Ohio's Fun Place to Race!!
2024 Race Season |
 | September 19, 2015 |
 Mother Nature tried her best to derail Smith's Auto Sales / Freedom Auto Finance Season Championship Night at "Thunder In The Valley". Little did she know, we have the best and most persistent Driver's, Official's, Track Owners and FANS in the business! Sixty two driver and car combinations weathered the storm so to speak and made the haul to Midvale Speedway under cloudy skies and 62 degrees.
The first feature to hit the Speedway may have been the best all night. High drama and high stakes was the name of the game for the JD Byrider Street Stock 20 lapper. Coming in Colton Ritchey in the #21 held a 4 point lead over fellow rookie Kyle Grove in the #3. Grove held the tie breaker with more feature victories on the season, so that meant that whoever finished ahead of the other would be crowned Champion in 2015. Cyler Bertram in the #55 and TJ Barker in the #11 started on the front row. On the start, Barker slipped a little high in turn one and two, allowing the #44 of Larry Smith to slide through and take over the top spot down the back straightaway. The first caution flew on lap 4 for the #44 of Smith for breaking out of his qualifying time, sending him to the tail. That put Bertram up front with the point leader Ritchey along side, Grove and the #1 of Gary Hoopingarner in row two. Ritchey powered around the outside and took over the point. Hoopingarner took over second and Grove was in a dog fight with Bertram and Todd Miller in the #77 for 3rd. As the laps clicked away, Ritchey seemed to have the race in hand with Hoopingarner a car length back with Miller and Bertram ahead of Grove. Then the second and final caution waved on lap 14 for Bertram going under his time. On the restart, Hoopingarner was able to take the lead from Ritchey and Grove was able to pull along side the fifteen year old. It looked as though the youngsters championship hopes were going to end right here on lap fifteen. Just as Grove went to the outside of Hoopy for the race lead, the #1 got deep into turn three trying to keep the top spot. Hoopingarner pushed high taking Grove who was on his outside with him. That allowed Ritchey to make a 15 year veteran move, swing the car to the bottom and make the three wide pass going into turn 1. Over the final few laps Grove would give it his all, but it just wasn't meant to be. After flipping his car in practice a few nights earlier practicing at another track, one of his fellow competitors Waylon Orr showed the ultimate sportsmanship and gave up his #28 to Ritchey so he could compete for a championship. Colton rewarded Waylon with a Season Championship Feature victory and a Season Points Title. Following the Akron OH driver in the Cardinal Asphalt, CRP Racing, Innovative Autosports, Buckey Mowing, Mallett Energy sponsored #21 was Grove, Hoopingarner, Smith and Miller.
Next to take to the track was The McIntosh Oil Company Late Model's for their 30 lap feature. Coming in, the Championship had already been decided with Bubba Smith collecting his 3rd Late Model title. Dave Martin in the #3 and Bob Schneider Jr in the #17 would lead the field to Chief Starter Terry Colletti's green flag. Schneider Jr raced out to the lead as Martin was shuffled back. On lap six Matthew Mills in the #4 got Into the back of Bryant Smith in the #1, bringing out the first caution and ending Matt's night. Bryant would restart on the outside of Schneider and that's where the duo would stay for the next ten laps. Lap after lap they would trade the top spot by mere feet. The two would race hard and clean until Ryan Tedesco joined the battle. Smith would slip in turn one and Schneider would finally clear him which also allowed Tedesco to get to the inside of the #1. Another seven lap battle would ensue between the trio until brake problems cause Schneider Jr to spin on his own off turn two bringing out the final caution on lap 24. Just after the Schneider spin, Tom Stankiewicz in the #42 lost a rear end and laid down a lot of fluid on the back straightaway and through turns 3 & 4. After a lengthy cleanup, Smith and Tedesco would battle side by side for a lap or so until Smith finally cleared the #70. Smith was able to use his half car length or so advantage on the restart to run about a half groove up off the bottom where the fluid and speedy dry was in 3 & 4, which took Tedesco's lane away and he wasn't able to recover. Bubba Smith, the new track record holder and 2015 Champion took a couple looks at Tedesco for the runner up spot, but ran out of time. Following the Canton OH driver in the Canton Auto Salvage, Finish Line Design's, Freedom Auto Finance sponsored #1 was Tedesco, Bubba, Glenn Gault Jr and Mike Miller.
