Ohio's Fun Place to Race!! 2025 Race Season |
 | July 28, 2007 |
The American Modified Series made the trip to Midvale Speedway and the open wheel stars put on a great night of racing action. Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, Compacts, and Figure 8’s were also on the docket.
During the afternoon qualifying session for the Modifieds, Seville, Ohio driver Tim Ice edged Troy, Ohio’s Greg Stapleton by just two-one hundredths of a second. Following Ice’s 14.67 and Stapleton’s 14.69 were Bud Perry 14.82, Rick Sibila 14.82, and Ron McBride 14.93. In all, 17 drivers qualified, while John Lawhorn and Ross Klingelhofer were scratches for the night with mechanical problems.
The American Modified drivers were then split into two dashes with the finishing order setting up the lineup for the feature. In the first dash, Herb Newman held off several strong challenges to claim the victory over Ice and McBride. In the second dash, Dick Dunlevy, Jr. claimed the victory over Harold Scott and Aaron Morey. The dash races were both thrilling as several drivers tried to tame the 3/10-mile oval for the first time.
When the green dropped on the Texas Roadhouse 50-lap feature, polesitter Herb Newman raced into the lead, while Dunlevy slipped back. Quickly on the move was three time Main Event Racing Series champion Tim Ice. With one AMS victory this season at Columbus, Ice was the early favorite to claim the Midvale victory after his strong qualifying run and a second in the dash race after starting eighth. Ice took second early and shortly after raced around Newman for the lead. Behind him, Ron McBride, a former track regular, was working his way into second. By the time he moved into the runner-up spot, Ice had checked out on the field. With the early laps staying caution free, Ice had caught the back of the field and was patiently waiting to lap them. However, the only caution of the race would wave on lap 23 when a slight mix-up between the tower and the flagman caused the yellow to be thrown. The final 27 laps went caution free and Ice again was able to race away from McBride and company after several green flag circuits. Ice eventually lapped all but seven cars during the last long green flag run. Though the win was not really ever in too much doubt, racing through the field was unbelievable exciting. Bud Perry, Greg Stapleton, Rick Sibila, and Rob Yelton all worked extremely hard to better their spots late in the race. At the finish, the Howe Racing Enterprises/Fast Racing Engines #65 was followed by McBride, Perry, Stapleton, and Scott. Sibila, Newman, Dunlevy, Chad Poole, and Aaron Morey were top ten finishers. Everyone associated with Midvale Speedway would like to thank the American Modified Series competitors for putting on a great show.
Despite low car counts in the Tusco Net Sport Stock division, the races have continued to be very competitive. On this night, last week’s feature winner Glen Jewell set fast time in qualifying and rolled a 6 for the invert. That put Chris Kail and Nick Grubbs up front for the 20-lap grind. Grubbs raced into the lead during the early circuits. Behind him, Ron Dague moved into second, while Kevin McClintock got shuffled back in the outside lane. Dague briefly looked into the outside lane in turns one and two, Jewell looked low, and the two came together with slight contact on the beginning of the backstretch. Moments later, Dague had a left rear tire go flat that ended his chance for victory. After the restart, Jewell made the move to take the race lead and went on to claim his second straight victory in the Ravenscroft Drywall #13. Grubbs came home in second while McClintock was third, Dague fourth, and Kail finished with a top five. The rest of the finishers were John Sluka, Jerry McNealy, Brock Burcher, and Chris Miller. Dague and Sluka won the heats.
The Midvale Speedway Pure Stock feature had Teddy Oliver and Keith Anderson bringing the field in for the 20-lap feature. Oliver raced out front looking for his first feature win of 2007. Tory Gibbs, last week’s feature winner, again had a great starting position, and started challenging the leader. Shortly thereafter, Gibbs raced by Oliver to take the top spot. 2006-point champion Rich Schweitzer would then move into second and apply pressure on the leader. Schweitzer kept the heat on Gibbs by running the outside lane, while the leader ran the bottom lane. At one point, Schweitzer edged ahead but a slight slip in turns three and four put Gibbs back out front. Racing under Terry Colletti’s checkered flag, Gibbs won his third of the year, while Schweitzer came across in second. Oliver finally shook off his terrible luck to claim third, Jimmy Orr had a solid run and finished fourth, and Joe Oliver claimed a top five run in the D.J. Litten ride. John McNutt was sixth, while Dick Aubihl, Keith Anderson, Doug Higgins, and Tim Oliver had top tens. Gibbs and Brian Wood won the heats, while Orr was the fastest of all qualifiers.
