 The biggest field of cars this season were in the pits, as 136 drivers competed in the Tolloti Pipe double features special. No heat races would be held on this night, as each division would run in double their regular features. The races would turn out to be very competitive, as only one driver was able to win the two features he competed in.
The racing started at 6:30 with a Smokers Paradise Late Model feature. Ron Jaberg, Jr. and Tom Newman, Jr., brought the 17-car field down for the green, with Newman taking the lead. In the first ten laps, with Newman pulling away, Farmer Smith, Mike Miller, and Don Harvey, Jr., were working their way through the top five. Around the halfway point, rookie Keith Thomas lost control of his racer on the back straightaway and hit both ends of the #48 car into the wall. He would be done for the night, but would be uninjured. On the restart, Harvey made a slick move on the inside of Smith for third. Three laps later, he went around Jaberg for second, so the only thing between him and his first win was Newman and a several car-length lead. With five to go, Barberton, Ohio’s, Harvey ducked to the inside of Newman for the lead and win in his Kan-Am Tractor and Frame/Rittzman Muffler #12. Following him to the line were Smith, Newman, Miller, and Jaberg.
Later on in the evening, the second 25-lap Late Model feature was held. Bob Sibila, Jr., in his second week of asphalt Late Model racing, and his cousin Tim Sibila brought the field down for the green with Tim jumping out to the lead. Bear Schwartz, who started on the outside of row two, worked his way around Kenny Stevens for second with just a handful of laps in, but Sibila had a decent lead. But on lap 6, a caution flew, bunching the field up. After the restart, Schwartz was able to complete the pass of Sibila on the lowside to lead the field. Harvey took second from his tenth starting position with Smith in third, and over the last 18 laps the three cars would run so close a blanket could be thrown over them. Harvey tried high and low, but the New Image Homes/Cline Construction #77 of New Philadelphia, Ohio’s, Schwartz was too much as he picked up his first feature win in a long time. Harvey, Smith, Miller, and Gary Hoopingarner completed the top five.
The Tolloti Pipe Modified field continues to grow. This week two new cars were in action to make a competive 14-car field. In the first feature, John Wilson jumped to the lead on the start from his outside front row starting position, and would make it very clear he would be tough to beat. Meanwhile, Glen Jewell came from his outside row five starting position and was knocking off cars one at a time. While in second, a yellow flag helped close the gap, and on the lap seven restart, Jewell passed Wilson for the lead. With three laps to go, Mark Striker took second away from Wilson, but did not have time to run down the leader. The win would be the second of the year for the Texas Roadhouse/Hydraulic Parts Store #24. Following New Philadelphia, Ohio’s, Jewell, across the line were Striker, Wilson, Todd Ripley, and Tim Allensworth.
In the second Modified main event, Jeff Smith would lead in the early going. However, it did not take long for the night’s top qualifier, Dusty Woodie, to rip it away. Woodie, who picked up a sixth place finish in the first feature of the night, dove under the #34 for the lead. Second fast qualifier, Tim Allensworth, was also trying to make some noise, as he moved into second. Over the last handful of laps, he made a couple valid attempts to get his first win of the year, and even once was door to door with the leader, but Coshocton, Ohio’s, Woodie was to much, picking up his second win of the season. Following the Coshocton Trucking/Roma’s Gift Gallery #44 across the stripe were Allensworth, Jewell, Ripley, and Smith.
Twenty-six Tusco Net Detroit Irons took the green for their 20-lap feature and amazingly would stay under green for the first seven laps. All that ended when Dan Gasser, who was running second, blew a motor on the front stretch, causing a yellow to clean up the liquids. The car on the move was that of Doug McMillen. The #54 took over fourth on lap eight, third on lap nine, and took the lead away from Jimmy Orr on lap eleven. Orr would then lose a couple of more spots, after leading the first half of the race. McMillen picked up his first win of the season in his Speedy Auto Parts/Packard’s Garage sponsored automobile. The New Philadelphia, Ohio, driver was followed across the line be a good battle for second that Joe Linard won. Todd Miller, Orr, and Bill Aubihl rounded out the top five.
The second Detroit Iron feature was a caution fest, as the race would end early because of the time limit. Gnadenhutten driver, Tim Postel, took the lead from the get-go, and would never be seriously challenged. Postel, in his second week of racing in his new car, had things working in his favor, as the time-limit expired. Following him to his first win of the season, were Aubihl, Chris White, Linard, and McMillen. McMillen, who had two top five finishes on the night, took over the point’s lead, as the night’s top qualifier, Kevin McClintock, fell out of the first feature, and did not compete in the second one, dropping him in points.
