 The weather was wonderful and so was the car count for Dale’s Heating and Cooling/Smoker’s Paradise night at Midvale Speedway. Nearly 100 cars participated in the double features at the 3/10-mile asphalt oval. There were no preliminaries, but each division ran one feature then went to the pits to ready for their second feature later in the evening.
The first race on the track was the Smoker’s Paradise Late Model feature. Darrel Dexter started on the pole and held the early lead for the 25-lapper. However, one of the top Late Model drivers in northeast Ohio, Bob Sibila, was on the move and went to the outside of Paul Miller, Sr., and Darrel Dexter to take the lead and the win. Point’s leader, Farmer Smith, also moved through the field to take second, but could not run down the eventual winner, Sibila. Following the Massillon driver to the line were Smith, Garabrandt, Ken Hartz, and A.P. Ren. Jeff Smith, Bob Eichel, Duane Dunn, Tim Miller, and Tim Sibila completed the top ten.
The Ohio Modifieds were next on the speedway for their first of two main events. The drivers drew pills for their starting positions in the modified class, and that put Jim McCune and, point’s leader, Tim Allensworth on the front row. As soon as the cars pulled lined up for the event, everyone knew that Allensworth would be tough to beat. Twenty laps later, Allensworth would not disappoint, as he led flag-to-flag for his seventh victory of the season. Following the second year Ohio Modified driver to the line were Glen Jewell, Jeff Walker, Bob Kachenko, Jr., and Roger Miller in a brand new car. Butch Erickson, Dusty Woodie, Jim McCune, Mike Buchanan, and John Bertram finished off the top ten.
A major accident took three of the top competitors in the first Tusco Net Detroit Iron feature. While going three wide, Kevin McClintock, Joe Linard, and Doug McMillen made contact, tore up their cars, went pitside to prepare for the later feature. Bill Hilliker made several attempts in passing the car of Chris White for the lead but it was all for not, as the time limit came brought the feature to an end with White picking up his fourth feature win of the year. Hilliker, Tim Skinner, Larry Page, and Don Rufener, Jr., completed the top five. The rest of the top ten was Tim Dreher, William Aubihl, Tim Gowins, Roger Butler, and Jimmy Orr.
The night’s top qualifier, Todd Miller, picked up the victory in feature #1 after setting fast time in the Pure Stock class. Following the Jake Miller Excavating/Martin Homes #111 to the line were Brian Wood – who picked up his best career finish, Mike Powell, Shane Billiter, and Joe Oliver. Vince Martin, John Leasure, Eddie Poland, Bryan Aubihl, and Chester McMasters completed the top ten.
The Compact division had a total of four features on the night. The first one was comprised of the fastest half of the 36 cars that qualified. Rick Elkins, of Carrollton, Ohio, picked up the win followed by Jason Morgan, J.T. Turner, John McNutt, and Rich Fox. Aaron Fonte, Jim Poole, Adam Ridgway, Alan Street, and Kelly McNutt completed the top ten.
The second compact feature was for the slower half of the qualifiers. Cale Swann, of Cadiz, picked up his first feature win of the year. Following the Swann Racing #82 to the line were Matt Wallick, Jeff Grove, Bruce Gibson, and Paul Parson. Charles Porter, Dale Beatty, Mike Montague, Robert Goldsmith, and David Burge rounded out the top ten.
In the second Late Model main event, A.P. Ren was able to pull away for the victory in his Musick and Son Heating/New Image Homes #57. Following Ren to his first feature win of the year were Tom Garabrandt, Bob Sibila, Mike Miller, and Farmer Smith. Coming home in sixth was Ken Hartz, who had a very good night in only his second appearance of the season. Jeff Smith, Mike Enos, Darrel Dexter, and Duane Dunn completed the top ten.
Canton, Ohio driver Lawney Vaughn became victorious in only his third feature start in a modified, in the second Ohio Modified feature. After leading by close to a straight away for the first fifteen laps, a caution flew and put the earlier winner, Tim Allensworth, on the rear bumper of Vaughn’s Savalon/Exit E11even #03. When the green dropped, Allensworth tried both the low and high grooves but had to settle for second. Bob Kachenko, Jr., finished third, with Glen Jewell and Butch Erickson completing the top five. Roger Miller, John Wilson, Duane Workman, Mike Abramczyk, and Dusty Woodie finished in positions six through ten.
The three cars of Joe Linard, Kevin McClintock, and Doug McMillen were repaired and returned to action for the second Detroit Iron feature, but it was a first time winner in the Downtown Ford victory lane. Bill Hilliker fended off several challenges from Dave Sluka for win #1 of the season. Following the Direct TV by ABZ/Tusky Transmission #27 across the stripe were Sluka, McMillen, McClintock, and Linard. Roger Butler, Chris White, William Aubihl, Tim Dreher, and Tim Skinner rounded out the top ten.
In the second Pure Stock feature, Todd Miller would become the only driver to clean house by winning both main events in his class. John Leasure, Shane Billiter, Vince Martin, and Mike Powell followed the New Cumberland, Ohio driver to the line. Also finishing in the top ten were Bryan Aubihl, Brian Wood, Chester McMasters, Joe Oliver, and Eddie Poland.
The second of two fast features was won by Vic Paul. Paul was able to hold off Terry McNutt, Kelly McNutt, Russell Nelson, and Adam Ridgway. Rounding out the top ten were John McNutt, Aaron Fonte, Rick Elkins, Alan Street, and J.T. Turner.
In the twelfth and final feature of the evening, the slow Compacts took the track. Matt Wallick won in his second week of racing, while Dale Beatty, Cale Swann, Paul Parson, and Bruce Gibson finished off the top five. Robert Goldsmith, Charles Porter, Jeff Grove, Emilene Allen, and Mike Montague finished out the top ten.
The Main Event Racing Series Super Late Models will be running a 100-lapper this coming Saturday, August 12. Gary Whipkey, the point’s leader of the traveling series, was victorious in the only other visit to the 3/10-mile oval this season. Other drivers expected to attend are Rich Rohrer, Marcus Malcuit, Ryan Tedesco, Mack Gribble, Jr., Steve Gilland, Scott Baker, John Cline, John Vallo, Mike Holland, Bob Sibila, Joel McKnight, Dave Wagner, Jeff Amsdell, Chuck Silva, Jack Smith, Norm Davis, Cord Ehrhart, and many more. Late Models, Ohio Modifieds, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will also be in action. Pits open at 3, Grandstands open at 4, qualifying begins at 5, and racing starts at 7p.m. sharp.
Written by: Adam Mackey |
