2010-2005

Mike Stacy Claims Kil-Kare Main Event
by Todd Ridgeway (Jerry Wahl's Story Below)

            Mike Stacy took the Al Reeves owned No. 6 Super Late Model to the front and never looked back, or wavered, on his way to winning the 100 lap Main Event Racing Series race at Kil Kare Speedway Friday night. On a hot summer evening with heavy Thunderstorms striking up all around the Xenia Ohio track, Stacy turned the heat up just a notch better on the 25 car field and took home the $2500 win check. This was Stacy’s third career Main Event Racing Series victory at the western Ohio track. 
            Midwest Supemodified Association driver Charlie Schultz got the pole through the inversion draw of eight and took advantage by shooting to the lead and setting the pace early in the going. The first of 11 caution flags flew at lap three win veteran driver Tim Ice made hard contact with the turn two wall nailing it head on. Thankfully Ice was unhurt but the car sustained very heavy damage with the nose shoved back clear over the front wheels. Once racing resumed Schultz started laying down some very fast lap times with Dick Dunlevy Jr., Harold Fair Jr., and the rest of the field in tow. Starting in the sixth position Stacy started picking up the pace by lap ten. By lap 20 he was in a position to make a move. Getting under Dunlevy in a race for second the two would run side by side for a complete lap until lap 21 when they both made a bold move sliding under then leader Schultz making it three wide going into turn one. With all the momentum on his side Stacy stayed on the inside white line and pushed to the front until next time around he was in clear sailing mode. Schultz would continue to slide back with some very hot tires as Fair Jr. would get by Dunlevy for second. Stacy would open up on the field with Fair and Dunlevy in tow and the trio would stay that way through the first half of the race. However, at lap 69 Fair would drop out of contention and head pit side putting Dunlevy up to second. By lap 75 Drew Charlson was putting heavy heat on Dunlevy for the second position. The pair would soon find themselves both on the hook headed for the pits as contact was made on the front stretch and Charlson nailed the wall head long while Dunlevy slid to the infield. This now moved Donnie Zero Hill up into second and points leader Jimmy Carter into third. Once the green dropped for the restart Stacy set a torrid pace and would win handily by a large margin with Hill second, Carter third, local racer Don Mahaffey fourth, and former Flat Rock (MI) track Champion Paul Pelletier rounding out the top five.  
            “The car was really good wherever I put it,” said the winner. “They gave me some room there for the lead and I took advantage of it. The car was just really good and I would like to thank everybody that works on this car. It was a great night. It felt good out there, once in the lead I was just trying to save my tires. I just ran a conservative pace. I hated to see Fair drop out and the 21 car, I think it might have gotten a little more exciting but, we won and that was good,” finished Stacy. 
            Runner up Hill is forgoing the weekly racing series at Columbus (OH) Motor Speedway where he is a multiple track Champion and enjoyed many great moments to race the full Main Event Series schedule. “We had a good car; it really wasn’t good on restarts. It took a while for it to come in but, once it come in it was good. I rode there for a while just staying out of trouble like you need to here. No scratches and I’m now ready to go to Columbus, my home track for the next race. Hopefully we continue to get better, so far we have been getting better each race. This is what I was looking for, the fun factor is back in it, we are just having fun,” concluded Zero.  
            Point’s leader Carter had yet another top run coming up just short of the win. “The car wasn’t that good tonight we forgot to tie one of the shocks down. We just forgot to do the left front shock. I had my hands full; the car was still good enough to finish third, but not to run up there with Stacy. I just need some racing luck,” finished Carter.

by Jerry Wahl

            Xenia, OH (6/4) - The powerful Super Late Models of the Main Event Racing Series (MERS) made their annual visit to Kil-Kare Speedway Friday with Mike Stacy claiming the 100 lap $2500 to win event sponsored by Carter Lumber. Mother nature tried to put a damper on the show as sprinkles fell during hot laps but fortunately the heavy rain in the surrounding area skipped over the Greene County facility and the fans were treated to full night of activity.
          With an eight car inversion Charlie Schultz and many time Kil-Kare track champion Dick Dunlevy started alongside of Schultz as they paced  the twenty five car field to the green flag.
          Shultz got the jump to take the lead over Dunlevy as the first caution flew on lap one when Shawn Stroble spun on turn two. Fate struck former MERS champion Tim Ice when he suffered heavy frontend damage to his car on lap three as several cars tangled on turn two.
          Dunlevy moved up on Schultz's rear bumper on the restart followed closely by Harold Fair, Mike Stacy, and Drew Charleston as again the caution flew when Gary Whipkey slowed. Schultz pulled away from Dunlevy on the restart with Dunlevy trying to figure out a way to catch the leader as fourth place running and track record holder Mike stacy took third place and then began to reel in Dunlevy as Whipkey departed to the its. Stacy made his pass good on lap nineteen as Stacy made a daring move on lap twenty one to steal the lead followed by Dunlevy, Fair and Charlson as former leader Schultz dropped to fifth.
          Stacy held the lead while Fair dropped Dunlevy to third when he stole second as the field was slowed on lap thirty when Brian Short spun on turn two which seemed to be a problem spot for the drivers.
          Stacy was leading in his Oakley Blacktop machine but Fair was coming on strong to move up on Stacy's bumper. Behind them Donnie Hill was advancing as he moved into the top five when Matt Parsons brought the caution out when he brushed the front stretch wall.
          Misfortune struck former leader Charlie Schultz on lap forth two when he made contact with the front stretch wall which pitted him, making it a rough night for the Fast Racing Engines cars.
          Turn four seemed to have taken over as the trouble spot as three cars spun on lap forty four which saw the yellow flag fly for the sixth time. Three laps later John Flynn slowed on the front stretch for another caution which saw him drop out of action.
          So far Stacy had enjoyed the lead but still Fair was in the hunt with Dunlevy still in third and Charleston fourth with Hill fifth and that was the running order at the halfway mark. Charleston was giving Dunlevy fits as he tried to sneak his mount on the inside of Dunlevy but Dunlevy held tight to his third place spot. Don Harvey's night ended on lap fifty six when he made contact with the outside wall to again slow the field.
          After the top four running cars it was a tight fit battle with Hill, Jimmy Carter, Don Mahaffey, and Paul Pelletier in a tight knit group. The caution flew on lap sixty nine when Brian Short spun into the infield and second place running  Harold Fair departed to the pits which put Dunlevy in second and Charleston third with Hill fourth and points leader Jimmy Carter  fifth.
          Stacy poured the power to his mount on the restart as he pulled away from Dunlevy who was still fighting off the challenges of Charleston but the challenge soon ended when they tangled coming out of turn four with Charleston hitting the wall headon by the flagstand and Dunlevy sliding to the infield. Unfortunately both cars were knocked out of action.
          Stacy now had former Columbus Motor Speedway track champ on his rear bumper for the restart with Carter, Mahaffey and Pelletier the top five with twenty five remaining. The green just flew again but was short lived as John Flynn spun with apparent mechanical problems as he headed for the pits. Stacy again set sail on the restart, pulling away from the field and here came Flynn to join the field after quick repairs.
          With ten laps to go Stacy enjoyed nearly a quarter lap advantage over Hill as the laps wound down and when the checker flew it was Mike Stacy claiming his third MERS win at Kil-Kare. Donnie Hill claimed second place money with third going to Jimmy Carter, Don Mahaffey, and Paul Pelletier.

Main Event Racing Series
            Top Qualifier - Jimmy Carter 12.610
            Carter Lumber 100 - Mike Stacy, Donnie Hill, Jimmy Carter, Don Mahaffey, Jr., Paul Pelletier, Justin Schroeder, Jamie Hunt, Josh Smith, Brock Coyer, Brian Short, Matthew Parsons, Charlie Schultz, Burgess White, John Flynn, Dick Dunlevy, Jr., Drew Charlson, Scott Baker, Harold Fair, Lou Cicconi, Don Harvey, Jeremy Dennis, Gary Whipkey, Jim Lewis, Shawn Stroble, Tim Ice

The "Whip" Cracks On Midvale Main Event Field
By Adam Mackey

                A beautiful summer-like Saturday afternoon turned evening made for an entertaining night of racing at Midvale Speedway this past Saturday night, May 29.  The Main Event Racing Series was joined by Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts for a full evening in racing entertainment.
                Main Event qualifying had Doylestown, Ohio driver Gary Whipkey setting fast time with a 13.852.  Following the five-time series champion in the time trial session was Jimmy Carter (13.853), Don Harvey, Jr. (13.865), Mike Miller (13.897), and Todd Ripley (13.914).  After qualifying, Whipkey pulled the "8" pill, putting Doug Sommers and Scott Baker up front for the Carter Lumber 75.
                With the green dropping, Baker shot into the lead over Sommers.  With many thinking that Baker would be unbeatable after being strong in hotlaps, a lap two restart proved otherwise.  The Akron, Ohio veteran didn't get up to speed and pulled pitside, ending his night with just two laps complete.
                Midvale regular, Todd Ripley, lined up in second behind Sommers for the next green flag.  Ripley, quicker than Sommers, rolled the middle of the turns much better than the leader, creating contact a few times between the two.  The first couple of times, Sommers was able to steer out of possible spins.  However, with 12 laps complete, contact entering turn three, sent Sommers spinning and that put Ripley to the tail.
                At this point, all eyes were on top qualifier, Gary Whipkey.  The winner of both Midvale Main Event races in 2009, had already picked off a few of his competitors and was on his way to the front.  After following Sommers and Don Harvey, Jr. for a few laps, Whipkey was able to get a run on the inside of the second place car to pull to Sommers' rear bumper.  Whipkey then went to the outside lane a couple of laps later to challenge the leader.  The move didn't turn out to be real easy, as the two rubbed paint in three and four, nearly causing a spin.
                From then on, most eyes were focused on Jimmy Carter, as he started his trek forward.  Closing in on the halfway mark, Carter went around the outside of Mike Miller and Sommers to claim third.  On a lap 41 restart, everyone was wanting to see what Carter had for the top two.  However, the Strongsville, Ohio pilot noticed a flat tire and had to pit for the change.
                He did restart from the tail and make a run through the field, however, with a large amount of side-by-side action in front of him, he was held up a few times trying to get to the front.
                A long green flag run ended the race with Whipkey claiming the win by 1.615 seconds.  Following the Carter Lumber/Lenny's Collision #59 across the stripe were Don Harvey, Jr., Mike Miller, Jimmy Carter, and Donnie Hill.  Charlie Schultz, Drew Charlson, Jamie Hunt, Doug Sommers, and Shawn Stroble were top ten finishers.
                Midvale race DVD's available HERE.
                The series will next be in action this coming Friday, June 4 at Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, OH.

Main Event Racing Series
                Top Qualifier - Gary Whipkey 13.852
                Lap Leaders - Scott Baker 1, Doug Sommers 2-21, Gary Whipkey 22-75
                Joe's Racing Products Certificate - Doug Sommers 9th/Landrum Spring Certificate - Jamie Hunt 8th/R2 C Filter Award - Harold Fair, Jr. 13th
                Carter Lumber 75 - Gary Whipkey, Don Harvey, Jr., Mike Miller, Jimmy Carter, Donnie Hill, Charlie Schultz, Drew Charlson, Jamie Hunt, Doug Sommers, Shawn Stroble, John Flynn, Brian Short, Harold Fair, Jr., Shawn Stansell, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Jeremy Dennis, Todd Ripley, John Sandquist, Sr., Tim Ice, Tom Stankiewicz, Brett Jursik, Brock Coyer, Burgess White, John Stroble, Gene Molnar, Jr., Scott Baker

Hantz Survives, Takes Angola MERS Opener
By Todd Ridgeway

        Driver Scott Hantz battled a tough field all night, got the chrome horn on three different occasions, but still managed to win the Main Event Racing Series 100 lap feature 2010 opening event at Angola (IN) Speedway. Dubbed the “Hurricane” at his hometown track, by his legions of fans, Hantz pushed to the front on lap 90 getting the lead and held off a hard charging Jimmy Carter for the last ten laps to secure the victory. Fast from the time he unloaded his familiar trademark No. 72 Super Late Model, Hantz journey to the winners circle was eventful to say the least. 
        Qualifying sixth quick and through the inversion of eight, Hantz would start inside row two, with Rich Bickle on the outside, behind the front row of Jeff Parr on the pole and Mike Stacy. The night almost ended early for Hantz when on lap seven he got turned coming off turn two by Mike Kugler spinning the 72 car through the infield grass and stopping just short of an infield guardrail. Rejoining the field in the third position racing resumed with Stacy on the point. It did not last long as right away Parr nudged under the leader and took command. As Parr would set pace, survive several restarts, and maintain the lead Hantz night was just getting started. By lap 47 Hantz found himself on the end of another chrome horn, this one owned by Stacy. Again Hantz got his position back and continued on. As the race went past the halfway point tempers began to flare and the yellow flag became a frequent visitor to the Indiana oval. Meanwhile, Hantz stayed right in the leader Parr’s tracks with Carter, Bickle, and the field in tow. At lap 70 Hantz would start making his way inching to the leader’s quarter panels. Getting pinched off on the inside preferred lane, Hantz was forced to the outside where he would set sail. Finally able to get side by side with the leader Hantz found himself in a paint trading duel as the battle continued lap after lap. Every time Hantz would get the run that looked like the lead would be his a caution would fly. Hantz was finally able to muscle his way to the front on lap 90 and get the lead for the first time all night. Fellow FLF Racecar driver Carter followed through to get the second position and went after Hantz for the lead. At one point Carter seemed to have the run he needed but when the two leaders got together Carter had to get out of the gas to regain his composure giving Hantz the cushion he needed for the last five laps. With a car that did not have one straight piece of sheet metal left Hantz took the win over Carter at the line followed by Harold Fair Jr. in third, Brent Jack fourth, and Derrick Griffin rounding out the top five. 
        “Well we spent most of the winter refreshing this body, it was a brand new body,” noted winner Hantz. “Every panel on it is bent, I was actual being pretty cautious out there tonight but some of the guys where rough on me. This has been my home track for 25 years; the car really started sticking the last ten laps. Jeff Parr wanted to win badly, and he was going to do anything to win. I drove by him on the outside and he just run me almost clear off the track a couple times, slamming me in the door. I just wanted to race. I got spun out twice, it was just good hard racing they both admitted fault and I thank them for that. It was ridiculous. Some of it may have been my own fault on one of those restarts I got rear ended because I missed a shift; the handle on the shifter broke off in my hand. I was a little tight in practice today, and tight in the race as well,” finished Hantz.  
        “I think I had one of the best cars here,” said runner up Carter. “I got a underneath him there but he blocked the bottom, which is what he is supposed to do, I would have done the same thing. But, the right front got dinged and he got such a big lead I couldn’t run him down, I just needed more laps,” finished Carter. 
        “We got to third but with about 30 laps to go I had a right front tire going down,” said Fair. “I was just trying to get the end without pitting, the car was pretty good, know one pulled away from us. We just slowly faded when the tire went low,” finished Fair. 
        36 Super Late Models where in the pit area for the opening round of the Main Event as Mike Root set fast time with a lap of 13.552 seconds and speed of 99.616 mph. The top 14 qualifiers where locked in and the two consi’s saw Scott Baker and Donnie Hill get the wins.

