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| Sunday, April 12th |
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Ohio's Fun Place to Race!!
2026 Race Season |
 | July 3, 2002 |
 25 Super Late Models of the Main Event Racing Series combined with lower than average fields for the Midvale Speedway’s regular divisions, made for 125 cars in the pits this past Wednesday, July 3.
In Main Event time trials, Seville’s Tim Ice was the top qualifier for much of the session. However, the last car to take the track was Gary Whipkey’s and he was top qualifier at Midvale last season. His first lap of 14.004 was only .004 off of the top time, but on his second lap, his car stuck even better as Whipkey became the only driver in the 13 second bracket at 13.856. Ice with a 14.000 was second, while Tim Felver (14.033), Steve Gilland (14.050), and Paul Miller, Jr. (14.050) rounded out the top five.
After qualifications, Whipkey drew the number 7 pill, which put Midvale Speedway Late Model regulars in the top four starting spots. A.P. Ren and Don Harvey, Jr. in row one with Paul Miller, Jr., and Steve Gilland in row two, brought the field in for the green.
On the start, the outside lane was definitely the place to be, as Harvey and Gilland raced into first and second, while the polesitter, Ren, dropped to third. On lap 3, the New Philadelphia, Ohio driver dropped one spot further when Ice took the position.
Racing throughout the field for the first ¼ of the race was furious. Both racing grooves were very fast and veteran drivers were taking advantage of the racey track. Marcus Malcuit, who started in 12th and Rich Rohrer who started in 14th after sub-par qualifying efforts, both picked up a handful of positions in the first fifteen laps by running the high groove. Another driver moving up from his 7th starting position was Gary Whipkey. The night’s top qualifier passed Ryan Tedesco on lap 7 and Ren on lap 10 to move himself into 4th.
The first caution came out on lap 19 when Ren came to a crawl for damage sustained in a turn two skirmish. As Ice went underneath Gilland in turn one, he hit the rumble bumps causing him to slow and allowing Whipkey to the outside. While trying to correct, Ice’s car slid up the banking just clipping the #59 of Whipkey. Whipkey then hit the right side of Ren’s racer and caused extensive damage. Ren retired, while Whipkey was able to continue.
On lap 24, more bad luck struck the Carter Lumber/Lenny’s Collision car of Whipkey. While racing in 4th, the whole driver side body panel came undone, restricting the driver’s vision. The caution came out, officials looked it over and deemed it necessary for Whipkey to pit. With many feet of duct tape holding the car together, Whipkey returned to the tail of the field.
After a lap 42 restart, the second place car of Steve Gilland had something let go in the rear end of this #05 racecar. He pulled to the infield, brought out a yellow, and was done for the night.
That put Ice, who started 6th, right behind the race leader, Harvey. Felver was 3rd, Tedesco 4th, Malcuit 5th, and Rohrer 6th.
Just two laps shy of the ½ way mark, Rohrer got a run on Malcuit going into turn three, but the cars rubbed causing them both to spin. Malcuit eventually told Main Event officials to put Rohrer back in his spot, while he went to the rear.
By halfway, Whipkey had come from the back to the 7th position, all within 25 laps, but that wasn’t the only excitement, as Ice was all over Harvey for the lead.
Harvey, a Midvale regular that rarely finishes out of the top five of any feature, was running a slightly different groove than most drivers. Harvey was going in a little higher and coming out a little higher than most drivers, while keeping his momentum up in the middle of the turn. Ice was eventually able to take advantage of Harvey’s exit and drove underneath just past halfway to take the top spot.
Ice immediately started to pull away from Harvey, who was holding off the Owosso event winner, Felver. Lap after lap, Felver tried to get by, but it wasn’t until lap 97 that he was able to make the move. Harvey dropped to third at the finish.
