 The ominous skies and chili morning conditions gave way to beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures for the Dairy Queen/Citgo Memorial Day Spectacular, this past Monday, May 28, at Midvale Speedway. The Smokers Paradise Late Models were featured in a 100-lap main event for $1,500 to win. The Tolloti Pipe Modifieds, Tusco Net Detroit Irons, Papa John’s Pure Stocks, and Canton Auto Salvage Compacts rounded out the program line-up.
Twenty-seven cars took qualifications for the 24-car/100 lap feature event. New Philadelphia’s A.P. Ren set fast time, while filling in for Bear Schwartz, in the #77 car. The number ten pill was drawn, putting tenth fastest John Ambrose, Jr. and, ninth fastest car of Tom Newman, Jr., on the front row.
At the start, it was two-two time feature winners. Ambrose, a two time Barberton Speedway winner, and Mike Miller, who won the last two features at Midvale brought the competitive field down for a green, with Ambrose taking the early lead. Miller fell back to third in the running order on lap two, as Bob Sibila got by. On lap 9, the first caution was thrown for an accident between Kenny Carroll and Farmer Smith. Smith retired from the event with heavy front end damage.
A long green flag run ensued after the lap 9 restart. During which, Ambrose and Sibila ran bumper to bumper, while Miller, Rick Groetsch, and John Crumrine were several car lengths back. However, the longer the race stayed green, the more the other cars challenged Ambrose, as the top six eventually ran nose-to-tail. They ran this way until the fourth place car of Groetsch spun in turn four, causing the second yellow on lap 44.
The cars would then run under green conditions for the next twelve laps, with only one major change taking place in the field. It took place on lap 45, as Don Harvey, Jr., moved around Crumrine and into the top five.
On lap 63, bad luck struck Sibila, as the left front tire went down. Sibila, who looked like he was biding his time waiting for Ambrose to make a mistake, had to pit, and lost second place. That arranged the top five for the restart – Ambrose, Miller, Harvey, Crumrine, and Ren, who moved into the top five for the first time in the race.
The next caution flew for Tom Garbrandt on lap 85, as his motor expired on the backstretch. The caution set up a fifteen lap shootout between the top four cars.
Ambrose had a few car lengths on Miller over the first few laps after the restart. However, as the tires got warm, Miller’s front bumper was glued to Ambrose’s back. In turns one and two on the final lap, Ambrose slid a little high. Miller looked low, but could not pass the Lenny’s Collision/KDS Display #24 of Akron, Ohio’s Ambrose.
Following the duo across the stripe were Harvey, Crumrine, and Groetsch, who came from the back of the field twice during the race to pick up a well deserved top five. Sibila, Ken Hartz, Ren, Oliver Allen, and Randy Sword completed the top ten.
Sixteen Tolloti Pipe Modifieds were next in action, as a mixture of Midvale Speedway regulars and Lorain County Speedway top dogs battled it out in a 20-lapper. Mark Enos and Brian Erickson brought the field down for the green, and it was Erickson, competing for the second time this year, taking the lead from the outside. The caution flag had to be brought out after the first lap was complete for a spinning car. The last nineteen laps, however, would go caution free, which turned out to work huge dividends for the leader, Erickson. Third year Modified driver, Doug Meyer, moved through the field quickly – even going three wide a couple of times. Meyer, who took over second with a handful of laps to go, just did not have enough time to run down Erickson, who had a half-straightaway lead built up. Following Erickson to his first win in the Goodyear Gemeni/DRS Services #2 were Meyer, Glen Jewell, Jim McCune, and Dusty Woodie. Rick Sibila, John Wilson, Mark Striker, Butch Erickson, and Mark Enos completed the top ten. Woodie was top qualifier, while Wilson and Mike Buchanan picked up heat race wins.
While everyone thought that the Modifieds did a nice job by only causing one caution, the Tusco Net Detroit Iron drivers did them one better. Get this – no cautions, despite having a 23 car field. Bill Hilliker, in action for the first time this season, and Dave Jordan made up row #1 for the start of the 20-lapper. Hilliker took the lead, but not for long, as Tim Gowins passed him on the inside. Gowins, who has had terrible luck this season with engine problems and two hard crashes, finally looked to have things going his way. However, while stretching his lead, gas could be seen leaking from the car, initiating the black flag and sending him pitside. That handed the lead back to Hilliker, whose rear bumper was covered with quick cars. Eventually, Joe Linard, dove between the leader and a lapped car, and took the top spot. Linard then stretched his lead to several car lengths and went on to win his first of the season in the Uncle Primo’s/New Image Homes #82. Hilliker, Jordan, Tim Postel, and Kevin McClintock rounded out the top five. Finishing in positions six through ten were Jimmy Orr, Tim Skinner, Don Rufener, Jr., Roger Butler, and Mike Mazzagatti. Butler, Bill Aubihl, and Mazzagatti won the heats, while McClintock was top qualifier.
On this past Saturday night, Rich Schweitzer filled in for Barney Gerber and picked up a dash and feature win in the #2T. With that being the first win of the season for the car, Gerber was out to prove the point that he knows what he is doing as well on the racetrack. Well, he did just that. Gerber was top qualifier in the Depression Gold Company/Swiss Auto Mart automobile, and later came from his tenth starting spot in the 15-lap feature to win his first of the year. Following the Dover, Ohio, driver to the stripe were Paul Parson, Mike Martin, Bryan Aubihl, and Larry Smith. Joe Oliver, Jim Shaw, Chester McMasters, Tammy Rufener, and Adam Ridgway finished off the top ten. Parson and Shawn Harper won the heats.