In the Parkway Suzuki Compact division, Johnny Campbell and Michael Keefe were the front row starters for the A-Main, but it was third place starter Brad Henry looking to strike pay dirt. Henry took over the lead, but to celebrate in the Downtown Ford victory lane, he would have to fend off challenges from A.J. Diano. The Canton, Ohio driver had struggled the previous few weeks, but on this night, Diano was second fast in qualifying and raced from his ninth starting spot to apply heat on Henry. Diano tried over the final circuits to race around the outside but he couldn’t quite make it happen. Crossing the line behind Henry were Diano, David Breehl, Jason Morgan, and Campbell. Don Rufener, Jr., Kelly McNutt, Tad Grove, Ron Myers, and Keefe were top ten finishers.
In the second Compact feature, Fresno, Ohio driver Earl Scranton had things go his way as he worked past several drivers to claim the victory. The veteran Compact competitor was followed by Kenny Ford, Chris Bloom, Bob Passwaters, Sr., and Larry Ennis. Derek Grewell, Ryan Kopp, Rich Dunlap, Bubba Smith, and Kyle Lawson were credited with top ten’s.
In the Compact C-Main, Jill Harshey raced past Kenny Jewell for the lead and went on to claim the victory. Pat Moore charged from the back of the field to finish a strong second, while Pat Carnes, Jay Hunt, and Jewell, despite going to the back during the race, finished in the top five. Jaimie Huebner, Perk Pyle, Richard Duvall, Jesse Crabtree, and Phil Bunton, Jr. claimed top ten’s.
Brad Henry, Kenny Ford, Jill Harshey, and Pat Moore won the heat races, while Kelly McNutt was the night’s top qualifier.
Kenny Jewell led the early laps of the J.D. Byrider Figure 8 feature. Lennie Orr, who claimed a $200 win a couple of weeks ago, charged through the field to take the lead a couple of laps into the event. Behind him, point leader Don Rufener, Jr. was on the move in a brand new Figure 8 car that was nicely painted and lettered. Rufener followed Orr until the final circuits when he moved by for the top prize. Orr, Jewell, Earl Scranton, and Ryan Kopp had top five’s. The other finishers were Jesse Crabtree and Jaimie Huebner.
Racing will continue this coming Saturday, August 4 at Midvale Speedway. The night will feature the 2nd Annual Old-Timers night and the 1st Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Three officials and five drivers will be inducted as the first class into the Hall of Fame.
Late Models, Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will all be in action. Qualifying will start at 4:30, while racing will begin at 6:30. For more information, check us out on the web at midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
American Modified Series
Top Qualifier – Tim Ice 14.67
Dash #1 – Herb Newman, Tim Ice, Ron McBride, Dean Pitts, Bud Perry, Chad Poole, Josh Smith, Rob Yelton
Dash #2 – Dick Dunlevy, Jr., Harold Scott, Aaron Morey, Mike Carroll, Greg Stapleton, Rick Sibila, Dave Watson, Mike Bowers
Feature – Tim Ice, Ron McBride, Bud Perry, Greg Stapleton, Harold Scott, Rick Sibila, Herb Newman, Dick Dunlevy, Jr., Chad Poole, Aaron Morey, Rob Yelton, Mike Carroll, Josh Smith, Scott Marino, Dave Watson, Dean Pitts, Mike Bowers DNS – John Lawhorn, Ross Klingelhofer
Tusco Net Sport Stocks
Top Qualifier – Glen Jewell 15.39
Heat #1 – Ron Dague, Kevin McClintock, Glen Jewell
Heat #2 – John Sluka, Chris Kail, Chris Miller, Jerry McNealy, Brock Burcher
Feature – Glen Jewell, Nick Grubbs, Kevin McClintock, Ron Dague, Chris Kail, John Sluka, Jerry McNealy, Brock Burcher, Chris Miller
Midvale Speedway Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Jimmy Orr 16.83
Heat #1 – Tory Gibbs, Chester McMasters, Rich Schweitzer, Doug Decker, Keith Anderson
Heat #2 – Brian Wood, Dick Aubihl, Tim Oliver, Sonny Ritch, Randy Rice
Feature – Tory Gibbs, Rich Schweitzer, Teddy Oliver, Jimmy Orr, Joe Oliver, John McNutt, Dick Aubihl, Keith Anderson, Doug Higgins, Tim Oliver, Pat Moore, Brian Wood, Chris Smith, Randy Rice, Doug Decker, Chester McMasters, Sonny Ritch, Josh Anders
Parkway Suzuki Compacts
Top Qualifier – Kelly McNutt 18.12
Heat #1 – Brad Henry, A.J. Diano, Jason Morgan, David Breehl, Don Rufener, Jr.