Main Event Racing Series
            Top Qualifier - Mike Root 13.552
            Last Chance #1 - Scott Baker, Nick Grodi, Jason Timmerman, Pete Moore, Jamie Hunt, Dave Stehouwer, Shawn Stroble, Burgess White
            Last Chance #2 - Donnie Hill, Brian Huntley, Josh Smith, John Stroble, John Flynn, John Ledwidge, Fred Elkins, Brock Coyer, Jasper Case, Tom Stankiewicz, Don Harvey, Jr.
            Lap Leaders - Mike Stacy 1-8, Jeff Parr 9-90, Scott Hantz 91-100
            Maximum Elevator/Baker Performance 100 - Scott Hantz, Jimmy Carter, Harold Fair, Jr., Brent Jack, Derrick Griffin, Brian Nester, Donnie Hill, Brian Short, Mike Root, Josh Smith, Jeff Parr, Shawn Stroble, Rich Bickle, Mike Stacy, Brian Huntley, Jason Timmerman, Nick Grodi, Chad Finley, Dakota Carlson, Don Harvey, Jr. Ron Allen, Mike Kugler, Burgess White, Scott Baker

2009 Main Event Racing Series
Race Results

Terry Senneker Becomes First Repeat Winner Of Main Event In Year 22

Main Event XXII Results
Sunoco Race Fuels Top Qualifier – Steve Needles 12.827 NTR
Sunoco Race Fuels ½ Way Leader – Joe Bush
George’s All American Grill Hard Charger – Shawn Stroble
APR Plumbing Hard Luck – Jack Landis
Heat: 1) Donnie Hill 2) Terry VanHaitsma 3) John Long 4) Paul Pelletier 5) Josh Smith
Heat: 1) Mike Stacy 2) Drew Charlson 3) Don Mahaffey Jr 4) John Crumrine 5) Bill Cantley
Heat: 1) Jimmy Carter 2) Doug Sommers 3) Don Harvey Jr 4) John Stroble 5) Ross Wells Jr
Last Chance: 1) Paul Pelletier 2) John Long 3) Don Mahaffey 4) John Stroble 5) Bill Cantley 6) John Sluka 7) Josh Smith 8) Gary St Amant 9) Burgess White 10) Kenny White 11) Bob Gainer 12) Ross Wells Jr 13) Ray Pinson
100 Lap Feature: 1) Terry Senneker 2) Steve Needles 3) Joe Bush 4) Rich Rohrer 5) Jimmy Carter 6) Mike Stacy 7) Mike Luberda 8) Gary Whipkey 9) Harold Fair Jr 10) Drew Charlson 11) Jamie Hunt 12) Don Harvey Jr 13) Shawn Stroble 14) Doug Sommers 15) Bill Cantley 16) Paul Pelletier 17) Don Mahaffey Jr18) John Sluka 19) Donnie Hill 20) John Crumrine 21) Burgess White 22) Terry VanHaitsma 23) John Stroble 24) Jack Landis 25) David Carter 26) John Long

Main Event Modified
Ridgeway Photos Top Qualifier – Mike Rush 14.188
Heat: 1) Shane Shirk 2) Daryl McKay 3) Austin Troyer 4) Jerry Stapleton 5) Terry Humphrey
Heat: 1) Chad Pendleton 2) Brad Williams 3) Jack Jones 4) Rob Yelton 5) Gary Eaton Jr
Heat: 1) Buddy Townsend 2) Eddie Vallette 3) Jerry Williams Sr 4) Lou Bando 5) Lou Bando
Heat: 1) Jason Wells 2) Donald Parsons 3) Ray Muncy 4) Mike Carroll 5) Jason Timmerman
Last Chance: 1) David Carter 2) Jack Jones 3) Jason Mahaffey 4) Dave Disinger 5) Mike Blankenship 6) Mike Schaffer 7) Jerry Stapleton
Last Chance: 1) Ray Muncy 2) Jason Timmerman 3) Derek Barnette 4) Gary Eaton Jr 5) Jerry Williams Jr 6) Barry Jacobs 7) Lou Bando 8) Herb Newman 9) Austin Troyer 10) Don Townsend Jr
30 Lap Feature: 1) Greg Stapleton 2) Mike Rush 3) Sean MacNealy 4) George Lindsay 5) Bryan Nuckles 6) Jeremy Dennis 7) Shane Shirk 8) Jason Wells 9) Buddy Townsend 10) Shawn Gray 11) Brad Williams 12) Chad Pendleton 13) Jack Jones 14) Donald Parsons 15) Eddie Vallette 16) Daryl McKay 17) Jason Timmerman 18) Jason Mahaffey 19) Bob Grubaugh 20) Ray Muncy 21) Derek Barnette 22) Dave Disinger 23) Tyler Nuckles 24) Gary Eaton

Main Event Compacts
www.racingvids.net Top Qualifier – Jason Dennis 16.820
Heat: 1) Seth Rager 2) Christian Bullock 3) Corey Kyer 4) Jason Bartram 5) Jake Gallagher
Heat: 1) Mike Smith 2) Brandon Coleman 3) Jim McElfresh 4) Bryan Streets 5) Bill McElfresh
Heat: 1) Kyle Rector 2) Richard Lucas 3) Chuck Lucas 4) Lonnie Brown 5) Devin Stansberry
Heat: 1) Robbie Smith 2) Bryon Bivens 3) Ralph Vinson 4) Tom Barrett 5) Ryan Tamburro
Last Chance: 1) Ryan Tamburro 2) Randy Rogers 3) Corey Kyer 4) Bill Ramey 5) Daniel Kalmanir 6) Justin Young 7) Bill McElfresh 8) Bryan Streets 9) Lonnie Brown 10) Ed Smith 11) Mike Schaffer 12) Devin Stansberry 13) Don West
Last Chance: 1) Jim McElfresh 2) Chuck Lucas 3) Jason Bartram 4) Ralph Vinson 5) Donnie Nash 6) Tom Barrett 7) Jake Gallagher 8) Les Stephenson 9) Holli Eaton 10) John Branson 11) Jake Rothgeb 12) Tom Colley 13) Larry Senters 14) Michael Hunt
25 Lap Feature: 1) Jason Dennis 2) David Lucas 3) Chris Lucas 4) Michael Gills 5) Rob Smith 6) Brian Whetnall 7) Bill Ott 8) Seth Rager 9) Kyle Rector 10) Brandon Coleman 11) Chuck Lucas 12) Bryon Bivens 13) Randy Rogers 14) Michael Robison 15) Christian Bullock 16) Ryan Tamburro 17) Robbie Smith 18) Tad Grove 19) Ralph Vinson 20) Cory Kyer 21) Bill Ramey 22) Rich Dunlap 23) Mike Smith 24) Jason Bartram 25) Jim McElfresh 26) Richard Lucas

Stacy Wins Second MERS Event In-A-Row Taking Kil-Kare
by Jerry Wahl

Xenia, OH. - The traveling Main Event Racing Series (MERS) made their second stop of the season at Kil-Kare Speedway Friday night and when the checkered fell on the 100 lap event it was Mike Stacy taking the win and the $2,500 that went with it.
            Brian Short and Shawn Stroble led the fine field of twenty-six cars to the green for 100 green flag laps on the tricky 3/8ths mile asphalt track with Short taking the lead but third place starter Don Mahaffey shot out front down the backstretch with Stroble, Short, Drew Charlson, and Rich Rohrer in hot pursuit. The first caution appeared on lap five when Paul Pelletier spun on turn one.
            Mahaffey and his Affordable Auto Parts machine then again set sail out front as he started to put some distance over the second place Stroble. Again five laps after the restart heavy smoke erupted from the Ross Wells ride with Wells heading to the pits and the track crew going to work cleaning up the oil or water dropped by Wells.
            Mahaffey again set sail as he began to catch the tail runners but again the caution flew on lap fifteen when Josh Smith spun on turn four after apparently having contact with Dick Dunlevy and both sent to the tail but Smith darted into the pits.
            Mahaffey began to pull away again with Short riding on Stroble's rear end when Short bumped the rear of Stroble going into turn one with Stroble spinning and the caution coming out again as Short was delegated to the tail. Mahaffey again was the fastest as he pulled away with now Drew Charlson challenging second place running Stroble only to see the caution come out for debris on the track right after the restart.
            Charlson again went to work on Stroble as second fast timer Rich Rohrer was running fourth but up front Charlson slipped under Stroble for second. Rohrer bumped Stroble on turn four with Stroble bobbling and Rohrer stealing third spot as Stroble dropped back to tenth. Charlson was creeping up on leader Mahaffey every lap as Rohrer was trying to catch the two front runner. Don Harvey jr. was riding fourth and Jimmy Carter fifth  and by the halfway mark Mahaffey still had the lead but as they lapped traffic Charlson and Rohrer were right behind him. Mahaffey was really in the hot seat now as the caution came out for the stalled Brad Coons machine.
            New track record holder Mike Stacy was on the move as he had advanced to fifth and was ready to challenge Harvey when the green reappeared. But, before a lap could be completed Gary Whipkey and Paul Pelletier spun on turn four. Stacy slipped under Harvey for fourth but the caution came out for the eighth time when Carter spun on turn two  which put Harvey back in fourth. Stacy tried the outside of Harvey lap after lap and finally moved into fourth on lap sixty.
            Four laps later Burgess White slowed to a halt on he front stretch causing another caution while White was pushed to the pits. On the restart Mahaffey was starting to sweat as the laps wound down but he again pulled away but this time Donnie Hill was getting the attention of the fans as he was moving up and was sixth. Stacy made his pass good on Harvey as he took third with Rohrer right behind him as Harvey was now fifth.
            The eleventh caution flew on lap seventy-two when Shawn Stansell spun on the backstretch and Stacy had his sights on the two front runners and he sailed around Charlson for second and Mahaffey was in his sights. Rohrer then moved to the outside of Charlson to take third when four cars tangled on turn four to slow the field.
            With twenty three laps to go it was Mahaffey, Stacy, Rohrer, Charlson, Harvey, Hill, Whipkey, Pelletier, Carter, and Stroble in the top ten. Now the pressure was certainly on Mahaffey with Stacy right behind him on the restart and Rohrer was really pumped up as he rode Stacy's bumper. Then here came Hill for fifth but on the move was Carter. Up front Stacy was challenging on the outside of Mahaffey who was not giving up but Stacy overpowered him for the lead on lap eighty four and Rohrer stole second as Mahaffey dropped to third. 
            The final caution appeared with six laps to go when Pelletier hit the turn four wall and it appeared Rohrer just might have something for Stacy as they faced the green flag restart. Hill zoomed into fourth as the checker was in sight for Stacy with Hill really flying as he took third with Carter right behind him.
            Stacy certainly proved that his new track record was not a fluke as he claimed the century grind with Rohrer, Hill, Carter, and Mahaffey rounding out the top five.
            A fine field of twenty-seven cars checked in for time trials and when it ended it was Springfield's Mike Stacy erasing Chad Poole's record of 12.658 as Stacy now holds the honors with a time of 12.567.