In the first, of three, Canton Auto Salvage Compact features, Chuck Elkins won his first of the year by holding off the likes of Greg Mazzoleni, Jason Shaw, Scott Archer, and Terry Colletti.
In the second feature event for the novice class, Jason Anthony picked up the win. Greg Grove, Rick Elkins, Jr., Willie Grove, and Randy Hahn completed the top five.
Jack Grove won his second feature of the year in the third Compact feature. Blaine Partee, Ben Gibson, Tom Craw, and Bruce Gibson rounded out the top five.
Results For Midvale
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – A.P Ren
Last Chance Race – Keith Thomas, Gary Hoopingarner, Tim Sibila, Paul Sibila, Darrel Dexter, Kenny Stevens, Bob Sibila, Jr., Bob Eichel, Scott Ramey, J.C. Ramsey
Dairy Queen Citgo 100 – John Ambrose, Jr., Mike Miller, Don Harvey, Jr., John Crumrine, Rick Groetsch, Bob Sibila, Ken Hartz, A.P Ren, Oliver Allen, Randy Sword, Tim Sibila, Paul Miller, Jr., Duane Dunn, Tom Garbrandt, Kenny Carroll, Gary Hoopingarner, Bob Sibila, Jr., Darrel Dexter, Bob Eichel, Paul Sibila, Tom Newman, Jr., Kenny Stevens, Farmer Smith, Keith Thomas
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Dusty Woodie
Heat #1 – John Wilson, Doug Meyer, Glen Jewell, Dusty Woodie, Rick Sibila
Heat #2 – Mike Buchanan, Bill Petrie, Duane Workman, Brian Erickson, Jim McCune
Feature – Brian Erickson, Doug Meyer, Glen Jewell, Jim McCune, Dusty Woodie, Rick Sibila, John Wilson, Mark Striker, Butch Erickson, Mark Enos, Ronnie Souders, Tim Westerfield, Duane Workman, George Bowers, Bill Petrie, Mike Buchanan
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock
Heat #1 – Roger Butler, Tim Postel, Joe Linard, Doug McMillen, Todd Miller
Heat #2 – Bill Aubihl, Bill Hilliker, Don Rufener, Jr., Dan Gasser, Dave Jordan
Heat #3 – Mike Mazzagatti, Steve Mowry, Tammy Randolph, Waylon Orr, Chuck McFarland
Feature – Joe Linard, Bill Hilliker, Dave Jordan, Tim Postel, Kevin McClintock, Jimmy Orr, Tim Skinner, Don Rufener, Jr., Roger Butler, Mike Mazzagatti, Todd Miller, Waylon Orr, Paul Murray, Dan Gasser, Gabe Pringle, Tammy Randolph, Joe Sanford, Jr., Larry Ennis, Chuck McFarland, Steve Mowry, Tim Gowins, Bill Aubihl, Doug McMillen
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Barney Gerber
Heat #1 – Paul Parson, Chester McMasters, Brian Wood, Jim Shaw, Bryan Aubihl
Heat #2 – Shawn Harper, Gary Penland, Adam Ridgway, Jeff Anthony, Ronnie Cross
Feature – Barney Gerber, Paul Parson, Mike Martin, Bryan Aubihl, Larry Smith, Joe Oliver, Jim Shaw, Chester McMasters, Brian Wood, Adam Ridgway, Shawn Harper, Bob Oliver, Ronnie Cross, Gary Penland, Sonny Arkenburgh, Jeff Anthony
Canton Auto Salvage Compacts
Top Qualifier – Scott Archer
Heat #1 – Billy Stutler, Chuck Elkins, Bubba Smith, Jim Keller, Jr., Kelly McNutt
Heat #2 – Lennie Orr, Randy Hahn, Brian Ridgway, Jeff Grove, Jason Nealey
Heat #3 – Bret Rininger, Brian Oliver, Seth Lute, Jason Anthony, Kevin Rennicker
Heat #4 – Blaine Partee, Jack Grove, Ben Gibson, Shawn Smarsh, Russell Grandison
Feature #1 – Chuck Elkins, Greg Mazzoleni, Jason Shaw, Scott Archer, Terry Colletti, Jason Nealey, John McNutt, Kelly McNutt, Jason Morgan, Lennie Orr, Rich Fox, Lewis Powell, Jim Keller, Jr., Terry McNutt, Bubba Smith, Billy Stutler
Feature #2 – Jason Anthony, Greg Grove, Rick Elkins, Jr., Willie Grove, Randy Hahn, Jeff Grove, Al Street, Chad Squires, Justin Courtney, John Wissman, Jim Poole, Robert Mizer, Seth Lute, Jim Jaberg, Bret Rininger, Brian Oliver, Brian Ridgway
Feature #3 – Jack Grove, Blaine Partee, Ben Gibson, Tom Craw, Bruce Gibson, Russell Grandison, Kevin Rennicker, Joe Sickels, Kelly Wissman, Shawn Smarsh, Lou Francis, Jimbo Roup, Gary Murray
Written by: Adam Mackey |
