Great Action Shots Here
Beautiful weather and exciting racing greeted race fans this past Saturday night, September 1 at Midvale Speedway. The Main Event Racing Series Super Late Models were on hand for the 7th leg of the 2007 season. Pure Stock and Compact competitors were there to put on a great show.
Akron, Ohio driver Scott Baker set the Main Event fast time at a 13.89. In the extremely tight rundown, Rich Rohrer was runner-up with a 13.93, Ryan Tedesco (13.99) was third, Gary Whipkey (14.00) fourth, and Don Harvey, Jr., (14.00) was fifth. Baker drew the six pill, putting Mike Miller and Harvey on the front row for the 75-lap grind.
With the green in the air, Harvey was able to use the outside lane to race into the lead. Behind him, Midvale Speedway Late Model point leader, Ryan Tedesco, was having a hard fought battle with Miller for second. After a couple of laps, the New Philadelphia driver took sole possession of second and set his sights on Harvey.
Over the early laps, Harvey had a mirror-full of the red #70. Tedesco did take a couple of looks low and high, but Harvey would prove to be a very tough challenge despite having a back-up motor underneath the hood.
As the laps wore down, Harvey extended his lead at times, while the closest racing came between Miller, Whipkey, and Rohrer for third, fourth, and fifth. During the race’s mid-stage, Rohrer was able to get a run to the outside of Whipkey and the duo battled for a couple of circuits before a yellow singled them out again.
In a race that saw just three cautions, and only a few dnf’s, Barberton, Ohio driver Don Harvey, Jr. raced to his third victory in just seven Main Event races this season. The Akron Auto & Truck Tire/Rittzman Muffler #12 was followed by Tedesco, Miller, Whipkey, and Rohrer.
The Main Event race may have been a single file freight train, but the Midvale Speedway regular divisions made up for that. In the fast Parkway Suzuki Compact feature, Kyle Rector and Brad Henry, two drivers that spend a lot of time practicing during Midvale Speedway’s open practices, brought the field to green. Henry, by way of the outside lane, took the early advantage and led the field at the 3/10-mile asphalt oval. Rector held onto second until 2006-point champion Don Rufener, Jr. was able to make it by. A few laps later, point leader Kelly McNutt followed. With two laps to go, Rufener made his run at Henry, looking for win #3. As the duo raced side-by-side, McNutt dropped to the lowside and made it a three wide battle racing to the checkered. As the trio crossed the stripe, McNutt claimed the victory with Rufener second, Henry third, A.J. Diano fourth, and Tad Grove fifth. The rest of the top ten were Rector, Earl Scranton, Adam Mishler, Michael Keefe, and Jay Hunt.
The Midvale Speedway Pure Stocks were next on the speedway. Randy Rice and Dick Aubihl were the front-row starters by way of an “8” invert. As Rice tried to hang onto second, Aubihl shot into a huge lead. Andy Orr took second on lap #7 but his chance at victory came to an end when officials sent him pitside for a huge lead weight that was coming loose under his bumper. That gave second to ‘06 champ Rich Schweitzer. As Schweitzer was closing on Aubihl, he slipped up the track in turn two, allowing the top qualifier Tory Gibbs to race into second. The Port Washington, Ohio driver had everything going right on Saturday, as the young driver set the fast qualifying time, had strong finishes in each of the three preliminary races, and worked his way from seventh to second during the first twelve laps. Once in the runner-up spot, it took very little time for him to erase the huge Aubihl lead. On lap 19 of 20, Gibbs ruined Aubihl’s hopes for a feature win, and went on to claim another feature win. The Hoopy Lettering #10 was followed across the stripe by Aubihl, Schweitzer, Keith Anderson, and Chuck Sampson. The rest of the top ten in the caution free race were Randy Rice, Pat Moore, Tim Oliver, Earl Scranton, and Luther Chambers. Doug Higgins won the dash, Aubihl and Rice the heats, and Oliver the pursuit.
Jim Campbell led the early laps of the second Compact feature as outside polesitter Gabe Pringle dropped into the field with mechanical problems. Campbell held to top spot until lap nine when second feature favorite, Jesse Page, was able to race out front. Page looked to be on his way to victory, but on lap twelve, the Waynesburg, Ohio driver was clocked under his breakout time for the second time in the race. The black flag gave the lead to Dover, Ohio driver Rich Dunlap. Driving a sharp brand new Chevy Cavalier, Dunlap finished off his solid run of eighth to first with the victory. Justin Renicker claimed second, while Pringle fought back to third, Larry Ennis was fourth, and John McNutt took fifth. The other top ten finishers were Mark Willison, Jr., Pat Moore, Jim Campbell, James Domer, and Rusty Rouse, Jr.
