 It’s hard to believe, but the mid-season point of the 2001 schedule at Midvale Speedway arrived this past Saturday night, June 30. 134 drivers were pitside to battle it out for double points and the, larger than usual, Mid-Season Championship trophies. The date started a busy week of three nights of racing in eight calendar days.
Gary Hoopingarner, looking for his first feature win of the year, took the lead on lap one of the Smokers Paradise Late Model main event. Duane Dunn, who started on the pole of the 18-car field, was then passed by last week’s winner, Farmer Smith, for second place. On a lap two restart, Smith moved to the outside lane, as he did last week, and passed Hoopingarner for the top position. However, Bob Sibila, who is still looking for his first feature win of the year, started to make a statement on lap 12. One lap after taking third place from Dunn, the Massillon driver moved around the #68 of Hoopingarner for second. Smith, at this time, had a sizable lead built up, but over the last 12 laps Sibila caught him and tried everything to get around the leader. With one to go, the two traded paint in turn two, Sibila backed off, and Smith went on to win his second feature in a row on the 3/10-mile oval. Following the Budweiser/Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union #7 were Sibila, Don Harvey, Jr., Gary Hoopingarner, and Marcus Malcuit. Dunn, Mike Miller, Kenny Carroll, Bear Schwartz, and Tim Sibila completed the top ten. Sibila was the top qualifier with a 15.00, while Schwartz and Tom Garbrandt won the heats.
Thirteen Tolloti Pipe Modifieds took the green for their 20-lap Mid-Season Championship race. Entering turn one, the worst Modified accident of the season took place when the pole-sitter, George Bowers and Jim McCune touched causing John Wilson to hit the turn one wall, nearly head on. Wilson got out of the car under his own power, but was later taken to the hospital for a check-up. Mike Bowers, Ronnie Souders, and Brian Erickson were also finished for the night. On the second try, Jeff Smith became the early leader from his outside front row starting spot. For the second week in a row, Smith led in the early going until Jeff Walker moved into the top spot on lap five. Walker, filling in for point’s leader Dusty Woodie in the #44, stretched his lead as Glen Jewell made his way into second. By that time, however, Walker was two and one half seconds ahead and on his way to his first feature win of the season. Jewell followed the Coshocton Trucking/Roma’s Gift Gallery car across the line several car lengths behind. For the second week in a row, Smith came home third, while Butch Erickson and Mark Enos completed the top five. Jim McCune, Duane Workman, Mark Striker, George Bowers, and Wilson finished off the top ten. Jewell was the top qualifier, while Smith won the heat.
In what may have been the most competitive feature of the night, Don Rufener, Jr. led from the pole in the Tusco Net Detroit Iron class. Rufener did an outstanding job holding the low lane, while Jimmy Orr and Todd Miller were hot on his tail. At the halfway point of the 20-lapper, Miller was finally able to work around Rufener for first. The first caution of the race came out on lap 13. This set up a nice restart for Orr, who quickly took second. Over the last five laps, Orr tried to get around the high-side of Miller, but at the end it was Miller winning his, division leading, third victory of the season. Following the Jake Miller Excavating/Martin Homes #11 were Orr, who picked up his best finish on the season, Kevin McClintock, Bill Aubihl, and Rufener. Roger Butler, who started up front but faded quickly was able to hang on for sixth, while Tim Skinner, Waylon Orr, Tammy Randolph, and the night’s top qualifier, Joe Linard, completed the top ten. Miller, Gabe Pringle, and Rich Stalnaker won the three preliminary events.
The Papa John’s Pure Stock feature race turned out to be just about as exciting, as two of the Oliver’s, Teddy and Brian battled for first for basically, the whole race. The two cars, #49 and #48 respectively, each painted with the same exact scheme, traded some of each other’s paint throughout the 15-lapper. Towards the latter half, though, John Leasure got involved and split the relatives up by taking second from Brian. However, Leasure, after several attempts found out that he did not have quite enough, on this night, to wrestle the top spot from Teddy. Leasure would settle in for second behind the Used Tire Company/Danny’s Auto Parts #49 of Teddy Oliver. Brian Oliver came home third, with Eddie McClain and Joe Oliver rounding out the top five. Brian Wood, Don Rufener, Jr., Mike Martin, Barney Gerber, and Paul Parson had respectable top ten finishes. Martin was the top qualifier, while Bryan Aubihl, Teddy Oliver, and Anthony Bissett won the heats.
In the first of three Canton Auto Salvage Compact features, Terry Colletti looked to have won his first feature of the season as he crossed the line first in his black #27. However, a post-race inspection revealed an illegal pulley that handed the win to Jason Shaw. Billy Stutler, Chuck Elkins, Greg Mazzoleni, and John McNutt followed the Black Ninja Records/World Import Automotive car across the stripe.
Greg Grove won his first feature of the year in the second Compact feature. Jerry Kimble had his best finish as he followed the J.D. Byrider/Dave’s Towing car home in second. Brian Oliver, Jeff Grove, and Buzz Bender rounded out the top five.
