 A record number of cars were on hand opening night, as 148 made the trip to the 3/10-mile asphalt oval, known as Midvale Speedway. All five regular divisions, Late Models, Modifieds, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts, raced for double points in the official Tusco Net/J.D. Byrider/Bloom’s Printing season opener.
17 of the best Late Model drivers in the state of Ohio, lined up for the 25-lap main event. Paul Miller, Jr. and Duane Dunn were to start on the front row, of the season’s first feature, but Miller had problems and retired from the event before it started. That moved his uncle, Mike, last year’s track champion, up into the front row. Miller, wasted no time, as the green flew, jumping into the lead. Steve Gilland, a previous track champion at the speedway and last year’s runner-up in Main Event Racing Series points, took second from Dunn, via the outside lane. Gilland quickly tucked his nose under the leader’s tail, and waited for the Clinton, Ohio driver to make a mistake. Lap after lap, Gilland hounded Miller, and eventually, a 5-6 car breakaway ensued. Miller, driving the Allied Auto/Cornwell Tools #79, never did make the mistake that the runner-up was looking for and went on for the win. Rounding out the field, in a race that went flag-to-flag, was Steve Gilland, Duane Dunn, Farmer Smith, and top qualifier Don Harvey. Ryan Tedesco, Tom Garbrandt, Scott Baker, A.P. Ren, and Bear Schwartz rounded out the field. Garbrandt and Kenny Stevens won the heat race events.
In possibly the best race of the night, the Tolloti Pipe Modifieds took to the track for their 20-lap feature race. Mark Enos and Bill Westlake started on the front row, with Enos taking the lead, early on. Three laps later, after passing Jeff Smith for second, Ernie Shook was going for the lead. Shook went to the outside of Enos, and after about one lap, had taken over the top spot. Also on the move, was Glen Jewell. Jewell picked up the most feature wins at the speedway in 2001 with 9 top finishes. Jewell, quicker through the turns than Shook, was able to draw side-by-side with him out of turn 2, almost every lap. By the middle of the backstretch, however, Shook’s power would take over and stay out front. Lap-after-lap, the duo race for the lead, until a caution flew with just a few to go. On the restart, Jewell took advantage of the outside lane, and pulled alongside the leader. Two laps later, he was out front and picked up the first Modified feature victory of the season, in the Texas Roadhouse/J.D. Byrider of Dover #24. Shook, Mark Striker, John Wilson, and Mark Enos completed the top five, while Jim McCune, Mark Willison, Dusty Woodie, George Bowers, and Butch Erickson rounded out the top ten. Jewell and Enos won the heats, while Woodie was the top qualifier.
In the Tusco Net Detroit Iron 20-lap feature, Tim Gowins and Tim Skinner brought the field down for the green. Gowins, hard luck driver of the year in 2001, took the lead with Skinner in tow. Skinner tried a few time to get by, but to no avail. Moving up through the field was last year’s track champion of the class, Joe Linard. After catching the leader, the duo raced very close around the oval, until Gowins slipped up and allowed Linard to go underneath. Linard was able to stay out front for his opening night win in the Uncle Primo’s/Boulevard Lanes #82, while Will Walker, Keith Thomas, Roger Linard, and Tim Gowins completed the top five. Doug McMillen, Waylon Orr, Paul Murray, Bill Aubihl, and Dave McMillen completed the top ten. Joe Linard and Travis Devore won the heats, while Thomas was top qualifier.
In the Papa John’s Pure Stock race, last year’s track champion, Mike Martin, started on the pole and took the early lead with John Ferrell following. Joe Oliver and Curtis Collins each tried their hand against Martin, but to no avail. The Precision Painting #6 of Canton’s Mike Martin picked up the win with Collins, Anthony Bissett, Barney Gerber, and Jimmy Orr rounding out the top five. The rest of the top ten were Ferrell, Al Street, Norm Stutler, John Leasure, and Teddy Oliver. Joe Oliver, Teddy Oliver, and Scott McRobie won the heats, while Orr was the fastest in time trials.
The first of three Galigher Motorsports Racing Collectibles Compact features was very exciting. Three Grove racing cars started up front with Josh on the pole and Greg and Willie right behind. On the start, Willie took second from Greg and hounded his son Josh, every lap, but it wasn’t until the final circuit that the elder Grove, ducked to the inside and took the lead and the win. Following Willie Grove in the Briko Investments/Grove Home Medical #4 were Greg Grove, Josh Grove, John McNutt, and Justin Courtney. Billy Stutler, Gabe Pringle, Randy Hahn, Kelly McNutt, and Terry Colletti finished in the top ten.
The #142 of William Scott crossed the line first in the second Compact feature, but afterwards the win was taken away, as a different driver had qualified the car. Picking up the win was the #133 of Vic Paul. Joe Ujcich, Jason Anthony, Bob Passwaters, and Brian Oliver rounded out the top five.
The third and final feature for the Compacts was interesting, as the leaders worked through heavy lapped traffic. At the end, the win was almost awarded to Kevin Rennicker, but officials got the correct rundown afterwards and changed it to Ray Hoover. Following Hoover were Rennicker, Eddie Poland, John Nealey, and Dennis Robinson.
This coming Saturday night, April 27, Midvale Speedway will have their 2nd week of racing action, after a very exciting season opener. 148 cars were on hand for the opener, and this week even more are expected. Late Models, Modifieds, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will race along with a special visit for the Legend car class. The Legend cars are made up of smaller replica coupes and sedans.
