 An excellent night of racing action, now considered history, had 129 cars compete in qualifications, preliminaries, and feature events. Among the seven main event victors were four drivers who picked up their first wins of 2001. Late Models, Modifieds, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts were all in competition.
In the headlined Smokers Paradise Late Model division, Paul Sibila and Ron Dague brought the field down for the green in the 25-lap grind. Dague, who was driving the Larry Page prepared machine that was driven by Ron Jaberg, Jr. for much of this season, was racing for the first time in about one calendar year. Any rust that the veteran driver may have had, did not show, as a quick start put him out front to lead the field. Sibila, who dropped into second, did not stay in the top five for long, as Kenny Carroll, Bear Schwartz, Mike Miller, and Farmer Smith were all able to get by on the lowside. Hoopingarner brought out the first caution of the race on lap two, as he spun into the infield while trying to pass Sibila. After the cars were back underway, the top five in the running order were Dague, Carroll, Schwartz, Miller, and Smith and they were all running right behind one another. The best battle during the second half of the race was between Schwartz, Miller, and Smith. Miller, the top qualifier, was trying to run the outside lane to win his second feature in a row, but could get no further than third during his run. Dague, who picked up a pair of wins in 2000, was able to hold off strong challenges from Carroll to pick up his first win this season. Carroll, Schwartz, Miller, and Smith completed the top five. Bob Sibila, Kenny Stevens, Gary Hoopingarner, Tom Garbrandt, and Paul Sibila rounded out the top ten. Paul Sibila and Stevens won the heat races.
A father-son combo set the front row for the Tolloti Pipe Modified feature event. On the pole was Brian Erickson, the son, and on the outside was his father, Butch Erickson. At the completion of lap one, the father had the advantage, with son dropping to second. On lap 5, four-time feature winner, Glen Jewell, started his move to the front by wrestling the fifth spot from Mark Enos. On lap 8, Jewell took fourth from Jim McCune, and two laps later, third from John Wilson. Just past the halfway mark, the second place car of Brian Erickson spun while trying to hold Jewell off. This moved the New Philadelphia, Ohio driver up to second. At this point, everyone knew that Jewell would be the man to beat in his Texas Roadhouse/Hydraulic Parts Store #24, and he proved no one wrong by taking the lead one lap after the restart. Following him across the line were the night’s top qualifier, Dusty Woodie, Butch Erickson, Wilson, and Jeff Smith who picked up his fourth top five of the season. Enos, Brian Erickson, Mark Striker, Ronnie Souders, and Duane Workman completed the top ten. Wilson and Butch Erickson won the heats.
The Tusco Net Detroit Iron division feature would prove to be both, entertaining and, short-lived. Originally scheduled for 20-laps, the race would eventually be brought to close on lap 11 for an expired time limit due to many cautions. In the race, Todd Miller took the lead on lap one from his inside second row starting position. He received the opportunity to do this, when pole-sitter, Dave Jordan, slid high in turn two. Doug McMillen, the third fastest qualifier, was already battling for the lead, on lap five. McMillen, using the high lane, and Miller holding the low lane, put on a nice show for the lead until a lap 11 caution ended the race. One of the earlier cautions took out the two top qualifiers, Kevin McClintock and Joe Linard, as they came together entering turn one. Both were done for the evening. Following Miller to his second win in the Jake Miller Excavating/Martin Homes #11 were McMillen, Bill Aubihl, Roger Butler, and Tim Gowins. John Burns, Waylon Orr, Don Rufener, Jr., Will Walker, and Calvin Collins completed the top ten. Miller, Dan Gasser, and Keith Thomas won the heat races.
In the 15-lap Papa John’s Pure Stock feature race, Eddie McClain, in the Advance Auto Parts car, came from his third row starting spot in the 24-car field, to win his first of the year. Competing for the second time this season, in the Jim Shaw prepared #88, McClain took the lead before halfway, and never looked back. Bryan Aubihl, Ted Oliver, Mike Martin, and Tammy Rufener picked up top five finishes, while John Leasure, Paul Parson, Matt Wallick, Adam Ridgway, and top qualifier, Brian Wood finished in positions six through ten. Aubihl, Bob Oliver, and Barney Gerber picked up preliminary action wins.
In the first of three Canton Auto Salvage Compact events, Jim Jaberg won for the second week in a row. Following the New Philadelphia, Ohio driver home were Jason Nealey, Jason Morgan, Bubba Smith, and Rich Fox. Jaberg is sponsored by Route 39 Auto Salvage.
In the closest race of the night, Point’s leader, Jason Shaw, won his first feature of the year in his Guerierri Enterprises/World Import Automotive #1. Shaw was able to beat Josh Grove to the line by less than an extra coat of paint. Lennie Orr, Blaine Partee, and Tim Dreher finished out the top five.
The final feature of the evening had Chad Squires taking home the win. Squires, driving the #26 compact that competes each and every week, was able to get around Russell Grandison with one lap to go. Mike Hammerling, Gary Gibson, and Larry Riggle completed the top five.
