 Over 140 cars were in the pits this past Saturday, June 8, at Midvale Speedway. It was a very special night as all five classes were on hand, kids’ bicycle races at intermission, and the Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8’s at the end of the night. To top it all off, long-time NASCAR driver Lake Speed was on hand to sign autographs and compete in the Late Model division.
Tom Newman, Jr., and Lake Speed brought the 16-car Smokers Paradise Late Model field down for the green flag for the 25-lapper. On the original start, last week’s winner Ryan Tedesco spun in turn four, and Rob Julian and Dave Sluka collected each other in the aftermath, causing a yellow. Julian was done for the night.
On the complete restart, Newman jumped into the lead, with Speed dropping to third, as Duane Dunn took second. With five laps in, Newman was starting to pull away as Dunn and Speed raced for second.
Meanwhile, the car on the move was point’s leader Don Harvey. By lap 10, Harvey passed Bear Schwartz for fourth, after his original starting position of seventh. On lap 11, Harvey ducked to the inside of Speed for third, and started chasing down Newman and Dunn.
With 14 laps in, caution flew for debris in turn three. That put Newman, Dunn, and Harvey nose-to-tail up front, and Speed and Schwartz beside each other in fourth and fifth. When the green fell, Tedesco moved into the top five by passing Schwartz. Schwartz caused the next yellow as he hit the wall in turn four, a lap later.
Over the last ten laps, the racing was furious. Harvey was trying to pass Dunn for second, while Newman was pulling away again. But a more entertaining battle was taking place as Tedesco raced Speed on the outside for fourth. The duo raced neck-and-neck until Speed was eventually able to hang on.
With just five laps to go, Harvey passed Dunn, but had a lot of distance to make up. However, he was able to catch him, but not pass him as they crossed the line at the checkers. Following the Allied Auto/Performance Metal Works #10, as he picked up his first career feature win at Midvale, were Harvey, Speed, Tedesco, and Garbrandt. Finishing in positions six through ten were Mike Miller, Farmer Smith, Steve Gilland, A.P. Ren, and Kenny Stevens. Julian and Miller won the heats, while Smith was the top qualifier.
Mike Bowers started on the pole with Dan Shannon alongside for the 20-lap Tolloti Pipe Modified feature. Shannon jumped into the lead and started to stretch it immediately over the rest of the field. On lap 6, with over a ½ stretch lead, Shannon brought out the yellow flag, as he was clocked going under his qualifying time. That handed the lead to Mark Willison. After a lap 8 restart, top qualifier Mark Striker, who had already worked his way from the back, started working on Willison for the lead. Striker, though, was not able to get around him until Willison’s #18 racer had something go wrong in the suspension just after halfway. Willison, who has been close to winning his first Midvale Modified feature on two separate occasions, retired to the pits. Striker went on to pick up a very impressive second feature win in a row. Following the Trenton Service/Snap-On Tools #77 across the stripe were John Wilson, Glen Jewell, Jim McCune, and Mark Enos. Rounding out the top ten were Mike Bowers, Butch Erickson, Jeff Smith, John Leonard, and Willison. Enos and Willison won the heats, while Striker was top qualifier.
Tim Gowins started on the outside of Travis Page for the 20-lap Tusco Net Detroit Iron feature. Gowins crossed the stripe leading the first lap, but Page came right back to lead lap two. Lap-by-lap went by without a serious challenge for Page who had a ½ stretch lead by halfway. Back in the field, the 12th place starter, Keith Thomas, who was the top qualifier, had moved into fourth by lap 14. He then picked up two more spots to be in second for the final restart on lap 16, but on the restart, a large accident took place which caused the race to end due to time constraints. Page crossed in first, but the win was taken away, as his car did not meet technical specifications. Thomas picked up the win in the D&B Machine/Tolloti Pipe #34. Gowins, Will Walker, Mario Kelly, and Kevin McClintock rounded out the top five. Tim Skinner, Doug McMillen, Steve Mowery, Waylon Orr, and Dan Gasser completed the top ten. McMillen, Arkenburgh, and Travis Devore won the heats.
Al Street held off serious challenges from top competitors Norm Stutler and Jimmy Orr to win his first Papa John’s Pure Stock 15-lap feature. Following the Canton Auto Salvage/Mark’s Auto Body #73 were Stutler, Orr, John Leasure, and Brian Wood. Chester McMasters, Rick Elkins, Jr., Teddy Oliver, Joe Oliver, and Paul Parson finished off the top ten. Teddy Oliver, McMasters, and Chris Miller won the heats. D.J. Radanovich won the last chance, while Elkins was the top qualifier.
Randy Hahn and Jimbo Roup ran side-by-side for several laps at the start of the first Galigher Motorsports Racing Collectibles Compact feature. However, Greg Grove went three wide on the outside and passed them both to win the main event. Jason Morgan, John McNutt, Hahn, and Terry Colletti completed the top five behind the J.D. Byrider/New Phila Car Care #3. Finishing in positions six through ten were Kelly McNutt, Josh Grove, Jimbo Roup, Jim Keller, Jr., and Phil Veno.
In the second feature, Greg’s brother Willie Grove came home victorious over Joe Ujcich, Otto Polilli, Russell Grandison, and Jim Poole.
The third Compact feature was won by Lennie Orr, as Vic Paul, Chris Perkins, Ray Van Lehn, and Jack Grove made the top five.
And in the final feature for the Compacts, Jason Anthony was victorious with Tye Kelly, Anthony Coburn, Dale Nealey, and Tom Barrett following him across the stripe.
Heats were won by Josh Grove, Shawn Smarsh, Ron Myers, Josh Feister, and Anthony. The top qualifier was John McNutt.