Main Event Racing Series
            Top qualifier - Mike Stacy 12.567 (NTR)
            Main Event 100 - Mike Stacy, Rich Rohrer, Donnie Hill, Jimmy Carter, Don Mahaffey, Drew Charlson, Don Harvey Jr., Gary Whipkey, Justin Schroeder, Brian Short, Shawn Stroble, Doug Sommers, Burgess White, Danny Jackson, Paul Pelletier, John Flynn, Shawn Stansell, Dick Dunlevy, Tony Urdiales, Brad Coons, Mike Carroll, Scott Drake, Josh Smith, John Stroble, Ross Wells, Ken White

Carter Lumber Main Event Racing Series Win To Stacy
By Earl Isaacs

            DeGraff OH: 8/8:  The stars and the cars of the Carter Lumber Main Event Racing Series (MERS) made a stop at Shady Bowl Speedway to the delight of local stock car racing fans. The pits were full as 30 of the outlaw bodied stockers were on hand. The series makes stops at tracks in Ohio and Michigan where drivers compete for a chance to run in the Main Event Classic held in the fall at Columbus Motor Speedway. When the times had been posted after time trials, it was Wolverine state driver Paul Pelletier on top with a 12.89 lap. 
            The last chance race saw former Shady Bowl Speedway super late star Tim Ice of Seville take the checker to make his way into the 24 car field. 
            The field of 24 of the finest late models stockers anywhere soon took to the oval for the running of the Carter Lumber 75 main. The roar from the cars taking the green was almost matched by the one from the grandstands as fans rose to their feet to watch the battle for position in turn one.  
            Local driver Shawn Stroble of Urbana took over the lead in turn one as the field tried to get sorted out behind him. The first yellow flew on lap three when Nathan Herron, the current Shady Bowl late model point leader and current MERS point leader Gary Whipkey made contact in turn two. MERS officials placed Herron at rear of the field, while Whipkey went to the pits for quick repairs.  
            On the restart Stroble again jumped out front before the next yellow on lap seven for Josh Smith as he was smoking. The yellow soon flew again on lap 15 for a spin by former track champion Don Mahaffey as he made contact with another car. A couple of spins slowed the pace on laps 33 and 41, with Stroble still out front.  
            Enon, OH driver Mike Stacy was on the move from his fifth place start and was soon running in the tire tracks of Stroble. On lap 47 Stacy got by Stroble to take the lead. It was soon apparent the Stacy was the man to beat as he opened up a lead on the pack. Stroble caught on the high side, began to back up, as soon MERS regulars Rich Rohrer and Harold Fair Jr. got by and set out to chase Stacy.  
            The final yellow flew on lap 63 when Stacy spun down the front straight. A quick check by officials revealed a large oil spill from a car leaving the track had caused Stacy to spin. MERS officials moved Stacy back into the lead on the restart with Rohrer, Fair and former Shady Bowl track champion Bud Perry set to battle the last 12 laps, but no one had anything for Stacy, as the Eddie Flora Racing Engines  backed racer took the win, with Rohrer, Fair. Perry and Stroble chasing him across the finish line. 
            The next Main Event race will be held on Friday, September 4 at Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, Ohio.  For more information, visit www.maineventracingseries.com.

Main Event Racing Series
            Top Qualifier - Paul Pelletier 12.89
            Last Chance - Tim Ice
            Lap Leaders - Shawn Stroble 1-46, Mike Stacy 47-75
            Carter Lumber 75 - Mike Stacy, Rich Rohrer, Harold Fair Jr., Bud Perry, Shawn Stroble, Tim Ice, Don Harvey Jr., Doug Sommers, Don Mahaffey, Drew Charlson, Gary Whipkey, Brad Coons, Brian Short, John Crumrine, John Flynn, Jimmy Carter, Jamie Hunt, George Rangel, Claude Plante, Burgess White, Ken White, Paul Pelletier, Nathan Herron, Josh Smith

Carter Dominates Main Event 100 At Sandusky
By Sandusky P.R.

    The Main Event Racing Series (MERS) Super Late Models made their annual appearance at Sandusky Speedway Saturday night for a 100 lap feature race paying $2,500 to win.
    The MERS Super Late Models were lined up on the front straight for driver introductions. Nineteen Super Late Models took the green flag with Brett Jursik and Don Harvey Jr. the front row. Jursik won this event here last year and dove into turn one ahead of Harvey for the lead. In third was Harold Fair Jr., followed by Gary Whipkey and Rich Rohrer. Jursik had already opened up a half straightaway lead over Harvey by lap ten.
    With such a commanding lead, it was only a matter of time before Jursik encountered slower cars which he skillfully wove around. With twenty laps in the books, Jursik had nearly a front straight lead over Jimmy Carter who was the evenings fast qualifier. Disaster struck on lap twenty five when Jursik broke coming out of turn four and hit the front straight wall which ended the evening for last years winner. Jimmy Carter was the new leader followed by Don Harvey Jr., Harold Fair Jr., Gary Whipkey and Rich Rohrer.
    On lap twenty seven Harold Fair Jr. got past Harvey for second and began chasing Carter for the lead. With fourty laps in it was Carter, Fair Jr., Whipkey, Harvey Jr. and Rohrer the top five running order. With half of the race over with, Carter was enjoying a half straight lead over Fair Jr. The yellow was brought out on lap sixty due to the lapped traffic not listening to the flagman. On the restart, with his lead erased, Carter would have Fair Jr. right behind him as this was Fair Jrs. best shot at making up ground on the leader. Carter proved to be stronger as he pulled away from Fair Jr. The yellow waved on lap sixty four when Gary Whipkey had a flat tire. Carter and Fair Jr, pulled away from the rest of the field on this restart before the yellow waved for Harvey Jr. who spun in turn four on lap seventy. On the restart Fair Jr. wasn't making up any ground on Carter, but Scott Baker who ran third was making up ground on Fair Jr.
    Baker was unable to get past Fair Jr. By lap eighty one Carter had opened up a front straight lead over Fair Jr. With five laps to go Baker resumed his battle for second with Fair Jr. and this time he succeeded in getting the second position. The yellow waved on lap ninety eight when John Flynn slid across the front straight and made contact with the inside guard rail. Flynn was not injured. With two laps to go Carter now would have to contend with Baker on the restart. The yellow waved on lap ninety nine for a tangle involving Whipkey, Harvey Jr. and Drew Charlson. With only one lap to go, Jimmy Carter who started seventh in this race, would prove to have the stronger car tonight as he held off Scott Baker for the win.

Main Event Racing Series
    Top Qualifier - Jimmy Carter 16.565
    Lap Leaders – Brett Jursik 1-25, Jimmy Carter 26-100
    Carter Lumber 100 - Jimmy Carter, Scott Baker, Harold Fair Jr., Rich Rohrer, Harold Fair Sr., Gary Whipkey, Don Harvey Jr., Drew Charlson, Justin Schroeder, Mike Mizer, Shawn Stroble, John Flynn, Burgess White, Ken White, Tom Stankiewicz, Doug Sommers, Brett Jursik, John Crumrine, Brad Coons, John Stroble DNS, Jamie Hunt DNS

Whipkey Gets Out Broom For Midvale Main Event
By Adam Mackey

    Another excellent field of Super Late Models converged on Midvale Speedway this past Friday, July 3. 26 outlaw bodied cars were there along with Pure Stocks, Compacts, and the Midget showdown.
    In Main Event Racing Series qualifying, Canton, Ohio driver Rich Rohrer set fast time with a 13.839. Don Harvey, Jr., Gary Whipkey, Jimmy Carter, and Mike Miller were the rest of the top five. Rohrer pulled the eight pill, putting himself in the eighth starting position and locking Michael Scheffer and Scott Baker into the front row.
    When the green dropped, Baker jumped out into the lead. It did take about three restarts before Baker's lead became official, as a few cautions waved before a lap was complete. Eventually, though, Baker set the pace. The veteran campaigner continued to lead until Scheffer got into the low lane coming off of turn two. Baker gave him room going into turn three and Scheffer raced out front.
    Scheffer led a number of laps before lap traffic came into play. Scheffer caught a trio of cars racing for position and got caught behind Burgess White who stayed on the bottom. Baker was able to race back into the top spot, while Scheffer again dropped to second.
    Just a little past the halfway mark, point leader Gary Whipkey had to pit for a flat tire. After one pit stop, the problem still seemed to exist, so a second pit stop was necessary. Once back up to speed, Whipkey started racing his way quickly to the front in the outside lane. The four time Main Event champion moved into the third spot late in the race but was having a hard time trying to find his way around Scheffer.
    With five laps to go, caution waved yet again. Ready for the restart, fans could hear that Baker's #4 was sputtering, while getting ready to go. As the green waved, Baker's car wouldn't go and caution again slowed the pace. Baker, who was running a smaller fuel cell than most, had to pit for fuel, so Scheffer again was the leader. However, Scheffer stopped on the backstretch under the same caution period because of an issue he felt in the driveline. He was also forced to the pits.
    That gave the lead to Whipkey, coming all the way back from his earlier pit stop. For Whipkey, it was his second win of the season at Midvale, giving him the 2009 clean sweep. The Carter Lumber/Lennie's Collision #59 was followed by John Crumrine, Don Harvey, Jr., Doug Sommers, and Jimmy Carter. Others in the top ten were Mike Miller, Shawn Stroble, Mike Mizer, Tom Stankiewicz, and Brian Short.

Main Event Racing Series
    Top Qualifier - Rich Rohrer 13.839
    Lap Leaders - Baker 1-19, Scheffer 20-42, Baker 43-95, Whipkey 96-100
    Downtown Ford 100 - Gary Whipkey, John Crumrine, Don Harvey, Jr., Doug Sommers, Jimmy Carter, Mike Miller, Shawn Stroble, Mike Mizer, Tom Stankiewicz, Brian Short, Burgess White, Scott Baker, Michael Scheffer, John Flynn, Charlie Schultz, Todd Ripley, Ron Jaberg, Jr., Drew Charlson, Gene Molnar, Jr., Rich Rohrer, Rich Dessecker, Dustin Hayes, Ken White, Jamie Hunt, Bob Gainer

Baker Returns To Racing With Lake Erie Speedway Win
Main Event P.R.

            Akron, Ohio driver Scott Baker returned to racing this past Saturday, June 27 at Lake Erie Speedway.  The veteran Late Model competitor joined 22 other Main Event Racing Series competitors and came away with his first Outlaw Late Model victory in a number of years.
            Baker, owner and driver of his #4, started from the seventh position, but early on, it was outside polesitter Glenn Gault, Jr. taking command.  The Hubbard, Ohio driver led the first 51 laps before top qualifier, Jimmy Carter made his way to the front.  Carter would go on to lead the next 14 laps before electrical issues ended his great run.
            That gave the lead to Scott Baker on lap 67.  Baker avoided any major issues and held on to claim his fifth career Main Event victory.  Don Harvey, Jr., Gary Whipkey, Doug Sommers, and Shawn Stroble finished off the top five.  Others in the top ten were John Crumrine, Brian Short, Todd Ripley, John Sandquist, Jr., and Mike Mizer.
            The Main Event Racing Series now prepares for its second 2009 appearance at the Midvale OH Speedway on Friday, July 3, with a July 4 rain date.  Over the last two exciting Super Late events at the track, the winners have come from tenth and eighth place starts respectively.  Another barnburner is expected Friday night.  Pure Stocks, Compacts, and a special Quarter Midget race with some familiar faces is also on the schedule.
            Pit gates will open at 2:30, grandstands at 4:00, hotlaps for the Main Event cars will be from 4:30-5:00 and 5:30-6:00, ME qualifying will be around 6:40, and racing for the regular classes will begin at 8:00.  Pit admission is $25 for Midvale members and $30 for all others.
            An extra practice session is set for Thursday night, July 2 from 4:00-8:00.  Pit admission will be $10 per person, while watching from the grandstands is free.

Harvey Claims Barberton Main Event Win
By Main Event P.R.

            The Main Event Racing Series raced for the fourth time in 2009 this past Saturday night, June 20.  The event was originally to be held on Friday, but rain postponed the program.
            Sixth fast qualifier Rich Rohrer started on the pole of the event and raced into the lead early, with the outside polesitter, Harvey, riding comfortably in second.  With just a few cautions in the race, Rohrer was able to pull out to a sizable lead under each green flag run.
            Rohrer led sizably until just past the lap 50 mark of the 75 lap grind.  Fans could see Harvey closing quickly as Rohrer's car started sliding up the track.  Entering turn four on the 53rd lap, Rohrer's car shot high up the track as the top five raced by.  Rohrer retired pitside with brake problems shortly thereafter.
            Barberton, Ohio's Don Harvey, Jr. went on to claim his first victory in 2009, while Doug Sommers, John Crumrine, Mike Miller, and Michael Scheffer claimed top fives.  The rest of the top ten were Gary Whipkey, Jimmy Carter, Rick Sibila, Mike Mizer, and Brian Short.
            For Harvey, his fifth career Main Event win came in the Akron Auto & Truck Tire/R&D Auto Repair #12.  Gary Whipkey set fast time in qualifying.
            The Main Event Racing Series will race for the fifth time this coming Saturday, June 27 at Lake Erie PA Speedway.

Ice Claims Carter Lumber Main Event at Kil-Kare
By Jerry Wahl

Xenia, OH - The Main Event Racing Series (MERS) made their first of two 2009 visits to Kil-Kare Speedway and it was Tim Ice winning the Carter Lumber 100 lap event and the $2,500 pay check.
Twenty four super late models lined up for the start of the century grind with Tim Ice and Jimmy Carter leading the pack to the green with Ice in the Fast Racing Engines sponsored machine taking the lead, however, the first caution came out on lap two to slow the field when John Crumrine and John Sandquist tangled in turn one and were out of competition. Ice set sail again as Don Mahaffey shot around Donnie Hill for third as the field stated to move up on slower cars
Ice began lapping cars while Dick Dunlevy went to work on Hill for fifth but ahead of him Shawn Stroble took over third from Mahaffey and then Stroble dropped Carter to third as he stole second spot. Drew Charlson brought the caution out on lap twenty seven when he spun in turn two. For the restart it was Ice the leader followed by Stroble, Carter, Mahaffey, and Dunlevy. The first six cars were running bumper to bumper with sixth place running Hill trying the inside of Dunlevy for fifth as they ran side by side behind Mahaffey, Ice continued to lead as he pulled away from Stroble as they moved through lapped traffic and then here came top qualifier Rich Rohrer out of nowhere to claim fourth with his sights on the front runners but lap forty four brought the third caution out when five cars piled up on the frontstretch bringing the red flag out. Unfortunately, Rohrer was involved and out of action.
For the restart it was Ice, Stroble, Carter, Dunlevy and now Doug Summers in fifth. Dunlevy went to the topside as he tried to catch carter but Carter shook him off as Ice continued to hold the front spot. At the halfway it was Stroble, Carter, Dunlevy, Doug Sommers, Jamie Hunt, Drew Charlson, Glenn Gault, Jr., Gary Whipkey, and Don Mahaffey.
Ice was really hooked up as he continued to put quite a distance on the second place running Stroble who had about an equal distance over third place running Carter and the same for Dunlevy in fourth. By lap seventy Ice had a half lap lead and was still pulling away as Stroble, Carter, and Dunlevy had bunched up bumper to bumper with Carter trying the inside of Stroble when the caution came out on lap seventy nine. Carter stayed glued to Ice's rear bumper after the restart with Dunlevy in third and Stroble riding fourth with Sommers right behind him.
With ten laps to go Ice again was starting to pull away from Carter as Dunlevy still held on to third but Sommers was closing in on Stroble. As the laps wound down Ice showed he definitely was on a mission as he led every lap of the hundred lapper to take the win over Carter, Dunlevy, Stroble, and Sommers.

