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| Sunday, April 12th |
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Ohio's Fun Place to Race!!
2026 Race Season |
 | July 3, 2006 |
 The odds were against any racing taking place for the July 3 special at Midvale Speedway. A rain delay pushed practice back by about an hour and another long rain delay halted the action during qualifying and about an hour before racing was to take place. However, with a great field of 27 Super Late Models in the pit area for the Main Event Racing Series, officials decided to push through and complete the night’s racing action. A big thanks also goes out to the many drivers who helped with the track drying process.
After the three weekly Midvale divisions completed qualifying, rain fell during Main Event time trials. With about 10 drivers qualified, it was decided to halt the session and allow them to qualify after the three Compact features were run.
With that, over an hour and a half had passed since racing was scheduled to begin but the surprisingly large crowd sat patiently waiting for the first race to hit the track. It was the fast feature for the Trails End Sports Compacts, and what a great show the drivers put on. Mike Hostetler and Ron Myers started on the front row for the 15-lap A-Main. As track flagman Terry Colletti waved the green flag, Hostetler jumped out to the early lead. On the move was Tad Grove in the J.D. Byrider Racing #3. Grove moved to the outside lane and was alongside the leader when a caution stopped his run and dropped him back into second. As the green waved for the final laps, Grove again drove to the outside of Hostetler and was locked in a side-by-side battle. On the final lap with Grove edging ahead, Hostetler slid up the banking in turn two trying to protect his lead. That’s when third place driver, John McNutt, saw and opening and went three wide going into turn three. Off of the fourth turn, the cars raced to the line door-to-door-to-door with Grove just hanging on for his fourth 2006 victory. McNutt, Hostetler, Don Rufener, Jr., and Adam Mishler completed the top five. Ron Myers, Eric Feister, Chris Bloom, Johnny Campbell, and Mike Gribble were top ten finishers.
Mike Pyle was leading the field of second feature cars to the checkered when he received the black flag for going under his qualifying time. That handed the win to Newcomerstown, Ohio driver Brad Henry who had pressured Pyle for the last several laps, forcing him under his time. The Daggie’s Auto #87 was followed by Tammy Rufener, Tye Kelly, Jesse Page, and Ryan Kopp. Jason Anthony, Steve Roth, Paul Stull, Rich Dunlap, and Larry Ennis were top ten finishers.
After a rough final few laps, Joe Elerick lost the lead and the victory in the third Compact feature. Victorious was first year Compact driver Mark Willison, Jr. The young driver was followed by Anthony Nicholas, Elerick, Tammy Ondo, and Mike Swaney. Michael Keefe, Bob Cassetty, Brian Swinderman, Tim Frederick, and Joe Fitch were the other top ten finishers.
That brought up the Main Event cars for their qualifying session. Gary Whipkey, driving the Carter Lumber/Lenny’s Collision #59 was the favorite to set fast time and he lived up to those expectations in the evening qualifying run. Whipkey set fast time in the 13.8 second bracket. He then drew the number six pill which put sixth fastest qualifier, Rich Rohrer, on the pole for the Downtown Ford 100.
As the cars took the green under lightning filled skies, veteran campaigner Rich Rohrer raced into the lead. However, a spin on the first lap by first time Super Late Model racer Jake Francis brought out the caution.
On the complete restart, Rohrer again led the field at the first lap as John Crumrine dropped into second. Over the first 20 laps, Crumrine was a challenge for Rohrer at times, especially on restarts. Several cautions plagued the early laps of the race, mostly caused by spins of drivers deep in the field.
Over the first half of the race, one of Rohrer’s biggest challenges came from the numerous lapped cars that he would catch so quickly. With a field of 26 cars taking the green, only a couple of laps into a run would have Rohrer catching the tail end of the field. Rohrer did have a couple of close calls with drivers in front of him, but each time he was able to avoid any damage.
Late in the race, second place competitor John Crumrine had an oil leak that unfortunately sent him pitside. That handed second to Don Harvey, Jr. Harvey had a couple of chances to close in on restarts, but each time Rohrer pulled away into the distance.
As the race went on, Rohrer’s car seemed to get stronger and stronger. With 11 circuits left, the final caution of the race was waved to bunch up the field for one last time. However, the Canton, Ohio driver again stretched his lead and crossed the stripe as the winner of the Downtown Ford 100. Following the Miller Genuine Draft/Esber Beverage #7 was Barberton, Ohio’s Don Harvey, Jr. The two drivers are also semi-regulars in the Late Model class at the track and also were instrumental in the track drying process by running lap-after-lap on the wet surface. The finishes were much deserved.
Scott Baker, Gary Whipkey, and Mike Miller were top five finishers, while Doug Sommers, Jimmy Carter, Bear Schwartz, John Sandquist, and Dean Fusco completed the top ten.
The next event for the Main Event Racing Series will be held at the Barberton Speedway on Friday, July 14. An extra practice session will be on Wednesday, August 12 from 3-7.
