 Despite determining the season and track champions on September 1, 130 drivers still showed up to run this past Saturday at Midvale Speedway. The final regular night for all five divisions was held, as the night’s sponsor was Goodyear Racing Tires.
In the 25-lap Smokers Paradise Late Model feature, Paul Sibila and Mike Enos started on the front row. When the green flew, Sibila had the better run, as Enos checked up. Season champion, Tom Garbrandt started behind Enos and also checked up, but Tim Sibila did not. He got into the rear of Garbrandt, sent him sideways and into the low groove, where Duane Dunn was racing. Garbrandt and Dunn collided, veered right, and hit the turn one wall simultaneously head on. Garbrandt and Dunn, last week’s first and second place finishers, were done for the night with severe damage. On the second tried start, P. Sibila again took the lead. Paul Miller, Jr., making his third feature start this season, dropped into second. With 2 laps in, Miller got into the back of P. Sibila in turn three, sending him spinning. Miller admitted fault for the caution, and P. Sibila got his spot back. By lap 5, track champion, Mike Miller had moved into second and was pressuring P. Sibila on the inside lane. By lap 11, M. Miller had drawn totally side-by-side during the slow process of trying to pass the leader. Lap after lap, the two cars ran neck-and-neck, but after going caution free for the final 23 laps – 18 of those with a challenge for the lead, Paul Sibila came out victorious over Mike Miller. Sibila picked up his first feature win in many years in the Sibila Race Engineering/Sling One Fishing Team #44. Following him in the top five were M. Miller, Bob Sibila, Bear Schwartz, and Gary Hoopingarner. Kenny Stevens, T. Sibila, P. Miller, Kenny Cantrell, and Darrel Dexter completed the top ten. Garbrandt and Stevens won the heats, while B. Sibila was the top qualifier.
In the Tolloti Pipe Modified 20-lap main event, Mark Enos jumped in front of Mike Bowers on the start to take the early lead. Butch Erickson moved into second by the completion of the lap 2, and began to pressure the leader. With 8 laps in, top qualifier, season champion, and point’s champion, Dusty Woodie, went to the outside of Erickson for second. As the two cars went through turn three, they touched, sending Woodie spinning. Neither driver admitted fault for the caution flag, and both were sent to the rear. During the yellow flag period, some extra-curricular activity was taking place between the two drivers. The cars were stopped on the front straightaway, and the track flagman Bernie Booth sent them pitside. Both drivers were talked to in the pits, and were allowed back onto the speedway, keeping in mind that if anything else took place, they would be black flagged. By the 1/2 way mark, Woodie was coming through the field like a rocketship. With around 5 to go, Woodie worked his Coshocton Trucking/Roma’s Gift Gallery #44 around the outside of Enos for the lead, and eventually his a win for the second week in a row. Jeff Walker got around Enos for second, while Erickson and John White finished out the top five. John Wilson, M. Bowers, George Bowers, Mark Striker, and Jeff Smith completed the top ten. M. Bowers won the heat.
Don Rufener, Jr. and Mike Mazzagatti led 24 Tusco Net Detroit Irons, for the start of the 20-lap affair. In turn three, of the first lap, Mazzagatti looped his car, collecting Tim Gowins. Both were done for the night. On the second tried start, Rufener again jumped out front, and would lead until lap 5, when John Tantarelli took over. Tantarelli, who had won two of the three features he was in this season, was looking for his third win in four races, but would have his hands full, as Roger Linard moved into second. By lap 7, Linard was using the outside lane, trying to get around Tantarelli, but by the end, Tantarelli was too much. Following the Ember Home Care/Action Extreme Sports #67 were Linard, Jimmy Orr, Dave Darrow, and Kevin McClintock. Keith Thomas, Scott Curto, Bill Aubihl, Paul Murray, and Dave McMillen completed the top ten. Linard, Tim Roudebush, and Murray picked up the heat wins, while Doug McMillen was the top qualifier.