The third and final Compact feature had rookie competitor Kyle Lawson leading the first fourteen circuits in convincing style. However, on the final pace of the speedway, Jamie Leslie ruffled his feathers in turn three, passed him coming off of four, and crossed the stripe with his second feature win of the year. Lawson, Phil Bunton, Jr., Dan Konovsek, and Ron Dunlap were credited with top five’s. The rest of the top ten were Pat Carnes, Tammy Ondo, Jeff Orr, Jake Albright, and Jesse Crabtree.
A.J. Diano set fast time and won the dash, Adam Mishler, Justin Renicker, Rich Dunlap, and Kyle Lawson claimed the heats, and Jay Hunt won the pursuit.
The 2007 season championships will be run this coming Saturday, September 8. Drivers in Late Models, Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, Compacts, and Figure 8’s will race for double points and the large championship trophies. Spectator drags will be held at intermission.
Pit gates will open at 2:30, hot laps will begin around 3:00, qualifying will take place at 4:40, and racing will go off at 6:30.
Admission prices are regular at $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 62+, $6 for kids 6-15, and children 5 and under are free.
For more information, join us on the web at midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Main Event Racing Series
Top Qualifier - Scott Baker 13.89
Carter Lumber 75 - Don Harvey, Jr., Ryan Tedesco, Mike Miller, Gary Whipkey, Rich Rohrer, Tim Ice, Scott Baker, Doug Sommers, John Crumrine, Dino Long, Bob Gainer, Joel McKnight, Justin Courtney, Don Mahaffey, Jr., Bill Burba, John Sandquist, Burgess White DNS - Dean Fusco, Bob Kieran
Midvale Speedway Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier - Tory Gibbs 16.82
Dash - Doug Higgins, Tory Gibbs, Rich Schweitzer, Keith Anderson
Heat #1 - Dick Aubihl, Tory Gibbs, Rich Schweitzer, Andy Orr, Keith Anderson
Heat #2 - Randy Rice, Pat Moore, Sonny Ritch, Tim Oliver, Josh Anders
Pursuit - Tim Oliver, Rich Schweitzer, Tory Gibbs, Randy Rice, Dick Aubihl
Feature - Tory Gibbs, Dick Aubihl, Rich Schweitzer, Keith Anderson, Chuck Sampson, Randy Rice, Pat Moore, Tim Oliver, Sonny Ritch, Luther Chambers, Andy Orr, Josh Anders, Doug Higgins
Parkway Suzuki Compacts
Top Qualifier - A.J. Diano 17.97
Dash - A.J. Diano, Kelly McNutt, Tad Grove, Chris Bloom
Heat #1 - Adam Mishler, Jay Hunt, Don Rufener, Jr., Kelly McNutt, A.J. Diano
Heat #2 - Justin Renicker, John McNutt, Jesse Page, Jason Morgan, Larry Ennis
Heat #3 - Rich Dunlap, Bubba Smith, Nate Baker, Jamie Leslie, Jim Campbell
Heat #4 - Kyle Lawson, Dan Konovsek, Ron Dunlap, Jeff Orr, Paul Stull
Pursuit - Jay Hunt, Adam Mishler, Brad Henry, Don Rufener, Jr., Kelly McNutt
Feature #1 - Kelly McNutt, Don Rufener, Jr., Brad Henry, A.J. Diano, Tad Grove, Kyle Rector, Earl Scranton, Adam Mishler, Michael Keefe, Jay Hunt, Kenny Ford, Jason Morgan, Joe Konovsek, Felicia Myers, Tammy Rufener, Chris Bloom
Feature #2 - Rich Dunlap, Justin Renicker, Gabe Pringle, Larry Ennis, John McNutt, Mark Willison, Jr., Pat Moore, Jim Campbell, James Domer, Rusty Rouse, Jr., Jesse Page, John Sluka, Nate Baker
Feature #3 - Jamie Leslie, Kyle Lawson, Phil Bunton, Jr., Dan Konovsek, Ron Dunlap, Pat Carnes, Tammy Ondo, Jeff Orr, Jake Albright, Jesse Crabtree, Bubba Smith, Tim Frederick
Written by: Adam Mackey |