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| Sunday, April 19th |
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Ohio's Fun Place to Race!!
2026 Race Season |
 | September 3, 2011 |
 The Main Event Racing Series was at Midvale Speedway this past Saturday, September 3 to run its final tune-up before the season ending Columbus Main Event. In addition to the Super Late Model 75, the Economy Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Outlaw Compacts, Stock Compacts, and the first ever Midvale Skid Plate race put on a thrilling show for fans.
In Main Event Super Late qualifying, Canton, Ohio driver Rich Rohrer picked up the clean sweep in fast time, by setting the quickest lap once again. His lap of a 13.719 was followed by Josh Smith 13.725, Donnie Hill 13.741, Jimmy Carter 13.780, and Brian Short 13.850. Rohrer drew the six pill which put sixth fast qualifier, Scott Baker, on the pole with Short on the high lane.
When the green dropped, Baker raced into the lead, while Carter followed him into second. Baker crossed the line as leader on lap one, but Carter drove to the inside coming off of turn two. He pulled alongside as the two went down the backstretch. Going into turn three, the two drivers got together with both breaking components under the rear of the car. Carter attempted to return, but eventually retired for good.
With the misfortune for Baker and Carter, Smith inherited the lead, while Short and Rohrer moved into second and third. After three failed attempts to complete a second lap because of shoddy decisions back in the pack, the race became much cleaner and fast paced.
During the ensuing 15 lap green flag run, Josh Smith built up a sizable lead, while Rohrer hounded Short for second. Caution bunched up the pack with 16 laps in.
The green flag was a little bigger and went 21 laps without a caution. During this run, Smith's car started to show some signs of slowing down as his lead was evaporating over Short and Rohrer. Meanwhile, those two continued to battle it out for the runner-up spot with Short holding Rohrer off for a number of circuits. On lap 33, Rohrer got the run he needed coming down the backstretch to dive underneath Short in turn three. Over the next few circuits, Rohrer cut into Smith's lead quickly, as his car was, some laps, one to two tenths quicker. Caution totally bunched the field on lap 38.
The race saw a short five lap run to take the event to lap 43 with Rohrer on Smith's bumper for those five laps, but it was after the next restart that Rohrer was ready to pounce. With the green back out on lap 44, Rohrer kept nosing under the left rear of Smith, but Smith was able to close the door each time. With 47 laps in, Rohrer decided to try the outside lane, something that no one had successfully done in the race to that point. In the blink of an eye, Rohrer made it work and was out front leading the J.D. Byrider 75.
Only a couple of more short cautions bunched the field, but on each ensuing restart Rohrer was able to gap the field. Smith, who was strong too, never was challenged for the second position as he was running his own race in that spot.
As the checkered waved, Rohrer broke into Midvale Speedway victory lane and ended his 1,156 day winless streak. For the veteran driver, it was his series' leading 18th victory, which is now up by five wins over Tim Felver and seven over Gary Whipkey the two closest on the all time list.
Smith backed up his Shady Bowl win with an impressive second place finish. Short, Hill, and Bud Perry were top five finishers. By way of their strong Midvale runs and Carter's misfortune, Perry took over the point lead, while Rohrer moved into second. It should be a fun point counting weekend at Columbus.
14 year old Economy Modified rookie driver Alex Rosenberry has been knocking on the door for his first victory all year long. Saturday night, he walked right in. Using the outside lane on the opening start, Rosenberry drove into the lead, while polesitter Bubba Smith fell in line behind him. Smith, driving the Greg Hole #33 had a caution with one lap in that put him in the outside lane on a restart. When the green came back out, Tom Garbrandt and Scott Archer moved into second and third and began to challenge Rosenberry. Eventually, Archer got Garbrandt after a restart and it was his turn to apply pressure on the leader. As the laps wore down, Rosenberry protected the inside lane very well, making sure to not leave Archer any room to get underneath. At the checkered, it was the Rosenberry Towing #12 claiming the victory by a small margin, while Archer took second. Kevin McClintock, who had problems in practice and did not get to qualify, started at the tail and finished an impressive third. Garbrandt was fourth, while Lee McCreery claimed his best run this season in fifth. Smith, Joe Ujcich, Doug Higgins, Bill Burkholder, and Adam Stewart were top ten finishers. Rosenberry and Stewart won the heats, while Dave Dobbins took the fast time.
Corey Evey and Brian Minard set the early pace in the Midvale Speedway Pure Stock feature with each leading over the first five laps. Evey then controlled sole possession of the lead until Bill Aubihl raced to the front with a pass coming off of turn two. Aubihl pulled away from the field until a final caution bunched the field with two to go. The green-white-checkered finish saw Aubihl race to the stripe out front and Don Boron, Jr. taking the runner-up spot in his battle with Evey for second. Joe Oliver and Joe Linard were top five finishers. Mike Martin, Brian Minard, Bud Sunloehn, Bill Shimko, and and Josh Flesher claimed top tens. Aubihl and Minard won the heats, while Oliver set fast time.
Jake Albright led the first couple of laps, John McNutt was out front on lap three, but it was the dominating #3 of Kyle Grove going into the top spot on lap four to claim his tenth feature victory of the season. Earlier in the night, Grove had taken his tenth preliminary win of the season to take his win total to 20 on the year. Albright, McNutt, Tye Kelly, and Jesse Page were top finishers.
