 Threatening weather did not deter race teams, as 147 cars were in the pits for an excellent night of racing action this past Saturday at Midvale Speedway. The Late Models, Modifieds, Detroit Irons, Pure Stocks, and Compacts were all on hand plus a special visit from the traveling Legend car division.
In a very competitive Tusco Net Detroit Iron 20-lap feature event, Tim Gowins held control in the early stages. However, Roger Linard was on the move. Linard picked off one driver at a time right behind Gowins, and was eventually able to run side-by-side with the leader. However, just as Linard was to assume control, mechanical problems forced him pitside. Next, coming through the field was Tim Skinner. Skinner and Gowins made slight contact in the first and second corner, Skinner dove to the lowside and assumed the point. Gowins would eventually lose second to the point’s leader, Joe Linard, but Skinner would not be caught. Following the Carrollton, OH driver in his Red Line Racing Engines #23 across the stripe to his second win were Linard, Gowins, Doug McMillen, and Bill Hilliker. Dan Gasser, Calvin Collins, Don Rufener, Jr., Waylon Orr, and Jamie Warner completed the top ten. Roger Linard and Rich Stalnaker won the heats, while Kevin McClintock was top qualifier.
The Tolloti Pipe Modifieds put on a good show during their 20-lap feature. Jeff Smith held the lead early on, but his car’s bad push turned out to be a huge problem. Mark Enos, last week’s winner, was able to get to the inside, and after a couple of laps, take over the lead. Back in the field, Baldy Baker, Jr., Dusty Woodie, Mark Willison, and Mark Striker were moving quickly through the field, to the front. Enos eventually lost the top position to Baker, who was looking for his second win in four weeks. With Baker out front, Enos fell back to the tail end of the top five as Woodie, Striker, and Willison jostled for spots behind the leader. Woodie, who for the second week in a row used the outside lane to move through the pack, ran out of time and came home a close second to Baker. At the finish line it was the White Performance/DRS Services #6 of Strasburg, OH driver Baldy Baker, Jr., followed by Woodie, Striker, Willison, and Enos. Completing the top ten were Smith, Glen Jewell, Jeff Walker, Jim McCune, and Mike Bowers. Baker and McCune won the heats, while Striker was the top qualifier.
In the Smokers Paradise Late Model feature, fireworks went off on lap one, as an accident happened at the front of the field. The pole-sitter, John Miller, who had not raced at the speedway in 17 years slid a little high off of turn two on the original start. Paul Miller, Sr., the third place starter, jumped to the inside and Miller, Miller, and Joe Linard went three wide into turn three. The cars made contact and spun in front of the whole field, causing others to spin. Luckily, everyone was able to get their original starting positions back and try it again, as the damage was very minor. Back to green flag racing, Miller was able to lead his first laps in nearly two decades, as Paul Miller, Sr. took second. However, Miller, Sr. eventually got around Miller to hold the top point as Ryan Tedesco and Tom Garbrandt raced by Miller after him. Miller, Sr., driving for the first time this season, looked like he was on his way to winning the 25-lapper, but coming down the front stretch, during the race’s mid-stage, his transmission let go, sending him to the infield. Tedesco took the top spot and, several laps later, his fourth feature win, extending his points lead. Following the Marathon Manufacturing #1 were Duane Dunn, Mike Miller, Garbrandt, and Linard in his second-ever Late Model feature. J. Miller, Bear Schwartz, Rich Dessecker, Kenny Stevens, and Ron Jaberg, Jr. completed the top ten. Tedesco and Miller, Sr. won the heats, while Dessecker set fast time of the night.
Twenty-six Papa John’s Pure Stocks were on hand, while only 24 started the 15-lap feature event. Bryan Aubihl took the lead, from his front row starting spot, and never looked back. Following the Cheap Tobacco/Best Wireline #69 to its first win were Anthony Bissett, Barney Gerber, Greg Mazzoleni, and Brian Wood. D.J. Radanovich, Al Street, Teddy Oliver, Dan Rummes, and Paul Parson finished out the top ten. Street, John Leasure, and Shane Ball won the heats, while Teddy Oliver set quick time.
Norton, OH driver Tim Davis came from the second row to pass leader Larry Young, and go on to win the Legend car 25-lap feature. Following Davis, who made it two-for-two at Midvale this year, was Young, Rick Riffle, Fred Davis, and Randy Burns. Tim Williams, Dennis Knox, Bob Swann, Bill Richards, and Jason Knox completed the top ten. Winning heats were Burns and Riffle, while the top qualifier was Tim Davis.
Josh Grove took as step in the right direction, as he tries to close in on uncle Greg Grove for the point’s championship, by winning the 15-lap A-feature for the Compact division. Grove was able to stay out in front of Don Rufener, Jr., David Breehl, Bubba Smith, and Randy Smart at the finish. Greg Grove, Gabe Pringle, Cody Kahler, Justin Courtney, and Steve Oxier rounded out the top ten.
In the second Compact feature, Shawn Smarsh picked up his fourth feature win of the season in his #24 car. Eric Feister, Jimbo Roup, Dale Beatty, and Rocky Moore completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Otto Polilli, Jack Grove, Bill Mercier, John Baker, and Angie Wheeler.
The third Compact feature was won by Lennie Orr. Following Orr and his car’s new paint scheme across the line were Dougie Cross, Adam Mishler, Bruce Gibson, and John Drescher. Shawna Myers, Kenny Jewell, Tom Barrett, Bob Passwaters, Sr., and Ben Gibson finished off the top ten.