At the checkered, it was the Howe Racing Enterprises/Fast Racing Engines #65 of Tim Ice taking home his first win of 2002 followed by Felver, Harvey, Tedesco, and Rohrer. Whipkey came all the way back to sixth before the handle finally went away, while Phil Pete had his best run in seventh. Mike Luberda, Jr., Michael Simko, and Malcuit completed the top ten.
The next event will be held at the Mansfield Motorsports Speedway in Mansfield, Ohio on Sunday, July 21. Jay Sommers will be back to defend his win in the season opener at the facility.
In the Tolloti Pipe Modified division, Massillon, Ohio driver Jeff Smith was out front leading early on. When the caution flew, though, it was for Smith, as he had gone under his qualifying time and was sent to the rear. That handed the lead to Mark Willison, the mid-season champion. Willison had one car between himself and, top qualifier, Doug Meyer. Meyer was rocketing through the field, just like Willison, but had one car to get around before battling for the top spot. Once the green fell, it took Meyer a couple of laps to get around the second place car of Enos, and it was just enough time for Willison to build up a sizable lead. At the finish, Meyer had caught Willison but ran out of time. Following the Minerva, Ohio driver to his second win in a row driving the White Performance #18 were Meyer, Glen Jewell, Dusty Woodie, and Mark Striker. Completing the top ten were Smith, Enos, Dan Shannon, Mike Bowers, and George Bowers.
The Tusco Net Detroit Iron 20-lap feature was the first race of the night and it was a great way to start. Bill Aubihl started on the front row for the second week in a row, but this time was able to hold off a hungry pack of challengers that traded positions over and over behind him. Aubihl, driving the Star Auto Glass/Best Wireline 31, held off Tim Gowins, Doug McMillen, Joe Linard, and Kevin McClintock during the main event. Tim Skinner, Waylon Orr, Don Rufener, Jr., Dan Gasser, and Ron Carothers completed the top ten. McClintock was the top qualifier.
In Papa John’s Pure Stock action, Canton, Ohio driver John Leasure backed up his runner-up finish from the mid-season championships with his first feature win of the year. The Canton Auto Salvage/World Import Automotive #12 was followed at the stripe by Brian Oliver, Greg Mazzoleni, Joe Oliver, and D.J. Radanovich. Barney Gerber, Teddy Oliver, Norm Stutler, Jason Nealey, and Paul Parson completed the top ten. Stutler set the fast time.
In the Galigher Motorsports Racing Collectibles Compact fast feature, Gabe Pringle picked up his first feature win of the year. Russell Grandison, John McNutt, Randy Hahn, and Josh Grove finished off the top five. Greg Grove, Cody Kahler, Jim Poole, Terry Colletti, and Justin Courtney rounded out the top ten.
In the second feature, Willie Grove picked up the win followed by Bryce Scott, Jason Morgan, Brian Oliver, and Rocky Moore. Bill Coburn won the third feature. Billy Stutler was the top qualifier.
