Press Release by Adam Mackey, Provided by Midvale Speedway
Midvale Speedway celebrated its 60th anniversary season by running 60 lap features for extra pay in its top two divisions this past Saturday, May 25. In addition, four other divisions were on hand plus a skid plate race at the end of the night.Ron Kirkpatrick and Ron Jaberg, Jr. brought a solid field of McIntosh Oil Company Late Models to the green in the 60-lap main event. On the line was a top prize of $1,600 with the runner-up set to get $1,000. When the green dropped, it was Jaberg racing into the lead. The New Philadelphia, Ohio driver was piloting his own car, as the normal driver, Mike Miller had other commitments. Jaberg ran well over the first one-quarter mark, keeping challengers at bay. Eventually, rookie Matthew Mills got the hang of the outside lane and shot by for the race lead on lap 18. Mills went on to set the pace for the next ten circuits before a lengthy caution/red for a fan that had taken ill, set up a double file restart. When the green again was displayed, Canton, Ohio driver Bubba Smith rocketed into the top spot via the outside lane. A few laps later, his younger brother, Bryant, moved into second around Rick Sibila. Over the final half of the race, the race saw 33 laps go caution free with Bryant applying pressure for the top spot for a short time. In fact, at one point, the current standings leader looked inside coming down the frontstretch, only to get hard on the binders to avoid contact in the first turn. From that point on, Bubba Smith worked traffic smoothly and kept a small margin gap for the advantage. At the checkered, it was the first win of the season for the Finish Line Motors/Finish Line Design #12. Following the brothers Smith were Sibila, Tom Stankiewicz, and Don Harvey, Jr. The rest of the top ten were Jaberg, Bob Schneider, Jr., Larry Baker, Kirkpatrick, and Rich Dessecker. Sibila set fast time with a new track record.
Lee McCreery and Jesse Adams paced the 18-car Summit Racing Equipment Economy Modified 60-lap feature at the green. Pulling out front early was Lee McCreery as Adams had a tough start to the event. Taking second was veteran, Todd Ripley, who like McCreery, was looking for his first win of the season. A caution with only one lap in created the first of several exciting restarts between the two. When the green waved on the second lap, Ripley used the outside lane to assume the point. A 20-lap green flag run saw Ripley control the pace with McCreery hanging onto second. When green came out on the ensuing restart, McCreery, like Ripley earlier, used the outside lane to take the lead. The New Philadelphia, Ohio driver held the advantage until lap 27 when the next yellow lined them up again. Right on cue, the two again exchanged the lead, as the outside lane was the place to be on restarts. Two more changes occurred on restarts between the two before Ripley eventually was able to hold him, in what looked to be for good. Doug Meyer, the night’s top qualifier, entered the battle late in the race and was the benefactor of a lap 56 caution. Over the final four laps, Meyer and Ripley battled side-by-side going for the $1,000 top prize. As the checkered waved, Meyer edged Ripley by less than a half second, claiming his first win of the season. The All Parts Auto Care/Bob’s Auto Sales #31 was followed by Ripley, Tad Grove, McCreery, and Justin Courtney. Preston Walker, Bill Westlake, Mike Bowers, Dave Dobbins, and Kevin McClintock were top ten finishers. Meyer set fast time.
Bill Shimko set the pace for the first five laps in the Midvale Speedway Pure Stock feature event. A lap six yellow, slated point leader, Rich Schweitzer on the highside but Shimko was able to fend off the challenge. After a lap ten caution, things would be different, though, as Schweitzer was just strong enough to squeak by. The race saw a number of cautions from that point on, with Schweitzer holding off his tough competition each time. With about five to go, it was again the top two in points, Schweitzer and Don Boron, Jr. at the front racing for the win. At the checkered, it was New Philadelphia, Ohio driver Rich Schweitzer taking his second victory of the season with Boron, Teddy Oliver, Gary Hoopingarner, and Austin Harvey taking top fives. Top tens were claimed by Waylon Orr, Jeremiah Hartline, Robbie Patterson, Nick Harmon, and Shimko. Oliver and Harvey won the heats, while Boron set fast time.
19 Compact lined up for the 15 lap feature event. The division, which has seen extremely competitive racing all season long, was no different on this night, as fans watched a handful of drivers threaten for victory. Chris Bloom garnered the lead at the end of one lap, while Brad McClain took over the next time by. McClain, driving a car recently put together by Buckey Racing, only led for two laps before Wes Ennis shot to the front. Ennis picked the right lane on a couple of occasions and made it from deep in the pack in short time. Following him were Bob Schneider, Jr., Jeffrey Orr, and Braden Swaney three of the fastest qualifiers. Caution came out on lap ten of the event, as Schneider had a wheel fly off of his machine. The ensuing restart slated Orr to the outside of Ennis and Orr made the most of it, taking the lead and racing to his first victory of the season. It wasn’t easily done, though, as defending champion and top qualifier, Swaney, as well as Orr were all over him. The Jax Auto Express/Tusky Transmission #8 was followed by Swaney, Ennis, Tim Frederick, and McClain. Top ten finishers were Allen Clark, Leeza Moore, Ryan Shreffler, Zack Cogar, and Chris Bloom. Swaney, Moore, and Mitchell Ujcich won the heats.