In the final feature of the evening, Gary Gibson was victorious. By holding off Ray Scott, Larry Bennington, Dale Beatty, and Larry Riggle, Gibson won his first feature of the year. The top qualifier was John McNutt, while Josh Grove, Bill Mercier, Otto Polilli, Ray Scott, and Garry Lute won the heat races.
Midvale Speedway officials are now preparing for the second race of the week, when the Main Event Racing Series Super Late Models run a 100-lapper this Tuesday, July 3. Late Models, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will also be in action, while a spectacular fireworks display will be held after the big race. Qualifying will be held from 5:30-7:30, with racing to begin at 8 P.M. sharp. The rain-date for the event is Wednesday, July 4. Racing on that day would begin at 6 o’clock.
Results For Midvale
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Bob Sibila
Heat #1 – Bear Schwartz, Marcus Malcuit, Bob Sibila, Farmer Smith, Mike Miller
Heat #2 – Tom Garbrandt, Ron Dague, Tim Sibila, Kenny Stevens, J.C. Ramsey
Feature – Farmer Smith, Bob Sibila, Don Harvey, Jr., Gary Hoopingarner, Marcus Malcuit, Duane Dunn, Mike Miller, Kenny Carroll, Bear Schwartz, Tim Sibila, Ron Dague, Tom Garbrandt, Paul Miller, Jr., Paul Sibila, Kenny Stevens, Bob Schneider, Jr., J.C. Ramsey, Bob Eichel
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Glen Jewell
Heat #1 – Jeff Smith, Glen Jewell, John Wilson, Butch Erickson, Jeff Walker
Feature – Jeff Walker, Glen Jewell, Jeff Smith, Butch Erickson, Mark Enos, Jim McCune, Duane Workman, Mark Striker, George Bowers, John Wilson, Ronnie Souders, Brian Erickson, Mike Bowers
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Joe Linard
Heat #1 – Todd Miller, Roger Butler, Tim Skinner, Jimmy Orr, Bill Aubihl
Heat #2 – Gabe Pringle, Tammy Randolph, Don Rufener, Jr., Waylon Orr, Tim Postel
Heat #3 – Rich Stalnaker, Mike Royer, Paul Wade, Bernie Anderson, Joe Sanford, Jr.
Feature – Todd Miller, Jimmy Orr, Kevin McClintock, Bill Aubihl, Don Rufener, Jr., Roger Butler, Tim Skinner, Waylon Orr, Tammy Randolph, Joe Linard, Dave Jordan, Keith Thomas, Gabe Pringle, Calvin Collins, Rich Stalnaker, Paul Wade, Ron Lute, Joe Sanford, Jr., John Burns, Tim Roudebush, Doug McMillen, Tim Croft, Jr., Mike Royer, Bernie Anderson
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Mike Martin
Heat #1 – Bryan Aubihl, Brian Oliver, John Leasure, Paul Parson, Barney Gerber
Heat #2 – Teddy Oliver, Sonny Arkenburgh, Vince Martin, Joe Oliver, Jeff Anthony
Heat #3 – Anthony Bissett, Chester McMasters, Al Street, Scott Ollis, Dan Mick
Feature – Teddy Oliver, John Leasure, Brian Oliver, Eddie McClain, Joe Oliver, Brian Wood, Don Rufener, Jr., Mike Martin, Barney Gerber, Paul Parson, Bryan Aubihl, Larry Smith, Chester McMasters, Sonny Arkenburgh, Vince Martin, Scott Ollis, Dan Mick, Anthony Bissett, George Scott, Jeff Anthony, Bob Oliver, Al Street
Canton Auto Salvage Compacts
Top Qualifier – John McNutt
Heat #1 – Josh Grove, John McNutt, Jim Jaberg, Robert Mizer, Jason Morgan
Heat #2 – Bill Mercier, Tim Dreher, Jerry Kimble, Jeff Grove, Gene Morgan
Heat #3 – Otto Polilli, Mike Philips, Jr., Russell Grandison, Gary Burdette, Lewis Powell
Heat #4 – Ray Scott, Ben Gibson, Larry Bennington, Dale Beatty, Bruce Gibson
Heat #5 – Garry Lute, Violet McMasters, Gary Murray, Phil Veno, Mike Montague
Feature #1 – Jason Shaw, Billy Stutler, Chuck Elkins, Greg Mazzoleni, John McNutt, Josh Grove, Rich Fox, Jason Morgan, Robert Mizer, Kelly McNutt, Jim Keller, Jr., Cody Kahler, Bubba Smith, Tim Dreher, Rocky DeLuca, Blaine Partee, Jack Grove, Rick Elkins, Jr., Jim Jaberg
Feature #2 – Greg Grove, Jerry Kimble, Brian Oliver, Jeff Grove, Buzz Bender, Mike Phillips, Jr., Chad Squires, Russell Grandison, Lewis Powell, Ben Pearch, Gary Burdette, Kevin Rennicker, Phil Veno, Jason Anthony, Otto Polilli, Gene Morgan, Bill Mercier
Feature #3 – Gary Gibson, Ray Scott, Larry Bennington, Dale Beatty, Larry Riggle, Mike Montague, Gary Murray, Ron Myers, Kelly Wissman, Joe Sickels, Lou Francis, Ben Gibson, Bruce Gibson
Written by: Adam Mackey |