Racing will continue this Saturday, July 6, as Fan Appreciation Night #2 will be held. Detroit Irons will go 50 laps, Pure Stocks 40, and the Compact fast feature will go 30. All will pay extra purse. The traveling Legend cars will be on hand as well as a feature for the Figure 8’s. Also making an appearance at the oval will be the Vintage American Race Cars which will be lined up at the front gate at the speedway. It’s your chance to sit in a race car from years ago, and see how things have changed. Grandstand admission is only $6. Racing will start at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Main Event Racing Series
CSL Fast Time – Gary Whipkey 13.856
Midvale 100 – Tim Ice, Tim Felver, Don Harvey, Jr., Ryan Tedesco, Rich Rohrer, Gary Whipkey, Phil Pete, Mike Luberda, Jr., Michael Simko, Marcus Malcuit, Cord Ehrhart, Rob Patrick, Paul Miller, Jr., Joey Shuryan, Mike Luberda, Sr., Mack Gribble, Jr., John Crumrine, Scott McLaughlin, Steve Gilland, Chuck Silva, Bob Gainer, Rob Randa, Joel McKnight, A.P. Ren, Todd Ripley
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Doug Meyer 15.01
Feature – Mark Willison, Doug Meyer, Glen Jewell, Dusty Woodie, Mark Striker, Jeff Smith, Mark Enos, Dan Shannon, Mike Bowers, George Bowers
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock 16.15
Feature – Bill Aubihl, Tim Gowins, Doug McMillen, Joe Linard, Kevin McClintock, Tim Skinner, Waylon Orr, Don Rufener, Jr., Dan Gasser, Ron Carothers, Mike Royer, Travis Page, Roger Linard, Larry Page, Lee McCreery, Mario Kelly, Will Walker
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Norm Stutler 18.44
Feature – John Leasure, Brian Oliver, Greg Mazzoleni, Joe Oliver, D.J. Radanovich, Barney Gerber, Teddy Oliver, Norm Stutler, Jason Nealey, Paul Parson, Jim Shaw, Blake Mackey, Mike Daugherty, Blaine Partee, Chris Miller, Rick Elkins, Jr., Al Street, Brian Wood, Shane Ball, Jason Garrett
Galigher Motorsports Racing Collectibles
Compacts
Top Qualifier – Billy Stutler 18.97
Feature #1 – Gabe Pringle, Russell Grandison, John McNutt, Randy Hahn, Josh Grove, Greg Grove, Cody Kahler, Jim Poole, Terry Colletti, Justin Courtney, Kelly McNutt, Randy Smart, Billy Stutler, David Breehl, Phil Veno, Shawn Smarsh, Bubba Smith
Feature #2 – Willie Grove, Bryce Scott, Jason Morgan, Brian Oliver, Rocky Moore, Joe Ujcich, Steve Oxier, Jason Anthony, Jack Grove, Bill Harshey, Jerry Kimble, Otto Polilli, Shawna Myers, William Scott, Gary Murray, Tammy Rufener, Jimbo Roup
Feature #3 – Bill Coburn, John Wissman, Bill Mercier, Tye Kelly, Dale Nealey, Shawn Royer, Kenny Jewell, Chris Perkins, Dougie Cross, Eric Feister, Tom Barrett, Bob Passwaters, Bobby Courtney, Rob Bower, John Baker, Jamie Leslie
Written by: Adam Mackey |
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07/03/2002 Race
Detroit Irons Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Aubihl, Bill |
| 2. | Gowins, Tim |
| 3. | McMillen, Doug |
| 4. | Linard, Joe |
| 5. | McClintock, Kevin |
| 6. | Skinner, Tim |
| 7. | Orr, Waylon |
| 8. | Rufener, Jr., Don |
| 9. | Gasser, Dan |
| 10. | Carothers, Ron |
| More |
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07/03/2002 Race
Modifieds Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Willison, Mark |
| 2. | Meyer, Doug |
| 3. | Jewell, Glen |
| 4. | Woodie, Dusty |
| 5. | Striker, Mark |
| 6. | Smith, Jeff |
| 7. | Enos, Mark |
| 8. | Shannon, Dan |
| 9. | Bowers, Mike |
| 10. | Bowers, George |
| More |
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07/03/2002 Race
Pure Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Leasure, John |
| 2. | Oliver, Brian |
| 3. | Mazzoleni, Greg |
| 4. | Oliver, Joe |
| 5. | Radanovich, D.J. |
| 6. | Gerber, Barney |
| 7. | Oliver, Teddy |
| 8. | Stutler, Norm |
| 9. | Billiter, Shane |
| 10. | Parson, Paul |
| More |
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07/03/2002 Race
Compacts Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Pringle, Gabe |
| 2. | Grandison, Russell |
| 3. | McNutt, John |
| 4. | Hahn, Randy |
| 5. | Grove, Josh |
| 6. | Grove, Greg |
| 7. | Kahler, Cody |
| 8. | Poole, Jim |
| 9. | Colletti, Terry |
| 10. | Courtney, Justin |
| More |
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