In Papa John’s Pure Stock action, Matt Wallick took the lead from the get-go, and would never relinquish it, despite several cautions, as he went on to win his first career Pure Stock feature. Following the Matt’s Collision/Performance Towing #14 were Larry Smith, John Leasure, Barney Gerber, and Sonny Arkenburgh. Adam Ridgway, Bob Parson, Shane Ball, Chester McMasters, and Joe Oliver rounded out the top ten. Gerber was top qualifier and won the fast heat, while Mike Martin and Paul Parson won the other two heats.
Bubba Smith picked up his second win of the year in the Canton Auto Salvage Compact fast feature. Terry Colletti, Rick Elkins, Jr., Billy Stutler, and Russell Grandison followed the Smith’s Auto Sales/T&J Trucking car across the stripe.
In the second feature, the elder Chuck Elkins was the winner. Jason Anthony, Chad Squires, Ron Myers, and Matt Eggerton completed the top five.
In the final Compact feature, Bruce Gibson topped the 17-car field. Brian Oliver, Mike Montague, Dale Beatty, and Reece Shoup finished off the top five. Rick Elkins, Jr. was the top qualifier, while Jason Shaw and Billy Stutler won the first two heats, while Joe “Dawg” Evey was black flagged in the third heat, giving the win to Rick Everett, Jr. Lennie Orr and Gary “Grasshopper” Murray won the other two preliminaries.
The racing action was not complete there, as three powder puff races and an exciting Figure 8 race were held. In the first Compact Powder Puff, Sue Smith started at the tail, came through the field, and picked up the win. Jessica Smith, Kristi Finlayson, #27, and Eileen Julian rounded out the top five.
In the second Compact Powder Puff race, Falicia Pitman brought home the checkers. Tiffany Gribble, Lorraine Hill, #95, and #26 completed the top five.
In one of the more competitive races of the night, Powder Puff professionals Sue Smith and Jessica Smith – no relation, dueled for the top spot. Coming in on the checkered flag, Jessica took Sue high, trying to block for the position, the two made contact, Jessica spun, and Sue came home the victor. J. Smith finished second, while Bobbie Jo Poland, Shelly Uplinger, and Tera Swugger completed the top five.
In the Dale’s Heating and Cooling Figure 8 feature, some 15 or so cars took the green. Rich Fox, who started up front took the lead and pulled away slightly. However, each time he came to the intersection, his lead would evaporate, as he would slow to avoid a collision. Chad Squires eventually moved into second, as the top five cars ran nose-to-tail. At the completion of lap 10, Rich Fox was declared the winner, while Squires, Brian Oliver, Dale Beatty, and #126 completed the top five.
Results For Midvale
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Bob Sibila
Heat #1 – Tom Garbrandt, Mike Miller, Bob Sibila, Mike Enos, Tim Sibila
Heat #2 – Kenny Stevens, Paul Sibila, Bob Schneider, Jr., Kenny Cantrell, Larry Page
Feature – Paul Sibila, Mike Miller, Bob Sibila, Bear Schwartz, Gary Hoopingarner, Kenny Stevens, Tim Sibila, Paul Miller, Jr., Kenny Cantrell, Darrel Dexter, Bob Schneider, Jr., Bob Eichel, Jack McGrath, Larry Page, Mike Enos, Tom Garbrandt, Duane Dunn
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Dusty Woodie
Heat – Mike Bowers, Mark Enos, Butch Erickson, Jeff Smith, John Wilson
Feature – Dusty Woodie, Jeff Walker, Mark Enos, Butch Erickson, John White, John Wilson, Mike Bowers, George Bowers, Mark Striker, Jeff Smith, Jim McCune
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Doug McMillen
Heat #1 – Joe Linard, Dave Darrow, Tim Gowins, Doug McMillen, Scott Curto
Heat #2 – Tim Roudebush, Jim Benzel, Tim Postel, Tim Skinner, Don Rufener, Jr.
