 A nice crowd watched over 120 cars compete, in what would not only be the best night of weather, but arguably the most competitive week of racing. The seven feature events had four new winners etch their names into the record book.
The Smokers Paradise Late Model 25-lap feature was first on the track. Duane Dunn and Keith Thomas brought the 16-car field down for the green, with Thomas taking the lead from the outside. Thomas would lead the first 12 laps with Dunn, Farmer Smith, and others close behind. However, on lap 12, the first caution came out when Thomas slowed for unknown reasons in turn four, causing Dunn, Smith, and Marcus Malcuit to collide. Thomas was sent to the tail for the caution, putting Dunn up front. On the restart, Malcuit would get underneath Smith for the runner-up spot, but his good run would soon turn sour, eventually sending him pitside. Mike Miller, last week’s feature winner, was then in second and challenging for the top spot. With only three laps to go, Miller ducked under Dunn and took the lead and win in his A-1 Auto & Spring/Allied Auto #79. Bob Sibila passed Dunn for second, but fell just short of the leader. Following Miller, Sibila, and Dunn were Smith and Bear Schwartz. Gary Hoopingarner, Tom Garbrandt, Paul Sibila, Kenny Stevens, and Bob Sibila, Jr. rounded out the top ten. Thomas and Garbrandt won the evening’s heat races.
The Tolloti Pipe Modified 20-lap feature turned out to be just as exciting. Mike Buchanan and George Bowers led the field down for the green, but as the duo exited turn two, Tim Westerfield completed a three-wide pass to lead lap one. Westerfield, in his Modified for only the second week, led the first ten laps before a hard charging Todd Ripley made the pass. Top Qualifier Dusty Woodie also got by and took second. The two veteran drivers stretched their lead, nose to tail, over the next four laps, until they made contact in turn one. Bringing out the caution, the spinner-spinnee rule sent the two to the tail. That again handed the lead to Westerfield, but not for long this time, as Uhrichsville’s Mark Striker took control with five laps to go. Striker would go on to win his first feature of the year in his McBride’s Auto/Trenton Service #27. Following him across the stripe were Westerfield, John Wilson, Jim McCune, and Jeff Smith. Butch Erickson, Dusty Woodie, Mark Enos, Ronnie Souders, and Mike Buchanan completed the top ten. Woodie, who took over the point’s lead partly due to Glen Jewell’s absence, and Enos won the heats.
Dave Jordan took the early lead, via his start on the pole position, in the Tusco Net Detroit Iron division. Jordan, looking for his first career win, was doing a super job holding off two previous feature winners – Tim Postel and Todd Miller. However, after a restart, the night’s top qualifier, Kevin McClintock, got a good run, moving him up to second. A handful of laps would go by, with the Jordan and McClintock battling, before the two nearly wrecked in turn four. Able to steer out of it the best, McClintock took the lead and went on to win his third feature of the season. Following the Square Deal Auto Parts/Jenei Drilling #38 across the stripe were Jordan, Bill Aubihl, Jimmy Orr, and Postel. Tim Skinner, Paul Murray, Roger Butler, Don Rufener, Jr., and Paul Wade finished the top ten. Murray and Will Walker won the preliminary events.
Twenty-one Papa John’s Pure Stocks were on hand for their 15-lap feature. Mike Martin, the point’s leader, took the lead early on and went on to win his first of the season. Following the Gatsby’s Pub/Terry’s Dispatching Service #6 across the finish line in the caution marred event were John Leasure, Teddy Oliver, Larry Smith, and Scott Ollis. Shawn Harper, Dan Rummes, Bryan Aubihl, Barney Gerber, and Chester McMasters all finished in the top ten. Aubihl and Oliver picked up the heat race wins.
The Canton Auto Salvage Compacts were split into three feature events, with the first being the most exciting. Over the last half of the race, Chuck Elkins and point’s leader, Jason Shaw, battled for the top spot. In turn three, racing for the checkers, the two touched while racing side by side. That sent both cars up the banking in turn four, which allowed Jason Nealey to get underneath and beat them both to the stripe by less than a car length. Following the Musick & Son Heating/Russ Moore & Son Concrete #15 to its second win were Elkins, Shaw, Bubba Smith, and Lennie Orr.
The #68 car won the middle feature for the second week in a row. Last week, Gene Morgan was the pilot, while this week Bret Rininger took home the trophy in the Jo’s Tanarama automobile. Garry Lute, Brian Ridgway, Al Street, and Rich Fox rounded out the top five.
In the third feature event, Rick Elkins, Sr., took the top spot in his first night of racing this season. Lou Francis, Jim Jaberg, Russell Grandison, and Brian Oliver completed the top five. Jim Keller, Jr., Lute, Jaberg, and Oliver picked up trophies in heat race action.