Main Event Racing Series
    Top Qualifier - Rich Rohrer 12.792
    Lap Leaders - Tim Ice 1-100
    Carter Lumber 100 - Tim Ice, Jimmy Carter, Dick Dunlevy, Jr., Shawn Stroble, Doug Sommers, Drew Charlson, Jamie Hunt, Gary Whipkey, Don Mahaffey, Jr., Donnie Hill, Charlie Schultz, John Stroble, John Flynn, Brian Short, Burgess White, Glenn Gault, Jr., Rich Rohrer, Rick Sibila, Scott Drake, Bill Cantley, Ken White, John Crumrine, John Sandquist, Jr., Don Harvey, Jr., Shawn Stansell

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

Doering Claims Main Event Opener At Angola
By Angola P.R.

            (Fremont, In)  The record books were shattered at the Angola Motor Speedway on Saturday night May 2nd with a record 44 Super Late Models jammed into the pits. The Main Event Super Late Models saw one of their biggest car counts in series history and also made their first appearance ever at the Angola Motor Speedway.
            The top 14 fast qualifiers were locked into the feature race for the Super Late Models.  This was going to prove tough enough for Mike Kugler out of the 44 Late Models in the pits, but he showed his skills set quick time at 13.701 at 98.533 MPH.  Some of the names that didn’t make their way through in qualifying were Tim Ice, Jason Shively, Tony Dager, Doug Finley, Dave Stehower, and Bud Perry.  They all have series championships, track titles, or feature wins all over the Midwest, proving how tough the field of  Super Late Models were.  The Main Event Series officials made two last chances races, taking the top three out of each to the 100 lap feature.  The first to open the show was the odd last chance race featuring Tim Ice taking the checkered flag followed by teammate Charlie Schultz, and Mike Mizer taking the transfer spots to the big show.  Dave Stehower out Grand Rapids, MI drove like a true sportsman almost racing his way in with a fourth place finish having many chances of pushing his way to the front, but electing not to.  Stehower was followed by Rick Sibila, John Crumrine, Fred Elkins. The second last chance race saw Tony Dager, the 2008 CRA Sportsman Champion, taking the win over Doug Finley and Shawn Stroble taking the transfers positions.  “Smokin” Bud Perry was on the outside looking in followed by Jasper Case and Jeff Brunt.
            The 100 Lap Main Event Series saw some great racing action.  Chad Finley, from the Spartan Speedway and Berlin Raceway,  took the early lead and held off hard charging Angola Motor Speedway veteran Jack Landis for over 40 laps.  Landis started to fall back as Jimmy Carter and John Doering, Jr. started to work their way through the field.  On lap 49, Doering overtook the Michigan youngster for the race lead and continued to lead for the remainder of the race.  Jimmy Carter ran Doering down in the last few laps and tried to pass him on the last lap.  However, he encountered traffic and blew a break line, finding himself head on into the turn four wall.  The feature win went to Doering, Jr. followed by Chad Finley, Canadian Mike Luberda, Jr., Mike Kugler, Gary Whipkey, Jack Landis, Don Harvey, Jimmy Carter, Doug Sommers, and Charlie Schultz rounding out the top 10.
            The next event for the Main Event Racing Series will be Saturday, May 23 at Midvale OH Speedway.  The race will be 75-laps, paying $2,000 to win.  Pits will open at 1:00, practice at 2:30, qualifying at 4:00, and racing will see the green at 6:30.  Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, Compacts, and Figure 8's will all race.

Main Event Racing Series
            Fast Time - Mike Kugler 13.701
            Last Chance #1 - Tim Ice, Charlie Schultz, Mike Mizer, Dave Stehower, John Stroble, Rick Sibila, John Crumrine, Fred Elkins, John Sandquist, Jr., John Sandquist, Sr., Ken White, Joe Ellert
            Last Chance #2 - Tony Dager, Doug Finley, Shawn Stroble, Bud Perry, Jasper Case, Jeff Brunt, Tom Stankiewicz, Justin May, Jamie Hunt, Jason Shively, Dustin Hayes, Doug Sommers, Shawn Stansell
            Main Event 100 - John Doering, Chad Finley, Mike Luberda, Jr., Mike Kugler, Gary Whipkey, Jack Landis, Jimmy Carter, Doug Sommers, Charlie Schultz, Harold Fair, Jr., Tim Ice, Mike Mizer, Doug Finley, Brent Jack, Jarred Allison, John Crumrine, Drew Charlson, Tim Fedewa, John Flynn, Tony Dager, Shawn Stroble, Burgess White, Glenn Gault, Jr.

2008 Main Event Racing Series
Race Results

Main Event Mastered By Needles At Columbus
By Todd Ridgeway
Mid American Auto Racing News
September 28, 2008 

    Michigander Steve Needles came into Columbus Motor Speedway and from the time he unloaded he was the car everyone was watching and talking about. Needles was fast, very fast, all weekend at the capitol city Ohio oval. That speed carried him to the fast time award and eventually the 100 lap Main Event Racing Series Final victory. In practice he was the only driver of the 40 plus on hand to get under the 13 second mark every time he hit the track. In qualifying veteran Columbus and ASA racer Robbie Pyle hit the track and bested the soon to be former track record with a lap of 13.089. However, it was short lived as Needles turn came just moments later. Needles did not disappoint as he busted the track record with a new time of 12.872, the only car under 13 seconds. Through qualifying the top ten where locked in and inverted, thus putting Pyle and Needles in the fifth row for the traditional end of year race.  
    As race time rolled around the perfect race day sun had heated the track to a nice hot temperature for the drop of the green flag on the stellar field of Super Late Models. 2008 Columbus Motor Speedway Late Model track Champion Donnie “Zero” Hill started on the pole with Trent Hellenga along side. Hill shot out immediately to the front and set pace however, the first of 17 caution flags on the day flew at lap four when young Josh Smith spun in turn two. From that point on the cautions flew freely as 15 laps would be the most under the green flag through lap 56. The biggest mishap of the day happened at lap 44 when former Main Event Final winner Freddy Campbell and veteran Dennis Strickland got together and Campbell climbed over the top slamming the first turn wall. Both veteran racers where uninjured but done for the day. By this time Needles had moved from his tenth starting spot to third separated from the leader by Jack Landis who had assumed second position early and was staying in Hill’s tracks. By lap 62 Needles had disposed of Landis and sailed to the outside of Hill. Two laps later Needles would become the leader and started making tracks towards the checkered flag. Enduring four more caution flags to the finish Needles had no challengers and little effort to secure the win. Following Needles across the line was Hill, Landis, Toledo Glass City 200 winner Harold Fair Jr., Joe Bush, Gary Whipkey, Tim Ice, Robbie Pyle, Rich Rohrer, and Jimmy Carter rounding out the top ten. Whipkey and Carter came into this event on top of the Main Event Series points and when the dust settled in Columbus Whipkey became the 2008 series Champion. Whipkey has now won the Main Event Championship the last three years in a row.
    After the winners circle presentations and back at the trailer an exhausted Needles said, “I had an awesome car. It took about halfway through before I could get it going, about lap 50 or 55 it really came in. I got to the top groove and those guys are clean racers, it just turned out good. The plan was to ride the first fifty and hope the top groove would come in, it finally did and we got kind of lucky there. I was starting to get nervous because there was no top groove but thank goodness it finally came in. There were more cautions than I expected but that too work in my favor as the car was just really good on restarts,” finished Needles. 
    “I was a little short,” noted Landis. “I started second row outside, not much passing, I take my hat off to Needles, and he did a heck of a job. Donnie Hill to, he ran a great race, I saw him all the way. I want to give a shout out to Harold Fair jr. for winning the Toledo Glass city race last week; he finished fourth today and watched my back. Tons more caution flags than I expected there would be, I thought maybe there would be a couple of those big wrecks like there usually is. It is tight racing here and cars get bottled up. We may have run a 20 lap run, but that would have been the most of the whole race. I don’t think it would have been any different without all the yellows, but it would have been nice to find out. Anyway, we got what we got and I am pretty happy with it,” finished Landis. 
    Runner up Hill reflected, “I had a great car, my guys worked hard all weekend long, the 14 car, man those guys got their stuff together. I think we just need to do a little homework; I am not ashamed of my finish. I think all those caution flags hurt us, I was better on long runs and the track got slippery. But it’s the Main Event, the years over and I will just enjoy the vacation. It feels good to get back in a Super Late Model; I wish Columbus would do it more. Man that horsepower just felt good,” finished hill.

Main Event Happenings 2008
By Todd Ridgeway
Mid American Auto Racing News
September 28, 2008  

    There is no doubt that the Columbus Motor Speedway Main Event final is one of the best tickets in the racing community. Coming at the end of a hard worked season for both the racers and race fans, it has become a who’s who in the racing world. For a lot of race fans it is the last big weekend get away before the cool season rolls around. Lots could be said of the 2008 version and it started when the gates swung open for practice on a warm Friday afternoon. 

AMS Modifieds 53 cars took qualifying time for the 50 lap feature race, top 16 locked in.
    “I brought both cars, like I did last year,” stated Andy Carroll. “I am looking forward to the challenge; the cars are running pretty decent. I tell you, coming from Sandusky we had to make significant changes with the Modified. One of the major things is the spoiler is four inches here versus the slandered eight inches. We have had to try and tighten the car up all weekend. The Late Model is like driving a Cadillac and the Modified is like trying to make a pickup truck go fast,” finished Carroll. Carroll finished second in Modified track Championship points at Sandusky. Andy finished thirteenth in an AMS last chance race and ninth in a Main Event Series last chance race failing to make both features at Columbus. 
    “The Goodyear tires are just a lot slicker,” said 2008 Columbus Modified Champion Terry Humphrey. “Passing will be a premium, I think whoever starts in the front row will win the race, it’s just the luck of the draw where you start. You just can’t get up on the outside to run. I think it takes a complete different set up on these tires. We are not great, we just work on it one day and the other guys run on these tires all year. We’ll just be as good as we can and that’s it,” finished Humphrey. Terry made the fast 16 and the inversion for the AMS 50 lap feature. He finished in tenth position just behind the veteran Dick Dunlevy Jr. and in front of veteran Mike Carroll. 
    Tyler Nuckles making his fourth ever start in a Modified had this to say, “I would be happy to just make the race, the top ten would be nice, but just making the race would be a good weekend for us. The cars a little loss, hopefully we got it fixed and we’ll just go as hard as we can in qualifying. These cars are a lot more different than anything I have ever driven. These tires are a little different, track is kind of greasy,” finished Nuckles. Tyler was eighth quick in qualifying and started fourth in his first ever AMS feature race. However he spun at the mid point of the race and had to restart on the tail. Tyler finished in the 21st position. 
    Kil Kare and Shady Bowl 2008 Modified track Champion Chad Poole added, “We have had a really good year and would like it to continue. I have been really good here in the past but just never could last. I hope to have a little something for them, the car is really fast. I am just 12 points out in the AMS and if I can cover that I could get another Championship. Hopefully I get a good starting spot, there is an awful lot of good cars here,” finished Poole. Poole started in the seventh position and finished fourth. It took almost three days for the AMS officials to do the math but Poole was eventually named the 2008 AMS Champion. 
    Second in the USA Modifieds 2008 points Kyle Jones made the trip as well. “Hopefully I get in the inversion and locked in I think will be the key. Hopefully the race goes like last year; we are the past Champions of this race. Hopefully we made the right adjustments. It’s hard to pass here and the inversion is very important,” finished Jones. Jones ended up in a non qualifiers race.    

Main Event Racing Series Super Late Models, 44 cars on hand for qualifying, top ten locked in
    Coming off some severe burns to his hand at Oswego in a Supermodified on Labor Day weekend driver Tim Ice said, “Last week wasn’t as bad as the first three with my hands. The first three were just really tough; I had some third degree burns. A lot of people have been working with me and all the folks thought have been really appreciated. At this point it is not affecting my driving, it is getting better. We are struggle with the car today; there are some cars here that are really fast today, the track is getting hard to get a hold of. I would just like to make the show in a good starting spot and give a good effort. You just have to get the car stable enough today to get in the field, then tomorrow in the 100 laps maybe it will get better with laps,” finished Ice. Tim went on to win his heat race, started 11th in the 100 lap feature and finished seventh. 
    2008 Columbus Late Model track Champion Donnie Zero Hill added, “It would sure be nice to qualify in the top ten but it will be tough. I will be alright if I can get in the top ten and make the inversion. These guys race the Super Lates weekly, I will just have to go out with a good mindset,” finished Hill. Hill qualified tenth started on the pole and led the first 63 laps. Hill went on too finished second. 
    Toledo 2008 Glass City 200 winner Harold Fair Jr. made the trip to Columbus. “This is a totally different race track. We are just trying to make the car as smooth as we can; we have a good race setup. I just want to make the top ten in qualifying. Tomorrow, I want to survive the first 30 or 40 laps and then go racing,” said Fair Jr. Fair Jr. made the top ten inversion starting fifth and sailed to a fourth place finish. 
    2004 and 2006 Shady Bowl Modified track Champion Josh Smith made his second ever Super Late Model start in the Columbus Main Event driving a Tim Ice backup car. “I would just be happy to make the race and go from there. I have big shoes to fill and hopefully they get happy with me. I just want to survive tomorrow. This is a dream come true; to make the race and get a top ten would be perfect. I have watched and looked up to Tim for a long time,” finished Smith. Smith started in the tenth row by virtue of fourth in the non qualifier race and had a respectable finish of 13th in the 100 lapper.  
    If there was ever an Asphalt Super Late Model Outlaw his name would be Jack Landis. “Well, I think I can do better than last year, I need to step it up for qualifying, I think I can get there. I have been watching my tire wear; I think the guy that will be most patient tomorrow will have the upper hand. The inversion is very important here, it’s big, there are a lot of fast cars here,” finished Landis. Jack started outside second row and sailed to a third place finish. 

