 Over 100 drivers competed for season championships and their final points at Midvale Speedway this past Saturday. Late Models, Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts were all in action.
Bob Eichel and Kenny Cantrell brought the Performance Race Fuels Late Model field in for the green. Eichel moved into the lead, while Cantrell battled him to the outside. Moving forward were Dave Wagner and Duane Dunn, two of the divisions veteran drivers. Wagner was able to beat Dunn to the front and assume the lead position. Behind him, Dunn took second, while Eichel fought off challengers for third for many laps. Eventually, while trying to hold off a charging Bob Schneider, Jr., Eichel’s car spun in the second turn, ending his great run. As the checkered fell, Akron, Ohio’s Dave Wagner picked up his first career Midvale win, while Dunn, Bubba Smith, Schneider, and Cantrell completed the top five. The rest of the top ten were Mark Willison, Tom Garbrandt, Bob Eichel, Bob Gainer, and Tony Urdiales. Wagner and Willison won heats, while Dunn claimed the pursuit. Mike Miller claimed the point championship as well as the night’s fast qualifying award.
Midvale, Ohio’s Keith Thomas went into the night winning five features in a row. He also had a 115 point lead on Roger Linard in the point chase, one that was still up for grabs. At first, Linard closed the gap a little in qualifying with a slightly better lap. In heat action, though, Thomas garnered 30 more points than Linard making it nearly impossible to overcome the deficit. Sport Stock racing was exciting, though, as Thomas and Linard moved through the field. While running in the top three and battling for the lead, Kurt Waller’s car and Linard’s car collided, ending the run for Linard and his chances at a strong finish. Back to racing, Thomas was up front and on his way to victory number six in a row and eight on the season. Gabe Pringle came home second, while Bill Aubihl, Roger Butler, and Waller rounded out the top five. The rest of the top ten were Don Rufener, Jr., Chris Grubbs, Chris Kail, Joe Sanford, Jr., and Paul Murray. Thomas claimed the point championship, while Linard, who announced before the season that this was his last full year, came home a close second. Thomas and Bill Hilliker won the heats, while Linard won the pursuit. Wes Gilland set fast time.
Papa John’s Pure Stock racing saw point champion Randy Smart come into the event without a feature victory this season. His year of consistent finishes kept him on top of the standings with a big lead. On season championship night, though, his car was tuned perfectly. After a Friday night of practice, the Dover, Ohio driver was second fast in qualifying, came through the field, raced past Rich Schweitzer for the lead and pulled into victory lane. Following Smart were Schweitzer, Chuck Elkins, Bubba Smith, and Chris Miller. The rest of the top ten were Tim Rodgers, Mike Phillips, Jr., Matt Wallick, Dick Aubihl, and Chester McMasters. Doug Higgins, Miller, Tim Oliver, and Joe Oliver won preliminary races. Joe Oliver also set fast time with a new track record.
Kenny Ford started poleside for the 15-lap fast feature for the Musick & Myers Heating & Cooling Compacts. The week before, Ford started outside pole and was not quite strong enough to work around the winner John McNutt. Season Championship night was a different story for Ford, as the Louisville, Ohio driver held off Don Rufener, Jr., Tad Grove, John McNutt, and Troy McMath in a race that saw only one caution wave. The rest of the top ten were Kelly McNutt, Adam Mishler, Russell Grandison, Ron Myers, and Perry Nave. Kelly McNutt claimed his third point championship in a row.
Jim Poole won the second heat and the second feature in a strong return to racing at Midvale. Jason Morgan came home second in the second feature, while Neil Rolli, Tammy Rufener, and Bill Wilkin completed the top five. Other top ten finishers were Steve Roth, Earl Scranton, Kenny Jewell, Chris Bloom, and Jim Campbell.
Johnny Campbell won the third Compact feature and the second feature win in his rookie season. The young driver was followed by Jason Anthony, Bruce Gibson, Michael Keefe, Paul Stull. Tammy Ondo, Lennie Orr, John Wissman, Jr., Joe Elerick, and Ryan Kopp rounded out the top ten.
Congratulations to all of the season and point champions of 2005. We appreciate the effort and support you gave us this season. With that said, only one event remains this season, the 2005 Dover Phila Federal Credit Union Fall Classic. It will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, September 17/18. Late Models, Sport Stocks/Street Stocks, Pure Stocks/Hobby Stocks, Compact Mini-Stocks, Legends, and Compact Figure 8 races will be held. Racing should be exciting going for larger than usual purses, trophies, and laps run.