Heat #2 – Kenny Ford, Chris Bloom, Jesse Page, Earl Scranton, Ron Myers
Heat #3 – Jill Harshey, Derek Grewell, James Domer, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Rich Dunlap
Heat #4 – Pat Moore, Pat Carnes, Dan Konovsek, Jaimie Huebner, Billy Nicholas
Feature #1 – Brad Henry, A.J. Diano, David Breehl, Jason Morgan, Johnny Campbell, Don Rufener, Jr., Kelly McNutt, Tad Grove, Ron Myers, Michael Keefe, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Justin Renicker, Adam Mishler
Feature #2 – Earl Scranton, Kenny Ford, Chris Bloom, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Larry Ennis, Derek Grewell, Ryan Kopp, Rich Dunlap, Bubba Smith, Kyle Lawson, Jim Campbell, James Domer, Jesse Page, Joe Konovsek, Tammy Rufener
Feature #3 – Jill Harshey, Pat Moore, Pat Carnes, Jay Hunt, Kenny Jewell, Jaimie Huenber, Perk Pyle, Richard Duvall, Jesse Crabtree, Phil Bunton, Jr., Billy Nicholas, Kyle Rector, Dan Konovsek, Lennie Orr, Jake Albright, Howard Bartholow
J.D. Byrider Figure 8’s
Feature – Don Rufener, Jr., Lennie Orr, Kenny Jewell, Earl Scranton, Ryan Kopp, Jesse Crabtree, Jaimie Huebner
Written by: Adam Mackey |
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07/28/2007 Race Pure Stocks Listings |
Finish Pos. | Driver |
1. | Gibbs, Tory |
2. | Schweitzer, Rich |
3. | Oliver, Teddy |
4. | Orr, Jimmy |
5. | Litten, D.J. |
6. | McNutt, John |
7. | Aubihl, Dick |
8. | Anderson, Keith |
9. | Higgins, Doug |
10. | Oliver, Tim |
More |
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07/28/2007 Race Sport Stocks Listings |
Finish Pos. | Driver |
1. | Ravenscroft, III, Virgil |
2. | Grubbs, Nick |
3. | McClintock, Kevin |
4. | Dague, Ron |
5. | Kail, Chris |
6. | Sluka, John |
7. | McNealy, Jerry |
8. | Burcher, Brock |
9. | Miller, Chris |
10. | Smart, Randy |
More |
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07/28/2007 Race Compacts Listings |
Finish Pos. | Driver |
1. | Henry, Brad |
2. | Diano, A.J. |
3. | Pringle, Gabe |
4. | Morgan, Jason |
5. | Campbell, Johnny |
6. | Rufener, Jr., Don |
7. | McNutt, Kelly |
8. | Grove, Tad |
9. | Hunt, Jay |
10. | Keefe, Michael |
More |
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07/28/2007 Race Figure 8 Listings |
Finish Pos. | Driver |
1. | Rufener, Jr., Don |
2. | Orr, Lennie |
3. | Jewell, Kenny |
4. | Scranton, Earl |
5. | Kopp, Ryan |
6. | Crabtree, Jesse |
7. | Huebner, Jaimie |
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