 Cloudy, cool weather greeted race fans and 145 drivers that made the trip for a night that featured all five divisions plus autograph and camera night at intermission. Over ½ of the winners on July 13, 2002 were repeat victors from earlier this season.
18 Smokers Paradise Late Models lined the pits their Performance Race Fuels 25-lapper. However, only 17 took the green, as rookie competitor Richard Marcum got caught up in a heat race accident and suffered heavy front end damage. Darrel Dexter and point’s leader Ryan Tedesco started on the front row for the main event, with Tedesco using the outside lane to take the lead. By halfway, Tom Newman, Jr., Farmer Smith, Mike Miller, and Don Harvey completed the rest of the top five and started to pull away from the rest of the field. As the cars circled the speedway, following Tedesco, no one would dare pull out of line in fear of losing positions. Over the closing laps, Newman ran as close as possible to Tedesco, without touching him, and Tedesco went across the stripe first to pick up his second feature win. Following the Marathon Manufacturing #1 were Newman, Smith, Miller, and Harvey. Duane Dunn, Todd Ripley, A.P. Ren, John Sandquist, Jr., and Bob Eichel rounded out the top ten. Tom Garbrandt and Kenny Stevens won the heats. Harvey was the top qualifier.
For the third Saturday night in a row that the Tolloti Pipe Modifieds were in action, 15 or more were in competition. On this past Saturday, 14 took the green as Jeff Christy’s #38 was unable to run due to a problem suffered in the heat race. In feature action, Mark Enos jumped out front from his front row starting spot and held on to the lead as cars behind him caused several cautions over the first three laps. However, the race turned out to be very clean through the middle stages as Dusty Woodie moved his #44 racer through the field. Over the final stages, Woodie put his car in the outside lane and worked very hard while trying to take the lead. However, a yellow with just a couple to go erased his effort and put him behind Enos. As soon as the green flag flew on the restart, Woodie flew to the outside lane, and by the next lap, was the new leader. Woodie, driving the Coshocton Trucking/Roma’s Gift Gallery car, was followed to his second win by Enos, Mark Striker, Butch Erickson, and Jim McCune. Mike Bowers, Randy Gray, Dan Shannon, Mark Willison, and Glen Jewell rounded out the top ten. John Wilson and Jeff Smith won the heats, while Striker was the top qualifier after setting a new track record.
In Tusco Net Detroit Iron action, Tim Skinner moved through the field and passed Don Rufener, Jr., for the lead. Skinner then held off a last lap charge by Roger Linard to pick up his second win of the year. Following the Red Line Racing Engines #23 were Linard, Tim Gowins, Kevin McClintock, and Joe Linard. Calvin Collins, Dan Gasser, Rich Stalnaker, Mike Royer, and Bill Aubihl completed the top ten. Skinner and Gasser won the heats, while McClintock was the fastest in time trials.
An excellent field of 33 Papa John’s Pure Stocks graced the facility for two exciting feature events. In the fast feature, to no one’s surprise, Canton, Ohio’s John Leasure continued to be the top challenger as he picked up his second win in four races. In the other two races, he had runner-up finishes. Following the Mike Tucke Trucking/Cornwell Tools #12 were Jim Shaw, Rick Elkins, Jr., Mike Martin, and Joe Oliver. D.J. Radanovich, Al Street, Norm Stutler, Barney Gerber, and Brian Wood completed the top ten.
In the second feature, Chester McMasters crossed the line first in the 15-lap affair, but was disqualified during a post race inspection. Jimmy Orr was awarded the win in his Zane Petroleum/Best Wireline #36, while Matt Wallick, Kevin Locker, Larry Smith, and Chris Miller rounded out the top ten. Mike Daugherty, Douglas Higgins, Scott McRobie, Tom Wilson, and Blake Mackey finished up the top ten. Leasure, Orr, and Wilson won the heats.
In another well run Compact fast feature, Bubba Smith and point’s leader Greg Grove were moving through the pack quickly, Smith using the outside lane and Grove in the inside lane, splitting cars as they went. As they picked up the top two spots, Billy Stutler, the night’s top qualifier came out of nowhere to take third and run them down. Over the last couple of laps, all would challenge for the lead, but Smith came out on top picking up his third feature win. Closely following the JKL Hood Cleaning/The Diner #12 were Grove, Stutler, Cody Kahler, and Jason Morgan. Stutler was disqualified after the race, so that moved Justin Courtney into the top five. Randy Smart, Robert Mizer, Russell Grandison, John McNutt, and Ray Scott completed the top ten.
Dan Mick picked up the win in the second Compact feature, while filling in for Jim Keller, Jr. Mick was followed by Jack Grove, who just couldn’t muster up enough straightaway speed to get by, Dougie Cross, Jim Poole, and Hank Geis. Bob Passwaters, Jr., Bob Passwaters, Sr., Jerry Kimble, Ray Van Lehn, and Tye Kelly rounded out the top ten.
The third Compact feature was won by Brian Oliver with Rich Fox, Shawn Smarsh, Shawna Myers, and Jamie Leslie in tow. The fourth feature win went to John Baker, while Larry Riggle, Billy Hilliker, Dale Nealey, and Justin Lawson followed. Heats were won by Smith, Passwaters, Jr., Smarsh, Oliver, and Otto Polilli.