Next to take to the Speedway was the other tight points battle, the Finish Line Motor's Mini Truck Division for their 15 lap event. Coming in, Keith Anderson in the #32 was able to retake the points lead by 8 over Derek Cordia in the #72. Chad Squires in the #4 and Cody Jaberg in the #22 brought the field to green. After a failed start that eliminated Squires with a flat right front during contact with Jaberg, The #22 would move to the pole with Michael Varnes in the #95 along side. At the drop of the green Joe Linard put his #82 three wide on the bottom lane and moved to second behind Jaberg. Off turn two Jaberg left the bottom open and Linard sailed on through. Linard was able to open up a nice gap but the fastest truck was on the move. Colt Locker in the #118 broke the track record in qualifying and had his sights set on Linard. Anderson was able to get around Cordia, who was doing everything but throwing the kitchen sink out the window to keep him behind. With Locker all over the back end of the #82, Anderson was content to ride and take home the Championship. On lap twelve, Locker was able to get to the inside of Linard and make the pass. Locker came to the checkers first, but was disqualified for not go straight to tech as the top three immediately do after every feature, in every division. Following the Dover OH driver in the Ron Kirkpatrick Racing, Hoopz Auto Body, Russ Moore & Sons Concrete, Buckey Mowing, Watson Trucking sponsored #82 was Anderson who claimed his first career Championship, Varnes, Jaberg and Waylon Orr.
In the Summit Racing Economy Modified Division, the Championship had already been claimed by the #82 of Bob Sibla Jr, taking home his first title. Phillip Cox in the #09 and Mike Bowers in the #02 brought the field to the stripe. Cox was able to wrestle the lead away off turn two and lead the first four circuits. On lap four the caution waved for the first of three spins by Shawn Kaufman in the #10. That put Lee McCreery in the #2 to the outside of Cox. After a two lap battle, McCreery was able to win the fight and take the top spot. The second caution waved for Cox going .15 faster than his qualifying time for 2 laps, sending him to the tail. On the restart, fastest qualifier Bryce Allensworth worked his way to the second spot and Champion Sibla Jr up to 3rd. Despite having another shot at McCreery on a final restart, setting up a Green - White - Checkered finish, Allensworth and Sibla Jr would have to settle for the lower two steps on the podium. Following the New Philadelphia OH driver in the M&D Design's, Riddle Trucking, Gribble Fabrication, R&R Carb Service, Massillon Machine and Sick Puppy Tattoo sponsored #2 was Allensworth, Sibla Jr, Glen Jewell who made his final career start at Midvale Speedway after a long and illustrious career and Bowers rounding out the top 5.
The final feature of the evening was the 20 lap Canton Auto Salvage Compact event. Wes Ennis wrapped up his first career title in the #50 earlier in the evening. Mike McDonald in the #16 and Alan Clark in the #169 started on the front row. After multiple failed starts and accidents, we had a marathon on our hands. To aid in some of the issue, Official's experienced some radio issues and were unable to communicate with the drivers. That meant some extra time to line the field up the old fashioned way, by hand. Once we finally got underway, Clark and Laney Striejewske in the #17 brought the field in for the start. Striejewske who has experienced numerous mechanical gremlins over the last 2 1/2 months quickly faded in the outside lane. Just as quick, Cristian Bailey in the #46 shot to the race lead. Ennis was on the march in his machine up to 4th, meanwhile Clayton Oliver in the #19 was able to take the lead away from Bailey. After another caution, Ennis was able to take over the top spot from Oliver and started to set sail. Bailey would be sent to the tail for running under his qualifying time on lap 11 while running 3rd. After another handful of cautions and bad decisions, Ennis looked as though he was going to be too strong, just like the #50 was most of the year, regardless who was behind the wheel. Coming to the white flag, the #50 suddenly lost power. Ennis scurried to get the car refired as Oliver and Kyle Finlayson in the #15 blew past. Ennis got the car to restart entering turn 1 but Justin Renicker in the #175 was there. As the car lurched, it made contact with Renicker, sending him spinning. The Clark machine had no where to go and T-boned the #175 in the drivers door. The caution and checkered waved as Oliver would take the victory and Ennis would be charged with the caution. Renicker would be ok. Following the Malvern OH driver in the Deluxe Auto Body, Riddle Trucking, Gregory Kinsinger DDS, Morgan Vinyl Graphics sponsored #19 was Finlayson, Renicker, Clark and McDonald.
The Budweiser Fall Classic is up next and will be the final event on the 2015 schedule. The tentative date is Saturday October 17th. Additional details will be available in the coming weeks as to the events and divisions that will compete. The All-star Late Model Showdown, Figure 8, Official's Race and the Season Ending Trailer Race are all events expected to be on the docket. Please enjoy your next few weeks off as we prepare for an exciting end to 2015.
THANK YOU ALL again for sticking out the wet and chilly weather so we could crown our Champions, Congratulations to them and our Feature Winners. Follow us on Facebook and at www.midvalespeesway.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McIntosh Oil Company Late Model's
Fast Time: Bubba Smith (NTR 13.707)
Heat 1: Bryant Smith, Mike Miller, Ryan Tedesco, Bubba Smith, Jonathan Reitter, Matthew Mills, Glenn Gault Jr.
