Whipkey Claims Win In Midvale Speedway Thriller
By Adam Mackey

    The Main Event Racing Series Super Late Models made their first of two appearances at Midvale Speedway this past Saturday, May 23. The series opened a few weeks ago at Angola Motor Speedway with a record car count and again had a solid field of 26 at Midvale. Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, Compacts, and Figure 8’s also raced.
    In qualifying, Doylestown, Ohio driver Gary Whipkey surprised no one by setting fast time with a 13.826. Jimmy Carter 13.898, Don Harvey, Jr. 13.904, Rich Rohrer 13.911, and John Crumrine 14.033 rounded out the top five. Whipkey drew the number eight pill, putting eighth fast qualifier Todd Ripley on the pole.
    With the green in the air, Todd Ripley raced out front as outside front row starter Glenn Gault, Jr. struggled in the outside lane. As he fell back on the first lap, Carter and Harvey both tried to get by on the lowside of turn three. Contact ensued and the first caution flew resulting in a complete restart.
    This time, Gault ran much better on the highside and he and Ripley were locked in a side-by-side battle. As the pair entered turn one on the third lap, Ripley had the rear of the car slide out from underneath. As he chased it up the track, he and Gault made contact bringing out the race’s second caution.
    Gault resumed as the race leader and held on through a couple of short green flag periods before Crumrine was able to get a run on the lowside. Crumrine, typically strong during the Midvale Main Event races, set sail as Gault fended off challenges for the runner up spot.
    Crumrine led for the next 50+ laps but the action was heating up behind him, as Carter started a blitz in the outside groove. With his car sticking beautifully, Carter worked around Whipkey, Harvey, and moments later, Crumrine to move out front. Whipkey then decided to give it a try and quickly worked by Harvey and Crumrine to take second. Shortly thereafter, a caution waved staging a battle for the top two qualifiers.
    The final green flag period began with eleven to go. With eight to go, Whipkey set up Carter with a duck under move in turn two. Though he didn’t draw alongside on the backstretch, Whipkey put together a bonsai move in turn three and shot into the lead. From there, Whipkey raced to the checkered uncontested for his first victory in 2009.
    Carter, Crumrine, Harvey, and Jamie Hunt followed the Carter Lumber/Lenny’s Collision #59 across the stripe. John Stroble, John Sandquist, Jr., John Flynn, Tom Stankiewicz, and Burgess White finished off the top ten.
    After a lot of cautions early, the second half of the race was what fans were waiting for. The event saw five leaders, a number that is not normally met anywhere during the course of a 75 lap event. Going back to last season’s July 4 race, the last two winners have come from the 10th and 8th starting positions respectively. The series will return to Midvale on Friday, July 3.

Main Event Racing Series
    Top Qualifier - Gary Whipkey 13.826
    Amsoil Hard Charger - Jamie Hunt
    Lap Leaders - Todd Ripley 1-2, Glenn Gault, Jr. 3-5, John Crumrine 6-60, Jimmy Carter 61-66, Gary Whipkey 67-75
    Carter Lumber 75 - Gary Whipkey, Jimmy Carter, John Crumrine, Don Harvey, Jr., Jamie Hunt, John Stroble, John Sandquist, Jr., John Flynn, Tom Stankiewicz, Burgess White, Doug Sommers, Shawn Stroble, Brian Short, Mike Mizer, Glenn Gault, Jr., Rich Dessecker, Drew Charlson, John Sandquist, Rick Sibila, Michael Scheffer, Ken White, Rich Rohrer, Todd Ripley, Dustin Hayes