Racing action will continue this coming Saturday, July 20, as the Midwest Super Modifieds invade Midvale Speedway. The Super Modifieds are the quickest cars that will compete at the 3/10-mile asphalt oval this year. Doug Saunier won the Super race two years ago, while D.J. Shullick took last years. Late Models, Modifieds, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will also race. Qualifying will be from 3:50-5:50 and racing will start at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Don Harvey 14.71
Heat #1 – Tom Garbrandt, Tom Newman, Jr., Ryan Tedesco, Don Harvey, Farmer Smith
Heat #2 – Kenny Stevens, Dave Sluka, John Sandquist, Jr., Todd Ripley, Joe Linard
Feature – Ryan Tedesco, Tom Newman, Jr., Farmer Smith, Mike Miller, Don Harvey, Duane Dunn, Todd Ripley, A.P. Ren, John Sandquist, Jr., Bob Eichel, Kenny Stevens, Joe Linard, Darrel Dexter, Tom Garbrandt, John Beam, Dave Sluka, Kathy Meade
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Mark Striker 14.62 (NTR)
Heat #1 – John Wilson, Jeff Walker, Mark Willison, Dusty Woodie, Mark Striker
Heat #2 – Jeff Smith, Jim McCune, Mark Enos, Mike Bowers, Scott Adams
Feature – Dusty Woodie, Mark Enos, Mark Striker, Butch Erickson, Jim McCune, Mike Bowers, Randy Gray, Dan Shannon, Mark Willison, Glen Jewell, Jeff Smith, Scott Adams, Jeff Walker, John Wilson
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock 15.93
Heat #1 – Tim Skinner, Joe Linard, Will Walker, Roger Linard, Tim Gowins
Heat #2 – Dan Gasser, Rich Stalnaker, Don Rufener, Jr., Calvin Collins, Bill Aubihl
Feature – Tim Skinner, Roger Linard, Tim Gowins, Kevin McClintock, Joe Linard, Calvin Collins, Dan Gasser, Rich Stalnaker, Mike Royer, Bill Aubihl, Travis Devore, Will Walker, Waylon Orr, Doug McMillen, Don Rufener, Jr.
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Barney Gerber 18.30
Heat #1 – John Leasure, Teddy Oliver, Mike Martin, Jim Shaw, Joe Oliver
Heat #2 – Jimmy Orr, Curtis Collins, Rick Hoffman, Brian Oliver
Heat #3 – Tom Wilson, John Ferrell, Kevin Locker, Douglas Higgins, Blake Mackey
Feature – John Leasure, Jim Shaw, Rick Elkins, Jr., Mike Martin, Joe Oliver, D.J. Radanovich, Al Street, Norm Stutler, Barney Gerber, Brian Wood, Teddy Oliver, Ron Myers, Brian Oliver, Paul Parson, Rick Hoffman, Shane Ball, Curtis Collins
Feature #2 – Jimmy Orr, Matt Wallick, Kevin Locker, Larry Smith, Chris Miller, Mike Daugherty, Douglas Higgins, Scott McRobie, Tom Wilson, Blake Mackey, John Ferrell, Dan Moore, Jason Garrett, Lou Francis
Galigher’s Motorsports Racing Collectibles Compacts
Top Qualifier – Terry Colletti 18.98
Heat #1 – Bubba Smith, Robert Mizer, Cody Kahler, Russell Grandison, Justin Courtney
Heat #2 – Bob Passwaters, Jr., Randy Smart, Dougie Cross, Rocky Moore, Steve Oxier
Heat #3 – Shawn Smarsh, David Breehl, Dan Mick, Dale Beatty, Jack Grove
Heat #4 – Brian Oliver, Larry Riggle, Bruce Gibson, Jason Anthony, Rich Fox
Heat #5 – Otto Polilli, John Baker, Ben Gibson, Charles Ritch, Violet McMasters
Feature #1 – Bubba Smith, Greg Grove, Cody Kahler, Jason Morgan, Justin Courtney, Randy Smart, Robert Mizer, Russell Grandison, John McNutt, Ray Scott, Randy Hahn, David Breehl, Kelly McNutt, Terry Colletti, Bryce Scott, Steve Oxier
Feature #2 – Dan Mick, Jack Grove, Dougie Cross, Jim Poole, Hank Geis, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Bob Passwaters, Sr., Jerry Kimble, Ray Van Lehn, Tye Kelly, Dale Beatty, Tammy Rufener, Rocky Moore, Gary Murray, Jimbo Roup
Feature #3 – Brian Oliver, Rich Fox, Shawn Smarsh, Shawna Myers, Jamie Leslie, Mike Phillips, Jr., Ray Hoover, Joe Ujcich, Jason Grewell, Jason Anthony, John Wissman, Bill Mercier, William Scott
Feature #4 – John Baker, Larry Riggle, Billy Hilliker, Dale Nealey, Justin Lawson, Shawn Royer, Amy Cordia, David Rainsberger, Violet McMasters, Kenny Jewell, Ben Gibson, Otto Polilli, Charles Ritch, Bruce Gibson
Written by: Adam Mackey |
