 The 50th Anniversary, 2003 Season, opened up as a hit on Saturday night, April 12. On hand were over 120 cars racing for double points on a beautiful, but frigid, spring night. Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts all competed, with some of the most competitive racing in recent history taking place.
One of the night’s top stories was that of Smokers Paradise Late Model driver Bob Sibila. The Massillon driver arrived at the track early in his Jim Rambaud owned #83 to dial his racer in. During hotlaps, mechanical problems forced the team to load up. As they left the speedway, many thought they were done for the night. However, as qualifying was taking place, the hauler arrived back at the speedway with the team’s backup car in it. Sibila took to the track, without any hotlaps, and unbelievably set quick time with a 14.74.
In their 25-lap feature event, John Miller and Duane Dunn made up the first row of cars. Dunn, using the outside lane, jumped into the lead for the first lap. Racing for second, Farmer Smith drove hard into turn three to take the spot and as Miller tried to reassume the low lane, 2001 track champion, Mike Miller and he got together, sending them towards the turn four wall. Also collected were Bear Schwartz, Tom Newman, Jr., and Bob Sibila. Only J. Miller and Sibila were unable to continue. During the course of the event, Schwartz looked to have the strongest car on the track. As he and Dunn were pulling away from the rest of the field, Schwartz hounded Dunn for the lead spot, once getting a nose to the inside, but backing out in turn three to avoid contact. Another great battle was taking place for third, as Don Harvey, Jr. was doing the same to Smith. Lap after lap he would duck low coming off of turn two, but never got the run he needed to get alongside. At the finish, it was the Renner & Daughter Concrete/Performance Race Fuels #32 of Strasburg’s Duane Dunn picking up his second career win with Schwartz, Smith, Harvey, and Marcus Malcuit rounding out the top five. Completing the top ten were Mike Miller, Newman, Ryan Tedesco, John Tantarelli, Jr., and Bob Eichel. Winning heats were M. Miller and Smith.
The 20-lap Tolloti Pipe Modified feature event was one that featured the three top drivers over the last two years, battling up front. After John Wilson led the early stages of the event, before breaking out of his qualifying time, running in first was the 2001 track champion, Dusty Woodie. Following him were the second place car, last year’s champion, Mark Striker and the third place car and 2001-2002 points runner-up Glen Jewell. The trio would run nose to tail lap after lap, but cautions kept slowing the pace of the event. Woodie, the quickest of the three, pushed a little high on the first lap of the green flag runs, but would still pull Striker and Jewell down the straights. As the checkered waved, Woodie crossed the line in first as the winner, but post race inspection found that the car had aluminum calipers, and the win was disallowed. Picking up the victory was Uhrichsville driver Mark Striker in his McBride’s Auto/Snap on Tools #77. Jewell, Mark Enos, Jim McCune, and Butch Erickson completed the top ten. Rounding out the rest of the finishers were John Wilson, Tim Allensworth, Mark Willison, and Ron McBride. Jewell won the heat, while Striker set fast time with a 14.79.
One of the most competitive features of the night was unquestionably the Tusco Net Pro Stock race. Formerly called the Detroit Irons, fifteen cars lined up for the main event and without a doubt, two-thirds of the field could be looked at as possible winners. Wainright’s Greg Mazzoleni, a rookie in the Pro Stock class, after winning the Pure Stock rookie of the year and track title last year, was able to get the early lead, and stretch it over the rest of the field. Though mostly held under green flag conditions, the race was slowed during the latter stages of the race when a Calvin Collins spin collected Gabe Pringle in turn four. With just a few laps to complete, Mazzoleni had his hands full with Will Walker in second and Keith Thomas in third. At the finish though, Mazzoleni picked up his first Pro Stock feature win in his Best Wireline/Wainright Auto Parts #19. Walker, Thomas, Doug McMillen, and Roger Butler completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Tim Skinner, Travis Devore, Kevin McClintock, Bill Hilliker, and Luke Huff. Butler and Hilliker won the heats, while Thomas set fast time at 15.89.
In Papa John’s Pure Stock action, Teddy Oliver was the man to beat as he set quick time with a 17.98, which broke Jimmy Orr’s 2001 track record. Brian Wood, John Leasure, and Barney Gerber then won the heat races. In feature action, Canton’s John Leasure was out front and in control, but on the move was top qualifier Teddy Oliver. Lap-by-lap working his way to the front, the only thing that could possibly stop him was the few laps remaining. However, on the race’s final circuit, Oliver drove high out of turn two, accelerated down the backstretch took advantage and amazingly beat Leasure back to the finish line. Following the Midas Auto Service/Waterloo Transmission #49 were Leasure, Joe Oliver, Justin Courtney, and Chris Miller. Al Street, Barney Gerber, Rich Schweitzer, Rick Hoffman, and Paul Parson completed the top ten.
As always, a strong field of fireproofcar.com Compacts were on hand, with over 60 setting times in qualifications. At the top of the pylon was Kelly McNutt, who turned an 18.58, setting a new track record. Crossing the line first in their respective heat races were Rich Fox, Josh Feister, Russell Grandison, Ben Gibson, and Jamie Leslie.
In the first of three features, the fastest Compacts at the track lined up for their 15-lapper. Dougie Cross started up front with Bob Passwaters, Jr. Cross, a second year driver, held the top spot early on as cars tried to race from the back of the field. On the move were Terry Colletti and Kelly McNutt, the top qualifier. However, the very equal field, under race conditions, would not shake up all that much as Cross beat 19 other cars to the stripe to pick up his first fast feature win. Following the Hoop Design/Musick & Son Heating & Cooling #63 were Rich Fox, Terry Colletti, Bob Passwaters, Jr., and John McNutt. Sixth through tenth were Kelly McNutt, Josh Grove, David Breehl, Randy Smart, and Billy Stutler.