This coming Saturday, June 23, All Parts And Supply will present a rare, winner take all, race. The starting positions will be decided around 4 o’clock, when qualifying takes place. The top 4 qualifiers in the Tolloti Pipe Modified division and the top 4 qualifiers in the Smokers Paradise Late Model division will make up the 8 car field with $200 going to the winner. Midvale Speedway’s regular five divisions, Late Models, Modified, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will be in action, along with week #3 for the Dale’s Heating and Cooling Figure 8’s. Qualifying will begin at 4, while racing will get started at 6:30.
Results For Midvale
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Mike Miller
Heat #1 – Paul Sibila, Kenny Carroll, Gary Hoopingarner, Bob Sibila, Farmer Smith
Heat #2 – Kenny Stevens, Tom Garbrandt, Duane Dunn, Bob Schneider, Jr., Tim Sibila
Feature – Ron Dague, Kenny Carroll, Bear Schwartz, Mike Miller, Farmer Smith, Bob Sibila, Kenny Stevens, Gary Hoopingarner, Tom Garbrandt, Paul Sibila, Duane Dunn, Tim Sibila, Bob Schneider, Jr., Bruce Johnson
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Dusty Woodie
Heat #1 – John Wilson, Jim McCune, Mark Enos, Jeff Smith, Dusty Woodie
Heat #2 – Butch Erickson, Duane Workman, George Bowers, Brian Erickson, Mark Striker
Feature – Glen Jewell, Dusty Woodie, Butch Erickson, John Wilson, Jeff Smith, Mark Enos, Brian Erickson, Mark Striker, Ronnie Souders, Duane Workman, Jim McCune, George Bowers
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock
Heat #1 – Todd Miller, Tim Skinner, Bill Aubihl, Joe Linard, Jimmy Orr
Heat #2 – Dan Gasser, Waylon Orr, Tammy Randolph, Don Rufener, Jr., Will Walker
Heat #3 – Keith Thomas, Calvin Collins, Mike Royer, Tim Roudebush, Bernie Anderson
Last Chance – Keith Thomas, Calvin Collins, Bernie Anderson, Tim Roudebush, Tim Croft, Mike Royer, Joe Sanford, Jr.
Feature – Todd Miller, Doug McMillen, Bill Aubihl, Roger Butler, Tim Gowins, John Burns, Waylon Orr, Don Rufener, Jr., Will Walker, Calvin Collins, Tim Roudebush, Dave McMillen, Rich Stalnaker, Tammy Randolph, Dave Jordan, Dan Gasser, Keith Thomas, Kevin McClintock, Joe Linard, Paul Murray, Tim Skinner, Tim Croft, Bernie Anderson, Jimmy Orr
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Brian Wood
Heat #1 – Bryan Aubihl, Mike Martin, Brian Wood, Tammy Rufener, Anthony Bissett
Heat #2 – Bob Oliver, Adam Ridgway, Brian Oliver, Paul Parson, Al Street
Heat #3 – Barney Gerber, Chester McMasters, Scott Ollis, Ronnie Cross, Gordon Conway
Feature – Eddie McClain, Bryan Aubihl, Ted Oliver, Mike Martin, Tammy Rufener, John Leasure, Paul Parson, Matt Wallick, Adam Ridgway, Brian Wood, Larry Smith, Joe Oliver, Scott Ollis, Barney Gerber, Bob Oliver, Jeff Anthony, Shawn Harper, Al Street, Chester McMasters, Anthony Bissett, Brian Oliver, Gordon Conway, John Ferrell, Ronnie Cross
Canton Auto Salvage Compacts
Top Qualifier – Rick Elkins, Jr.
Heat #1 – Jim Keller, Jr., Greg Mazzoleni, Billy Stutler, Rich Fox, Jason Nealey
Heat #2 – Josh Grove, Willie Grove, Tim Dreher, Jim Jaberg, Robert Mizer
Heat #3 – Lennie Orr, Blaine Partee, Otto Polilli, Jerry Kimble, Ben Pearch
Heat #4 – Gary Gibson, Bruce Gibson, Dale Beatty, Russell Grandison, Seth Lute
Feature #1 – Jim Jaberg, Jason Nealey, Jason Morgan, Bubba Smith, Rich Fox, Jim Keller, Jr., Scott Archer, Russ Moore, Jr., Willie Grove, John McNutt, Jack Grove, Rocky DeLuca, Robert Mizer, Rick Elkins, Jr., Greg Mazzoleni, Billy Stutler
Feature #2 – Jason Shaw, Josh Grove, Lennie Orr, Blaine Partee, Tim Dreher, Bill Mercier, Jason Anthony, Jim Poole, Otto Polilli, Cody Kahler, Nick Swaney, Rick Everett, Jr., Ben Pearch, Garry Lute, Greg Grove, Jerry Kimble
Feature #3 – Chad Squires, Russell Grandison, Mike Hammerling, Gary Gibson, Larry Riggle, Eddie Poland, Dale Beatty, Philip Murray, Kelly Wissman, Seth Lute
Written by: Adam Mackey |
