Ohio's Fun Place to Race!!
2024 Race Season |
 | August 6, 2016 |
 Another great night of racing was put in the books on Akron Auto Auction night. Some driver's taking the checkered flag are beginning to make a habit out of winding up in the winner's circle. The new guy visiting Downtown Ford Victory Lane in week #14 was no stranger to winning however. Fifty four trucks and cars showed up at "Thunder In The Valley" in front of another good crowd on a beautiful evening. The skies were sunny and it was 81 degrees at race time.
The main event of the evening was the 3rd feature to hit the Speedway. The ARCA Truck Series made its return to Midvale Speedway for the first time since 2004. In Pole qualifying, Shawn Szep from Marysville OH, shattered the previous track record by almost a half of a second, turning a 14.552 sec lap. The top 4 trucks all were under the track record. Prior to an autograph session and a meet and greet with the fans, Szep rolled a "9", giving us a complete inversion for the first 30 laps. Starting on the front row was the #20 of Jeff Smith and the #4 of Rookie Armani Williams. Unfortunately for Rookie contender Tyler Kish, his #41 machine wouldn't fire after some mechanical issues in his heat race, one that he led until those issues occurred. After the green flag flew from ARCA Truck Series Starter Brian Crossen, Williams led the field off turn two and down the back straightaway. Brad Yunker in the #30 was able to get around Williams off turn four to lead lap 1. Yunker and Smith were the only two drivers in the field with a previous start in the Series at Midvale. Brandon Huff in the #21 was able to make a nice pass on Yunker to become the second different leader in as many laps. Huff's time at the top was short lived as the #26 of Billy Strehle, who was the second fastest qualifier, got to the inside of Huff and took over the point. Another truck on the move was the points leader and new track record holder Szep. Working up from the 9th starting position, Szep was up to 3rd and closing on the front two. On lap 10, the front three were nose to tail. The good news for Cody Quarrick in the #6, who was making his first start in the series this season, was that he had worked his way up to the 4th position. The bad news was that he was a full straightaway behind the lead trio. As the final 20 laps before the halfway break clicked away, none of the top 3 was willing to take any risks. They were willing to be smart and ride, saving their equipment. Everyone maintained status quo until the caution flag flew at lap 30. Teams were given the opportunity to make some adjustments on their machines and the Series rolled for the second half inversion. The lucky young fan who was chosen, rolled a "3". That put Szep where he has been most of the season, at the front. Szep and Huff started on the front row with Strehle and Quarrick in row two. The "lucky dog" went to Williams, who went a lap down just prior to the halfway break. On the restart, Szep shot out to the lead with Strehle following him to the front. On lap 32, Quarrick was able to take over the 3rd spot from Huff as Szep started to inch away. Szep would continue to build up his lead, little by little every lap, until it was almost a full straightaway. As the laps wound down, Szep was in total control, minding the gap between himself and the field, making sure he had something left for a late race restart. But that restart never came. The best battle in the late going was the battle between Strehle and Quarrick for the runner up spot. Quarrick wore out the tailgate of the #26, but was never able to get it done. Szep would pick up his 7th win in 8 races this season, padding his points lead with another convincing victory. Rounding out the top 5 behind the Marysville OH driver in the DEI, Technicom Electric, Amsoil, Pro Star Design's #81 Chevrolet was the #26 Ford of Strehle, the #6 Ford of Quarrick, the #30 Chevy of Yunker and the #4 Chevy of Williams.
The first feature of the evening was the 20 lapper for the Canton Auto Salvage Compact's. Cody Shields in the #92 started on the pole with the #38 of Brandon France along side. Shields, returning after a blown engine last weekend, took the lead and pulled Dan Buckey in the #69 with him. The #27 of Britt Vanmeter was starting to climb the mountain as he began to pick off cars 1 by 1 until he was up to second on lap 5. Another machine on the move was the fastest qualifier, the #21 of Gage Jaberg. Gage is known for being a very patient and precise driver. Tonight, he would show a different side, an aggressive side. Jaberg took over the 3rd spot on lap 6 as Vanmeter started to work on Shields for the top spot. Vanmeter would take the spot on lap 9, but it was short lived. The newly aggressive Jaberg jumped to the outside and after a couple lap battle, took over the lead. The final eight laps was a battle for second between Vanmeter and the #22 of Kyle Rector, as they watched Jaberg get smaller out their windshields. Rector would make a nice crossover move on Vanmeter to take second on lap 16, but we didn't have enough time to see if he had anything for the #21. In another green to checkered feature, Jaberg would pick up win #2 on the year and close the gap to Vanmeter in the points. Following the New Philadelphia OH driver in the Michael Taylor Allstate Insurance, Rt 39 Auto Salvage, Fox Auto Salvage and Parts and Naak Tuning sponsored #21 was Rector, Vanmeter, Clayton Oliver and Buckey.
