 A bright sunny afternoon led to blistering temperatures and hot tempers this past Saturday night, June 22 at Midvale Speedway. An awesome field of 160 cars in five divisions were competing on WTUZ 99.9/Pepsi night at the 3/10-mile asphalt oval.
The Tolloti Pipe Modifieds were the first competitors to take to the track for their 20-lap feature event. Jeff Walker and Randy Gray started on the front row of the 16-car field, and Gray took the lead on the start. Leading lap one, Gray was followed by Walker in second and Dan Shannon and Jeff Smith as they battled for third. With 6 laps in, the first caution flew for the open wheel cars, as Shannon, who was running third, made contact with the runner-up at the time, Walker. Shannon admitted fault for the caution, and Walker got his spot back. With 7 laps in, the next caution flew for Mark Enos and Dusty Woodie. Enos took the blame and Woodie resumed in his original position. On lap 14, the caution plagued event would see yet another caution when liquid was spread around the speedway. Finally, the excitement racing became red-hot up front. Walker made the first move on Gray by going to the outside, but to no avail. He then lost a couple of spots as Woodie and Glen Jewell went by, but as Jewell went for the lead to the highside he slid sideways and Walker moved back up to second as they crossed the line. Gray, driving the D&B Machine/Trenton Service #27, won in his first Modified feature event. The Uhrichsville, Ohio driver was followed by Walker, Jewell, Woodie, and McCune. Rounding out the top ten were Mark Striker, Mark Willison, Shannon, John Wilson, and Enos. Wilson and Enos won the heats, while Striker was the top qualifier for the third week in a row.
The second feature on the speedway, was the Papa John’s Pure Stock 15-lapper. The 25-car field was led by Paul Parson with Mike Martin and D.J. Radanovich in tow. By lap 5, Curtis Collins, who was coming on strong, was up to third. He then moved to the high lane to put away Martin for second and shortly after took the lead from Parson. The only yellow of the well-driven event came out on lap10 for Mike Daugherty. That set up a pass for top qualifier Greg Mazzoleni. The Wainright, Ohio driver got around Parson for second and that turned out to be a huge pass, as Collins, the original winner was found with an illegal motor and Mazzoleni got his first feature win. Parson, Norm Stutler, Rick Elkins, Jr., and Martin followed the Best Wireline/Zane Petroleum #36 across the stripe. Finishing in positions six through ten were Barney Gerber, Jim Shaw, Rick Elkins, Sr., Joe Oliver, and Al Street. Teddy Oliver, Chester McMasters, and Shane Billiter won the heats, Billiter won the pursuit, and Mazzoleni was the top qualifier.
Next on the track was the Smokers Paradise Late Model feature. 18 cars were in the pits, but only 17 took the green as Bob Eichel suffered mechanical problems earlier in the evening. Third year Late Model driver Duane Dunn started on the pole with last week’s feature winner Tom Newman, Jr. alongside. Dunn had a good start, when the green fell and started pulling away from Bear Schwartz and A.P. Ren. Second fastest qualifier, Don Harvey, moved up to fourth by lap 3, and was looking for a way to get around Ren. With about ten laps in, Dunn had a several car length lead over second through fourth. That is when the black and green #12 of Harvey made his move using the second groove. On lap 15, after already passing Ren, Harvey was trying to clear Schwartz for second when the two cars made contact in the middle of the frontstretch. Harvey’s car slid towards the infield in turn one and hit an infield tire barrier which caused rear end damage, ending his night. Back to green flag racing, Ryan Tedesco, the night’s top qualifier, had moved into the fourth spot. He quickly worked around the outside of Ren and Schwartz and started to track down Dunn. Lap-after-lap, Tedesco was visibly closing in, but he did not have enough time as he had just run down the leader as the checkered was waved. For Dunn, the Uhrichsville, Ohio driver picked up his first career win in the Applebee’s/Renner & Daughter Construction #32. Tedesco, Schwartz, Ren, and Mike Miller rounded out the top five. Newman, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Paul Miller, Jr., Farmer Smith, and Kenny Stevens completed the top ten. Tom Garbrandt won the fast heat, while Richard Marcum picked up his first win in the second heat.
23-cars lined up for the Tusco Net Detroit Iron feature with Bill Aubihl and Tim Gowins bringing the field in for the green. Gowins jumped into the lead looking for his first feature win, but had many challenges to fend off. The strongest came from Roger Linard and Waylon Orr, who caught him in the second half of the race. At the end, the Company Incentives/Pied Piper Muffler & Tire #65 was able to stay out front for his first win. Following the New Philadelphia, Ohio driver were Orr, Linard, Kevin McClintock, and Aubihl. Tim Skinner, Travis Page, Roger Butler, Travis Devore, and Mario Kelly completed the top ten. Jimmy Orr, Gowins, and Page won the heats, while McClintock was the top qualifier.
In another exciting Galigher Motorsports Racing Collectibles Compact fast feature, Kelly McNutt looked like he was going to pick up his first win but with one lap to go Dover, Ohio’s Bubba Smith passed him on the outside for his first feature victory this season. Point’s leader, Greg Grove took second, McNutt was third and John McNutt and Billy Stutler rounded out the top five. Gabe Pringle, Cody Kahler, Josh Grove, Justin Courtney, and David Breehl completed the top ten.
Three other features were held for the Compact division. The winner of the second feature was Ray Scott who held off William Scott at the finish. Bill Hilliker, Jason Anthony, Bobby Courtney, and Mike Phillips completed the top five.
The other two features were won by Bruce Gibson and Shawna Myers.
Victorious in Compact heats were Josh Grove, Shawn Smarsh, John Wissman, Eric Feister, and Vic Paul. John McNutt was the top qualifier.
