 |
|
|
| Monday, April 13th |
|
Ohio's Fun Place to Race!!
2026 Race Season |
 | June 15, 2011 |
 Fan appreciation night returned this past Wednesday, June 15 at Midvale Speedway. In an event sponsored by Pepsi, the Pure Stocks ran 50 laps in the Jake Miller Memorial, the Outlaw Compacts had a 50 lapper in the Gary Musick Memorial, and the Stock Compacts raced a regular length feature for a little bit of prize money. The races were in remembrance of two longtime drivers, car owners, and race enthusiasts at the track.
In the Midvale Speedway Pure Stock division, parity was the topic of the night. Watching the Jake Miller Memorial 50-lap event, fans could see that there were at least six cars that had a legitimate shot at taking the $300 top prize. Brian Minard, who had already claimed a feature win this season started on the front row and lead the field during the early circuits. Rookie contenders Don Boron, Jr. and Corey Evey followed the leader as veterans Bear Schwartz and Mike Martin raced the high lane. From very early in the event, Minard ran out front by himself, as the cars behind him diced in both lanes. It was almost as if Minard was pulling each lane at different times, Talladega style. The race's first caution came out on lap four, as George Bowers' #0 grenaded an engine heading into the first turn. After the lengthy clean-up was over and the track crew assumed their positions in the infield to get oxygen, the field went back to green. For a while, it was Evey in the second spot, then Martin, then Schwartz and Joe Oliver. All had their chances at wrestling the lead from Minard. However, as the race wore on everyone could see the outside lane was not the place to be after the Exxon Valdez tragedy in turn one. As the double checkered flew, it was Canton, Ohio driver Brian Minard claiming his second feature win of the season in his Deals on Wheels/Tera's Hair Care #51. Martin, Boron, Oliver, and Noah Osborne followed him across the line. Tech officials conversed on Wednesday night into Thursday morning about springs on the Boron ride, and his top five spot was eventually disallowed. Bill Shimko, driving the TJ Barker car moved into the top five. Minard and Luther Chambers won the heats, while Chambers also captured the pursuit win. Martin was top qualifier.
The Gary Musick Memorial 50-lap event for the Outlaw Compacts was a good one. Tim Frederick and Blaine Salsberry brought the field to green with Frederick taking the early advantage. Moving through the field were two of the three fastest qualifiers, Max McCartney and Bryce Allensworth. Second fast qualifier, and the driver who had won last week's feature and this night's heat and pursuit, Kyle Grove, was mired deep in traffic early. Moments after Salsberry took the lead, McCartney and Allensworth assumed the next two spots. On lap 13, Grove was finally able to move his way into the third spot as all the cream was rising to the top. As the three followed the leader, Grove saw and opening between the other two. Trying to thread the needle, the hole closed up going into the first turn. Grove became the meat in the sandwich and came to a stop in turn two. McCartney pulled to the infield with a flat and was done for the night. It looked like the other two were going to be able to continue but Justin Renicker, who was unhappy about something from earlier in the night spun Allensworth under caution. Allensworth called it a night, while Renicker was sent packing. Grove restarted at the tail and made a methodical approach forward as Jake "Turtle" Albright raced into the lead. Grove moved into second on lap 26 but was close to a straightaway behind. Watching the electronic scoring, officials could see Grove closing by about .2 of a second per lap. While not astronomical, the amount was enough to catch him in a 50-lap affair. With about 12 to go, Grove ducked under Albright and raced into the lead spot. Over the final laps, Albright stayed within striking distance but Grove claimed his second feature win in-a-row. After victory lane ceremonies, an elated Grove drove into the pits and right to his trailer, forgetting to stop at tech. It resulted in a post-race disqualification, handing the win to Albright. The AT2/Buckey's Mowing Car was followed in the official rundown by Jesse Page, Tye Kelly, Tim Frederick, and Mike Swaney. Grove won the heat and pursuit, while Frederick claimed the second heat. McCartney was fast qualifier.
Teddy Oliver, Jr., after winning his first career race in the pursuit, was the favorite early in the Stock Compact event leading the other competitors in the 15-lap grind. Top qualifier, Brad McClain, picked up the Ex Lax smooth move of the race award by picking up five spots on the first lap, as the polesitter's car hesitated on the green. McClain gave it a college try in the outside lane, in fact leading a lap at about the halfway mark. However, Oliver, using the preferred lane, inched back forward and came across the stripe first at the wave of the checkered. Oliver's strong night ended up being all for naught, though, as officials later disallowed the win for infractions that didn't meet Stock Compact specifications. McClain became victorious for the first time this season, while Dan Buckey, Colton Cottis, Braden Swaney, and Gary Murray claimed top five's. McClain won the fast heat and the pursuit, while Cottis was the winner of the second heat.