Next was the Summit Racing Economy Modified's for their 25 lap feature. Dan Harding in the #65 and Shawn Kaufman in the #10 brought the field to Chief Starter Terry Colletti's green flag. Harding would lead off turn two, but Kaufman would get into turn three a bit deeper propelling his run through three and four, giving him the top spot. The #6 of Matt Hutchinson would move up to the second spot, point leader and last week's winner Lucas Ripley in the #0 was up to third with Harding settling into 4th. Kaufman would look strong out front with Hutchinson close behind. On lap 7, Bryce Allensworth in the #21 finally got around Harding for 4th, but had quite a bit of ground between himself and the front three to make up. Ripley would look high and low several times on Hutchinson, but nothing was working. As the laps came off the board, it appeared that the handling may have been starting to go away on the #10. It was really starting to get evil going into the turns, but each time Kaufman was able to save it. On lap 18, Kaufman got loose off the corner and might have been able to gather it up, but the #6 was too close. Hutchinson got into the back of the #10 and finished him off, bringing out the first caution and sending him to the tail. Ripley got exactly what he needed, a clear lane. On the restart, Ripley was too strong on the outside and was able to clear Kaufman off turn two. Despite two more quick yellows, Ripley was not going to be denied his second win in a row and third on the season. This Division continues to show why it is one of the best around. Great, clean racing with a number of machines that could win on any given night. Following the Uhrichsville OH driver in the Brindley Trucking, LTR Industries, Ridgco Pallet, D&B Machine and TVU Graphics sponsored #0 was Allensworth, fastest qualifier Kevin McClintock, Kaufman and Jason Grewell.
The JD Byrider Street Stock's put on an incredible show last week in their 40 lap feature and were looking to do the same in their 20 lapper this week. Josh Moss in the #77 and Larry Smith in the #44 started on the front row. After a lap of side by side racing, Smith would prevail on the top and clear Moss off turn two. That black #3 of Kyle Grove was again in the high lane and was again moving to the front in a hurry. The only caution flew on lap 5 as the #74 of Bob Passwaters Jr stopped in turn four. Smith and Moss restarted up front with Grove and Bill Aubihl in the #31 in row two. The rest of the field needed some of the side by side racing we seen a week ago. Smith would take the lead and thankfully for Grove, Moss slipped back on the outside, leaving the front two single file. That opened up the high side for Grove and he wasted no time going there. Smith would actually fend off the #3 for a few laps. But Grove would settle in and pick his moment. He made a nice move to the inside of Smith into turn three and would set sail after that. Don Boron Sr in the #88 and point leader Gabe Pringle in the #7 were having a good battle for 3rd as Aubihl slipped back behind Moss. As the laps wound down, Groves lead grew bigger and there wasn't much question as to who was going to pull into victory lane. Following the Uhrichsville OH driver to his 7th win of the season and 3rd in a row in the JD Byrider / CNAC Financing, El Pueblito Mexican Cuisine, South Philly Pizza and Greg's Recovery sponsored #3 was Smith, Boron Sr, Pringle and Moss.
The final race of the night was the 12 lap Finish Line Motor's Mini Truck feature. Rich Schweitzer in the #84 and Joe Linard in the #82 led the field to the line. Linard and Schweitzer would battle hard for the lead on the opening circuit. Coming off turn four, Linard got way up the race track and in the process of gathering it up, came across the race track and into the door of the #84. As Linard shot off Schweitzer and towards the front stretch concrete, Cody Jaberg in the #22 drilled him. That probably helped the #82 from being more damaged than it was, but still ended the night for Linard after a hard hit. Linard was ok and both Schweitzer and Jaberg would be able to continue. After the restart, Schweitzer was able to lead as the #118 of Colt Locker tucked in behind. Schweitzer would continue to set the pace until Locker's truck started to hook up. It seems like it takes 6 or 8 laps for the #118 to get settled in, then regardless of rather Colt or his Dad Kevin is behind the wheel, it will go anywhere. Schweitzer would drive his guts out, trying to stay along side the #118. Finally with two laps to go, Locker was able to clear the #84 and stretch out his points lead with his 4th win of the season. Following the Somerdale OH driver in the Townhouse Drive Thru, My Water Doctor, The Lindentree and GM Electric sponsored #118 was Schweitzer, Jaberg, Derek Cordia and Alex Striejewske who lost a motor on the final lap.