Main Event weekend notes 

·         AMS fast time was set by Shane Shirk with a 14.495 lap
·         Brian Campbell brought the Berlin (MI) Championship car of Ross Meeuwsen #32 car for the race. The engine blew up in practice.
·         Mike Stacey also practiced Paul Storers #5 Late model but it broke in practice after just a handful of laps.
·         Michigander Steve Needles set a new track record in Main Event Super Late Model qualifying with a lap of 12.872
·         Ohio driver Robbie Pyle was second quick with a fast time of 13.089
·         Winner Steve Needles was yet another different winner in the Main Event final event. Every year since its inception there has been a different winner.
·         Double duty drivers included Andy Carroll, Kyle Jones, and Bud Perry
·         Modified driver Mike Rush had the saying of the weekend during a short rain delay in practice. “A rainy day at the race track is better than a dry day at work.”

Pictures Currently Available At reesphotos.com
DVD Footage Available At racingvids.net
 

MAIN EVENT XXI RESULTS

Super Late Model
    Fast Time: Steve Needles 12.872 NTR
    Heat: 1) Gary Whipkey 2) John Grega 3) Brett Jursik 4) Paul Pelletier 5) Donnie Renner 6) Rick Sibila 7) Bill Cantley 8) Jim Hursey 9) Joel McKnight 10) Doug Sommers
    Heat: 1) Tim Ice 2) Don Harvey 3) Don Mahaffey, Jr. 4) Dennis Strickland 5) Shawn Stroble 6) Bud Perry 7) Kenny White 8) Burgess White 9) Ryan Tedesco 10) Jamie Hunt
    Heat: 1) Rich Rohrer 2) Kyle Jones 3) Dino Long 4) John Crumrine 5) John Stroble 6) Shawn Stansell 7) Bob Gainer 8) Andy Carroll 9) Josh Smith
    Last Chance: 1) Jamie Hunt 2) Brett Jursik 3) Donnie Renner 4) Josh Smith 5) Dino Long 6) Dennis Strickland 7) John Crumrine 8) Paul Pelletier 9) Andy Carroll 10) Bud Perry 11) Bill Cantley 12) Rick Sibila 13) Bob Gainer 14) Jim Hursey 15) John Stroble16) Shawn Stroble
    Feature: 1) Steve Needles 2) Donnie Hill 3) Jack Landis 4) Harold Fair 5) Joe Bush 6) Gary Whipkey 7) Tim Ice 8) Robbie Pyle 9) Rich Rohrer 10) Jimmy Carter 11) John Grega 12) Kyle Jones 13) Josh Smith 14) Trent Hellenga 15) Doug Sommers 16) Dino Long 17) Joel McKnight 18) Jamie Hunt 19) Don Mahaffey, Jr. 20) Brett Jursik 21) Dennis Strickland 22) Fred Campbell 23) Donnie Renner 24) Burgess White 25) Don Harvey 26) Mike Bursley
    Champion: Gary Whipkey

AMS Modifieds
    Fast Time: Shane Shirk 14.495
    Last Chance: 1) Chad Pendleton 2) Steve Foster 3) Chris Parker 4) Brian Reeser 5) Buddy Townsend 6) Eddie Vallette 7) Don Skaggs 8) Caleb Reschar 9) Roger Roush 10) Herb Newman11) Joe Jennings 12) Wayne Watercutter 13) Mike Pippin 14) Bob Grubaugh 15) Curt Dinsmoor 16) Jerry Williams 17) Ray Muncy 18) Jessica Cyrus
    Last Chance: 1) Bud Perry 2) Don Mahaffey Jr 3) Jason Timmerman 4) Barrett Tamasovich 5) John Lawhorn 6) Steve Snapp 7) Dean Pitts 8) Donald Parsons 9) Mike Litchfield10) Williams 11) Kevin Bloxam 12) Rodney Kriesch 13) Andy Carroll 14) Lou Bando15) Harold Scott 16) Kim Dill 17) Aaron Pippin
    Feature: 1) George Lindsay 2) Shawn Gray 3) Nick Diano 4) Chad Poole 5) Mike Stacy 6) David Carter 7) Mike Stapleton 8) Brad Yelton 9) Dick Dunlevy Jr 10) Terry Humphrey11) Mike Carroll 12) Rick Meyer 13) Steve Foster 14) Chad Pendleton 15) Jason Timmerman16) Jason Mahaffey 17) Scott Reeser 18) Dean Pitts 19) Chris Parker 20) Bud Perry 21) Tyler Nuckles 22) Wayne Watercutter 23) Barrett Tamasovich 24) Shane Shirk 25) Mike Rush 26) Jeremy Dennis

Sport Stock
    Fast Time: George Lindsay
    Feature: 1) George Lindsay 2) Phil Gussler Jr 3) Denver Carte 4) Sekulich 5) Steve Karnes 6) Jeremiah English 7) Scott Allen 8) Roger Smith 9) Butch Fortuna 10) Josh Cahill11) Bill Ramey 12) Matthew Parsons 13) Larry McHargue 14) Ralph Vinson 15) David James 16) Don Townsend, Jr. 17) John Haney 18) Kenny Simpson

Crazy Compact
    Fast Time: Daryl McKay
    Heat: 1) Ron McMannis 2) Max McCartney 3) Kyle Rector 4) Jim McElfresh 5) Brandon Coleman 6) Bill McElfresh 7) Christian Bullock 8) Rich Hess 9) Tom Barrett 10) James Colley
    Heat: 1) Earl Scranton 2) Eddie Smith 3) Denise Bartram 4) Shawn Preece 5) Bryan Gillespie 6) Ray Pemberton 7) Ed Smith 8) Mike Smith 9) Mike Smith 10) Chris Lucas
    Heat: 1) Tom Colley 2) Les Stephenson 3) Randy Rogers 4) John McNutt 5) Mike Blankenship 6) Bryon Bivens 7) Terry Litchfield 8) David Patrick 9) Jake Gallagher
    Heat: 1) Brian Whetnall 2) Seth Rager 3) John Campbell 4) Brian Beach 5) Ralph Vinson 6) Judd McGrath 7) Jeremy Corum 8) Don West
    Last Chance: 1) Randy Rogers 2) Mike Smith 3) Jimmy McElfresh 4) John McNutt 5) Mike Blankenship 6) Christian Bullock 7) David Patrick 8) Tom Barrett 9) Rich Hess 10) Brandon Coleman11) Terry Litchfield 12) Bryon Bivens 13) Bill McElfresh 14) Jake Gallagher Last Chance: 1) Kyle Rector 2) John Campbell 3) Ray Pemberton 4) Brian Beach 5) Ralph Vinson 6) Ed Smith 7) Denise Bartram 8) Judd McGrath 9) Jeremiah English 10) Jeremy Corum11) Bryan Gillespie 12) Chris Lucas 13) Shawn Preece
    Feature: 1) Donnie Nash 2) Robbie Smith 3) Jason Dennis 4) Michael Robinson 5) Don Rufener, Jr. 6) Ron McMannis 7) David Lucas 8) Daryl McKay 9) Earl Scranton 10) Rob Smith11) Seth Rager 12) Max McCartney 13) Bill Ott 14) Eddie Smith 15) Mike Smith16) Tom Colley 17) Brian Whetnall 18) Kyle Rector 19) Randy Rogers 20) Ray Pemberton 21) Jimmy McElfresh 22) John McNutt 23) Les Stephenson 24) John Campbell 25) Brian Beach 26) Michael Gills

Legend Car
    Fast Time: Dustin Sword
    Heat: 1) Bryan Nuckles 2) Jason Knox 3) Sloan Henderson 4) Dustin Sword 5) Brandon Huff
    Feature: 1) Bryan Nuckles 2) Dustin Sword 3) Brandon Huff 4) Jason Knox 5) Evan Finley 6) Bob Eaton 7) Zach Germain 8) Joey Greening 9) Wendell Napper 10) Denny Andrews 11) Travis Braden 12) Tommy K

Smith Main Event Racing Series Winner
By Shady Bowl P.R.  

DeGraff OH: (8/9): The Main Event Racing Series made its annual stop at Shady Bowl Speedway and put on a thrilling show in front of a packed house. The traveling speedsters marked the only appearance of the super late models in the 08 season A field of 21 cars took the green flag to start the Carter Lumber 75. Series regular Gary Whipkey took the early lead in the Carter Lumber backed super and led the first 19 laps before the yellow came out when Rich Rohrer collected the frontchute wall when something appeared to break on his car. When racing resumed it was short lived however as rain brought the race to a halt on lap 20.
The race was held up for about an hour as officials and compact drivers dried the track. The rain delay was bad news for Whipkey as his car would not start when the command to fire up was given. With Whipkey in the pits the lead fell to Paul Pelletier as the green came out. The Wolverine state driver stayed out front and survived minor spins and crashes involving Chad Poole, John Stroble and Brad Coons. The final yellow waved on lap 54 when Burgess White slowed on the frontchute. Once again out front was an unlucky spot to be in as Pelletier headed to the pit area. The lead was then taken over by Quincy OH driver Josh Smith in the Fast Racing Engines entry. Smith, a two time Modified champion at the Bowl, then showed the invaders a little lesson in "home cookin" as he dominated the final laps to post his first ever MERS and super late model main.
            It made for a very popular win both on and off the track, as Smith is a crowd favorite. Harold Fair Jr., Don Mahaffey, Don Harvey Jr. and Bud Perry rounded out the top five. The Bowl was well represented with regulars Smith, Mahaffey and Perry taking three of the top five spots.

Main Event Racing Series
            Top Qualifier - Harold Fair, Jr.
            Lap Leaders - Gary Whipkey 1-19, Paul Pelletier 20-54, Josh Smith 55-75
            Carter Lumber 75 - Josh Smith, Harold Fair Jr., Don Mahaffey, Don Harvey Jr., Bud Perry, Jimmy Carter, Chris Benson, Doug Sommers, Paul Pelletier, Joel McKnight, Harold Fair Sr., Burgess White, Johnny Jenkins, Brad Koons, John Stroble, Chad Poole, Gary Whipkey, Shawn Stansell, John Flynn, Rich Rohrer, Rodney Roush 

Jursik Claims 1st Main Event Victory At Sandusky
By Lynda Yates 

It’s been almost 10 years since Sandusky Speedway saw the Late Models at the track and the fans were excited! The Main Event Late Models brought to you by Carter Lumber lined the track for driver introductions. Don Mahaffey, Jr. and Brett Jursik led the 21 cars around for the drop of the green for their 100 laps of action. Jursik led the first lap with Mahaffey in second followed by Charlie Schultz, Andy Carroll and Gary Whipkey. Tim Ice passed Whipkey for fifth in turn two of lap six.
The caution was out on lap nine for Don Harvey slowing on the front stretch and taking his ride pitside. Jursik led on the restart with Ice passing Carroll on lap 12 for fourth at the line. Carroll was freight trained on the backstretch losing ground and allowing Whipkey to take over fifth. The yellow was thrown again on lap 16 as Carroll stopped on the track coming out of turn three. Carroll went into the pits with his night of racing over. 
Jursik led on the restart with Mahaffey, Rich Rohrer, Ice and Whipkey the top five. Ice took over third on lap 31 on the backstretch as Jursik had a quarter track lead over the rest. Ice wasted no time as he moved into second the next lap. Jursik opened up a half track lead when the caution came out as Doug Sommers smoked coming out of turn three of lap 38. The field was bunched back up with another caution on lap 41 for Mike Scheffer stopping going into turn one. 
At the half way point it was Jursik, Ice, Mahaffey, Rohrer and Jimmy Carter. Jursik pulled away with Ice next in line with the next three battling on the restart. The yellow was thrown on lap 53 for Johnny Jenkins and Charlie Schultz coming together going into turn four. Both drivers were charged and sent to tail on the restart. Jursik still led with the next caution out on lap 63 for fourth place Rohrer stopping in turn two. He was pushed into the pits with the race back to green. 
Jursik was in the top spot with Ice, Mahaffey, Carter and Whipkey on lap 64. They remained unchanged as the next caution came out on lap 82 for Burgess White stopping on the front stretch and his machine smoking. He went pitside with his night done. Eighteen laps remained as the green flag was waved once again. Before another lap could be scored in the books, Dino Long and John Crumrine spun coming out of turn four. 
The race went red just to allow for cleanup as the cars took a ride in the rain and mud leftover from early morning and afternoon showers. The top five remained unchanged allowing Jursik to lead all 100 laps and take home his first feature win on his first outing with the Main Event Late Model Series.
            The Main Event Racing Series will next be in action at Shady Bowl Speedway in Degraff, Ohio for a 75 lap event on Saturday, August 9.  For more information, check out the website at maineventracingseries.com. 