Midvale Speedway will have a rare double header this coming weekend. On Saturday night, May 26, Fan Appreciation night will be held. Fans can watch Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, Compacts, Figure 8’s, and a powder puff race for only $5. Then on Monday, May 28, Midvale Speedway will hold a Memorial Day Spectacular. Late Models will run 100-laps for $1,500, while Modifieds, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will also compete. Racing on Saturday begins at 6:30, while Monday racing starts at 4 o’clock.
Results For Midvale
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Marcus Malcuit
Heat #1 – Keith Thomas, Bear Schwartz, Gary Hoopingarner, Mike Miller, Marcus Malcuit
Heat #2 – Tom Garbrandt, Kenny Stevens, Bob Eichel, Paul Sibila, Darrel Dexter
Feature – Mike Miller, Bob Sibila, Duane Dunn, Farmer Smith, Bear Schwartz, Gary Hoopingarner, Tom Garbrandt, Paul Sibila, Kenny Stevens, Bob Sibila, Jr., Darrel Dexter, Tim Sibila, J.C. Ramsey, Marcus Malcuit, Keith Thomas, Bob Eichel
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Dusty Woodie
Heat #1 – Dusty Woodie, Todd Ripley, Jim McCune, John Wilson, Butch Erickson
Heat #2 – Mark Enos, Tim Westerfield, Ronnie Souders, Jeff Smith, George Bowers
Feature – Mark Striker, Tim Westerfield, John Wilson, Jim McCune, Jeff Smith, Butch Erickson, Dusty Woodie, Mark Enos, Ronnie Souders, Mike Buchanan, Todd Ripley, George Bowers
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock
Heat #1 – Paul Murray, Joe Linard, Bill Aubihl, John Burns, Jimmy Orr
Heat #2 – Will Walker, Roger Butler, Paul Wade, Bob Schneider, Jr., Ron Lute
Feature – Kevin McClintock, Dave Jordan, Bill Aubihl, Jimmy Orr, Tim Postel, Tim Skinner, Paul Murray, Roger Butler, Don Rufener, Jr., Paul Wade, John Burns, Terry Roudebush, Bob Schneider, Jr., Larry Ennis, Will Walker, Todd Miller, Ron Lute, Randy Doolin, Dan Gasser, Mike Royer, Joe Linard
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Barney Gerber
Heat #1 – Bryan Aubihl, Mike Martin, Dan Rummes, John Leasure, Barney Gerber
Heat #2 – Teddy Oliver, Larry Smith, Scott Ollis, Dan Mick, Shawn Harper
Feature – Mike Martin, John Leasure, Teddy Oliver, Larry Smith, Scott Ollis, Shawn Harper, Dan Rummes, Bryan Aubihl, Barney Gerber, Chester McMasters, Dan Mick, Jason Anthony, Brian Ridgway, Jim Shaw, Bob Oliver, John Riehl, Brian Wood, Tammy Rufener, Joe Oliver
Canton Auto Salvage Compacts
Top Qualifier – Bubba Smith
Heat #1 – Jim Keller, Jr., Jason Nealey, Greg Mazzoleni, Rick Elkins, Jr., Willie Grove
Heat #2 – Garry Lute, Brian Ridgway, Chuck Elkins, Robert Mizer, Vic Paul
Heat #3 – Jim Jaberg, Al Street, Rich Fox, Bret Rininger, Mike Montague
Heat #4 – Brian Oliver, Dale Beatty, Russell Grandison, Ben Pearch, Bruce Gibson
Feature #1 – Jason Nealey, Chuck Elkins, Jason Shaw, Bubba Smith, Lennie Orr, Terry Colletti, Jim Keller, Jr., Rick Elkins, Jr., John McNutt, Willie Grove, Vic Paul, Greg Mazzoleni, Billy Stutler, Jason Morgan, Kelly McNutt, Lewis Powell
Feature #2 – Bret Rininger, Garry Lute, Brian Ridgway, Al Street, Rich Fox, Matt Wallick, Jack Grove, Jim Poole, Josh Grove, Cody Kahler, Nick Swaney, Mike Montague, Chad Squires, Robert Mizer, Greg Grove, John Wissman
Feature #3 – Rick Elkins, Sr., Lou Francis, Jim Jaberg, Russell Grandison, Brian Oliver, Randy Hahn, Seth Lute, Gary Gibson, Gary Murray, Ben Gibson, Bruce Gibson, Dale Beatty, Shawn Royer, Ben Pearch, Phil Veno, Larry Bennington
Written by: Adam Mackey |
