By Adam Mackey, Press Release & Photo Provided by Midvale Speedway
With cool conditions, drivers were turning some extremely fast laps this past Saturday night, May 11 at Midvale Speedway. All six divisions were on hand in addition to the Midvale Karting Series for a race at intermission.
Ron Kirkpatrick and Larry Baker started up front in the McIntosh Oil Company Late Model division with Kirkpatrick taking the early advantage. Behind him, Rick Sibila and Bubba Smith were headed forward. Sibila took over in the early going with Smith moving into second and starting a challenge in the outside lane. Smith was inching forward and edged Sibila near the halfway mark. Yellow then flew for an accident in turn one, giving Smith the inside lane. On the subsequent restart, Sibila used the outside lane to surprisingly race back out front.
The battle between the top two in last year’s points was over but entering into the picture was qualifier extraordinaire, Alex Rosenberry. This year’s track record holder rocketed into the outside lane and raced by Smith for second. Within a couple of paces, the New Philadelphia, Ohio driver ran down Sibila and shot to the outside of him in turn three. Moments later, Rosenberry was out front pulling out to a near half track advantage. At the checkered, the Rosenberry Towing/TILT Lighting #2 was followed by Sibila, Mike Miller who made a late race charge for third, Smith, and George Riddle. Bryant Smith, Bob Schneider, Jr., Baker, Kirkpatrick, and William Robinson were top ten finishers. Bryant Smith and Baker won the heats, while Rosenberry set fast time for the third week in a row.
In the Summit Racing Economy Modifieds, Bill Westlake started up front for the second week in-a-row looking to pull off his first career feature win. Lee McCreery was challenging strong though, and in a battle for real estate, the two got together entering turn three with Westlake being sent to the tail. Scott Archer, last week’s top qualifier, was making his moves through the field as well as this week’s top time setter, Preston Walker. The two got to the front, pulled away, and started a battle for the number one position. Walker looked high and low trying to get around Archer. Meanwhile, Kevin McClintock and others ran the lead duo down. At the checkered, the Arch-a-motive/Orwick’s Tree Service #28 was strong enough for his first win of the year. Following Archer were Walker, McClintock, McCreery, and Jesse Adams. Todd Ripley, Randy Smart, Neil Rolli, Mike Bowers, and Lucas Ripley completed the top ten. McClintock, Todd Ripley, and Rolli won the heats.
Waylon Orr and Robbie Patterson brought a smallish field of Pure Stocks to the green for their 20-lap feature. Three-time division champion Teddy Oliver made some quick moves and found himself in the lead by the end of lap one. Oliver, though, still running a 305 while most have switched to the 350-crate engines, found himself down on power as Rich Schweitzer and Don Boron, Jr. raced around him. Schweitzer pulled to a decent lead for a while before Boron, this week’s track record setter, ran him down. Schweitzer protected the bottom and Boron wasn’t quite quick enough to scoot by on the outside. Following the Federated Auto Parts/Alicia L Manly, MD #84 were Boron, Bill Shimko, Nick Harmon, and Oliver. Todd Miller, Austin Harvey, Patterson, Orr, and Tom Earley were top ten finishers. Schweitzer and Oliver won the heats.
Cody Collmar raced into the lead early in the Midvale Speedway Mini Truck feature. Just as in previous week’s, his truck looked strong and destined for a victory. The difference this week was it remained that way to the finish, holding off a challenge from last week’s winner Justin Badgett. Collmar, from Barberton, Ohio, claimed his first feature win and was followed by Badgett, Dennis Wood, Teddy Oliver, Jr., and Dustin DelVecchio in his Shaker’s Auto Recycling/State Street Tire #12. Badgett won the heat and set fast time.
Tim Frederick took the early lead in the Midvale Speedway Compact feature. Working through the field was New Philadelphia, Ohio driver Braden Swaney, who made a much earlier return than expected from his hand injury suffered on opening night. Swaney took over the lead from Frederick and started to set sail. Frederick, unfortunately, then picked up his pace a little too much and went under his time twice during the race, costing him a chance at a second place finish. Jesse Patterson crossed the finish line in second behind the Short Stop Drive Thru/My Museum Tattoo #27. Jeffrey Orr, Clayton Oliver, and Wes Ennis rounded out the top five. Others in the top ten were Allen Clark, Bob Schneider, Jr., A.J. Vasilliu, Kyle Finlayson, and Leeza Moore. Unbelievably, the fast heat in the Compact division ended in a virtual tie with Ennis and Patterson claiming a share of the win. Clayton Oliver and Josh Roberts won the other two heats. Rich Dunlap set fast time.