All-in-all, fans got to see an extremely exciting night of racing for just $5. On a negative note, disqualifications are not exactly easy or fun to deal with. The last thing officials want to do is bring a winner's high down to disappointment by taking wins away. However, the happy medium must be met where everyone is on a level playing field, or close to one. There is hope that everyone gets on the same page in the near future so that things like this don't happen at nearly as high of a rate. If there is doubt in a team's mind that what they are doing is legal, then they may want to talk to a tech official to get it clarified.
Racing will continue this coming Saturday, June 18 with a busy night that will include Kid's Bike Races for ages 15 and under and Autographs at intermission. Late Models, Economy Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Outlaw Compacts, and Stock Compacts will all race.
Pit gates will open at 2:00, hotlaps and grandstands at 3:00, qualifying at 4:45, and racing action at 6:30. Grandstand admission is just $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 62+, $8 for kids 6-15, and children 5 and under are free. Pit admission is $25 for members and $30 for non-members.
For more info, visit www.midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Midvale Speedway Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier - Mike Martin 16.930
Heat #1 - Brian Minard, Joe Oliver, Corey Evey, Mike Martin, Shawn Kaufman
Heat #2 - Luther Chambers, Bill Shimko, Noah Osborne, Tim Lynn
Pursuit - Luther Chambers, Mike Martin, Brian Minard, Noah Osborne, Shawn Kaufman
Feature - Brian Minard, Mike Martin, Joe Oliver, Noah Osborne, Bill Shimko, Tim Lynn, Bear Schwartz, Corey Evey, Luther Chambers, George Bowers
Midvale Speedway Outlaw Compacts
Top Qualifier - Max McCartney 17.645
Heat #1 - Kyle Grove, Jesse Page, Jake Albright, Mike Swaney, Max McCartney
Heat #2 - Tim Frederick, Ron Myers, Tye Kelly, Dan Westfall, Blaine Salsberry
Pursuit - Kyle Grove, Max McCartney, Blaine Salsberry, Jake Albright, Mike Swaney
Feature - Jake Albirght, Jesse Page, Tye Kelly, Tim Frederick, Mike Swaney, Dan Westfall, Blaine Salsberry, Bryce Allensworth, Max McCartney, Ron Myers
Midvale Speedway Stock Compacts
Top Qualifier - Brad McClain 18.856
Heat #1 - Brad McClain, Dan Buckey, Braden Swaney
Heat #2 - Colton Cottis, Kohlten Bryan, Allen Clark, Gary Murray
Pursuit - Brad McClain, Braden Swaney, Kohlten Bryan, Allen Clark, Dan Buckey
Feature - Brad McClain, Dan Buckey, Colton Cottis, Braden Swaney, Gary Murray, Kohlten Bryan
Spectator Drags
Winner - Brian Oliver
Written by: Adam Mackey |
|
|
|
|
06/15/2011 Race
Pure Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Minard, Brian |
| 2. | Martin, Mike |
| 3. | Oliver, Teddy |
| 4. | Osborne, Noah |
| 5. | Barker, TJ |
| 6. | Lynn, Tim |
| 7. | Linard, Joe |
| 8. | Evey, Corey |
| 9. | Chambers, Luthers |
| 10. | Bowers, George |
| More |
| |
06/15/2011 Race
Outlaw Compacts Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Albright, Jake |
| 2. | Page, Jesse |
| 3. | Kelly, Tye |
| 4. | Frederick, Tim |
| 5. | Swaney, Mike |
| 6. | Westfall, Dan |
| 7. | Salsberry, Blaine |
| 8. | Allensworth, Bryce |
| 9. | McCartney, Max |
| 10. | Myers, Ron |
| More |
| |
06/15/2011 Race
Stock Compacts Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | McClain, Brad |
| 2. | Buckey, Dan |
| 3. | Cottis, Colton |
| 4. | Swaney, Braden |
| 5. | Murray, Gary |
| 6. | Bryan, Kohlten |
| 7. | Racing, Andrews |
| 8. | Clark, Allen |
| 9. | Ennis, Wes |
| |
|
|
|