Main Event Racing Series
            Top Qualifier – Harold Fair, Jr. 16.577
            Lap Leader – Brett Jursik 1-100
            Carter Lumber 100 – Brett Jursik, Tim Ice, Don Mahaffey, Jr., Jimmy Carter, Gary Whipkey, Rick Sibila, Charlie Schultz, Dino Long, John Crumrine, John Stroble, Joel McKnight, Johnny Jenkins, Burgess White, Rich Rohrer, John Flynn, Michael Scheffer, Harold Fair, Jr., Doug Sommers, Tom Stankiewicz, Don Harvey, Jr., Andy Carroll

Rohrer Claims Win In Thrilling Main Event 100 At Midvale
By Adam Mackey

            Wet and cool conditions greeted race fans at Midvale Speedway, this past Friday, July 4 for the Downtown Ford 100.  The Main Event Racing Series was joined by Pure Stocks, Compacts, and Figure 8’s.  A nice crowd gathered despite the weather conditions and the drivers thanked them by putting on one of the best Super Late races in recent years.
            In qualifying, point leader Don Harvey, Jr. ripped off the fastest lap with a 13.610.  Harvey drew the eight pill, putting Todd Ripley and Doug Sommers on the front row for the 100-lap grind.
            At the drop of the green, Ripley pulled ahead to set the pace.  Behind him, drivers were racing two, three, and even four wide trying to pick up spots.  Barberton event winner, John Ambrose, got caught in the third lane for a few laps and unbelievably only lost a spot or two during the process.  The first caution came out for a John Crumrine spin in turn three while trying to pass Ripley for the top spot.  Several other drivers accrued body damage as a result.
            Back to green it was Tim Ice’s turn to battle the leader.  Ice, driving his brand new racer for the first time, raced hard in the outside lane.  Just as Ice was starting to clear the Gnadenhutten, Ohio competitor, the yellow came back out for a grinding crash in turn one involving Mike Miller.  Miller was okay but the car suffered heavy damage.
            Several laps into the next run, Ice slid high entering turn one.  Gary Whipkey dashed by to the inside and then drove into the outside lane on the backstretch.  Ice, trying to get back to the bottom, made contact with Harvey resulting in a spin.  Harvey continued, while Ice retired from the event.
            Whipkey became the third driver to attempt a lead pass the next time Chuck Barrett waved the green.  In fact, Whipkey did scoot by on the inside heading into turn three a few laps after the restart.  However, shortly thereafter, caution negated his pass because of a Crumrine/Sommers mishap on the frontstretch.  Officials reverted back to the last completed lap.
            After a couple of minor spins and restarts, Ryan Tedesco started to put on a show.  While running fifth, Tedesco decided to try the outside lane.  First he picked off Rohrer, then Harvey, but while getting ready to take second, Whipkey decided it was time to get out and go, and that he did as he shot into the lead past Ripley on lap 39.  Tedesco followed into second.  Moments later, Harvey was trying to move into third and the two made contact resulting in a turn three accident.  Ripley was done, while Harvey returned only to retire a few laps later.
            With Tedesco in second, most knew that Whipkey would have his hands full.  Things changed though, a couple of moments later as Tedesco nudged the leader in turn two, checked up and Rohrer shot by to the inside.  Coming off of turn four, Rohrer and Tedesco made some contact and Tedesco was relegated to fourth behind Crumrine.
            Over the next thirty to forty laps, Rohrer hounded Whipkey for the lead.  Whipkey’s car looked unstable entering the turns, checking up much sooner than his opponent.  Despite the slight problems entering the turns, Whipkey made no mistakes, kept his car on the bottom, and held Rohrer at bay for a huge portion of the race.
            With about fifteen to go, Rohrer displaced Whipkey from the bottom lane coming off of turn two.  Side-by-side entering three, the two slammed doors, Rohrer slid sideways, and Whipkey again raced out front.  Two laps later, Rohrer made a move coming off of two that mirrored his earlier effort.  This time though, the Miller Lite/Esber Beverage #7 shot into the top spot.  Crumrine followed into second as Whipkey settled in third.
            Over the last ten circuits, Rohrer held the advantage, but Crumrine tried his hardest to make another race out of a lead battle.  Coming under the checkered, Rohrer took his series leading 17th race win, while Crumrine capped off an awesome run with a second place finish.  Whipkey, Tedesco, and Jimmy Carter rounded out the top five.  The rest of the top ten were Sommers, Bob Gainer, Rick Sibila, Joel McKnight, and John Stroble.
            In what many people have deemed one of the best contested Main Event races ever, drivers proved for at least one night that Super Late Model racing can still be exciting at Midvale Speedway.
            Action will continue for the series this coming Saturday, July 12 at Sandusky Speedway with a 100-lap event.  Pits will open at 1:00, practice is at 2:00, qualifying will begin at 4:15, and racing will take the green at 6:30.  For more information visit sanduskyspeedway.com or maineventracingseries.com.

Main Event Racing Series
            Top Qualifier – Don Harvey, Jr. 13.610
            Lap Leaders – Todd Ripley 1-38, Gary Whipkey 39-90, Rich Rohrer 91-100
            Downtown Ford 100 – Rich Rohrer, John Crumrine, Gary Whipkey, Ryan Tedesco, Jimmy Carter, Doug Sommers, Bob Gainer, Rick Sibila, Joel McKnight, John Stroble, John Sandquist, Burgess White, Don Harvey, Jr., John Ambrose, Todd Ripley, Bear Schwartz, Bob Schneider, Jr., Tim Ice, Tom Stankiewicz, Mike Miller, Gene Molnar, Kenny White, Don Mahaffey, Jr., John Flynn
            DNS – Dino Long & Michael Scheffer

Harvey Claims His First Lake Erie Speedway Win
By Adam Mackey

            The Main Event Racing Series traveled to the beautiful confines of Lake Erie (PA) Speedway this past Saturday, June 28.  Despite a terrible weather forecast, a strong field of cars and a nice group of Carter Lumber guests showed up for a great night of racing entertainment.
            In qualifying, Brookpark, Ohio driver Jimmy Carter blistered the track for the fastest lap.  Moments later, Carter pulled the number “8” pill, locking himself into the eighth starting position for the start.
            At the drop of the green, former Lake Erie winner John Crumrine raced into the lead.  His race, though, would end just moments later as mechanical problems eliminated him on lap three.
            When the Akron, Ohio driver pulled into the infield, first time Main Event competitor Jared Allison raced out front.  Driving the Harold Fair Racing #81, Allison went on to lead the next 16 circuits.  Coming to lap 20, Rohrer pulled alongside going into turn three, Allison tried to protect the lead, the duo bumped tires and Rohrer’s car shot into the air and on top of Allison’s ride.  Allison retired from the event, while Rohrer returned after fixing some cosmetic damage.
            Back to green, the new leader was Don Harvey, Jr.  Harvey and Harold Fair, Jr. pulled into a sizable lead, while cars shuffled back in the field.  Working their ways forward were Gary Whipkey, who started eleventh, and Rohrer, who was picking off cars on his way back to the front.  Just past the halfway mark, though, Rohrer’s night came to an end when his car suffered a broken rear end.
            On lap 61, Fair worked by in the outside lane and continued to lead comfortably until lap 81 when a broken motor caused him to spin.  For the second time in the race, Harvey was out front and on his way to victory #4 in his MERS career.
            Following the R&D Auto Repair/Rittzman Muffler #12 were Whipkey, Carter, Glenn Gault, Jr., and Doug Sommers.  The rest of the top ten were Johnny Jenkins, John Flynn, John Sandquist, Joel McKnight, and Dennis Strickland.
            The next event for the Main Event Racing Series will be this coming Friday, July 4 at Midvale OH Speedway.  The Carter Lumber 100 will be joined by Pure Stocks, Compacts, and Figure 8’s.  The rain date for the event is Saturday, July 5.
            Pit gates open at 1:00, hotlaps at 2:30, qualifying at 4:30, and racing will begin at 6:30.  Grandstand admission is $15 for adults and seniors, $8 for kids 6-15, and free for children five and under.  Pit admission is $25 for members and $30 for non-members.
            For more information, visit the websites www.maineventracingseries.com or www.midvalespeedway.com.

Main Event Racing Series
            Top Qualifier – Jimmy Carter 13.93
            Lap Leaders – John Crumrine 1-3, Jared Allison 4-19, Don Harvey, Jr. 20-60, Harold Fair, Jr. 61-81, Don Harvey, Jr. 82-100
            Carter Lumber 100 – Don Harvey, Jr., Gary Whipkey, Jimmy Carter, Glenn Gault, Jr., Doug Sommers, Johnny Jenkins, John Flynn, John Sandquist, Joel McKnight, Dennis Strickland, Chris Benson, Don Mahaffey, Jr., Burgess White, Harold Fair, Jr., Rich Rohrer, Tom Stankiewicz, Jared Allison, John Crumrine

Ambrose Takes Barberton Main Event Win
By Adam Mackey

            Leg #3 of the Main Event Racing Series was held this past Friday, June 20, at Barberton OH Speedway.  The tight ¼ mile oval was the home of 20 Super Late Model drivers who were set to compete in the Carter Lumber 75.
            In qualifying, Akron, Ohio driver John Crumrine set fast time.  Moments later, the Akron, Ohio veteran drew the “8” pill, putting eighth fast qualifier John Ambrose on the pole.  Ambrose, a longtime campaigner at the track, was wicked fast in practice and was most people’s pick to win the event.
            At the drop of the green, Ambrose pulled into the lead, while Mike Miller settled into second.  For much of the race, Miller led a train of cars, while Ambrose led comfortably.
            The race was clean and pretty much uneventful as the first 22 laps went caution free and the rest of the event saw just a couple of more yellows.
            Coming under the checkered, Ambrose claimed his first career Main Event Racing Series victory.  Following the Akron, Ohio driver in his American Thunder/Baker Performance #24 were Miller, Jimmy Carter, Doug Sommers, and Gary Whipkey.  The rest of the top ten were Don Harvey, Jr., Rich Rohrer, John Crumrine, Bob Gainer, and John Flynn.
            The Main Event Racing Series will next be in action this coming Saturday, June 28 at Lake Erie Speedway in Erie, PA. 

Main Event Racing Series
            Top Qualifier – John Crumrine
            Lap Leader – John Ambrose 1-75
            Carter Lumber 75 – John Ambrose, Mike Miller, Jimmy Carter, Doug Sommers, Gary Whipkey, Don Harvey, Jr., Rich Rohrer, John Crumrine, Bob Gainer, John Flynn, Dino Long, Burgess White, Tim Ice, Don Mahaffey, Jr., Rick Sibila, Tom Stankiewicz, Larry Baldwin, Joel McKnight, John Sandquist

Whipkey Claims MERS Carter Lumber 100 lapper
by Jerry Wahl

Xenia, OH. (6) - The weather may have been extra hot at Kil-Kare Speedway Friday but also was the action on the track as the Carter Lumber sponsored super late model Main Event Racing Series (MERS) made their annual stop.
 The main attraction of the night was the Carter Lumber MERS 100 lap feature with twenty two cars lined up for the century grind. After announcer Adam Mackey introduced the drivers John Jenkins and Paul Pelletier led the field to the green. As the green unfoiled the two ran side by side with Jenkins finally taking the lead only to see the caution come out as Doug Sommers and track record holder Chad Poole tangled on turn two with Poole Sommers both eliminated. Holding down second was Pelletier with Kyle Jones third, Gary Whipkey fourth and Don Mahaffey fifth when action resumed.
Jenkins brought the field to the green for the restart  but it was shirt lived as again the yellow flew when John Stroble spun on turn two. Again the green waved on Jenkins with two laps in the record book Jenkins continued to lead as Kyle Jones took over second only to drop out with mechanical woes. Third place running Gary Whipkey was sizing up second place Pelletier as he closed in on him as they began lapping traffic by lap twenty-two. Jenkins continued to lead but the next two were chasing him down, moving closer and closer each lap.
            Meanwhile fast timer Dick Dunlevy who started eighth had his hands full trying to pass fifth place running Don Mahaffey with Mike Stacy right behind. Lap forty five saw a change in command as Pelletier slipped by Jenkins coming out of turn four to take the lead with Whipkey right behind and Jenkins running third.  But wait, here comes Dunlevy, taking fourth spot on lap sixty and then third on lap sixty-two. With a half a lap between the leaders and Dunlevy, Dunlevy had his work cut out as he slowly advanced toward the leading Pelletier and Whipkey.
            Lap seventy put an end to former leader Jenkins night as he smacked the turn four wall hard to end his night after an earlier excellent running night. This was definitely a break veteran driver Dunlevy needed as it bunched up the field. With thirty laps to go the stage was set for a terrific showdown but two laps later sixth place running Mike Stacy was eliminated with a spin on turn one after a battle with Rich Rohrer.
            With seventy-two laps complete the top five was Pelletier, Whipkey, Dunlevy, Don Harvey, and Mahaffey. Whipkey slid around for the lead on lap seventy-seven as Harvey took over second with Dunley third. Lap eighty-three saw the caution fly gain as Rich Rohrer and Don Mahaffey bumped with Rohrer spinning. Rohrer retained his sixth place spot  as Mahaffey darted into the pits to change a tire, restarting on the tail. Whipkey continued to lead but Harvey was all over his rear bumper but Whipkey was able to put a little distance over Harvey. the real battle was behind third place running Dunlevy with Pelletier, Tim Ice, and Rohrer battling for spots. Whipkey in the Carter Lumber sponsored machine claimed the win and the $2,500 first place money with Harvey closing in on him at the checker for second. Dunlevy held on for third in a close finish with Pelletier fourth and Tim Ice fifth.
            The Main Event Racing Series will next race at Barberton Speedway on Friday, June 20th.  For more information check out the website at www.maineventracingseries.com.