In the second Compact feature event, Eric Feister, driving the Hoop Design/Wainright Auto Parts #16 made it two-for-two in hometown drivers winning Compact division features. Feister was followed by Jim Keller, Jr., Russell Grandison, Sean Scott, and John Baker. Phil Veno, Mike Powell, Josh Irwin, Bob Passwaters, Sr., and Perry Nave completed the top ten.
In the final main event of the night, John Drescher in the S.W. Design #119 finished on top, with Rocky Moore, Ray Hoover, Eddie Huscusson, and Stephen Feister completing the top ten. Shawn Royer, Katrina Miller, Jamie Leslie, Charles Ritch, and Gary Murray finished off the top ten.
After one night of racing for the 50th anniversary season, Farmer Smith (Late Models), Glen Jewell (Modifieds), Will Walker (Pro Stocks), Teddy Oliver (Pure Stocks), and Rich Fox (Compacts) are leading the point standings.
Coming up this Saturday, April 19, Truelies.org and Valvoline present a 50th anniversary special with the Pro Stocks going 50 laps. The special event will be $400 to win and $60 to start. The Easter Bunny will be on hand to pass out candy for the kids. All five divisions will be in competition with qualifying 3:50-5:50, and racing at 6:30.
Results For Midvale Speedway
Smokers Paradise Late Models
Top Qualifier - Bob Sibila 14.74
Heat #1 - Mike Miller, Tom Newman, Jr., Ryan Tedesco, Don Harvey, Jr., Bear Schwartz
Heat #2 - Farmer Smith, Bob Eichel, John Tantarelli, Jr., John Miller, Duane Dunn
Feature - Duane Dunn, Bear Schwartz, Farmer Smith, Don Harvey, Jr., Marcus Malcuit, Mike Miller, Tom Newman, Jr., Ryan Tedesco, John Tantarelli, Jr., Bob Eichel, Paul Miller, Jr., Tim Myers, John Miller, Bob Sibila
Tolloti Pipe Modifieds
Top Qualifier - Mark Striker 14.79
Heat - Glen Jewell, John Wilson, Mark Striker, Butch Erickson
Feature - Mark Striker, Glen Jewell, Mark Enos, Jim McCune, Butch Erickson, John Wilson, Tim Allensworth, Mark Willison, Ron McBride
Tusco Net Pro Stocks
Top Qualifier - Keith Thomas 15.89
Heat #1 - Roger Butler, Roger Linard, Will Walker, Gabe Pringle, Keith Thomas
Heat #2 - Bill Hilliker, Calvin Collins, Greg Mazzoleni, Travis Devore, Don Rufener, Jr.
Feature - Greg Mazzoleni, Will Walker, Keith Thomas, Doug McMillen, Roger Butler, Tim Skinner, Travis Devore, Kevin McClintock, Bill Hilliker, Luke Huff, Roger Linard, Gabe Pringle, Calvin Collins, Randy Doolin, Don Rufener, Jr.
Papa John's Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier - Teddy Oliver 17.98(NTR)
Heat #1 - Brian Wood, Joe Oliver, Justin Courtney, Teddy Oliver, Al Street
Heat #2 - John Leasure, Rick Hoffman, Rich Schweitzer, Chris Miller, Chester McMasters
Heat #3 - Barney Gerber, Shawanna Myers, Tom Feller, Jr., Mike Daugherty, Gordon Conway
Feature - Teddy Oliver, John Leasure, Joe Oliver, Justin Courtney, Chris Miller, Al Street, Barney Gerber, Rich Schweitzer, Rick Hoffman, Paul Parson, Chester McMasters, Brian Wood, Mike Daugherty, Ray Van Lehn, D.J. Radanovich, Gordon Conway, Curtis Collins, Tom Feller, Jr., Brian Oliver, Bubba Smith
fireproofcar.com Compacts
Top Qualifier - Kelly McNutt 18.58(NTR)
Heat #1 - Rich Fox, John McNutt, Josh Grove, Billy Stutler, Randy Smart
Heat #2 - Josh Feister, Jimbo Roup, Jim Poole, Dougie Cross, Bill Coburn
Heat #3 - Russell Grandison, Jason Grewell, Tom Barrett, Eric Feister, Bob Passwaters, Sr.
Heat #4 - Ben Gibson, Shawn Royer, Josh Irwin, Bruce Gibson, Rocky Moore
Heat #5 - Jamie Leslie, Ray Hoover, Stephen Feister, John Drescher, Charles Ritch
Feature #1 - Dougie Cross, Rich Fox, Terry Colletti, Bob Passwaters, Jr., John McNutt, Kelly McNutt, Josh Grove, David Breehl, Randy Smart, Billy Stutler, Jack Grove, Greg Grove, Jimbo Roup, Don Rufener, Jr., Jason Morgan, Cody Kahler, Phil Wade, Jim Poole, Rick Reynolds, Tye Kelly
Feature #2 - Eric Feister, Jim Keller, Jr., Russell Grandison, Sean Scott, John Baker, Phil Veno, Mike Powell, Josh Irwin, Bob Passwaters, Sr., Perry Nave, Bruce Gibson, Kenny Jewell, Adam Mishler, Kenny Ford, Jason Grewell, Bill Coburn, Shawn Smarsh, Tom Barrett
Feature #3 - John Drescher, Rocky Moore, Ray Hoover, Eddie Huscusson, Stephen Feister, Shawn Royer, Katrina Miller, Jamie Leslie, Charles Ritch, Gary Murray, Mike Cottrell, Debbie Jewell, Ben Gibson, Jesse Page, Allen Andrews
Written by: Adam Mackey |