Thank you to The ARCA Truck Series for returning to Midvale Speedway and putting on a good show. We also thank their official's and personnel who helped our Midvale Speedway track crew with cleaning up an accident in the Spectator Drags. Not many Series that come to the Speedway are willing to help clean up and help with anything they could. THANK YOU!!!
Saturday Night August 13th is one of the FAN FAVORITE nights of the year. It is Ferris Chevrolet $1 Hot Dog / $1 Pop Night featuring Race Car Rides at intermission. All 5 Regular Divisions will be on hand as the point battles move into the critical final streach of the season.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARCA Truck Series
Fast Time: Shawn Szep 14.552 (NTR)
Heat 1: Brad Yunker, Brian Taylor, Armani Williams, Jeff Smith, Tyler Kish
Heat 2: Cody Quarrick, Billy Strehle, Shawn Szep, Brandon Huff
Feature: Szep, Strehle, Quarrick, Yunker, Williams, Smith, Huff, Taylor, Kish (DNS)
Summit Racing Economy Modified's
Fast Time: Kevin McClintock 14.836
Heat 1: Shawn Kaufman, Lucas Ripley, Kevin McClintock, Bryce Allensworth, Matt Hutchinson, Jason Grewell
Heat 2: Shawn Marder, Cristian Bailey, Jimmy McCune, Dan Harding, Trey Williams, Laney Striejewske
Feature: Ripley, Allensworth, McClintock, Kaufman, Grewell, Marder, Harding, Bailey, McCune, Williams, Striejewske, Hutchinson, Bill Shimko
JD Byrider Street Stock's
Fast Time: Gabe Pringle 16.039
Heat 1: Kyle Grove, Don Boron Sr, Bill Aubihl, Gabe Pringle, TJ Barker, Jimmy Orr
Heat 2: Phillip Cox, Larry Smith, Bob Passwaters Jr, Bob Passwaters Sr, Tim Linn, Josh Moss
Feature: Grove, Passwaters, Boron Sr, Pringle, Moss, Aubihl, Orr, Cox, Barker, Passwaters Sr, Passwaters Jr, Linn
Finish Line Motor's Mini Truck's
Fast Time: Colt Locker 16.424
Heat: Colt Locker, Cody Jaberg, Derek Cordia, Joe Linard, Alex Striejewske, Rich Schweitzer
Feature: Locker, Schweitzer, Jaberg, Cordia, Striejewske, Linard
Canton Auto Salvage Compact's
Fast Time: Gage Jaberg 17.628
Heat 1: Kyle Rector, Britt Vanmeter, Dan Buckey, Cody Shields, Clayton Oliver, Mike McDonald, Gage Jaberg, Brandon France
Heat 2: Travis Riddle, Kyle Finlayson, Sam Bigham, Tyler Eichel, Kyle Shalosky, Korey Herron
Feature: Jaberg, Rector, Vanmeter, Oliver, Buckey, France, McDonald, Bigham, Finlayson, Herron, Riddle, Eichel, Shields
Spectator Drag Winner: Steven Feister
Written by: Chris Kail |
|
|
|
|
08/06/2016 Race
Economy Modifieds Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Ripley, Lucas |
| 2. | Allensworth, Bryce |
| 3. | McClintock, Kevin |
| 4. | Kaufman, Shawn |
| 5. | Grewell, Jason |
| 6. | Marder, Shawn |
| 7. | Harding, Dan |
| 8. | Bailey, Cristian |
| 9. | McCune, Jimmy |
| 10. | Williams, Trey |
| More |
08/06/2016 Race
Street Stocks Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Grove, Kyle |
| 2. | Smith, Larry |
| 3. | Boron Sr, Don |
| 4. | Pringle, Gabe |
| 5. | Miller, Todd |
| 6. | Aubihl, Bill |
| 7. | Orr, Waylon |
| 8. | Ritchey, Colton |
| 9. | Barker, TJ |
| 10. | Passwaters Sr., Bob |
| More |
08/06/2016 Race
Mini Truck Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Locker, Colt |
| 2. | Schweitzer, Rich |
| 3. | Jaberg, Cody |
| 4. | Cordia, Derek |
| 5. | Striejewske, Alex |
| 6. | Linard, Joe |
| More |
08/06/2016 Race
Compacts Listings |
| Finish Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Jaberg, Gage |
| 2. | Rector, Kyle |
| 3. | Vanmeter, Britt |
| 4. | Oliver, Clayton |
| 5. | Buckey, Dan |
| 6. | France, Brandon |
| 7. | McDounld, Mike |
| 8. | Bigham, Sam |
| 9. | Finlayson, Kyle |
| 10. | Herron, Korey |
| More |
|
|