Heat #3 – Paul Murray, Dave McMillen, Dan Gasser, Steve Mackey, Rich Stalnaker
Feature – John Tantarelli, Joe Linard, Jimmy Orr, Dave Darrow, Kevin McClintock, Keith Thomas, Scott Curto, Bill Aubihl, Paul Murray, Dave McMillen, Rich Stalnaker, Tim Roudebush, Don Rufener, Jr., Waylon Orr, Steve Mackey, Doug McMillen, Tim Skinner, Jim Benzel, Larry Ennis, Tim Croft, Jr., Tim Postel, Dan Gasser, Tim Gowins, Mike Mazzagatti
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Barney Gerber
Heat #1 – Barney Gerber, John Leasure, Jim Shaw, Al Street, Larry Smith
Heat #2 – Mike Martin, Matt Wallick, Sonny Arkenburgh, Joe Oliver, Chester McMasters
Heat #3 – Paul Parson, Scott Ollis, Adam Ridgway, Chunky Radanovich, Jeff Anthony
Feature – Matt Wallick, Larry Smith, John Leasure, Barney Gerber, Sonny Arkenburgh, Adam Ridgway, Bob Parson, Shane Ball, Chester McMasters, Joe Oliver, Paul Parson, Scott Ollis, Jeff Anthony, Chunky Radanovich, Jim Shaw, Curtis Collins, Mike Martin, Teddy Oliver, Dan Moore
Canton Auto Salvage Compacts
Top Qualifier – Rick Elkins, Jr.
Heat #1 – Jason Shaw, Rick Elkins, Jr., Phil Veno, Cody Kahler, Jimbo Roup
Heat #2 – Billy Stutler, Chad Squires, Shawn Musick, Bill Coburn, Russell Grandison
Heat #3 – Rick Everett, Jr., Jason Anthony, Ron Myers, Jerry Kimble, Gene Morgan
Heat #4 – Lennie Orr, John Wissman, Brian Oliver, Mike Phillips, Jr., John Nealey
Heat #5 – Gary Murray, Alan Andrews, Randy Smart, Bobby Hunter, Bruce Gibson
Feature #1 – Bubba Smith, Terry Colletti, Rick Elkins, Jr., Billy Stutler, Russell Grandison, Terry McNutt, John McNutt, Jimbo Roup, Jason Morgan, Willie Grove, Greg Grove, Cody Kahler, Jason Shaw, Justin Courtney, Bill Coburn, Rich Fox, Kelly Wissman, Jack Grove
Feature #2 – Chuck Elkins, Jason Anthony, Chad Squires, Ron Myers, Matt Eggerton, Rick Everett, Jr., Joe Evey, Mike Martin, Gary Gibson, Gene Morgan, Lennie Orr, Jerry Kimble, Mike Phillips, Jr., Shawn Musick, Rocky DeLuca, Al Street, Bill Mercier
Feature #3 – Bruce Gibson, Brian Oliver, Mike Montague, Dale Beatty, Reece Shoup, Bobby Hunter, Gary Smith, Robert Nealey, Mike Gribble, Gary Murray, Randy Smart, Alan Andrews, Jamie Leslie, John Nealey, Jill Harshey, Henry Roup, John Wissman
Compact Powder Puff
Feature #1 – Sue Smith, Jessica Smith, Kristi Finlayson, #27, Eileen Julian, #01, Tina Rickey, #103, Helen Moore, Monica Nepper, Amanda Poole, Shawana Myers, Linda Morgan, Summer Thomas
Feature #2 – Falicia Pitman, Tiffany Gribble, Lorraine Hill, #95, #26, Candy Beatty, Kelly McCarty, Alanna Russell, Amy Eggerton, Laura Verhovic, #188, Jane Gibson, April Porter, Peggy Porter
Pure Stock Powder Puff
Feature – Sue Smith, Jessica Smith, Bobbie Jo Poland, Shelly Uplinger, Tera Swugger, Kelly McCarty, Shannon Collins, Melinda Paul, Carol Parson
Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8
Feature – Rich Fox, Chad Squires, Brian Oliver, Dale Beatty, #126
Written by: Adam Mackey |
