 Originally on the 2001 schedule, September 15 was viewed as an open date. However, two weeks ago, officials at Midvale Speedway announced that racing would take place with another $5 fan appreciation night. The Ohio Super Lites made their first visit in nearly two years, and the speedway’s regular Detroit Iron, Pure Stock, and Compact divisions also competed.
In the Tusco Net Detroit Iron division, a 50-lapper was held. The 20-car field was comprised of 14 Midvale regulars and 6 regulars from Barberton Speedway. In the main event, Tony Newman, the polesitter, bested Will Walker on the start and took the early lead. Newman led for an early handful of laps until Walker moved to the inside of him on the backstretch to lead the field. Walker was out front for several laps, but the car on the move was that of second fast qualifier, Kevin McClintock. McClintock, who started eleventh in the field, got around Walker and set sail. Walker then spun and went to the pits with mechanical problems, ending his night. Top qualifier and track champion, Joe Linard, also had a strong car during the event. Linard started twelfth, picked up some positions early on, but was involved in an accident with Bill Hilliker, and had to go to the back. With less than ten to go, Linard had moved back up to second. However, during a caution period, his car stalled and would not refire, ending his night. No one else had enough for the Blick Tool & Die/Broadrun Cheesehouse #38. For McClintock, it was his fourth feature win of the 2001 season. Following the Dover, Ohio driver across the stripe were Dave Jordan, Scott Curto, Don Rufener, Jr., and Bill Hilliker. Tim Postel, Jimmy Orr, Paul Murray, Dan Gasser, and Rich Stalnaker rounded out the top ten. In post race inspections, the car of Curto was found to not meet rule specifications, and was thus dq’ed. Rich Kirkpatrick was then moved into the top ten in the official rundown. Orr won the dash, Jordan and Hilliker won heats, and Jordan won the pursuit.
In the 20-lap Papa John’s Pure Stock feature event, J.R. Ridgway and Mike Royer brought the field down for the green. Ridgway took the early lead and was able to hold on until hard-charging Teddy Oliver took over. Randy Smith, the track promoter who decided to race on this night, followed him into the second spot. The duo ran nose-to-tail for a couple of laps, until Smith used the outside lane to get beside the leader. A yellow flag came out, singling the field out again, but as the restart took place the side-by-side battle resumed. Oliver was able to hold on for a couple of laps, before being overtaken by Smith. Barney Gerber, the top qualifier, took second and ran right on Smith’s rear bumper. Gerber, despite having the quicker car and picking up more positions, ran out of time at the end of the race. Following the Canton Auto Salvage/Gallagher Auto Center #12 were Gerber, Ridgway, Bob Parson, and Larry Smith. Brian Wood, Oliver, Doug Higgins, Scott Ollis, and Shane Billiter completed the top ten. L. Smith won the dash, Oliver and Sonny Arkenburgh won heats, and Parson took the pursuit win.
In the Canton Auto Salvage Compact division, two feature events were held. In the first feature, 20 cars took the green. Jimbo Roup, who started on the pole, jumped to the early lead in his #9. Phil Veno took second and was working on the leader, but a black flag thwarted that effort. Greg Mazzoleni, who started seventh was then able to make his move around the leader and run away with the win. Following the Route 39 Auto Salvage #89 were Roup, Kelly McNutt, Bubba Smith, and Chuck Elkins. Shawn Smarsh, John McNutt, Terry Colletti, Vince Martin, and Brian Feister completed the top ten.
In the second feature, Canton’s Allen Andrews brought home the win in his Danny’s Auto Parts/Used Tire Company #42. Gary Gibson, Chad Squires, John Nealey, and Bruce Gibson completed the top five. Blaine Partee, Kirk Whittaker, Dan Gray, Robert Nealey, and John Baker finished out the top ten.
In preliminary action, Smith won the dash, Mazzoleni, Veno, Whittaker, and Partee won heats, and Mazzoleni took the pursuit.
In the Ohio Superlites first visit to the speedway this season, dash winner and second fast qualifier, Steve Hendershot moved through the field and took the lead. However, the top qualifier and point’s leader, Marty Robinson did him one better, by getting around him. Robinson went on to the win, while Hendershot, Eddie Lohr, Dan Sherbine, and Richard Makin finished out the top five. Finishing in positions six through ten were Greg Tritt, Jeff Smith, Milt Depuy, Roger Utterbach, and Jeff Watkins. Smith and Robinson won the heats.