Starting from the outside of the last row in a 22-car field is not the easy way to pick up a feature win, but Teddy Oliver made it happen in the Papa John’s Pure Stock division. During the 15-lapper, Oliver passed cars by going three and even four wide, not on the inside, but on the outside – even hitting the wall once. The Canton, Ohio, driver, in his Used Tire/Yoder Construction #49, passed Scott Ollis for the lead near halfway and never looked back for his first win of 2001. Ollis, Barney Gerber, Dan Rummes, and Mike Martin completed the top five.
Due to a full field inversion from the finish of the first Pure Stock feature, the second one also had Oliver starting at the tail. Trying to become the first repeat winner of the night, Oliver, would once again use his three and four wide antics, to eventually take of the top spot. Once out front, no one could come close to taking his second win of the evening away. Following Oliver to the line were Bryan Aubihl, Martin, Matt Wallick, and Shawn Harper.
In the Canton Auto Salvage Compact class, 56 cars were on hand, splitting the field into six feature events. The first one was the most exciting, with Jack Grove taking the early lead. Bubba Smith came from his outside row two starting position and passed Grove via the outside groove with five laps in. While Smith was building a sizeable lead, the night’s top qualifier, and new track record holder, Jason Shaw was on a rail. With just a couple to go, Shaw was following Rick Elkins, Jr. in third. For either of the two to have a chance at winning, a caution was needed, and that is what they got. The yellow bunched the field and set up a two lap shootout for Smith, Elkins, and Shaw. One lap after the restart, the white flag flew. Shaw passed Elkins for second in turn one and by the end of the backstretch had run down Smith. Shaw gave him a tap in turn four, ducked low, but was edged at the line by a bumper. Dover, Ohio’s Smith picked up his first ever feature win in his rookie season in the Smith’s Auto Sales/Canton Auto Salvage #12. Shaw, Elkins, Grove, and Jason Morgan completed the top five.
In the second feature, Gary Murray set the early pace. However, Greg Grove took over the top spot and would eventually cross the stripe first for his second win of the year in his Wood Electric/AAA Travel #94. Murray finished second with Chuck Elkins, Aaron Fonte, and Brian Ridgway completing the top five.
After a couple of drivers received the black for going quicker than their qualifying time, Blaine Partee, of Akron, Ohio, took the lead in the third Compact feature. The caution-less race would be the second win of the year for Partee in the Flashback’s Diner #90. Bruce Gibson, Ben Gibson, Chad Squires, and Joe Sickels rounded out the top five.
In the fourth feature for the C-cars, Canton, Ohio’s Billy Stutler started on the pole and would never look back during the 15-lapper. Terry Colletti, the night’s second fast qualifier, Jason Shaw, Greg Mazzoleni, and Jim Keller, Jr., rounded out the top five.
The fifth Compact feature looked to be all Al Street’s. However, a caution with two to go bunched the field together, putting Brian Ridgway on his rear bumper. After the restart, Ridgway would take the lead and go on to win his first of the year. Following him across the finish line were Al Street, Brian Oliver, Aaron Fonte, and Keith Anthony.
The final feature event of the evening was won by Uhrichsville, Ohio driver Jim Poole. Blaine Partee, who was looking for a sweep of his features, fell short by finishing second. Cale Swann, John Wissman, and Bruce Gibson completed the top five.
This Saturday, May 12, Performance Lubricants and Jayne’s Crafts present the Mother’s Day Special. The first 250 mom’s in attendance will receive a special gift from Jayne’s Crafts and Midvale Speedway. Late Models, Modifieds, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will be on hand. Qualifying starts at 4, with the first green flag at 6:30.
Results For Midvale
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Don Harvey, Jr.