In the Tusco Net Sport Stock division, Virgil Ravenscroft, III and Randy Smart brought a strong field in for the green flag. After a couple of incidents, Smart took over the lead looking for his first Sport Stock win. Behind him, top qualifier Keith Thomas was again darting through his fellow challengers. Moments after losing the lead to Thomas, Smart dropped into the third spot behind Josh Grove. That is where the top three drivers settled in during the final circuits. At the stripe, the C&K Auto/Zifer’s Spaghetti Sauce #34 was followed to another win by Grove, Smart, Bill Aubihl, and Gabe Pringle. Roger Butler, Jerry McNealy, Virgil Ravenscroft, III, John Sluka, and Nick Grubbs finished off the top ten.
Todd Miller and Rich Schweitzer were the front row starters for the 15-lap Papa John’s Pure Stock feature. The event, which officially started on Tuesday morning, July 4, was the final race of the night. Miller raced into the lead on the start, while Schweitzer slipped back in groove #2. Racing toward the front was Joe Oliver, who was making his first start of the season filling in for brother, Teddy. With Oliver out front and pulling away, top qualifier Doug Decker was able to move into second. Once in the runner-up spot, Decker was able to close in quickly but could not make the run he needed to take the lead. Oliver was followed in his Pittman Performance/Midas Auto Service #50 by Decker, Chester McMasters, Schweitzer, and Miller. Tory Gibbs, Blake Mackey, Larry Smith, Keith Anderson, and Rob Scott finished off the top ten.
Midvale Speedway will host another exciting night of racing action this coming Saturday, July 8. Texas Roadhouse presents the kid’s bicycle races and a Compact Figure 8 race plus action from all four divisions. Qualifying will start at 4:15 and racing takes its first green at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Main Event Racing Series
Top Time – Gary Whipkey
Downtown Ford 100 – Rich Rohrer, Don Harvey, Jr., Scott Baker, Gary Whipkey, Mike Miller, Doug Sommers, Jimmy Carter, Bear Schwartz, John Sandquist, Dean Fusco, Andy Carroll, Joe Taylor, Jake Francis, Burgess White, Steve Mowery, Joel McKnight, John Crumrine, A.P. Ren, Gene Molnar, Tim Ice, Mark Willison, Bobby Grubaugh, Mayo Spence, Roger Linard, Paul Pelletier, Chad Poole
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Time – Keith Thomas
Feature – Keith Thomas, Josh Grove, Randy Smart, Bill Aubihl, Gabe Pringle, Roger Butler, Jerry McNealy, Virgil Ravenscroft III, John Sluka, Nick Grubbs, Ron Dague, Chris Kail, Kevin McClintock
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Time – Doug Decker
Feature – Joe Oliver, Doug Decker, Chester McMasters, Todd Miller, Tory Gibbs, Blake Mackey, Larry Smith, Keith Anderson, Rob Scott, Bubba Smith, Chuck Elkins, Doug Higgins, Jimmy Orr, Tim Oliver, Chris Smith, Pat Moore, Brock Burcher, Charles Ritch, Chris Miller
Trails End Sports Compacts
Top Time – John McNutt
Feature #1 – Tad Grove, John McNutt, Mike Hostetler, Don Rufener, Jr., Adam Mishler, Ron Myers, Eric Feister, Chris Bloom, Johnny Campbell, Mike Gribble, Neil Rolli, Josh Feister, Jason Morgan, Tom Barrett
Feature #2 – Brad Henry, Tammy Rufener, Tye Kelly, Jesse Page, Ryan Kopp, Jason Anthony, Steve Roth, Paul Stull, Rich Dunlap, Larry Ennis, Mike Pyle
Feature #3 – Mark Willison, Jr., Anthony Nicholas, Joe Elerick, Tammy Ondo, Mike Swaney, Michael Keefe, Bob Cassetty, Brian Swinderman, Tim Frederick, Joe Fitch, Howard Bartholow
Written by: Adam Mackey |
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07/03/2006 Race
Pure Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Oliver, Teddy |
| 2. | Decker, Doug |
| 3. | McMasters, Chester |
| 4. | Schweitzer, Rich |
| 5. | Conrad, Troy |
| 6. | Gibbs, Tory |
| 7. | Mackey, Blake |
| 8. | Smith, Larry |
| 9. | Anderson, Keith |
| 10. | Scott, Rob |
| More |
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07/03/2006 Race
Sport Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Thomas, Keith |
| 2. | Grove, Josh |
| 3. | Smart, Randy |
| 4. | Aubihl, Bill |
| 5. | Pringle, Gabe |
| 6. | Butler, Roger |
| 7. | McNealy, Jerry |
| 8. | Ravenscroft, III, Virgil |
| 9. | Sluka, John |
| 10. | Grubbs, Nick |
| More |
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07/03/2006 Race
Compacts Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Grove, Tad |
| 2. | McNutt, John |
| 3. | Hostetler, Mike |
| 4. | Rufener, Jr., Don |
| 5. | Mishler, Adam |
| 6. | Myers, Ron |
| 7. | Feister, Eric |
| 8. | Bloom, Chris |
| 9. | Campbell, Johnny |
| 10. | Gribble, Mike |
| More |
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