Midvale Speedway drivers will be competing for the huge mid-season championship trophies this coming Saturday, June 29. Late Models, Modifieds, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will be on hand. Qualifying will take place at 3:50 to line up the evening’s heats and features. To compete in the mid-season championship features, a driver must have been at Midvale Speedway at least one night this season. Drivers there for the first time will be allowed to qualify and run the heats, but not the features. Racing will start at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Ryan Tedesco 14.74
Heat #1 – Tom Garbrandt, Bear Schwartz, Duane Dunn, Ryan Tedesco, Don Harvey
Heat #2 – Richard Marcum, Rob Julian, Dave Sluka, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Paul Miller, Jr.
Feature – Duane Dunn, Ryan Tedesco, Bear Schwartz, A.P. Ren, Mike Miller, Tom Newman, Jr., Ron Jaberg, Jr., Paul Miller, Jr., Farmer Smith, Kenny Stevens, Darrel Dexter, Dave Sluka, Tom Garbrandt, John Sandquist, Jr., Richard Marcum, Don Harvey, Rob Julian
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Mark Striker 14.82
Heat #1 – John Wilson, Mark Willison, Dan Shannon, Mark Striker, Glen Jewell
Heat #2 – Mark Enos, Randy Gray, Jeff Walker, Butch Erickson, George Bowers
Feature – Randy Gray, Jeff Walker, Glen Jewell, Dusty Woodie, Jim McCune, Mark Striker, Mark Willison, Dan Shannon, John Wilson, Mark Enos, Mike Bowers, Butch Erickson, Jeff Smith, George Bowers, Lawney Vaughn
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock 16.01
Heat #1 – Jimmy Orr, Roger Butler, Roger Linard, Tim Skinner, Doug McMillen
Heat #2 – Tim Gowins, Waylon Orr, Calvin Collins, Don Rufener, Jr., Travis Devore
Heat #3 – Travis Page, Paul Wade, Dan Gasser, Ron Carothers, Joe Sanford, Jr.
Feature – Tim Gowins, Waylon Orr, Roger Linard, Kevin McClintock, Bill Aubihl, Tim Skinner, Travis Page, Roger Butler, Travis Page, Mario Kelly, Calvin Collins, Don Rufener, Jr., Rich Stalnaker, Dan Gasser, Joe Sanford, Jr., Ron Carothers, Jimmy Orr, Sonny Arkenburgh, Joe Linard, Will Walker, Keith Thomas, Doug McMillen, Mark Hinton
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Greg Mazzoleni 18.23
Heat #1 – Teddy Oliver, Brian Wood, Al Street, John Ferrell, Barney Gerber
Heat #2 – Chester McMasters, Anthony Bissett, Joe Oliver, Paul Parson, Matt Wallick
Heat #3 – Shane Billiter, Bryan Aubihl, Mike Daugherty, Brian Oliver, Shane Ball
Last Chance – Shane Billiter, Bryan Aubihl, Matt Wallick, Shane Ball, Brian Oliver, Mike Daugherty, Douglas Higgins, Tom Craw, Tom Feller, Jr., Dan Moore, Jr., Anthony Bissett, Blake Mackey
Feature – Greg Mazzoleni, Paul Parson, Norm Stutler, Rick Elkins, Jr., Mike Martin, Barney Gerber, Jim Shaw, Rick Elkins, Sr., Joe Oliver, Al Street, John Ferrell, Brian Wood, Dan Rummes, Matt Wallick, Anthony Bissett, Bryan Aubihl, D.J. Radanovich, Brian Oliver, Shane Ball, Douglas Higgins, Mike Daugherty, Tom Craw, Shane Billiter, Teddy Oliver
Galigher Motorsports Racing Collectibles Compacts
Top Qualifier – John McNutt 18.85
Heat #1 – Josh Grove, Gabe Pringle, Bubba Smith, Jim Keller, Jr., Terry Colletti
Heat #2 – Shawn Smarsh, Bill Coburn, Russell Grandison, Willie Grove, Jason Morgan
Heat #3 – John Wissman, Tye Kelly, Jack Grove, Dale Beatty, Bruce Gibson
Heat #4 – Eric Feister, Mike Phillips, Jr., Ray Hoover, Shawna Myers, Bobby Courtney
Heat #5 – Vic Paul, John Baker, Kenny Jewell, Ben Gibson, Charles Ritch
Feature #1 – Bubba Smith, Greg Grove, Kelly McNutt, John McNutt, Billy Stutler, Gabe Pringle, Cody Kahler, Josh Grove, Justin Courtney, David Breehl, Willie Grove, Randy Smart, Jimbo Roup, Gary Murray, Jim Keller, Jr., Randy Hahn, Terry Colletti
Feature #2 – Ray Scott, William Scott, Jim Poole, Jr., Shawn Smarsh, Bill Coburn, Jack Grove, Robert Mizer, Rocky Moore, John Nealey, Ray Van Lehn, Russell Grandison, Joe Ujcich, Ron Myers, Jason Morgan, Otto Polilli, Dale Beatty
Feature #3 – Bruce Gibson, Bill Hilliker, Jason Anthony, Bobby Courtney, Mike Phillips, Jr., Steve Oxier, Tye Kelly, Jamie Leslie, Jerry Kimble, John Wissman, Bryce Scott, Jill Harshey, Dougie Cross, Ray Hoover, Tammy Rufener, Bill Harshey
Feature #4 – Shawna Myers, Kenny Jewell, Charles Ritch, Dale Nealey, Violet McMasters, Ben Gibson, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Bill Mercier, Vic Paul, Eric Feister, Robby Thompson, Tom Barrett, John Baker
Written by: Adam Mackey |