Heat 2: Tom Stankiewicz, Dave Martin, Mike Smith, Bob Schneider Jr, Gary Hoopingarner.
Feature: Bryant, Tedesco, Bubba, Gault Jr, Miller, Reitter, Hoopingarner, Smith, Martin, Schneider Jr, Stankiewicz, Joe Slentz, Eichel, Mills.
2015 Champion: Bubba Smith
Summit Racing Economy Modified's
Fast Time: Bryce Allensworth
Heat 1: Lee McCreery, Shawn Kaufman, Brandon Bailey, Bryce Allensworth, Bob Sibla Jr.
Heat 2: Phillip Cox, Mike Bowers, Braden Swaney, Glen Jewell.
Feature: McCreery, Allensworth, Sibla Jr, Jewell, Bowers, Bailey, Cox, Kaufman, Swaney, Scott Marino.
2015 Champion: Bob Sibla Jr
JD Byrider Street Stock's
Fast Time: Kyle Grove
Heat: Colton Ritchey, Kyle Grove, TJ Barker, Gary Hoopingarner, Bob Passwaters Sr, Bob Passwaters Jr, Cyler Bertram, Larry Smith.
Feature: Ritchey, Grove, Hoopingarner, Smith, Miller, Bertram, Passwaters Jr, Barker, Passwaters Sr.
2015 Champion: Colton Ritchey
Finish Line Motor's Mini Truck's
Fast Time: Colt Locker (NTR 17.003)
Heat: Joe Linard, Colt Locker, Keith Anderson, Cody Jaberg, Waylon Orr, Chad Squires, Michael Varnes, Derek Cordia, Matt Wallick.
Feature: Linard, Anderson, Varnes, Jaberg, Orr, Cordia, Wallick, Squires
2015 Champion: Keith Anderson
Canton Auto Salvage Compact's
Fast Time: Wes Ennis
Heat 1: Gage Jaberg, Britt Vanmeter, Wes Ennis, Kyle Finlayson, Justin Renicker, Clayton Oliver, Dan Buckey.
Heat 2: Cristian Bailey, Allen Clark, Jason Shaw, Mike McDonald, Laney Striejewske, Bobby Gainer.
Heat 3: Hunter Corbett, Toby Cook, James Butts, Travis Riddle, Larry Ennis Jr, Steven McCue.
Feature: Oliver, Finlayson, Renicker, Clark, McDonald, Gainer, Bailey, Corbett, Shaw, Butts, Buckey, Riddle, McCue, Ennis, Ennis Jr, Striejewske, Vanmeter, Cook, Jaberg, Jim Keller Jr.
2015 Champion: Wes Ennis
Skid Plate Race: Bryant Smith, Rob Scott and Bubba Smith were the top 3.
Written by: Chris Kail |
|
|
|
|
09/19/2015 Race
Late Models Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Smith, Bryant |
| 2. | Tedesco, Ryan |
| 3. | Smith, Bubba |
| 4. | Gault Jr, Glenn |
| 5. | Miller, Mike |
| 6. | Reitter, Jonathan |
| 7. | Slentz, Paul |
| 8. | Smith, Mike |
| 9. | Martin, Dave |
| 10. | Schneider Jr, Bob |
| More |
09/19/2015 Race
Economy Modifieds Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | McCreery, Lee |
| 2. | Allensworth, Bryce |
| 3. | Sibila Jr, Bob |
| 4. | Jewell, Glen |
| 5. | Bowers, Mike |
| 6. | Bailey, Brandon |
| 7. | Cox, Philip |
| 8. | Kaufman, Shawn |
| 9. | Swaney, Braden |
| 10. | Marino, Scott |
| More |
09/19/2015 Race
Street Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Ritchey, Colton |
| 2. | Grove, Kyle |
| 3. | Parker, Cody |
| 4. | Smith, Larry |
| 5. | Miller, Todd |
| 6. | Bertram, John |
| 7. | Passwaters Jr, Bob |
| 8. | Barker, TJ |
| 9. | Passwaters Sr, Bob |
| More |
09/19/2015 Race
Mini Truck Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Linard, Joe |
| 2. | Anderson, Keith |
| 3. | Varnes, Michael |
| 4. | Jaberg, Cody |
| 5. | Orr, Waylan |
| 6. | Cordia, Derek |
| 7. | Wallick, Matt |
| 8. | Kelly, Preston |
| 9. | Locker, Colt |
| More |
09/19/2015 Race
Compacts Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Oliver, Clayton |
| 2. | Finlayson, Kyle |
| 3. | Renicker, Justin |
| 4. | Clark, Allen |
| 5. | McDonald, Mike |
| 6. | Gainer, Bobby |
| 7. | Bailey, Cristian |
| 8. | Corbett, Hunter |
| 9. | Shaw, Jason |
| 10. | Butts, James |
| More |
|
|
