Jaberg Takes First Career Late Model Win
10 min read
It was another hot, but beautiful evening to go racing in Northeast Ohio. Week #12 was Kid’s Race Car Rides, Driver’s choose your lane and Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Night presented by MAD Bro’s Games & Hobbies. Fifty five cars and trucks were on the property under sunny skies and 87 degrees at race time.
Cody Jaberg in the #22 and Bryant Smith in the #1 brought the field to Chief Starter Terry Colletti’s green flag to start the McIntosh Oil Company Late Model 30 lap feature. “The Codeman” would lead lap 1 by inches over Bryant. Bob Schneider Jr in the #17 did a complete 360 on the back straightaway, didnt hit anything and nobody hit him. It was a great save!! Jaberg and Bryant would battle side by side until Jaberg cleared Bryant on lap 3. Bryant was still digging in the outside lane with the #42 of Tom Stankiewicz to his inside. Those two would remain side by side as Bubba Smith in the #12 and the #701 of Ryan Tedesco showed up to the party. Those five drivers would put on one of the best Late Model races in quite some time. On lap 10, Bryant drew back up to the outside of Jaberg for the lead again. Bryant led lap 15 by a nose, but “Codeman” battled back on the bottom to retake the lead on lap 16. The first and only caution flew on lap 18 as the #33 of Albert Francis spun in turn two and clipped the #17 of Schneider as he went by. Driver’s were able to choose their lanes and everyone stayed status quo, as Jaberg and Bryant restarted on the front row with Stankiewicz and Bubba in row two. Jaberg would again jump out front, but it was only by inches as Bryant refused to give up on the outside groove. Bryant would lead lap 22 but again, Jaberg battled back when Bryant scrubbed the back straightaway wall a couple times, trying to use all of the racing surface he could to get by. With 5 laps to go, Bryant’s tires finally gave up. He slipped and fell back to 3rd as Stankiewicz took over second. The #42 has been aggressive the last couple weeks and he showed that he wanted this race as bad as the 3rd generation driver did. As Tedesco and Bubba got around Bryant, Stankiewicz was all over the back of the #22. But the kid wasnt phased. He would hang on to win his first career Late Model feature in the families famous #22, one week after his late grandfather was inducted as a member of the 3rd class into the Midvale Speedway Hall of Fame. Completing the top 5 behind the New Philadelphia OH driver in the Route 39 Auto Salvage, T&L Mowing and Rick Watson Trucking sponsored #22 was Stankiewicz, Tedesco, Bubba and Schneider Jr.
The fast South Philly Pizza Compact 15 lap feature had the #47 of Tim Frederick and Dan Buckey in the #69 on the front row. Buckey would shoot out to the lead as he cleared Frederick off turn two. The duo that we will start calling “Franicker” from this point forward, were making their way to the front. That would be Point Leader Brandon France in the #38 and Justin Renicker in the #175 have been glued together all season and they were at it again! The duo were joined by Bart Busby in the #31 as the picked their way up into the top 5 by lap 7. On lap 10, Renicker took over second from Frederick and it looked as though he may pick up another win to close the gap on France for the point lead. But just as Renicker went to the outside of Buckey for the race lead, France, Busby and fastest qualifier Kyle Finlayson in the #15 had other plans. They started to pressure each other, allowing Buckey to hang on out front. As the field came out of turn four on the final lap, Renicker had a great run off the corner on the high side, but Buckey was a green nose better. Buckey would pick up his first win of the year after a frustrating first few months of the season. Following the Sherrodsville OH driver in the Buckey Mowing, My Water Doctor, Ember Complete Care, Brown’s Heating & Cooling and Davis Radiator sponsored #69 was Renicker, Busby, France and Finlayson.