Ryan Shreffler led the early laps in the Stock Compact feature before Blaine Salsberry took over on lap five. Salsberry had problems while battling Braden Swaney for the lead on lap ten and a flat tire ended his night. Swaney led until the final lap when Jeffrey Orr drove under him coming off of two. Moments later with Swaney trying to get back to the bottom, the two touched and Swaney went spinning. Swaney's car got stuck in third gear and was unable to make it to the finish, while Orr went on to victory. Dan Buckey, Shreffler, Colton Cottis, and Allen Clark were top five finishers. Swaney and Shreffler won the heats.
Fans stuck around for the final event of the night, the Skid Plate race. 15 vehicles entered the first ever event of that kind at Midvale. Ryan Tedesco and Max McCartney, teammates, took the lead early. Tedesco, as many drivers did, spun early while McCartney ran a smooth race which is the key in this race. Jason Grewell closed late in the race and took the lead for a short time before McCartney wrestled it back away. After much many spins but just about everyone and plenty of carnage, McCartney came away with the victory. Jason Grewell, Bubba Smith, and Vince Martin claimed the top four spots.
The 2011 Season Championships are scheduled for this coming Saturday, September 10. Late Models, Economy Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Outlaw Compacts, and Stock Compacts are scheduled to race as well as Figure 8's and Spectator Drags. Double points are going to be awarded for all classes on the final points night. The points race in the Modified, Pure Stock, and Stock Compact divisions will most likely go right down to the checkered flag.
Pit gates open at 2:00, hotlaps at 3:00, qualifying at 4:45, and racing action will start at 6:30. Grandstand admission is $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 information, visit www.midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Main Event Racing Series
Top Qualifier – Rich Rohrer 13.719
Lap Leaders – Scott Baker, Josh Smith, Rich Rohrer
J.D. Byrider 75 – Rich Rohrer, Josh Smith, Brian Short, Donnie Hill, Bud Perry, Drew Charlson, Brock Coyer, Jeremy Dennis, John Stroble, Charlie Schultz, John Sandquist, Jr., Marcus Malcuit, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Johnny Jenkins, Tim Ice, John Flynn, Derek Grewell, Burgess White, John Sandquist, Bob Gainer, Jimmy Carter, Scott Baker
Summit Racing Economy Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Dave Dobbins 15.131
Heat #1 – Alex Rosenberry, Tom Garbrandt, Ron McBride, Dave Dobbins, Mark Willison, Jr.
Heat #2 – Adam Stewart, Lee McCreery, Bubba Smith, Joe Ujcich, Bill Burkholder
Feature – Alex Rosenberry, Scott Archer, Kevin McClintock, Tom Garbrandt, Lee McCreery, Bubba Smith, Joe Ujcich, Doug Higgins, Bill Burkholder, Adam Stewart, Dave Dobbins, Mark Willison, Jr., Ron McBride
Midvale Speedway Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Joe Oliver 16.848
Heat #1 – Bill Aubihl, Don Boron, Jr., Joe Oliver, Joe Linard, Bill Shimko
Heat #2 – Brian Minard, Corey Evey, Josh Flesher, Tim Lynn, Bud Sunloehn
Feature – Bill Aubihl, Don Boron, Jr., Corey Evey, Joe Oliver, Joe Linard, Mike Martin, Brian Minard, Bud Sunloehn, Bill Shimko, Josh Flesher, Tim Lynn, George Bowers
Midvale Speedway Outlaw Compacts
Top Qualifier – Kyle Grove 17.632
Heat – Kyle Grove, John McNutt, Jake Albright, Jesse Page, Tye Kelly
Feature – Kyle Grove, Jake Albright, John McNutt, Tye Kelly, Jesse Page, Mike Swaney
Midvale Speedway Stock Compacts
Top Qualifier – Braden Swaney, 16.637
Heat #1 – Braden Swaney, Dan Buckey, Colton Cottis, Jeffrey Orr
Heat #2 – Ryan Shreffler, Allen Clark, Kohlten Bryan, Blaine Salsberry
Feature – Jeffrey Orr, Dan Buckey, Ryan Shreffler, Colton Cottis, Allen Clark, Kohlten Bryan, Braden Swaney, Blaine Salsberry
Skid Plate Race
Feature – Max McCartney, Jason Grewell, Bubba Smith, Vince Martin
Written by: Adam Mackey |
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09/03/2011 Race
Economy Modifieds Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Rosenberry, Alex |
| 2. | Archer, Scott |
| 3. | McClintock, Kevin |
| 4. | Garbrandt, Tom |
| 5. | McCreery, Lee |
| 6. | Hole, Greg |
| 7. | Ujcich, Joe |
| 8. | Higgins, Doug |
| 9. | Burkholder, Bill |
| 10. | Stewart, Adam |
| More |
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09/03/2011 Race
Pure Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Aubihl, Bill |
| 2. | Boron, Jr., Don |
| 3. | Evey, Corey |
| 4. | Oliver, Teddy |
| 5. | Linard, Joe |
| 6. | Martin, Mike |
| 7. | Minard, Brian |
| 8. | Earley, Tom |
| 9. | Barker, TJ |
| 10. | Flesher, Josh |
| More |
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09/03/2011 Race
Outlaw Compacts Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Grove, Kyle |
| 2. | Albright, Jake |
| 3. | McNutt, John |
| 4. | Kelly, Tye |
| 5. | Page, Jesse |
| 6. | Swaney, Mike |
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09/03/2011 Race
Stock Compacts Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Orr, Jeffrey |
| 2. | Buckey, Dan |
| 3. | Shreffler, Ryan |
| 4. | Cottis, Colton |
| 5. | Clark, Allen |
| 6. | Bryan, Kohlten |
| 7. | Swaney, Braden |
| 8. | Salsberry, Blaine |
| 9. | Murray, Gary |
| 10. | Frederick, Tim |
| More |
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