Ohio's Fun Place to Race!!
2025 Race Season |
 | July 3, 2001 |
 Although the weather was threatening all afternoon, and light rain fell during qualifying, the fans came out in large numbers this past Tuesday, July 3, at Midvale Speedway. 120 cars, including the 21 Super Late Models, were in the pits on the cool night. Late Models, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts were the support classes to the 100-lap Main Event.
In qualifications for the Super Late Model showdown, Marcus Malcuit, who has won two features this season in the track’s regular Late Model class, set fast time with a 13.73. Last year’s top qualifier of the event, Gary Whipkey, was the only driver close, as he turned a 13.84. Rich Rohrer, who arrived at the speedway late, only garnering two hot-lap sessions, was third quick at 13.92, while Steve Gilland (13.96), and Ryan Tedesco (13.96) completed the top five. After qualifying, Malcuit drew the number six pill, inverting the top six qualifiers, putting Scott Baker on the pole.
As the Chuck Sypolt Chevrolet pace car pulled off the speedway, the 21-car field began to get up to speed for the start of the 100-lap grind. The green flew, and the race was on, as Baker and Tedesco led the field around for the first circuit. At the completion of lap one, Baker was the leader, and Tedesco ran second.
Steve Gilland, who started on the inside of row two, moved into the second spot on lap two when Tedesco slipped up off of the second turn. Gilland, who had a runner-up finish at the Mansfield season opener, also had a runner-up finish a couple of seasons ago at a Midvale Main Event, while still driving for Rick Watson.
The first caution of the event came on lap four, when Oliver Allen spun in turn four. Allen was then hit by a spinning Cal Holbert, Jr. Holbert was done for the night, while Allen continued.
Series regular, Mack Gribble, Jr. normally runs well at his home track, but not on this night, as he caused the second caution of the race on lap 11. The Riverfront Antique Mall/Gribble Truck Service #12 later retired from the event.
Several laps later, another caution slowed the field, as Bob Sibila dropped off the pace. Sibila, second place in the Late Model point standings at Midvale, drove in the Super Late and Late Model feature, but fell out of the 100-lapper with mechanical problems.
The top seven cars ran nose-to-tail the first 50 laps of the race, with Gilland making the most serious challenges, while trying to get to the lowside of Baker for the lead.
Gilland’s best chance to get around him was on restarts, as on cool tires, his car seemed better than Baker’s.
At halfway, the first caution since the 1/4 mark came out, as a video camera fell off of the front straightaway wall, and onto the track. Seven laps later, the same thing happened to a different camera, only this one was scattered all over the track.
Another long green flag run, had Baker way out front again. But on lap 87, things would turn sour for the Sypolt Chevrolet/Tallmadge Asphalt #11. Entering turn one, while running all by himself, Baker slowed to a crawl because of a broken rear panard bar. This turned out to be a break for Gilland, as he would only have to hold the rest of the field off for thirteen laps to win his second-ever Main Event Race.
Two laps after the green dropped, Tedesco had a good run through turn four, but only good enough to make slight contact with Gilland’s left rear. Gilland then put a little bit of space between himself and Tedesco and went on to win in the Haas Body Shop/Racetronics #05. His only other win on the circuit came last season at Lorain County Speedway, in September.
Tedesco, Whipkey, Tim Ice, and Malcuit completed the top five. Rohrer, Chuck Silva, Dino Long, John Crumrine, and Jon Raney rounded out the top ten.
Fireworks were aplenty in the 25-lap Smokers Paradise Late Model feature. Gary Hoopingarner and John Ambrose, Jr. led the 18-car field down for the green flag, with Hoopingarner leading by a nose at the line for lap one. On lap two, the caution flew for Rick Groetsch who was fighting loose handling conditions. Kenny Carroll and Bear Schwartz were collected in the aftermath, but all were able to continue. With 11 laps complete, Groetsch again spun, negating an excellent side-by-side battle between Hoopingarner and Ambrose for first. On the last completed lap, Hoopingarner had crossed the line ahead of Ambrose, thus putting him in front for the restart. On lap 12, Ambrose decided to try the low lane for a change, coming off of turn two. By the end of the backstretch, Ambrose was alongside and looked to be going into the lead. However, Hoopingarner tried to close the door, both spun, and were sent to the tail for the restart. Inheriting the lead was the point’s leader, Mike Miller. The night’s top qualifier, Farmer Smith was in second, with Duane Dunn up to third. Another car on the move was Bob Sibila, who was doing double duty on this night. Sibila, while trying to take third from Dunn, had the door shut on him in the front straightaway. The duo made contact, Dunn went into the infield, and again, both were sent to the tail. With all of that action in the top five, Miller was able to hang on, and stay out of trouble, for his fourth win of the 2001 season. Smith and Carroll finished in second and third, while Tim Sibila had his best Late Model run with a fourth place finish. Tom Garbrandt, Ken Hartz, Sibila, Paul Miller, Jr., Groetsch, and Hoopingarner completed the top ten.
In another exciting feature, the 24-car Tusco Net Detroit Iron main event took the track. John Burns held the early lead in the 20-lapper with double-wide racing from second place – on. After a restart, during the first half of the race, Tim Skinner moved into the lead when Burns gave him too much room going into turn three. At the halfway mark, Todd Miller, last week’s feature winner, and Joe Linard, the night’s top qualifier, were moving up in the outside groove. A caution came out on lap 14, putting the top three single file. On the restart, Linard passed Miller. Two laps later he took second from Lee McCreery, who was filling in for his brother, Bill Aubihl. With just three to go, there was but one car keeping Linard from his third win, and that was the #23 of Skinner. The duo would run side-by-side over the last couple of laps. With the pair coming out of turn four, the near-capacity crowd, rose to there feet to see that the Uncle Primo’s/New Image Homes #82 of Linard beat Skinner to the line by just a couple of feet. McCreery, Miller, and Kevin McClintock completed the top five. John Burns, Don Rufener, Jr., Roger Butler, Waylon Orr, and Paul Murray rounded out the top ten.