Main Event Racing Series
    Fast time - Dick Dunlevy 12.805
    Carter Lumber 100 lap feature - Gary Whipkey, Don Harvey, Dick Dunlevy, Paul Pelletier, Tim Ice, Rich Rohrer, Don Mahaffey, Jimmy Carter, Bill Burba, Joel McKnight, Mike Stacy, John Jenkins, Chris Benson, John Flynn, Dino Long, Burgess White, Kyle Jones, Bill Cantley, John Stroble, John Sandquist, Doug Sommers, Chad Poole

Sommers Claims First Career MERS Victory
By Adam Mackey 

        MIDVALE, OH - This past Saturday, May 24th, Midvale Speedway officials welcomed the Main Event Racing Series Super Late Model tour to the 3/10-mile track. 20 outlaw bodied cars were pitside for the night’s events, while Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, Compacts, and Figure 8’s were also in competition.
        Qualifying for the Main Event cars had Doylestown, Ohio driver Gary Whipkey, the series’ best qualifier, set fast time with a 13.68. Whipkey just barely edged Ryan Tedesco (13.69) and Don Harvey, Jr. (13.70), while Jimmy Carter (13.81) and Dino Long (13.92) rounded out the top five.
        Whipkey drew the “8” pill, putting Doug Sommers and Bear Schwartz on the front row. With the green in the air, Sommers raced out front, while Schwartz was able to sneak in line in front of Mike Miller. Sommers immediately checked out on the rest of the field, while Rich Rohrer and Ryan Tedesco worked hard trying to use the outside lane. Rohrer, trying to recover from a first lap pit stop, and Tedesco found the outside lane tough to maneuver on this night. In fact, Tedesco would spin while fighting in the outside groove. All of this turned out to be good news for Sommers, who looked to have the field covered. As the laps wore down, it was easy to see that only mechanical failure would cost Sommers his first Main Event victory. Though just a few cautions bunched the field in a very clean race, Sommers each time had no challenge from Schwartz or Dino Long who later took second. At the finish, the Doylestown, Ohio driver claimed the Terry and Allison Colletti sponsored trophy, while Long, Don Harvey, Jr., Jimmy Carter, and Gary Whipkey completed the top five. Also finishing behind the Nemeth Performance/Carpenter's Asphalt Sealer #3 were Rohrer, Tedesco, Tim Ice, Miller, and Joel McKnight. The Main Event Racing Series will next see action at Kil-Kare Speedway on Friday, June 6.

Main Event Racing Series
    Top Qualifier – Gary Whipkey 13.68
    Lap Leader - Doug Sommers 1-75
    Carter Lumber 75 – Doug Sommers, Dino Long, Don Harvey, Jr., Jimmy Carter, Gary Whipkey, Rich Rohrer, Ryan Tedesco, Tim Ice, Mike Miller, Joel McKnight, Burgess White, John Sandquist, Bob Gainer, Bear Schwartz, Tom Stankiewicz, Don Mahaffey, Jr., Rick Sibila, John Flynn

2007  Main Event Racing Series
Race Results

Rohrer Claims Main Event Opener At Midvale
By Adam Mackey

            Midvale Speedway was again home to 100+ cars this past Saturday, May 26.  Joining the Main Event Racing Series for their season opener were Sport Stock, Pure Stock, and Compact competitors.   Despite rain showers throughout the state of Ohio and rain before qualifying at the track, officials decided to go forward with the night’s program.  Some entertaining action ensued as Midvale Speedway continues to look for its first repeat winner in the weekly divisions.
            The main attraction of the evening was the 75-lap Main Event season opener presented by Miller Lite.  In qualifying, Barberton, Ohio driver Don Harvey, Jr. set fast time with a 13.70.  Gary Whipkey was second fast, Mike Miller third, Tim Ice fourth, Ryan Tedesco fifth, and Rich Rohrer sixth.  After the session, Harvey pulled the six pill which put the Main Event all-time leading winner, Rich Rohrer, on the pole for the feature event.
            As soon as the green dropped, Rohrer shot into the lead with a rocket start.  Tedesco dropped in line and took a look to the inside in one and two during the first lap.  In fact, Tedesco followed closely for a handful of laps before Rohrer was able to put some distance between himself and the race’s runner-up.
            Drivers were clean and smooth during the first 20 laps, as the early stages went caution free.  During those circuits, Rohrer and Tedesco, undoubtedly two of Midvale’s best drivers, were breaking away from the field while working through heavy traffic.
            As the race approached the mid-stage, it was clear to see that, barring any problems, the race would come down to one of the top two.  It was most notably the case when the race was closing in on the latter stages and Rohrer was approaching Ice, Whipkey, Harvey, and Miller while they were running third through sixth.  Without a caution, Rohrer and Tedesco may have been the only two on the lead lap.
            Nonetheless, a couple of late race cautions bunched the field up only to see Rohrer finish strong with Tedesco, Whipkey, Miller, Harvey, and Ice following him to the line on the lead lap.  Also finishing in the top ten behind the Miller Genuine Draft/Esber Beverage #7 were Dino Long, Bobby Parsley, A.P. Ren, and Bear Schwartz.
            The race saw just five caution flags for spins.  Four were by drivers fighting some handling problems, while the most important yellow came out late in the race for a Harvey/Ice spin.  Harvey had finally got a run to the inside of the ill-handling car, but a battle for real estate in turn three brought out one of the final yellows.  All drivers were able to take their cars home relatively unscathed as they prepare for this coming Friday’s event at Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, Ohio.

Main Event Racing Series
            Top Qualifier - Don Harvey, Jr. 13.70
            Lap Leaders - Rich Rohrer 1-75
            Feature - Rich Rohrer, Ryan Tedesco, Gary Whipkey, Mike Miller, Don Harvey, Jr., Tim Ice, Dino Long, Bobby Parsley, A.P. Ren, Bear Schwartz, Dean Fusco, John Flynn, Gene Molnar, Bob Gainer, Burgess White, Don Mahaffey, Jr., Bob Kieran, Bill Burba

2006  Main Event Racing Series
Race Results

Crumrine Claims Second Career MERS Victory At Lake Erie
By Adam Mackey

            Leg #5 of the 2006 Main Event Racing Series season was held this past Friday night, July 28 at Lake Erie Speedway.  Many of the series’ regulars made the trip to compete at the beautiful facility.
            In qualifying, Doylestown, Ohio’s Gary Whipkey, who came into the event as the point leader, led all drivers with a 14.33.  Jimmy Carter, Scott Baker, John Crumrine, and Rich Rohrer completed the top five.  Tim Ice qualified for the sixth spot and he and Rohrer started up front for the Carter Lumber 100.
            As the green dropped, Rohrer used the outside lane to race into the lead off of the second turn.  Over the first handful of laps, Rohrer pulled several car lengths ahead of his fellow veteran competitor.  Around lap seven, though, Ice had closed the gap and was glued to the leader’s rear bumper.  It lasted only for a lap or so, as Rohrer again pulled away.
            The first caution didn’t wave until lap 32 when Whipkey and Carter made some contact while racing for positions in the top five.  Carter spun and was not able to continue.
            Back to green, Rohrer immediately continued his assault on the slower cars.  During this 40 lap green flag run, Rohrer was able to lap all but the top six cars at least one time, while putting a straightaway lead on the second place car.
            After a lap 72 restart, Rohrer looked like he would again run away from the rest of the pack.  However, after a few green flag circuits, it was easy to see that something was going awry on the Miller Genuine Draft #7.  Right before a lap 80 caution, Ice had caught Rohrer and as he checked up, Crumrine and he made contact as Crumrine scooted by for second.  Ice made a nice save to keep his car from hitting the turn two wall.
            Rohrer elected to stay out and try again on the restart.  When the green dropped, he immediately slid to the outside lane and the field raced by.  The yellow waved, Rohrer went to the pits to change the right rear tire, and joined the field at the tail.
            That handed the lead to Crumrine, who was able to pull away from Whipkey and Ice.  Meanwhile, Rohrer was dicing through the field.  After a lap 89 restart, Rohrer lined up behind Dean Fusco and Baker.  Rohrer passed Baker on the outside and Fusco on the inside before running out of time at the finish.
            It was the second career MERS victory for the Automotive Electric/Import Auto Care #44 of Crumrine.  The Akron, Ohio driver was strong over the final 20 circuits and was never challenged for the lead.  Whipkey, Ice, Rohrer, and Fusco completed the top five.  The final car on the lead lap was Baker and he was followed by Jake Francis, Mike Holland, Cord Ehrhart, and Joe Taylor.
            The next event for the Main Event Racing Series will be at Midvale OH Speedway on Saturday, August 12.  It will be the running of the Carter Lumber 75.  Rohrer was the winner of the first event at Midvale on July 3.

Main Event Racing Series
            Burko Trucking Fast Time – Gary Whipkey 14.33
            Western Reserve Asphalt Hard Charger – Mayo Spence
            Race Leaders – Rich Rohrer, John Crumrine
            MERS 100 – John Crumrine, Gary Whipkey, Tim Ice, Rich Rohrer, Dean Fusco, Scott Baker, Jake Francis, Mike Holland, Cord Ehrhart, Joe Taylor, Mayo Spence, Doug Sommers, John Sandquist, Burgess White, Ryan Tedesco, Norm Taylor, Bear Schwartz, Jimmy Carter

Felver Dominates At Owosso
By Owosso PR

    The Main Event outlaw super late model stars from Ohio invaded Owosso Speedway and thrilled the racing enthusiasts that packed the stands for the 100-lap North Vs South shootout. Ten of the top eleven drivers in the series made the trek to the 3/8ths mile high-banked oval to square off with some of Michigan’s best super late model talent. Twenty-five drivers qualified and started the feature event that paid $2500 to win.
    The threat of a sudden rainstorm cut driver introductions short as track officials hurried to get the race underway. The race was delayed three times and the racers were stopped with a red flag twice as a light rain fell. Owosso point’s leader Jon McNett took the lead from Tim Ice on lap #1 and paced the race for the first 44 times around the circuit. The Iceman ran a close second on the bottom side of the track while Claude Plante Jr, Norm Davis and Mike Luberda Jr battled for third.
    Back in the field, John Doering Jr, John Grega and Tim Felver were patiently making their way to the front and increasing the pressure on the leaders. On lap #45 Tim Felver made the pass on McNett using the bottom of the track to take the lead and John Grega got around the Iceman for third place. John Doering Jr had worked his way to sixth place and Jason Felver who started eleventh was now in the seventh spot.
    By lap #60 “Stormin” Norman Davis had left the track for a mechanical problem but was able to return and tag onto the rear of the field. He would make a great run from the back to finish 9th and pass 11 more good cars in the process.
    The race went green for the final 27 laps and Tim Felver had his hands full as he raced through lapped traffic and held off a charging John Grega on the final lap. Felver won his third Main Event Series race at Owosso in his last four tries. The Owosso native is the 2002 points champion in the prestigious Main Event Series and has now won the last 3 Super Late Model races at Owosso. Grega finished 2nd, McNett finished 3rd, Doering finished 4th, Tim Ice finished 5th, Claude Plante Jr finished 6th, Jason Felver was 7th, Dan Krzywosinski was 8th, Norm Davis 9th and MERS point’s leader Gary Whipkey 10th.

Main Event Racing Series
    Burko Trucking Fast Qualifier - Tim Felver
    Lap Leaders - Jon McNett, Tim Felver
    Western Reserve Asphalt Hard Charger - Tim Felver
    Owosso 100 - Tim Felver, John Grega, Jon McNett, John Doering, Tim Ice, Claude Plante, Jason Felver, Dan Krzywosinski, Norm Davis, Gary Whipkey, Jimmy Carter, Scott Baker, Scott McLaughlin, Doug Sommers, Dean Fusco, Joe Taylor, Doug Finley, Burgess White, Ron Shamel, Jr., Scott Pemberton, Mark Kortz, Rich Rohrer, Mike Luberda, Jr., Jeff Capaldi, Bobby Grubaugh

Rohrer Claims Downtown Ford 100 Win
By Adam Mackey

            The odds were against any racing taking place for the July 3 special at Midvale Speedway.  A rain delay pushed practice back by about an hour and another long rain delay halted the action during qualifying and about an hour before racing was to take place.  However, with a great field of 27 Super Late Models in the pit area for the Main Event Racing Series, officials decided to push through and complete the night’s racing action.  A big thanks also goes out to the many drivers who helped with the track drying process.
            After the three weekly Midvale divisions completed qualifying, rain fell during Main Event time trials.  With about 10 drivers qualified, it was decided to halt the session and allow them to qualify after the three Compact features were run.
            That brought up the Main Event cars for their qualifying session.  Gary Whipkey, driving the Carter Lumber/Lenny’s Collision #59 was the favorite to set fast time and he lived up to those expectations in the evening qualifying run.  Whipkey set fast time in the 13.8 second bracket.  He then drew the number six pill which put sixth fastest qualifier, Rich Rohrer, on the pole for the Downtown Ford 100.
            As the cars took the green under lightning filled skies, veteran campaigner Rich Rohrer raced into the lead.  However, a spin on the first lap by first time Super Late Model racer Jake Francis brought out the caution.
            On the complete restart, Rohrer again led the field at the first lap as John Crumrine dropped into second.  Over the first 20 laps, Crumrine was a challenge for Rohrer at times, especially on restarts.  Several cautions plagued the early laps of the race, mostly caused by spins of drivers deep in the field.
            Over the first half of the race, one of Rohrer’s biggest challenges came from the numerous lapped cars that he would catch so quickly.  With a field of 26 cars taking the green, only a couple of laps into a run would have Rohrer catching the tail end of the field.  Rohrer did have a couple of close calls with drivers in front of him, but each time he was able to avoid any damage.
            Late in the race, second place competitor John Crumrine had an oil leak that unfortunately sent him pitside.  That handed second to Don Harvey, Jr.  Harvey had a couple of chances to close in on restarts, but each time Rohrer pulled away into the distance.
            As the race went on, Rohrer’s car seemed to get stronger and stronger.  With 11 circuits left, the final caution of the race was waved to bunch up the field for one last time.  However, the Canton, Ohio driver again stretched his lead and crossed the stripe as the winner of the Downtown Ford 100.  Following the Miller Genuine Draft/Esber Beverage #7 was Barberton, Ohio’s Don Harvey, Jr.  The two drivers are also semi-regulars in the Late Model class at the track and also were instrumental in the track drying process by running lap-after-lap on the wet surface.  The finishes were much deserved.
            Scott Baker, Gary Whipkey, and Mike Miller were top five finishers, while Doug Sommers, Jimmy Carter, Bear Schwartz, John Sandquist, and Dean Fusco completed the top ten.
            The next event for the Main Event Racing Series will be held at the Barberton Speedway on Friday, July 14.  An extra practice session will be on Wednesday, August 12 from 3-7.