The Buckey Mowing Street Stock’s were the first to hit the Speedway for their 20 lap feature. Keith Anderson in the #40 and Shawn Marder in the #25 brought the field to green. Marder would lead lap 1 on the outside by inches over Anderson as the field remained double file until Marder cleared Anderson into turn one. On lap 3, the #77 of Josh Moss took over the second spot and set his sights on Marder for the race lead. Ryan Tedesco, subbing for Kyle Rector in the #22 took over the 3rd spot on lap 4 as Moss went to the high side of Marder for the top spot. Gabe Pringle in the #7 and last week’s winner Bill Aubihl in the #31 were boxed in behind Anderson, battling for fourth. The top two would make contact in turn three on lap 12, Moss would spin down across the track and collected Pringle to bring out the first caution. Marder was sent to the back as Moss was done for the night and Pringle was forced to pit for repairs. That handed the lead over to Tedesco with Anderson and Kyle Grove in the #3 completing the top 3. Driver’s had the chance to choose their lanes as Tedesco, Anderson and Grove all chose the bottom and Aubihl would go all the way up to the outside of the front row for the restart. Tedesco would take the lead after the green flag came out and Grove was able to get around Anderson and pull up to the inside of Aubihl for second. On lap 13, Marder looped it in turn four, bringing out the final caution. Tedesco took the bottom, Aubihl took the bottom and Grove jumped to the outside to move up along side Tedesco. Tedesco would again move out front as Aubihl and Grove battled side by side for second. Grove was able to clear Aubihl and drop in behind Tedesco. As the final laps clicked away, the front three remained nose to tail as Tedesco would pick up another victory. Following the New Philadelphia OH driver in the Remax, Rhino Linings, Lightning Signs and Decals, John W Cookson Drive Train, Autism Speaks and All American Outdoors sponsored #22 was Grove, Aubihl, Pringle and Bob Passwaters Jr.
The 25 lap Summit Racing Economy Modified feature had the #65 of Dan Harding and the #23J of Phillip Cox on the front row. Cox would jump out to the early lead as Brandon Bailey in the #55 tried to get around Harding for second. The first caution came out as the #38 of Kevin McClintock spun in turn four on lap 8. Cox and Harding chose the bottom as “Rooster” moved up to the outside of Cox on the front row after choosing their lanes. Cox would get a great restart and clear Bailey off turn four as Lee McCreery in the #2 worked around Harding to take over 3rd. On lap 10, Mack Gribble in the #12 and Doug McMillen in the #54 were both able to get around Harding for 4th and 5th respectively. On lap 16, McCreery spun in turn three as he tried to get to the inside of Bailey, bringing out the caution. Cox chose the bottom and Bailey the top for the restart. Bailey was able to take the top spot away as McMillen pressured Cox for second. Those two would get together in turn three and collected the #7 of Corey Beatty, bringing out the races 3rd caution on lap 20. Cox was sent to the tail, putting McMillen to the outside of Bailey for the restart. Coming off turn two, McMillen cut down a left front tire and stacked up the field. McClintock dove to the bottom of the race track to get around the slowing #54, but Derek Grewell in the #9 was already there. Grewell went all the way to the inside edge of the track and appeared to get into the grass slightly, sending his machine back to the right and into the #38. Those two hooked together and headed into the turn three wall, collecting Harding, making hard contact with the wall. Harding was able to continue but McClintock and Grewell’s machines were heavily damaged. McClintock was able to get out of his machine under his own power as Grewell was attended to by medical personnel and would be checked out later at the hospital. Despite being very sore, Grewell was ok. That put Gribble on the outside of Bailey for the restart. Despite another brief caution, “The Rooster” would hang on to pull into DLP Commercial Maintenance Victory Lane for the second week in a row. Completing the top 5 behind the Leesville OH driver in the Scio Car Wash, Vaughan’s Pub & Grill, Dover Hydraulics and American Family Insurance sponsored #55 was Gribble, McCreery, Cox and Harding.
The 10 lap MAD Bros Games and Hobbies Mini Truck feature had Tim Scott in the #4 and Barney Gerber in the #2T bringing the field to the stripe. Scott led lap 1 as Gerber was side by side with Todd Miller in the #118 for second. On lap 2, Miller and Scott got together off turn four, spinning Scott to the infield. Miller was sent to the tail and Gerber was sent pit side for leaking fuel. Scott chose the bottom lane and Rich Schweitzer in the #84 chose to go to his outside. Scott again had the advantage out front, but coming off turn four, he drifted up to the outside lane, collecting Schweitzer. Schweitzer went airborne, but was able to continue, Scott’s truck was badly damaged and was finished for the evening. That put Schweitzer on the bottom and Miller to the outside with Gerber back on track after two stops to fix the fuel issue. Miller shot out of a cannon and into the lead in turn one. Schweitzer tried to find a way back around over the final 7 laps, but was unable to make anything work. Miller, who was in a substitute role, picked up his first feature victory in quite a long time. He dedicated it to his late father and to the late John Tolloti, who was inducted into the Midvale Speedway Hall of Fame last Saturday. Following the Somerdale OH driver in the My Water Doctor, Townhouse Drive Thru & Grocery, Dover Hydraulics, RV Parts Express, GM Electric, Drunken Uncle Bar and Grill, Black Diamond Earth Works and Team BBD sponsored #118 was Schweitzer, Gerber and Scott. Roger Baucher lost an engine in the heat race.