Canton, Ohio’s Joe Oliver started up front, as two of his relatives Brian Oliver and Teddy Oliver started second and third. However, it was Joe who had the best start for the 15-lap Papa John’s Pure Stock feature, as Brian and Teddy fell back. Brian Wood made the most solid run at the leader, but dropped to third at the finish. Sonny Arkenburgh moved up into the second spot, but never was able to challenge at the end. It was the second win of the year for the Danny’s Auto Parts/Used Tire Company #50. Arkenburgh, Wood, Bryan Aubihl, and Barney Gerber, the top qualifier, completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were John Leasure, Brian Oliver, Teddy Oliver, Larry Smith, and Mike Martin.
In the first Canton Auto Salvage Compact feature, Rich Fox jumped out front early and went on to win his first feature of the season. Following the Trail of Terror #51 were Chuck Elkins, Jason Shaw, Josh Grove, and John McNutt, the night’s top qualifier.
Jim Poole won the second Compact feature in convincing style, his first of 2001. Brian Oliver, Jason Anthony, Otto Polilli, and Robert Mizer completed the top ten.
Results For Midvale
Leg #5 Rundown
Top Qualifier – Marcus Malcuit
100 Lapper – Steve Gilland, Ryan Tedesco, Gary Whipkey, Tim Ice, Marcus Malcuit, Rich Rohrer, Chuck Silva, Dino Long, John Crumrine, Jon Raney, Joel McKnight, Cord Ehrhart, Joey Shuryan, A.P. Ren, Doug Ehret, Scott Baker, Oliver Allen, Mack Gribble, Jr., Bob Sibila, Cal Holbert, Jr., Todd Ripley
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Farmer Smith
Feature – Mike Miller, Farmer Smith, Kenny Carroll, Tim Sibila, Tom Garbrandt, Ken Hartz, Bob Sibila, Paul Miller, Jr., Rick Groetsch, Gary Hoopingarner, John Ambrose, Jr., Bear Schwartz, Bob Schneider, Jr., Paul Sibila, Ron Dague, Duane Dunn, Kenny Stevens, Bob Eichel
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Joe Linard
Feature – Joe Linard, Tim Skinner, Lee McCreery, Todd Miller, Kevin McClintock, John Burns, Don Rufener, Jr., Roger Butler, Waylon Orr, Paul Murray, Doug Walker, Greg Mazzoleni, Jimmy Orr, Keith Thomas, Joe Sanford, Jr., Tim Gowins, Mike Mazzagatti, Doug McMillen, Gabe Pringle, Tammy Randolph, John Bertram, Dave Jordan, Tim Postel, Scott Thayer, Jr.
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Barney Gerber
Feature – Joe Oliver, Sonny Arkenburgh, Brian Wood, Bryan Aubihl, Barney Gerber, John Leasure, Brian Oliver, Teddy Oliver, Mike Martin, Paul Parson, Bob Oliver, Chester McMasters, Jim Shaw, Tammy Rufener, George Scott, Vic Paul
Canton Auto Salvage Compacts
Top Qualifier – John McNutt
Feature #1 – Rich Fox, Chuck Elkins, Jason Shaw, Josh Grove, John McNutt, Tim Dreher, Terry Colletti, Billy Stutler, Lennie Orr, Jeff Grove, Jason Morgan, Greg Mazzoleni, Chad Squires, Rocky DeLuca, Bubba Smith, Jack Grove, Jim Jaberg, Rick Elkins, Jr.
Feature #2 – Jim Poole, Brian Oliver, Jason Anthony, Otto Polilli, Greg Grove, Blaine Partee, Justin Courtney, Gary Burdette, Gary Gibson, Randy Hahn, Tom Craw, Gary Murray, Russell Grandison, Phil Veno, Earl Stranton, Adam Stewart
Written by: Adam Mackey |
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07/03/2001 Race
Detroit Irons Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Linard, Joe |
| 2. | Skinner, Tim |
| 3. | Aubihl, Bill |
| 4. | Miller, Todd |
| 5. | McClintock, Kevin |
| 6. | Burns, John |
| 7. | Rufener, Jr., Don |
| 8. | Butler, Roger |
| 9. | Orr, Waylon |
| 10. | Murray, Paul |
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07/03/2001 Race
Late Models Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Miller, Mike |
| 2. | Smith, Farmer |
| 3. | Carroll, Kenny |
| 4. | Sibila, Tim |
| 5. | Dexter, Darrel |
| 6. | Hartz, Ken |
| 7. | Sibila, Bob |
| 8. | Miller, Jr., Paul |
| 9. | Groetsch, Rick |
| 10. | Hoopingarner, Gary |
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07/03/2001 Race
Pure Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Oliver, Joe |
| 2. | Arkenburgh, Sonny |
| 3. | Wood, Brian |
| 4. | Aubihl, Bryan |
| 5. | Gerber, Barney |
| 6. | Leasure, John |
| 7. | Oliver, Brian |
| 8. | Oliver, Teddy |
| 9. | Smith, Larry |
| 10. | Martin, Mike |
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07/03/2001 Race
Compacts Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Fox, Rich |
| 2. | Elkins, Chuck |
| 3. | Shaw, Jason |
| 4. | Grove, Willie |
| 5. | McNutt, John |
| 6. | Orr, Lennie |
| 7. | Colletti, Terry |
| 8. | Stutler, Billy |
| 9. | McNutt, Kelly |
| 10. | Grove, Josh |
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