The weekend officially starts on Friday with an afternoon practice from 3-8. Haulers may also be parked and left at the track that night. Saturday gates open at 11, practice starts at 12, qualifying is at 2:30, and racing will begin at 6:30. Sunday gates also open at 11, hotlaps for Legends run from 12-12:30 followed by other division warm-up sessions. Qualifying for Legend cars is at 1:15 and racing will start at 2:00.
Complete information on the 2005 Fall Classic can be found at www.midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Performance Race Fuels Late Models
Top Qualifier – Mike Miller 14.66
Heat #1 – Dave Wagner, Doug McMillen, Bubba Smith, Bob Schneider, Jr., Mike Miller
Heat #2 – Mark Willison, Mark Enos, Kenny Cantrell, Bob Eichel, Tony Urdiales
Pursuit – Duane Dunn, Bubba Smith, Mark Enos, Mark Willison, Mike Miller
Feature – Dave Wagner, Duane Dunn, Bubba Smith, Bob Schneider, Jr., Kenny Cantrell, Mark Willison, Tom Garbrandt, Bob Eichel, Bob Gainer, Tony Urdiales, Mike Enos, Mark Enos, Doug McMillen, Ron Jaberg, Jr.
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Qualifier – Wes Gilland 15.48
Heat #1 – Keith Thomas, Kurt Waller, Gabe Pringle, Roger Linard, Nick Grubbs
Heat #2 – Bill Hilliker, Don Rufener, Jr., Bill Aubihl, Joe Sanford, Jr., Paul Murray
Pursuit – Roger Linard, Wes Gilland, Chad Dixon, Don Rufener, Jr., Nick Grubbs
Feature – Keith Thomas, Gabe Pringle, Bill Aubihl, Roger Butler, Kurt Waller, Don Rufener, Jr., Chris Grubbs, Chris Kail, Joe Sanford, Jr., Paul Murray, Nick Grubbs, Bill Hilliker, Jerry McNealy, Roger Linard, Wes Gilland
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Joe Oliver 17.11 NTR
Heat #1 – Doug Higgins, Randy Smart, David Breehl, Rich Schweitzer, Chuck Elkins
Heat #2 – Chris Miller, Bryant Smith, Bubba Smith, Tim Rodgers, Larry Smith
Heat #3 – Tim Oliver, Mike Phillips, Jr., Matt Wallick, Keith Anderson, Dwain Moore
Pursuit – Joe Oliver, Bryant Smith, Tim Rodgers, Bubba Smith, Randy Rice
Feature – Randy Smart, Rich Schweitzer, Chuck Elkins, Bubba Smith, Chris Miller, Tim Rodgers, Mike Phillips, Jr., Matt Wallick, Dick Aubihl, Chester McMasters, David Breehl, Tim Oliver, Keith Anderson, Bryant Smith, Larry Smith, Dwain Moore, Joe Oliver, Randy Rice, Doug Higgins
Musick & Myers Heating & Cooling Compacts
Top Qualifier – Kelly McNutt 18.30
Heat #1 – Josh Irwin, John McNutt, Don Rufener, Jr., Kenny Ford, Ron Myers
Heat #2 – Jim Poole, Shawn Musick, Eric Anderson, Russell Grandison, Jack Grove
Heat #3 – Chris Bloom, Jim Campbell, Steve Roth, Derek Grewell, Chris Smith
Heat #4 – Kenny Jewell, Jason Anthony, Bruce Gibson, Bill Wilkin, Johnny Campbell
Heat #5 – Michael Keefe, Lennie Orr, Cody Shuss, Joe Elerick, Tammy Ondo
Pursuit – Kenny Ford, Don Rufener, Jr., John McNutt, Tad Grove, Kelly McNutt
Feature #1 – Kenny Ford, Don Rufener, Jr., Tad Grove, John McNutt, Troy McMath, Kelly McNutt, Adam Mishler, Russell Grandison, Ron Myers, Perry Nave, Jack Grove, Mike Hostetler, Jesse Page, Eric Anderson, Josh Irwin
Feature #2 – Jim Poole, Jason Morgan, Neil Rolli, Tammy Rufener, Bill Wilkin, Steve Roth, Earl Scranton, Kenny Jewell, Chris Bloom, Jim Campbell, Chris Smith, Shawn Musick, Derek Grewell, Mike Pyle, Lissa Courtney, Kyle Grewell
Feature #3 – Johnny Campbell, Jason Anthony, Bruce Gibson, Michael Keefe, Paul Stull, Tammy Ondo, Lennie Orr, John Wissman, Jr., Joe Elerick, Ryan Kopp, Pat Carnes, Jaimie Huebner, Jill Harshey, Howard Bartholow, Tim Frederick, Cody Shuss
Written by: Adam Mackey |