In the Dale's Heating & Cooling Figure 8 division, Greg Grove picked up his second win of the year, and his second win on the night, as he also won the fast Compact feature. Jason Morgan followed him across the stripe.
This coming Saturday night, June 15, Midvale Speedway has another great night of family entertainment scheduled. All five divisions will be on hand, and roller blade/skate races will be held at intermission for kids that are 6-16. Big wheel races for the 4-5-6 year olds will also be held. Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union and Galigher Motorsports Racing Collectibles also are the sponsors of Big Brother/Big Sisters Group night. Midvale Speedway has made it possible for all matches of the organization to enjoy a night of racing. A bicycle and television giveaway will also take place. Qualifying will be from 3:50-5:50, while racing will start at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Farmer Smith 14.58 (NTR)
Heat #1 – Rob Julian, Dave Sluka, Kenny Stevens, Lake Speed, Tom Newman, Jr.
Heat #2 – Mike Miller, Duane Dunn, Ryan Tedesco, Don Harvey, Bear Schwartz
Feature – Tom Newman, Jr., Don Harvey, Lake Speed, Ryan Tedesco, Tom Garbrandt, Mike Miller, Farmer Smith, Steve Gilland, A.P. Ren, Kenny Stevens, Bob Eichel, Dave Sluka, Duane Dunn, Bear Schwartz, Richard Marcum, Rob Julian
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Mark Striker 14.83
Heat #1 – Mark Enos, Mark Striker, Jeff Smith, Glen Jewell, Jim McCune
Heat #2 – Mark Willison, George Bowers, Dan Shannon, Mike Bowers, Butch Erickson
Feature – Mark Striker, John Wilson, Glen Jewell, Jim McCune, Mark Enos, Mike Bowers, Butch Erickson, Jeff Smith, John Leonard, Mark Willison, George Bowers, Dan Shannon
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Keith Thomas 15.95
Heat #1 – Doug McMillen, Will Walker, Keith Thomas, Waylon Orr, Lee McCreery
Heat #2 – Sonny Arkenburgh, Roger Linard, Mario Kelly, Tim Gowins
Heat #3 – Travis Devore, Mike Royer, Rich Stalnaker, Gary Holderbaum, Paul Wade
Feature – Keith Thomas, Tim Gowins, Will Walker, Mario Kelly, Kevin McClintock, Tim Skinner, Doug McMillen, Steve Mowry, Waylon Orr, Dan Gasser, Lee McCreery, Gary Holderbaum, Don Rufener, Jr., Joe Sanford, Jr., Paul Wade, Sonny Arkenburgh, Travis Devore, Joe Linard, Rich Stalnaker, Roger Linard, Calvin Collins, Mike Royer
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Rick Elkins, Jr. 18.21
Heat #1 – Teddy Oliver, Curtis Collins, Norm Stutler, Joe Oliver, Jimmy Orr
Heat #2 – Chester McMasters, Paul Parson, D.J. Radanovich, Al Street, John Leasure
Heat #3 – Chris Miller, Bryan Aubihl, Lewis Powell, Scott McRobie, Mike Daugherty
Last Chance – D.J. Radanovich, Bryan Aubihl, John Ferrell, Chris Miller, Scott McRobie, Shane Ball, Tom Feller, Jr., Mike Daugherty, Curtis Collins, Lewis Powell
Feature – Al Street, Norm Stutler, Jimmy Orr, John Leasure, Brian Wood, Chester McMasters, Rick Elkins, Jr., Teddy Oliver, Joe Oliver, Paul Parson, John Ferrell, Barney Gerber, Brian Oliver, Jim Shaw, Bryan Aubihl, Scott McRobie, Shane Ball, Mike Daugherty, Tom Feller, Jr., Rick Hoffman, Vic Paul, Chris Miller
Galigher Motorsports Racing Collectibles
Top Qualifier – John McNutt 18.83
Heat #1 – Josh Grove, Bill Coburn, Greg Grove, Jim Keller, Jr., David Breehl
Heat #2 – Shawn Smarsh, Rocky Moore, Jimbo Roup, Joe Ujcich, Dale Beatty
Heat #3 – Ron Myers, Chris Perkins, Lennie Orr, Willie Grove, William Scott
Heat #4 – Josh Feister, Tye Kelly, Jack Grove, Ray Hoover, Ben Gibson
Heat #5 – Jason Anthony, Eric Feister, Shawna Myers, James Perrenoud, Dale Nealey
Feature #1 – Greg Grove, Jason Morgan, John McNutt, Randy Hahn, Terry Colletti, Kelly McNutt, Josh Grove, Jimbo Roup, Jim Keller, Jr., Phil Veno, Bubba Smith, Cody Kahler, Justin Courtney, David Breehl, Gabe Pringle, Butch Riggle, Bill Coburn
Feature #2 – Willie Grove, Joe Ujcich, Otto Polilli, Russell Grandison, Jim Poole, Dale Beatty, William Scott, Billy Stutler, Kelly Wissman, Ron Myers, John Nealey, Gary Murray, Mike Swaney, Rocky Moore, Shawn Smarsh
Feature #3 – Lennie Orr, Vic Paul, Chris Perkins, Ray Van Lehn, Jack Grove, Ray Hoover, Adam Mishler, John Drescher, Bobby Courtney, Jill Harshey, Bill Mercier, Bruce Gibson, Dan Gray, Josh Feister, Tammy Rufener
Feature #4 – Jason Anthony, Tye Kelly, Anthony Coburn, Dale Nealey, Tom Barrett, James Perrenoud, Ben Gibson, Shawn Musick, Robert Bower, Shawna Myers, Eric Feister, Mike Hammerling
Dale's Heating & Cooling Figure 8's
Feature - Greg Grove, Jason Morgan
Written by: Adam Mackey |