Feature #1 – Don Harvey, Jr., Farmer Smith, Tom Newman, Jr., Mike Miller, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Kenny Carroll, Bear Schwartz, Kenny Stevens, Bob Sibila, Jr., Randy Sword, Tim Sibila, Duane Dunn, Keith Thomas, J.C. Ramsey, Bob Sibila, Bob Eichel, Gary Hoopingarner
Feature #2 – Bear Schwartz, Don Harvey, Jr., Farmer Smith, Mike Miller, Gary Hoopingarner, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Kenny Carroll, Duane Dunn, Tim Sibila, Bob Sibila, Jr., Bob Eichel, Tom Newman, Jr., J.C. Ramsey, Kenny Stevens, Bob Sibila, Randy Sword
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Dusty Woodie
Feature #1 – Glen Jewell, Mark Striker, John Wilson, Todd Ripley, Tim Allensworth, Dusty Woodie, Jim McCune, Mark Enos, Mario Kelly, Jeff Smith, George Bowers, Mike Buchanan, Butch Erickson, Ronnie Souders
Feature #2 – Dusty Woodie, Tim Allensworth, Glen Jewell, Todd Ripley, Jeff Smith, John Wilson, Mike Buchanan, Ronnie Souders, Jim McCune, Mark Striker, Butch Erickson, Mario Kelly, George Bowers
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock
Feature #1 – Doug McMillen, Joe Linard, Todd Miller, Jimmy Orr, Bill Aubihl, Chris White, Tim Skinner, Don Rufener, Jr., Paul Murray, Tammy Randolph, Shane Billiter, Roger Butler, Calvin Collins, Joe Sanford, Jr., Waylon Orr, Dave Jordan, Tim Postel, Will Walker, Bob Schneider, Jr., Mike Royer, Gabe Pringle, Tim Gowins, Dan Gasser, Doug Decker, Kevin McClintock, John Burns
Feature #2 – Tim Postel, Bill Aubihl, Chris White, Joe Linard, Doug McMillen, Roger Butler, Paul Murray, Shane Billiter, Don Rufener, Jr., Todd Miller, John Burns, Dave McMillen, Mike Royer, Joe Sanford, Jr., Dave Jordan, Tim Gowins, Tim Skinner, Will Walker, Doug Decker, Tammy Randolph, Calvin Collins, Waylon Orr, Jimmy Orr, Randy Doolin
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Teddy Oliver
Feature #1 – Teddy Oliver, Scott Ollis, Barney Gerber, Dan Rummes, Mike Martin, Paul Parson, Brian Wood, Matt Wallick, Chester McMasters, Shawn Harper, Bryan Aubihl, Gary Penland, Jim Shaw, Tammy Rufener, Bob Oliver, John Leasure, John Ferrell, Dan Mick, Curtis Collins, Jeff Anthony, Joe Oliver, Larry Smith
Feature #2 – Teddy Oliver, Bryan Aubihl, Mike Martin, Matt Wallick, Shawn Harper, Paul Parson, Larry Smith, Chester McMasters, Scott Ollis, Jeff Anthony, Gary Penland, Jim Shaw, Brian Wood, Barney Gerber, Dan Mick, Tammy Rufener, Dan Rummes, Bob Oliver, Curtis Collins, John Ferrell, Joe Oliver
Canton Auto Salvage Compacts
Top Qualifier – Jason Shaw
Feature #1 – Bubba Smith, Jason Shaw, Rick Elkins, Jr., Jack Grove, Jason Morgan, Jason Anthony, Willie Grove, John McNutt, Terry Colletti, Robert Mizer, Jason Nealey, Vic Paul, Rich Fox, Kelly McNutt, Rocky DeLuca, Jim Keller, Jr., Josh Grove, Greg Mazzoleni, Billy Stutler
Feature #2 – Greg Grove, Gary Murray, Chuck Elkins, Aaron Fonte, Brian Ridgway, Lewis Powell, Kevin Rennicker, Keith Anthony, Lennie Orr, Ricky Beamer, Cody Kahler, Rick Everett, Jr., Dave Malone, Nick Dennison, Al Street, Brian Oliver, Adam Stewart
Feature #3 – Blaine Partee, Bruce Gibson, Ben Gibson, Chad Squires, Joe Sickels, John Wissman, Cale Swann, Ben Pearch, Russell Grandison, Phil Veno, Justin Courtney, Jim Poole, Robert Nealey, Larry Bennington, Lou Francis, Otto Polilli, Mike Montague, Gary Gibson, Randy Hahn
Feature #4 – Billy Stutler, Terry Colletti, Jason Shaw, Greg Mazzoleni, Jim Keller, Jr., Jason Nealey, Willie Grove, John McNutt, Jason Morgan, Josh Grove, Rocky DeLuca, Kelly McNutt, Rick Elkins, Jr., Vic Paul, Rich Fox, Jason Anthony, Bubba Smith, Robert Mizer, Jack Grove
Feature #5 – Brian Ridgway, Al Street, Brian Oliver, Aaron Fonte, Keith Anthony, Lewis Powell, Gary Murray, Dave Malone, Kevin Rennicker, Chuck Elkins, Ricky Beamer, Lennie Orr, Nick Dennison, Greg Grove, Rick Everett, Jr.
Feature #6 – Jim Poole, Blaine Partee, Cale Swann, John Wissman, Bruce Gibson, Ben Pearch, Otto Polilli, Ben Gibson, Chad Squires, Gary Gibson, Robert Nealey, Joe Sickels, Lou Francis, Russell Grandison, Larry Bennington, Mike Montague, Justin Courtney, Phil Veno
Written by: Adam Mackey |
