Ohio's Fun Place to Race!! 2025 Race Season |
 | July 3, 2007 |
An absolutely beautiful Tuesday, July 3 led to a packed house and great racing action during the return of the Main Event Racing Series at Midvale Speedway. The Super Late Models were joined by Pure Stocks, Compacts, and Figure 8’s.
In the evening qualifying session, former Midvale Late Model champion Mike Miller set fast time with a 13.82. John Crumrine, Jimmy Carter, Rich Rohrer, and Don Harvey, Jr. completed the top five. Miller drew the number six pill, which slated Gary Whipkey and Harvey to bring the 24 car field in for the green.
Chief starter Terry Colletti waved the green high into the air and Harvey raced into the lead by turn two. Whipkey settled into second while Rohrer got by Carter for third. As the early laps raced by, Harvey held a comfortable lead, while Rohrer worked on Whipkey and Crumrine tried to race by Carter.
Over the first 1/3 of the race, fans had their eyes glued to the Marathon Manufacturing #70 of Ryan Tedesco. The MERS and Midvale Speedway point leader broke a rocker during his qualifying run and was running the feature on just seven cylinders. Tedesco, starting 24th out of 24 cars, worked the outside lane in amazing fashion to pass the second half of the field and move into the top ten. Eventually, the New Philadelphia, Ohio driver moved into the top five for a solid finish.
At the front, Harvey continued to handle the field with ease. Behind him, Rohrer had a couple of runs at Whipkey but checked up on each occasion, not able to pull far enough alongside. Eventually, there was some contact between the two and Rohrer elected to go to the tail.
Though Harvey had everyone covered, John Crumrine and Doug Sommers made some late race passes to claim top five finishes. Both drivers impressed late in the race.
At the checkered, the Rittzman Muffler/Akron Auto & Truck Tire #12 was followed to the stripe by Whipkey, Crumrine, Tedesco, and Sommers. Also following Harvey to his second straight victory were Dino Long, Jimmy Carter, Joel McKnight, John Sandquist, and Dean Fusco.
The Main Event Racing Series will next be in action on Saturday, August 11 at Shady Bowl Speedway in DeGraff, OH.
Coming into the holiday special, Chester McMasters had the biggest point lead of all the Midvale divisions. The Louisville, Ohio driver had done so without a feature win. On Downtown Ford night, McMasters was not to be denied and raced to the outside of Chuck Sampson to take the lead while working through lapped traffic. McMasters claimed his first win of 2007 and was followed by Sampson with his best career finish, Doug Decker, Teddy Oliver, and Andy Orr. Todd Miller, Lee McCreery, Rich Schweitzer, Pat Moore, and Scott Hein were top ten finishers. McMasters and Moore won the heats, while Doug Higgins won the pursuit. Schweitzer set fast time.
In the fast feature for the Trails End Sports Compacts, Blake Mackey and Brad Henry started on the front row for the 15-lap grind. After some rubbing of paint in the first and second turn, Mackey raced into the lead and gained a cushion while the others battled for second. Eventually, Don Rufener, Jr. took the second spot and set his sights on the leader. Fortunately for Mackey, the race went caution free and Rufener and Kelly McNutt were unable to close the gap. Under the checkered, it was Mackey in the Mid-Vid Video/Ember Complete Care #69 followed by Rufener, McNutt, Jason Morgan, and Henry. Gabe Pringle, Joe Konovsek, Adam Mishler, Chris Bloom, and Bob Passwaters, Jr. rounded out the top ten.
The second Compact feature had Massillon, Ohio driver Michael Keefe racing to the front and claiming his second feature win of ’07. The third year competitor held off Johnny Campbell, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Nate Baker, and Jim Campbell for the victory. Ryan Kopp, Pat Moore, Jason Grewell, Kenny Jewell, and Larry Ennis were top ten finishers.
Minerva, Ohio competitor Mark Willison, Jr. claimed the trophy in the third and final Compact feature. Willison was able to defeat Kyle Lawson, Jay Hunt, Pat Carnes, and Jaimie Huebner, Jr. for the win. Paul Stull, Barb Feister, Justin Vanfossen, Ron Spence, Perk Pyle were top ten finishers.
For the first time in six events, Don Rufener, Jr. was not victorious in the J.D. Byrider Figure 8 feature. Jaimie Huebner, Sr. was able to race by Kenny Jewell and Jesse Crabtree to take the top spot early. While Rufener was trying to work through traffic, Huebner was busy building a comfortable lead. Late in the race, Rufener was able to come from the back to take second, but his run for a win came up short. Huebner was followed by Rufener, Jewell, Crabtree, and Ryan Kopp. Lennie Orr and Otto Polilli rounded out the finishers.
