thomas 15.43
Heat #1 – Joe Linard, Wes Gilland, Gabe Pringle, Nick Grubbs, Josh Grove
Heat #2 – Steve Lute, Don Rufener, Jr., Paul Murray, Bill Weaver, Bill Aubihl
Pursuit – Keith Thomas, Wes Gilland, Paul Murray, Don Rufener, Jr., Gabe Pringle
Feature – Keith Thomas, Wes Gilland, Bill Aubihl, Josh Grove, Nick Grubbs, Don Rufener, Jr., Chris Kail, Kevin McClintock, Joe Linard, Steve Lute, Gabe Pringle, Bill Weaver, Paul Murray
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Rick Elkins, Jr. 17.26
Heat #1 – Rich Schweitzer, Rick Elkins, Jr., Blake Mackey, Randy Smart, Doug Higgins
Heat #2 – Bryant Smith, Randy Rice, Dan Moore, Mike Phillips, Jr., Chris Miller
Heat #3 – Chester McMasters, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Bob Passwaters, Jr., Todd Miller, Matt Wallick
Pursuit – Bryant Smith, Rick Elkins, Jr., Rick Elkins, Sr., Blake Mackey, Joe Oliver
Feature – Doug Higgins, Joe Oliver, Bryant Smith, Randy Smart, Rick Elkins, Sr., David Breehl, Randy Rice, Dan Moore, Tim Rodgers, Todd Miller, Keith Anderson, Mike Phillips, Jr., Bob Passwaters, Jr., Joe Fewkes, Chris Miller, Chester McMasters, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Rich Schweitzer, Blake Mackey, Rick Elkins, Jr.
Musick & Myers Heating & Cooling Compacts
Top Qualifier – Tom Barrett 18.27
Heat #1 – Don Rufener, Jr., Russell Grandison, Adam Mishler, Tad Grove, Kyle Grewell
Heat #2 – Jim Poole, Eric Anderson, Josh Irwin, Jason Morgan, Perry Nave
Heat #3 – Chris Grubbs, Mike Hostetler, Tammy Rufener, Kenny Ford, Joe Vanfossen
Heat #4 – Bill Wilkin, Earl Scranton, Mike Roth, Michael Keefe, Mike Gribble
Heat #5 – Tammy Ondo, Paul Stull, Roger Sickafoose, Jason Anthony, Brad Henry
Pursuit – Don Rufener, Jr., Jesse Page, Troy McMath, Tad Grove, Tom Barrett
Feature #1 – Josh Irwin, Troy McMath, Don Rufener, Jr., Russell Grandison, Kelly McNutt, Tad Grove, Tom Barrett, Adam Mishler, Kyle Grewell, Jason Morgan, Jack Grove, Perry Nave, Jesse Page, Joe Milburn
Feature #2 – Kenny Ford, Jim Poole, Eric Anderson, Mike Hostetler, Kenny Jewell, Mike Pyle, Tammy Rufener, Derek Grewell, Chris Grubbs, Tommy Lute, Lissa Courtney, Johnny Campbell, Michael Keefe, Joe Vanfossen, Bruce Gibson, Chris Smith
Feature #3 – Earl Scranton, Mike Gribble, Bill Wilkin, Joe Elerick, Steve Roth, Tammy Ondo, Cody Shuss, Jill Harshey, Jim Campbell, Anthony Nicholas, Ryan Kopp, John Wissman, Jr., Roger Sickafoose, Mike Roth, Paul Stull, Brad Henry, Jason Anthony
Spectator Drags
Winner – Dougie Cross
Written by: Adam Mackey |