Listen this week for your chance to win free tickets to Midvale Speedway racing action on Eagle 107.5 FM, as they will present the racing action on the 27th. They will have many giveaways including two passes for the Winston Cup race at Pocono. Also, inside the front gate, Hog Heaven, a great place to order food, will be presenting fans with free samples. J.D. Byrider, of Dover, a sponsor of the season opener, will also be on hand.
The pits open at 1:30, hot laps start at 2:00, qualifying is 3:50-5:50, and racing action starts at 6:30. Grandstand admission remains the same at 9.95 for adults, 8.95 for 62+, 6.00 for 6-16, and free for 5 and under.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Don Harvey 14.61 (NTR)
Heat #1 – Tom Garbrandt, Don Harvey, Farmer Smith, Ryan Tedesco, Steve Gilland
Heat #2 – Kenny Stevens, Scott Baker, Todd Ripley, A.P. Ren, Darrel Dexter
Feature – Mike Miller, Steve Gilland, Duane Dunn, Farmer Smith, Don Harvey, Ryan Tedesco, Tom Garbrandt, Scott Baker, A.P. Ren, Bear Schwartz, Darrel Dexter, Kenny Stevens, Bob Eichel, Todd Ripley, Richard Marcum, Marcus Malcuit, Paul Miller, Jr.
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Dusty Woodie 14.84
Heat #1 – Glen Jewell, John Wilson, Dusty Woodie, Mark Striker, Jim McCune
Heat #2 – Mark Enos, Mark Willison, Bill Westlake, Jeff Smith, Butch Erickson
Feature – Glen Jewell, Ernie Shook, Mark Striker, John Wilson, Mark Enos, Jim McCune, Mark Willison, Dusty Woodie, George Bowers, Butch Erickson, Bill Westlake, Jeff Smith
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Keith Thomas 16.06
Heat #1 – Joe Linard, Dave McMillen, Waylon Orr, Will Walker, Roger Butler
Heat #2 – Travis Devore, Paul Murray, Bill Aubihl, Don Rufener, Jr., Mario Kelly
Feature – Joe Linard, Will Walker, Keith Thomas, Roger Linard, Tim Gowins, Doug McMillen, Waylon Orr, Paul Murray, Bill Aubihl, Dave McMillen, Dan Gasser, Kevin McClintock, Travis Devore, Roger Butler, Joe Sanford, Jr., Ron Carothers, Don Rufener, Jr., Tim Skinner, Mike Royer, Paul Wade
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Jimmy Orr 18.31
Heat #1 – Joe Oliver, Curtis Collins, John Leasure, Al Street, Norm Stutler
Heat #2 – Teddy Oliver, Mike Martin, Scott Ollis, Brian Wood, Larry Smith
Heat #3 – Scott McRobie, Bob Oliver, Chuck Miller, Jr., Tom Wilson, Carl Cordia
Feature – Mike Martin, Curtis Collins, Anthony Bissett, Barney Gerber, Jimmy Orr, John Ferrell, Al Street, Norm Stutler, John Leasure, Teddy Oliver, Brian Wood, Scott Ollis, Pappy Miller, Larry Smith, Mike Daugherty, Joe Oliver, Scott McRobie, Tom Feller, Jr., Carl Cordia, Tom Wilson, Jim Shaw, Chris Miller, Paul Parson, Chester McMasters
Galigher Motorsports Racing Collectible Compacts
Top Qualifier – John McNutt 18.98 (NTR)
Heat #1 – Jason Morgan, Josh Grove, Greg Grove, Willie Grove, Rick Elkins, Jr.
Heat #2 – Jim Keller, Jr., William Scott, Shawn Smarsh, Josh Feister, Bill Coburn
Heat #3 – Jason Anthony, Bruce Gibson, Joe Ujcich, Larry Riggle, Shawna Myers
Heat #4 – Shawn Royer, Dennis Robinson, Adam Mishler, John Wissman, Bill Harshey
Heat #5 – Kelly Wissman, Mike Phillips, Jr., Jaimie Huebner, Rocky Moore, Kevin Rennicker
Feature #1 – Willie Grove, Greg Grove, Josh Grove, John McNutt, Justin Courtney, Billy Stutler, Gabe Pringle, Randy Hahn, Kelly McNutt, Terry Colletti, Rick Elkins, Jr., Bill Coburn, Jimbo Roup, Phil Veno, Russell Grandison, Ron Myers, Randy Smart, David Breehl, Jim Poole, Mike Swaney, Josh Feister, Bubba Smith, Cody Kahler, Jason Morgan
Feature #2 – Vic Paul, Joe Ujcich, Jason Anthony, Bob Passwaters, Bryan Oliver, Jack Grove, Bill Mercier, Shawn Royer, Bobby Courtney, Ray Scott, Dan Gray, Charles Ritch, Bill Harshey, Anthony Coburn, Shawna Myers, Jim Keller, Jr., Bruce Gibson, Gary Murray, Shawn Smarsh, Larry Riggle
Feature #3 – Ray Hoover, Kevin Rennicker, Eddie Poland, John Nealey, Dennis Robinson, Chris Perkins, Jill Harshey, John Wissman, Dougie Cross, Brian Ridgway, Jaimie Huebner, Ray Van Lehn, Eric Feister, Dusty Scott, Billy Hilliker, Kelly Wissman, Rocky Moore, Adam Mishler, James Perrenoud, Mike Phillips, Jr.
Written by: Adam Mackey |