Racing will continue this coming Saturday, July 7 at Midvale Speedway. Sport Stocks will run a 30-lap special, Pure Stocks a 25-lap feature, and Compacts a 20-lap fast feature. Dashes, heats, pursuits, and features will be on the program. Spectator Drags and bicycle races for kids 15 and under will also be held. Grandstand admission is just $6 for this event. Qualifying will begin at 4:45 and racing will start at 6:30.
For more information go to midvalespeedway.com
Results For Midvale Speedway
Main Event Racing Series
Top Qualifier – Mike Miller 13.82
Downtown Ford 100 – Don Harvey, Jr., Gary Whipkey, John Crumrine, Ryan Tedesco, Doug Sommers, Dino Long, Jimmy Carter, Joel McKnight, John Sandquist, Dean Fusco, Scott Baker, Rich Rohrer, Don Mahaffey, Jr., Bill Burba, Burgess White, Bob Gainer, Bob Kieran, Michael Scheffer, Mayo Spence, Mike Miller, A.P. Ren, John Flynn, Justin Courtney, Gene Molnar
Midvale Speedway Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Rich Schweitzer
Heat #1 – Chester McMasters, Lee McCreery, Chuck Sampson, Rich Schweitzer, Ron Dague
Heat #2 – Pat Moore, Sonny Ritch, Tim Oliver, Doug Higgins, Corey Ross
Pursuit – Doug Higgins, Pat Moore, Chester McMasters, Doug Decker, Rich Schweitzer
Feature – Chester McMasters, Chuck Sampson, Doug Decker, Teddy Oliver, Jimmy Orr, Todd Miller, Lee McCreery, Rich Schweitzer, Pat Moore, Scott Hein, Tim Oliver, Corey Ross, Ron Dague, Tory Gibbs, Sonny Ritch, Doug Higgins, John McNutt, D.J. Litten
Trails End Sports Compacts
Top Qualifier – Adam Mishler
Heat #1 – Earl Scranton, Jason Morgan, Blake Mackey, Brad Henry, Kelly McNutt
Heat #2 – Tom Barrett, Larry Ennis, Jill Harshey, Johnny Campbell, Jason Grewell
Heat #3 – Kenny Jewell, Jim Campbell, Nate Baker, Jay Hunt, Bob Passwaters, Sr.
Heat #4 – Kyle Lawson, Pat Carnes, Ron Spence, Paul Stull, Jesse Crabtree
Pursuit – Jason Morgan, Brad Henry, Don Rufener, Jr., Adam Mishler, Gabe Pringle
Feature #1 – Blake Mackey, Don Rufener, Jr., Kelly McNutt, Jason Morgan, Brad Henry, Gabe Pringle, Joe Konovsek, Adam Mishler, Chris Bloom, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Tad Grove, Tammy Rufener, Earl Scranton, A.J. Diano
Feature #2 – Michael Keefe, Johnny Campbell, Nate Baker, Jim Campbell, Ryan Kopp, Pat Moore, Jason Grewell, Kenny Jewell, Larry Ennis, Tom Barrett, Jill Harshey, Howard Bartholow
Feature #3 – Mark Willison, Jr., Kyle Lawson, Jay Hunt, Pat Carnes, Jaimie Huebner, Jr., Paul Stull, Barb Feister, Justin Vanfossen, Ron Spence, Perk Pyle, Jesse Crabtree, Dan Konovsek, Doug Milburn
J.D. Byrider Figure 8’s
Feature – Jaimie Huebner, Don Rufener, Jr., Kenny Jewell, Jesse Crabtree, Ryan Kopp, Lennie Orr, Otto Polilli
Written by: Adam Mackey |
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07/03/2007 Race Pure Stocks Listings |
Finish Pos. | Driver |
1. | McMasters, Chester |
2. | Sampson, Chuck |
3. | Decker, Doug |
4. | Oliver, Teddy |
5. | Orr, Jimmy |
6. | Miller, Todd |
7. | Anderson, Keith |
8. | Schweitzer, Rich |
9. | Moore, Pat |
10. | Hein, Scott |
More |
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07/03/2007 Race Compacts Listings |
Finish Pos. | Driver |
1. | Mackey, Blake |
2. | Rufener, Jr., Don |
3. | McNutt, Kelly |
4. | Morgan, Jason |
5. | Henry, Brad |
6. | Pringle, Gabe |
7. | Konovsek, Joe |
8. | Mishler, Adam |
9. | Bloom, Chris |
10. | Passwaters, Jr., Bob |
More |
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07/03/2007 Race Figure 8 Listings |
Finish Pos. | Driver |
1. | Huebner, Jaimie |
2. | Rufener, Jr., Don |
3. | Jewell, Kenny |
4. | Crabtree, Jesse |
5. | Kopp, Ryan |
6. | Orr, Lennie |
7. | Polilli, Otto |
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