 After a previous season of close to ten rainouts, Mother Nature has been kind during the 2006-campaign. For the second straight night of racing, rainfall has been in the area but Midvale Speedway competitors were able to complete the ninth full night of racing in ten tries. For Compact and Pure Stock competitors, it was their night to shine in a Wednesday night fan appreciation special event.
The first feature to the track was the J.D. Byrider of Dover 30-lap Compact special. Johnny Campbell and Jason Morgan started up front with Morgan racing into the lead when the green was dropped. Originally, Morgan started to pull away but lap-after-lap, his car’s handle seemed to get worse. Closing in on lap ten with Mike Hostetler racing to the outside, Tad Grove darted to the inside for a three-wide pass to go into the lead. However, before competitors could complete the lap, the only caution of the race came out for the two fastest qualifiers, John McNutt and Ron Myers, and that relegated Grove back to the third spot again. This time, Grove went to the outside lane to race to the front. With the ill-handling car of Morgan fading through the field, Troy McMath, McNutt, Don Rufener, Jr., and Tom Barrett were all battling behind Grove. As the laps wore down, McNutt was Grove’s biggest challenger but his effort fell just short for a second place finish. Following the J.D. Byrider of Dover/Greg’s Recovery #3 were McNutt, Hostetler, McMath, and Rufener. The rest of the top ten were Barrett, Josh Grove, Steven Feister, Mike Pyle, and Johnny Campbell.
As Earl Scranton, Mike Gribble, Ryan Kopp, Tye Kelly and others battled single file at the front of the second Compact feature, Jesse Page was using the outside lane to pick off cars one at a time. The top four cars were running the bottom lane and rubbing paint causing all of them to check up at times. That allowed Jesse Page to scoot by on the final lap to pick up yet another victory. The Attorney John Hornbrook/Martins Farm #02 was followed in the official rundown by Kopp, Kelly, Brad Henry, and Kenny Jewell. Bob Passwaters, Jr., Steve Roth, Joe Elerick, Earl Scranton, and Mike Gribble completed the top ten.
In a race that may have seen the most exciting Compact finish ever, some three wide racing took place on the final lap of the third feature event. Not only that, one of the top three went sliding through the infield on the final circuit trying to get to the line first. The eventual winner, Chris Bloom, was an unlikely candidate after he was pinched into the wall in turn four, the car spun around and backed across the line in first place at the checkered flag. It was a first feature win for Bloom in his first time running a different car. Anthony Nicholas, Mark Willison, Jr., Bill Wilkin, and Tammy Ondo completed the top five. Other top ten finishers were D.J. Litten, Pat Moore, Ben Gibson, Mike Swaney, and Jill Harshey.
Tad Grove won the dash, Jason Morgan, Mike Pyle, Earl Scranton, Bob Passwaters, Jr., and Pat Carnes won the heats, and Mike Hostetler won the whip race. John McNutt was fastest in qualifying.
The Papa John’s Pure Stocks were in action running a 15-lap feature event. Front-row starter, Chester McMasters, took the early race lead as drivers diced for position behind him. As weekly front-runner Teddy Oliver was moving through the field, the rear bumper was knocked loose and was dragging the speedway. A couple of laps after receiving the black flag for the safety concern, Oliver reluctantly heeded but let off the gas on the frontstretch collecting the car of Doug Decker. Decker, the top qualifier, was able to continue and the slight damage to his car didn’t seem to affect its handling. As Decker raced into the lead, McMasters was relegated to the second spot. In what seemed to be just a moment later, Decker’s car dropped off the pace with a heavy miss underneath the hood. McMasters raced back out front with Rich Schweitzer moving into second. On the final lap, Schweitzer went to the outside for the lead. As the duo exited turn four, McMasters car slid up the banking, the two collided, Schweitzer checked up to avoid sending both into the wall, and McMasters was victorious for his first Pure Stock fast feature win. Following the Louisville Rollatorium/Buddy’s Tire #81 were Schweitzer, Larry Smith, Keith Anderson, and Blake Mackey. Tory Gibbs, Jimmy Orr, Doug Decker, Chris Miller, and Troy Conrad finished off the top ten. Orr won the dash, Tim Rodgers, McMasters, and Mackey won the heats, and McMasters won the whip race. Decker set fast time.