Midvale Speedway will now take the weekend off for the Main Event show at Columbus Motor Speedway. However, on Saturday and Sunday, September 29th and 30th, the final event of the season will take place. The, season ending, Fall Classic will have eight divisions of action. All divisions will run qualifying and preliminaries on Saturday, while all features, except the 305 Sprint cars will be on Sunday. Late Models will run 50 laps, Modifieds 50, Detroit Irons 35, Legends 30, Pure Stocks 25, and all Compact features will be 20. The 305 Sprint feature on Saturday will be 30 laps. Qualifying on Saturday will begin at 2:30, while racing will kick off at 6:30. On Sunday, the last chance and feature action will begin at 2:30. Any other information for this event can be found at www.midvalespeedway.com
Results For Midvale
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Joe Linard
Dash – Jimmy Orr, John Tantarelli, Joe Linard, Kevin McClintock
Heat #1 – Dave Jordan, Tim Postel, Jimmy Orr, Kevin McClintock
Heat #2 – Bill Hilliker, Tony Newman, Mark Thomas, Dan Gasser, Rich Kirkpatrick
Pursuit – Dave Jordan, Joe Linard, Don Rufener, Jr., Tim Skinner, Paul Murray
Feature – Kevin McClintock, Dave Jordan, Don Rufener, Jr., Bill Hilliker, Tim Postel, Jimmy Orr, Paul Murray, Dan Gasser, Rich Stalnaker, Rich Kirkpatrick, Mark Thomas, Tony Newman, Joe Linard, Will Walker, Steve Mowry, Tim Skinner, John Tantarelli, Waylon Orr
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Barney Gerber
Dash – Larry Smith, Brian Wood, Barney Gerber, Jim Shaw
Heat #1 – Teddy Oliver, Mike Royer, Jim Shaw, Joe Oliver, Randy Smith
Heat #2 – Sonny Arkenburgh, Curtis Collins, Scott Ollis, J.R. Ridgway, Bob Parson
Pursuit – Bob Parson, Barney Gerber, Larry Smith, Teddy Oliver, Curtis Collins
Feature – Randy Smith, Barney Gerber, J.R. Ridgway, Bob Parson, Larry Smith, Brian Wood, Teddy Oliver, Doug Higgins, Scott Ollis, Shane Billiter, Jim Shaw, Joe Oliver, Mike Royer
Canton Auto Salvage Compacts
Top Qualifier – Chuck Elkins
Dash – Bubba Smith, Chuck Elkins, Russell Grandison, Justin Courtney
Heat #1 – Greg Mazzoleni, Chuck Elkins, Jason Morgan, Brian Feister, Shawn Smarsh
Heat #2 – Phil Veno, Jimbo Roup, Jason Anthony, Kelly McNutt, Jim Poole
Heat #3 – Kirk Whittaker, Chad Squires, Gary Gibson, John Nealey, Dan Gray
Heat #4 – Blaine Partee, Craig Rudolph, Bruce Gibson, Henry Roup, Shawana Myers
Pursuit – Greg Mazzoleni, Jason Morgan, Bubba Smith, Shawn Smarsh, Kelly McNutt
Feature #1 – Greg Mazzoleni, Jimbo Roup, Kelly McNutt, Bubba Smith, Chuck Elkins, Shawn Smarsh, John McNutt, Terry Colletti, Vince Martin, Brian Feister, Russell Grandison, Justin Courtney, Jason Anthony, Bill Coburn, Gary Smith, Sr., Matt Eggerton, Ron Myers, Jason Morgan, Phil Veno, Jim Poole
Feature #2 – Allen Andrews, Gary Gibson, Chad Squires, John Nealey, Bruce Gibson, Blaine Partee, Kirk Whittaker, Dan Gray, Robert Nealey, John Baker, Mike Hammerling, Jaimie Huebner, Craig Rudolph, Mike Montague, Henry Roup, Shawana Myers, Shawn Musick, Bobby Hunter
Ohio Super Lites
Top Qualifier – Marty Robinson
Dash – Steve Hendershot, Marty Robinson, Shaggy Rogers, Mike Makin
Heat #1 – Jeff Smith, Richard Makin, Steve Summers, Jeff Watkins, Roger Utterbach
Heat #2 – Marty Robinson, Steve Hendershot, Shaggy Rogers, Eddie Lohr, Dan Sherbine
Feature – Marty Robinson, Steve Hendershot, Eddie Lohr, Dan Sherbine, Richard Makin, Greg Tritt, Jeff Smith, Milt Depuy, Roger Utterbach, Jeff Watkins, Steve Summers, Shaggy Rogers
Parking Lot Drags
Winner – (Ford Mustang) Butch Roup
Written by: Adam Mackey |