The final race of the evening was the 15 lap second South Philly Pizza Compact feature. The #78G of Kyle Gordon made his first start at Midvale from the pole, with the #13 of Johnathan Heidy to his outside. Heidy would lead lap 1 as the #29 of Brendan Nealey and Toby Cook in the #41 got together in turn one. Nealey was sent to the tail. After the choosing of lanes, Heidy and Cook were on the front row with “Little Animal” Tyler Eichel in the #4E and the #7S of Savanna Alm in row two. Cook would jump out front with “Little Animal” close behind. Rob Scott in the #30 was charging up through the field and would take over the 3rd spot on lap 5. After a couple quick cautions, Scott was able to get around Eichel on the restart for second as Eichel fell into a battle with Ryan Alm in the #6R. Scott took several looks at Cook but wasnt able to get by. Heading down the back straightaway, Scott made a last gasp effort to get around and the two made contact, bringing out the final caution. Scott was sent to the tail and we were set up for a 1 lap shootout. Eichel gave it all he had, but the race belonged to Cook. Following the Canton OH driver in the East of Chicago Pizza of Perry Heights, Ohio Heating & Cooling and Canton Auto Salvage sponsored #41 was Eichel, Ryan, Savanna and Laney Striejewske. Ryan was disqualified in post race tech, so Savanna finished 3rd, Striejewske 4th and Rob Scott 5th.
Thank you to all the driver’s who participated in the Kid’s Race Car Rides!! You might not think it, but you may have made a lasting memory for one of those kids last night, that they will remember forever.
Next Saturday Night August 11th will be The Summer Shootout Twin 50’s for the Late Model and Modified’s presented by My Water Doctor. It will also be Kid’s Gold Rush night and we will welcome in the Micro Sprints and Dwarf’s, formerly from Deerfield to compete at Midvale.
We hope to see everyone Sat Night!!
-Story by Chris Kail
——————————————————————————————
McIntosh Oil Company Late Model’s
Fast Time: Albert Francis 13.815
Heat: Bryant Smith, Bubba Smith, Cody Jaberg, Ryan Tedesco, Tom Stankiewicz, Bob Schneider Jr, Albert Francis, Bob Eichel
Feature: Jaberg, Stankiewicz, Tedesco, Bubba, Schneider Jr, Bryant, Eichel, Francis
Summit Racing Economy Modified’s
Fast Time: Kevin McClintock 14.745
Heat 1: Lee McCreery, Mack Gribble, Kevin McClintock, Corey Beatty, Doug McMillen
Heat 2: Phillip Cox, Derek Grewell, Dan Harding, Jerry Devore, Brandon Bailey
Feature: Bailey, Gribble, McCreery, Cox, Harding, Devore, McMillen, McClintock, Grewell, Beatty
Buckey Mowing Street Stock’s
Fast Time: Kyle Grove 16.041
Heat 1: Josh Moss, Ryan Tedesco, Kyle Grove, Gabe Pringle, Bill Aubihl
Heat 2: Keith Anderson, Shawn Marder, Bob Passwaters Sr, Kenny Feister Jr, Bob Passwaters Jr
Feature: Tedesco, Grove, Aubihl, Pringle, Passwaters Jr, Marder, Feister Jr, Anderson, Moss, Passwaters Sr
MAD Bro’s Games & Hobbies Mini Truck’s
Fast Time: Rich Schweitzer 16.516
Heat: Tim Scott, Rich Schweitzer, Todd Miller, Barney Gerber
Feature: Miller, Schweitzer, Gerber, Scott
South Philly Pizza Compact’s
Fast Time: Kyle Finlayson 17.410
Heat 1: Brandon France, Justin Renicker, Kyle Finlayson, Mike Stuber, Bart Busby, Steven Feister, Josh Peebles, Eugene Kopp
Heat 2: Toby Cook, Tyler Eichel, Tim Frederick, Rob Scott, Britt Vanmeter, Karl Phillips, Ryan Alm, Dan Buckey
Heat 3: Johnathan Heidy, Savanna Alm, Brendan Nealey, Laney Striejewske, Andrea Brokaw, Kyle Gordon
Fast Feature: Buckey, Renicker, Busby, France, Finlayson, Frederick, Vanmeter, Peebles, Feister, Stuber, Kopp, Phillips
2nd Feature: Cook, Eichel, Savanna, Striejewske, Scott, Heidy, Gordon, Andrea, Nealey, Eric Brokaw. Ryan – DQ
Written by: Chris Kail
About The Author