Alan Walker and Kohlten Bryan led the Funpact field to the green for their 12-lap A Main. At the start, it was Bryan taking the advantage, trying to claim his first feature win of the season. Bryan led the first six laps of the event before a flat tire ended his chances on a mid race caution. That gave the lead to point leader Blaine Salsberry. The Uhrichsville, Ohio native held on down the stretch with Dan Buckey close behind. Moments after the race, a confrontation pitside cost Salsberry the “W” and Buckey assumed the victory. Chris Bloom, Howard Bartholow, Walker, and Bryan were top five finishers.
Justin Badgett led laps one and two in the Mini-Truck feature event before Cyler Bertram raced to the front. Much like his father, John, in the heat, Cyler used the powerful #155 to rocket past his competition. Badgett, Dennis Garrett, III, and Doug Decker were all turning comparable lap times in a second place battle. Bertram, however, claimed the easy victory in the Lake’s Auto Recycling/State Farm Insurance #155. Badgett, Garrett, Decker, and Wood were top five finishers. John Bertram won the heat and set a track record in qualifying.
As always, on Memorial Day weekend, fans were treated to another thrilling, comedy filled, Skid Plate race. Nearly 30 participants lined up for this year’s first of two events. Using experience from his previous starts, Bryant Smith raced to the front early and kept his car, for the most part, in the right direction. It’s an event that the winner is one that normally spins the least during the 10 lap grind. For Smith, it was his first skid plate win. Alex Nagle and Corey Evey were his closest competition.
If anything can top the excitement from this past Saturday, it will be the action coming up this week. The MSA Winged Supermodifieds will be making their first of two trips to the track this season. Joining the fastest cars that compete at Midvale will be Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Compacts, Funpacts, and Mini-Trucks.
Pit gates will open at 2:30, with Supermodified hotlaps from 3:00-3:30 and 4:15-4:45, while the regular classes will practice from 3:30-4:15. Qualifying will start at 4:45, while racing will take the green at 6:30.
Grandstand admission is $16 for adults and seniors and $10 for kids 6-15. Children 5 and under are free.
More info is available at midvalespeedway.com.
Results For Midvale Speedway
McIntosh Oil Company Late Models
Top Qualifier – Rick Sibila 13.927 NTR
Feature – Bubba Smith, Bryant Smith, Rick Sibila, Tom Stankiewicz, Don Harvey, Jr., Ron Jaberg, Jr., Bob Schneider, Jr., Larry Baker, Ron Kirkpatrick, Rich Dessecker, William Robinson, Matthew Mills, George Riddle, Rick Grudier, Joe Fewkes, Jesse Page
Summit Racing Equipment Economy Modifieds
Top Qualifier – Doug Meyer 14.668
Feature – Doug Meyer, Todd Ripley, Tad Grove, Lee McCreery, Justin Courtney, Preston Walker, Bill Westlake, Mike Bowers, Dave Dobbins, Kevin McClintock, Tim Westerfield, Jr., Jason Grewell, Jesse Adams, Jeremy Sloan, Bob Sibila, Jr., Mike Green, Lucas Ripley, Josh Anders
Midvale Speedway Pure Stocks
Top Qualifier – Don Boron, Jr. 16.274
Heat #1 – Teddy Oliver, Rich Schweitzer, Don Boron, Jr., Gary Hoopingarner, Nick Harmon
Heat #2 – Austin Harvey, Waylon Orr, Robbie Patterson, Kyle Anders, Jeremiah Hartline
Feature – Rich Schweitzer, Don Boron, Jr., Teddy Oliver, Gary Hoopingarner, Austin Harvey, Waylon Orr, Jeremiah Hartline, Robbie Patterson, Nick Harmon, Bill Shimko, Kyle Anders
Midvale Speedway Mini-Trucks
Top Qualifier – John Bertram 17.428 NTR
Heat – John Bertram, Dennis Garrett, III, Doug Decker, Teddy Oliver, Jr., Dennis Wood
Feature – Cyler Bertram, Justin Badgett, Dennis Garrett, III, Doug Decker, Dennis Wood, Cody Collmar, Teddy Oliver, Jr.
Midvale Speedway Compacts
Top Qualifier – Braden Swaney 18.069
Heat #1 – Braden Swaney, Clayton Oliver, Bob Schneider, Jr., Allen Clark, Tim Frederick
Heat #2 – Leeza Moore, Laney Striejewske, Tye Kelly, Brad McClain, Ryan Shreffler
Heat #3 – Mitchell Ujcich, Dale Beatty, Chris Bloom, Zack Cogar, Josh Roberts
Feature – Jeffrey Orr, Braden Swaney, Wes Ennis, Tim Frederick, Brad McClain, Allen Clark, Leeza Moore, Ryan Shreffler, Zack Cogar, Chris Bloom, Mike Swaney, Laney Striejewske, Josh Roberts, Mitchell Ujcich, Bob Schneider, Jr., Dale Beatty, Clayton Oliver, Tye Kelly, Gary Gibson
Midvale Speedway Funpacts
Top Qualifier – Dan Buckey 17.182
Heat – Chris Bloom, Dan Buckey, Howard Bartholow, Alan Walker, Kohtlen Bryan
Feature – Dan Buckey, Chris Bloom, Howard Bartholow, Alan Walker, Kohlten Bryan
Skid Plate Race
Feature Winner – Bryant Smith