The Midvale Speedway Funpacts were running the big oval this week, but in the reverse direction. Alan Walker and Chris Bloom started up front with top qualifier Blaine Salsberry and last year’s point runner up Kohlten Bryan working forward. Bryan took over the lead early on and Salsberry applied plenty of pressure. For a long time, it looked as though Bryan was going to hold him off. However, late in the race, Bryan opened up the bottom just enough to allow Salsberry to scoot by. Salsberry claimed his second win in-a-row driving the Route 39 Auto Salvage/Tappan Drive Thru #29. Following the Uhrichsville, Ohio driver were Bryan, Dan Buckey, Howard Bartholow, and Walker. Salsberry also claimed the heat win.
The Midvale Karting Series put on a great show at intermission. Mitch Romar and Rick Minnier ran in a two kart draft, breaking away from the field. With two to go, Minnier started his challenge, allowing others to make it a five driver battle for the win. Coming to the checkered, Romar somehow held them off. Romar was followed by Minnier, Gary Schumaker, Scott Cain, and Shane Ixos.
Spectator Drags will join the regular six divisions this coming Saturday night at Midvale Speedway. For more info, visit midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
McIntosh Oil Company Late Models
Top Qualifier – Alex Rosenberry 13.949
Heat #1 – Bryant Smith, Bob Schneider, Jr., Alex Rosenberry, George Riddle, Bubba Smith
Heat #2 – Larry Baker, Joe Fewkes, Ron Kirkpatrick, Dave McAlicker, William Robinson
Feature – Alex Rosenberry, Rick Sibila, Mike Miller, Bubba Smith, George Riddle, Bryant Smith, Bob Schneider, Jr., Larry Baker, Ron Kirkpatrick, William Robinson, Joe Fewkes, Dave McAlicker, Rick Grudier
Summit Racing Economy Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Preston Walker 14.468 NTR
Heat #1 – Kevin McClintock, Bill Westlake, Scott Archer, Randy Smart, Mike Green
Heat #2 – Todd Ripley, Mike Bowers, Jesse Adams, Jason Grewell, Tim Westerfield, Jr.
Heat #3 – Neil Rolli, Ron McBride, Joe Ujcich, Jeremy Sloan, Greg Hole
Feature – Scott Archer, Preston Walker, Kevin McClintock, Lee McCreery, Jesse Adams, Todd Ripley, Randy Smart, Neil Rolli, Mike Bowers, Lucas Ripley, Tim Westerfield, Jr., Bill Westlake, Jason Grewell, Greg Hole, Jeremy Sloan, Joe Ujcich, Ron McBride, Mike Green, Tom Ertle
Midvale Speedway Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Don Boron, Jr. 16.203 NTR
Heat #1 – Rich Schweitzer, Todd Miller, Nick Harmon, Don Boron, Jr., Bill Shimko
Heat #2 – Teddy Oliver, Austin Harvey, Waylon Orr, Robbie Patterson
Feature – Rich Schweitzer, Don Boron, Jr., Bill Shimko, Nick Harmon, Teddy Oliver, Todd Miller, Austin Harvey, Robbie Patterson, Waylon Orr, Tom Earley
Midvale Speedway Mini Trucks
Top Qualifier – Justin Badgett 18.241
Heat – Justin Badgett, Cody Collmar, Teddy Oliver, Jr., Logan Collmar, Dustin DelVecchio
Feature – Cody Collmar, Justin Badgett, Dennis Wood, Teddy Oliver, Jr., Dustin DelVecchio
Midvale Speedway Compacts
Top Qualifier – Rich Dunlap 18.029
Heat #1 – Wes Ennis & Jesse Patterson (tie), Rich Dunlap, Allen Clark, Braden Swaney
Heat #2 – Clayton Oliver, Tim Frederick, Bob Schneider, Jr., Leeza Moore, A.J. Vasilliu
Heat #3 – Josh Roberts, Jason Yohn, Chris Bloom, Gerald Hahn, Laney Striejewske
Feature – Braden Swaney, Jesse Patterson, Jeffrey Orr, Clayton Oliver, Wes Ennis, Allen Clark, Bob Schneider, Jr., A.J. Vasilliu, Kyle Finlayson, Leeza Moore, Laney Striejewske, Chris Bloom, Josh Roberts, Jason Yohn, Gerald Hahn, Tim Frederick, Rich Dunlap
Midvale Speedway Funpacts
Top Qualifier – Blaine Salsberry 19.463
Heat – Blaine Salsberry, Chris Bloom, Kohlten Bryan, Dan Buckey, Alan Walker
Feature – Blaine Salsberry, Kohlten Bryan, Dan Buckey, Howard Bartholow, Alan Walker, Chris Bloom, Tim Frederick
Midvale Karting Series
Feature – Mitch Romar, Rick Minnier, Gary Schumaker, Scott Cain, Shane Ixos, Bambi Gore, Mark Romar, Chuck Heyman