In Pure Stock Powder Puff action, Violet McMasters and Falicia Pitman battled to the finish for the victory. In the end it was McMasters taking the checkered, while Pitman, Jennifer Ritch, and Lois Oliver completed the finishers.
The Compact Powder Puff race was another nail biter. The two drivers with the most racing experience, Lisa Dague and Linda Morgan, were sent to the tail for the start to allow drivers with less experience a chance at victory. Summer Thomas started toward the front of the field and had a huge lead built up before Morgan was able to work her way into second. Following Morgan was Dague as they dashed through the field. As Thomas was working lapped traffic, the duo was able to catch for a lead battle challenge. On the final laps, Thomas and Dague collided on the back straightaway and Morgan raced into the lead. To the checkers, Morgan and Dague battled it out and Morgan came away with the victory. Dague finished second, while Thomas came home third.
Racing continues this coming Saturday, June 10 with the running of the USA Modified 100. It marks the return of the Modifieds to Midvale Speedway for the first time in close to two years. Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, Compacts, and the Compact Figure 8’s will be in action. Qualifying starts at 4:10, while racing will begin at 6:30. Admission prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for kids 6-15, and children 5 and under are free. Pit admission is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. For more information, check out the website at midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
J.D. Byrider Top Time – Doug Decker 17.31
Dash – Jimmy Orr, Doug Decker, Rich Schweitzer, Teddy Oliver
Heat #1 – Tim Rodgers, Chris Smith, Chris Miller, Charles Ritch, Brock Burcher
Heat #2 – Chester McMasters, Keith Anderson, Rob Scott, Tim Oliver, Troy Conrad
Heat #3 – Blake Mackey, Teddy Oliver, Rich Schweitzer, Doug Decker, Larry Smith
Whip – Chester McMasters, Dick Aubihl, Larry Smith, Keith Anderson, Rich Schweitzer
Feature – Chester McMasters, Rich Schweitzer, Larry Smith, Keith Anderson, Blake Mackey, Tory Gibbs, Jimmy Orr, Doug Decker, Chris Miller, Troy Conrad, Chris Smith, Tim Oliver, Brock Burcher, Charles Ritch, Dick Aubihl, Rob Scott, Randy Doolin, Teddy Oliver, Tim Rodgers
Trails End Sports Compacts
Lee’s Famous Recipe Top Time – John McNutt 18.12
Dash – Tad Grove, Ron Myers, John McNutt, Don Rufener, Jr.
Heat #1 – Jason Morgan, Mike Hostetler, Troy McMath, Tad Grove, Ron Myers
Heat #2 – Mike Pyle, Jesse Page, Mike Gribble, Kenny Jewell, Johnny Campbell
Heat #3 – Earl Scranton, Steve Roth, Jim Campbell, Brad Henry, Jason Anthony
Heat #4 – Bob Passwaters, Jr., Mark Willison, Jr., Chris Bloom, Joe Elerick, D.J. Litten
Heat #5 – Pat Carnes, Anthony Nicholas, Bruce Gibson, Jaimie Huebner, Tammy Ondo
Whip – Mike Hostetler, Josh Grove, Tom Barrett, Johnny Campbell, Troy McMath
Feature #1 – Tad Grove, John McNutt, Mike Hostetler, Troy McMath, Don Rufener, Jr., Tom Barrett, Josh Grove, Steven Feister, Mike Pyle, Johnny Campbell, Eric Feister, Jason Morgan, Ron Myers
Feature #2 – Jesse Page, Ryan Kopp, Tye Kelly, Brad Henry, Kenny Jewell, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Steve Roth, Joe Elerick, Earl Scranton, Mike Gribble, Jason Anthony, Jim Campbell
Feature #3 – Chris Bloom, Anthony Nicholas, Mark Willison, Jr., Bill Wilkin, Tammy Ondo, D.J. Litten, Pat Moore, Ben Gibson, Mike Swaney, Jill Harshey, Jaimie Huebner, Bruce Gibson, Howard Bartholow, Pat Carnes
Powder Puff Racing
Pure Stock – Violet McMasters, Falicia Pitman, Jennifer Ritch, Lois Oliver
Compact – Linda Morgan, Lisa Dague, Summer Thomas
Written by: Adam Mackey |