In the fourth and final Compact feature of the night, George Veno picked up his first career feature win, by beating James Perrenoud, Jill Harshey, Charles Ritch, and Justin Lawson to the finish.
Racing action will continue this coming Saturday, August 24, with the Smith’s Auto Sales night at the races. All five divisions will be on hand, as the drivers battle it out in the first of two remaining point nights at the speedway. At intermission, all kids 10 and under will go onto the front straightaway, and try to make themselves rich in the Kid’s Gold Rush. Qualifying will run from 3:50-5:50, while the racing action will start at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Legends
Top Qualifier – Tim Davis 16.21
Heat #1 – Randy Burns, Fred Davis, Jason Knox, Tim Williams, Dennis Knox
Heat #2 – Rick Riffle, Tim Davis, Larry Young, Bill Richards, Mark Wills
Feature – Tim Davis, Larry Young, Rick Riffle, Fred Davis, Randy Burns, Tim Williams, Dennis Knox, Bob Swann, Jason Knox, Duane Lorens, Mark Wills, Dave Harris, John Burns, Paul Ragland, James Bennett
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier – Rich Dessecker 14.79
Heat #1 – Ryan Tedesco, Tom Garbrandt, Mike Miller, Duane Dunn, Tom Newman, Jr.
Heat #2 – Paul Miller, Sr., Ron Jaberg, Jr., Mike Enos, Kenny Stevens, Joe Linard
Feature – Ryan Tedesco, Duane Dunn, Mike Miller, Tom Garbrandt, Joe Linard, John Miller, Bear Schwartz, Rich Dessecker, Kenny Stevens, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Richard Marcum, Paul Miller, Sr., Mike Enos, Tom Newman, Jr., Don Harvey, Jr.
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Mark Striker 14.88
Heat #1 – Baldy Baker, Jr., John Wilson, Mark Striker, Mark Willison, Glen Jewell
Heat #2 – Jim McCune, Jeff Christy, Jeff Smith, Mark Enos, George Bowers
Feature – Baldy Baker, Jr., Dusty Woodie, Mark Striker, Mark Willison, Mark Enos, Jeff Smith, Glen Jewell, Jeff Walker, Jim McCune, Mike Bowers, Jeff Christy, John Wilson, George Bowers
Tusco Net Detroit Irons
Top Qualifier – Kevin McClintock 15.87
Heat #1 – Roger Linard, Waylon Orr, Bill Hilliker, Doug McMillen, Kevin McClintock
Heat #2 – Rich Stalnaker, Don Rufener, Jr., Calvin Collins, Paul Murray, Sonny Arkenburgh
Feature – Tim Skinner, Joe Linard, Tim Gowins, Doug McMillen, Bill Hilliker, Dan Gasser, Calvin Collins, Don Rufener, Jr., Waylon Orr, Jamie Warner, Randy Doolin, Rich Stalnaker, Paul Murray, Mike Royer, Ron Carothers, Sonny Arkenburgh, Kevin McClintock, Roger Linard
Papa John’s Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Teddy Oliver 18.25
Heat #1 – Al Street, Teddy Oliver, Barney Gerber, Bob Parson, Greg Mazzoleni
Heat #2 – John Leasure, Curtis Collins, John Ferrell, Dan Rummes, Brian Wood
Heat #3 – Shane Ball, Tom Craw, Douglas Higgins, Tom Wilson, Chris Miller
Feature – Bryan Aubihl, Anthony Bissett, Barney Gerber, Greg Mazzoleni, Brian Wood, D.J. Radanovich, Al Street, Teddy Oliver, Dan Rummes, Paul Parson, John Leasure, John Ferrell, Shane Ball, Bob Parson, Ron Myers, Tom Craw, Chris Miller, Chester McMasters, Jim Shaw, Douglas Higgins, Adam Mackey, Curtis Collins, Tom Wilson, Rick Hoffman
Galigher Motorsports Racing Collectibles Compacts
Top Qualifier – Gabe Pringle 18.85
Heat #1 – David Breehl, Russell Grandison, Justin Courtney, Randy Hahn, Bryce Scott
Heat #2 – Eric Feister, Jim Poole, Don Rufener, Jr., Jimbo Roup, Willie Grove
Heat #3 – Shawna Myers, Phil Wade, Rocky Moore, Dale Beatty, Shawn Smarsh
Heat #4 – Dougie Cross, Jason Anthony, Bruce Gibson, John Drescher, Lennie Orr
Heat #5 – Charles Ritch, Shawn Royer, Jill Harshey, Gary Gibson, Justin Lawson
Feature #1 – Josh Grove, Don Rufener, Jr., David Breehl, Bubba Smith, Randy Smart, Greg Grove, Gabe Pringle, Cody Kahler, Justin Courtney, Steve Oxier, Bryce Scott, Randy Hahn, Kelly McNutt, Willie Grove, Jim Poole, Russell Grandison
Feature #2 – Shawn Smarsh, Eric Feister, Jimbo Roup, Dale Beatty, Rocky Moore, Otto Polilli, Jack Grove, Bill Mercier, John Baker, Angie Wheeler, William Scott, Tye Kelly
Feature #3 – Lennie Orr, Dougie Cross, Adam Mishler, Bruce Gibson, John Drescher, Shawna Myers, Kenny Jewell, Tom Barrett, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Ben Gibson, Phil Wade, Bob Passwaters, Jr., Jason Anthony, Kenny Feister, Larry Riggle
Feature #4 – George Veno, James Perrenoud, Jill Harshey, Charles Ritch, Justin Lawson, Shawn Royer, William Perrenoud, Terry Colletti, Gary Gibson
Written by: Adam Mackey |