Main Event Racing Series
    Burko Trucking Fast Qualifier – Gary Whipkey
    Lap Leaders - Rich Rohrer 1-100
    Western Reserve Asphalt Hard Charger - Burgess White
    Downtown Ford 100 – Rich Rohrer, Don Harvey, Jr., Scott Baker, Gary Whipkey, Mike Miller, Doug Sommers, Jimmy Carter, Bear Schwartz, John Sandquist, Dean Fusco, Andy Carroll, Joe Taylor, Jake Francis, Burgess White, Steve Mowery, Joel McKnight, John Crumrine, A.P. Ren, Gene Molnar, Tim Ice, Mark Willison, Bobby Grubaugh, Mayo Spence, Roger Linard, Paul Pelletier, Chad Poole

Stacy Edges Ice In First Career MERS Victory
By Adam Mackey

    A nice field of 20-Super Late Model drivers were pitside for leg #2 at Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, OH.  It marks the series' first appearance at Kil-Kare since the 2000 season when John Vallo was victorious.  At the checkered, one of the most exciting finishes in MERS history took place in front of a sizable crowd.
    In evening qualifications, Springfield, Ohio driver Chad Poole, a regular at Kil-Kare Speedway, used his experience and knowledge of the place to set fast time with a new track record of 12.658.  The previous track record was set by Rich Rohrer in 2000 with a 13.196.  Gary Whipkey was second quick with a 12.692, Tim Ice had a 12.782, Dick Dunlevy, Jr. a 12.797, and Mike Stacy rounded out the top five with a 12.818.  Chad Poole drew a #6 pill which put sixth fastest qualifier, Rich Rohrer on the pole.
    As the green dropped on the opening start, Stacy and Rohrer raced to turn one with Stacy getting the advantage.  However, a spin by Joe Taylor brought out the caution and lined the field up for a complete restart.  On the second try, Rohrer had a better start and was to the inside of Stacy entering one.  With Stacy trying to get to the preferred lane, the duo made contact and Rohrer's car shot to the outside retaining wall with driver side impact.  To compound the problem, Doylestown, Ohio driver was a victim of circumstance and slammed into the driver side door of Rohrer's #7.  Sommers climbed from his badly damaged racecar soon after the accident, while Rohrer took a few moments to shake off some hurt and catch his breath.
    The third restart was a go.  Stacy raced into the lead via his pole starting position, while Dick Dunlevy settled into second.  During the early green flag runs, Dunlevy twice challenged Stacy by looking to the outside lane, but never found the run needed to get by.  Later, Tim Ice moved into the second spot, as Dunlevy's car turned sideways in the fourth turn.
    Over the final 30 laps, Stacy tightly kept his car along the bottom of the racetrack to keep Ice at bay.  Ice closed right to the rear bumper with two laps to go and as the white flag waved, the three-time MERS point champion darted to the outside to give it one last effort.  Amazingly, Ice's car stuck in the outside lane and pulled alongside on the backstretch.  With only two turns to go, it looked as though Ice was going to pull of the miraculous last lap effort.  As the duo crossed the line, though, Stacy's #6 racer edged Ice by one-tenth of a second in one of the closest Main Event finishes ever.  Following the Pro Comp Custom Engines/Al Reeves Racing entry were Ice, Dunlevy, Gary Whipkey, and Gary Estes.  Don Harvey, Jr., Dean Fusco, Jimmy Carter, Paul Pelletier, and Norm Taylor completed the top ten.
    For Stacy, it was his first career MERS victory.  He was filling in for Scott Baker who had a previous driving opportunity in the ASA Late Model event at Lake Erie Speedway.  Stacy got a call at 10:00 Friday morning letting him know that he had a ride for the Carter Lumber 100.  Ice was driving the Medina Mountain Motors/Ice Oil Company #44, as his #65 racer was not ready after mechanical problems at Lorain in the season opener.
    The next event on the schedule is the Downtown Ford 100 presented by Miller Lite at Midvale Speedway on Monday, July 3.  The pits open at 3:00, hotlaps for the Main Event Racing Series will run from 4:30-5:00 and 5:30-6:00.  MERS qualifying will be at 6:30, while racing action will begin at 8:00.  Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts will also be in action.

Main Event Racing Series
    Burko Trucking Fast Qualifier - Chad Poole 12.658
    Lap Leaders - Mike Stacy 1-100
    Western Reserve Asphalt Hard Charger - Joel McKnight
    MERS 100 - Mike Stacy, Tim Ice, Dick Dunlevy, Gary Whipkey, Gary Estes, Don Harvey, Jr., Dean Fusco, Jimmy Carter, Paul Pelletier, Norm Taylor, Joel McKnight, Cord Ehrhart, Bill Burba, Joe Taylor, Burgess White, Chris Benson, Chad Poole, John Crumrine, Rich Rohrer, Doug Sommers

Whipkey Starts 2006-Season Strong With Lorain Win
By Bob Stascak

    The Memorial Day "Monday Funday" has become a tradition at Lorain Speedway. The other tradition that has started at Lorain Speedway this season has been that the touring divisions start their tours here, such as the Enerco / Mr. Heater Midwest Supermodified Association. The Main Event Racing Series featuring the Super Late Models haven't been seen here in over five years. With a drivers roster that read like a who's who in Super Late Models, the anticipation was running high for today's series opening event. When the checkered flag waved at the finish of todays "Carter Lumber 100" a familiar name was in the winners circle, that of Gary Whipkey.
    Dean Fusco and John Cline (driving the # 7 of vacationing Rich Rohrer)  brought the 21 car field to the green. The yellow was out on lap 1 for the spin of Jim Bailey. On the re-start John Cline led the way with Scott Baker, John Sandquist, John Crumrine and Tim Ice making up the top five. Bear Schwartz went up in a cloud of smoke on lap 31 bringing out the yellow. When the field went green, Scott Baker who was running second broke and came to a stop on the front straight bringing out another yellow. On the re-start it was Cline, Sandquist, Crumrine, Whipkey and Ice. Sandquist pressured Cline but couldn't get past the leader. Andy Carroll and Dean Fusco brought out the yellow for their spin in turn 3 on lap 41. John Cline would begin to put distance between himself and the rest of the field on this re-start. John Sandquist who was second was passed by Gary Whipkey and John Crumrine.The 90 degree heat was taking it's toll on the cars as Tim Ice lost power and was pushed into the pit area and Bobby Grubaugh limped into the pits in the latter stages of the race. Cline and Whipkey pulled away from Crumrine and were getting into the back markers. With Cline on the inside, Dean Fusco in the middle and Gary Whipkey in the outside groove, Cline bumped Fusco who tapped Whipkey bringing out the yellow on lap 88. Cline continued to lead and it looked as if he would lead the entire race but on lap 96 John Cline retired to the pit area with transmission problems. Gary Whipkey was now the new race leader with 4 laps to go and he went unchallenged to the checkered flag.  Following the Carter Lumber/Lenny's Collision #59 were Crumrine, Harvey, Jimmy Carter, and Ryan Tedesco.
    The Main Event Racing Series will now travel to Xenia, Ohio for Leg #2 at Kil-Kare Speedway.  The event will be held on Friday, June 9.  Racing starts at 8:00 P.M.

Main Event Racing Series
    Burko Trucking Fast Qualifier - Gary Whipkey 14.155
    Lap Leaders - John Cline 1-96, Gary Whipkey 97-100
    Western Reserve Asphalt Hard Charger - Joe Taylor
    MERS 100 - Gary Whipkey, John Crumrine, Don Harvey, Jr., Jimmy Carter, Ryan Tedesco, Nick Gullatta, Doug Sommers, Dean Fusco, Joe Taylor, John Cline, John Sandquist, Sr., Norm Taylor, Bobby Grubaugh, Tim Ice, Andy Carroll, Scott Baker, Bear Schwartz, Cord Ehrhart, Joel McKnight, Mark Willison, Jim Bailey

2005  Main Event Racing Series
Race Results

Anderson Claims Main Event XVIII
By Adam Mackey

            For the second year in-a-row, beautiful weather allowed for a large number of cars and a nice crowd at the season ending Main Event XVIII at Columbus Motor Speedway.  Super Late Models were on hand competing for the $8,000 top prize, while Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Compacts were also on the card.
            Saturday afternoon action saw hotlaps and qualifying for the 160 drivers on hand.          In Super Late Model action, Seville, Ohio driver Tim Ice set the Burko Trucking/Sunoco Race Fuel fast time with a 13.318.  Ice, driving the Fast Racing Engines/Howe Racing Enterprises #65, was followed in the time trial session by Tim Felver 13.336, Scott Hantz 13.382, Fred Campbell 13.404, and Lee Anderson 13.405.  The rest of the top ten were Robbie Pyle, David McManus, John Grega, Gary Whipkey, and Rick Sexton.  All were locked into the 100.
            Modified qualifying had the JVM Enterprises/Sizzle Marine #6 of Mike Stacy setting the Burko Trucking/Sunoco Race Fuels fast time at a 14.538.  The Enon, Ohio driver beat Doug Meyer 14.607, Terry Humphrey 14.609, Kyle Jones 14.686, and Shawn Stroble 14.694.  Shawn Gray, Chad Pendleton, and Stacey Gerken were the other drivers locked into the feature field.
            Columbus, Ohio driver James Harding set the Main Event Racing Video/ridgewayphotos.com fast time at a 15.625.  Other drivers locked in through qualifying were Joe Linard 15.634, Kevin McClintock 15.708, Steve Carnes 15.834, Bubba Parsons 15.849, John Smith 15.904, and Matthew Parsons 15.946.
            The final division to take to the track to qualify was the Compact four cylinders.  Holt, Michigan driver Jimmy Scavarda blistered the track with a 17.594, while Ron McMannis, Brian Passick II, Ryan Erskine, and Jamie Sites completed the top five.  The rest of the top eight were Russ Potter, Tom Barrett, and John McNutt.
            At 7:00 Saturday, races were lined up and ready to go.  Three qualifying heats were held in each division, while a fast eight race was held in each of the support classes.
            The first class of the night was the Street Stocks for their 10 lap races.  Event one was held for the fast eight qualifiers to determine their starting spots for Sunday’s 25-lapper.  Matthew Parsons started up front and held on for the victory giving him the pole for the feature event.  He was followed by John Smith, Bubba Parsons, Joe Linard, and Steve Carnes.
            Mark Frabott picked up the win in the first heat, while David James, Beau Davis, and Don Townsend, Jr. also transferred into the main event.  The second heat had Josh Grove, Dan Griest, Joe Hensel, and Donald Parsons as the transfer cars.  In the third Street Stock heat, Nick Grubbs took the victory, while Phil Gussler, Ed Lorents, and Roger Butler made it into the A-Main.
            Next out were the Modifieds for their 12-lappers.  In the fast dash race, Chad Pendleton started from the outside pole and earned the pole position for the feature by way of his win.  Stacey Gerken finished second, Shawn Gray third, Kyle Jones fourth, and Doug Meyer fifth.
            In heat race action, the top four out of each race transferred into Sunday’s 30-lapper.  Dave Watson won the first heat, while Lou Bando, Stan Perry, and Ralph Herrod were other transfers.  Chuck Silva claimed the second heat race win and Jerry Stapleton, Glen Jewell, and Rick Sibila rounded out the top four.  Transfers out of the third heat were winner Chris Lawson, Greg Stapleton, Bobby Heyink, and Jason Mahaffey.
            Super Late Model heat action was fast and furious, as expected, on Saturday night.  In the first of three races, Lorain Speedway champion Jimmy Carter picked up the victory.  Ryan Tedesco followed him to also transfer.  One-time Main Event winner, Joe Bush claimed the second heat win and was followed by Tim Curry.  Donnie Renner and Scott Baker finished first and second in the third heat to make the A-Main.
            Saturday’s program was finished off by the 4-Cylinder Compacts.  Ryan Erskine beat the strong field in the fast dash to claim the feature pole position.  John McNutt, Jimmy Scavarda, Ron McMannis, and Russ Potter were the other top finishers.
            Drivers in heats making the 25-lap main were Troy McMath, Dan Longenette, Dennis Collier, and Bob Thompson in the first heat, Terry Colletti, Gordon Watson, Jr., David Rhodes, and Tasha Cantley in the second heat, and Jake Rothgeb, Chris Grubbs, Randall Walton, and Ray Pemberton in the third heat.
            After a clean and exciting Saturday night, many top drivers were still trying to find their way into a feature race during Sunday’s last chance race events.
            In the 15-lap Modified last chance race, Donnie Matteson, Jr. claimed the victory, while David Barnhart, Eric Withers, Kim Dill, Curt Dinsmoor, and Herb Newman also transferred. 
            The top 6 in the Super Late Model last chance were Dick Dunlevy, Jr., Terry Van Haitsma, Robbie Dean, Mike Holland, Doug King, and Norm Taylor. 
            Jessica Cyrus won the Street Stock last chance, while Jimmy Orr, Jeff Marsh, Eric Scott, Roger Gillispie, and Mike Litchfield were other transfer drivers.
            The final last chance of the afternoon was the Compact 15-lapper.  Tad Grove claimed the victory and was followed into the feature by Mason Patrick, Sean Wilson, Don Rufener, Jr., Billy Ebsch, Earl Scranton, Tony Raleigh, and Gary Smallwood.
            Up first in feature action was the 30-lap Modified main event.  Chad Pendleton and Stacey Gerken started side-by-side in the front row after their first and second place finishes on Saturday night.  On the first circuit of the race, Pendleton’s car pushed high in turn three, the two touched, and both spun.  That would create a complete restart.  Unfortunately for Pendleton, though, the driveshaft in the car was broken and his afternoon came to an end.
            When the green again dropped, Gerken controlled the lead in his Perfection Fabricators, Custom Chrome Plating #2.  The driver from LaGrange, Ohio wasn’t being seriously challenged when he caught lapped traffic.  In front of him, Glen Jewell and Kim Dill got together racing for position, eventually sending the leader’s car hard into the turn three wall.  That handed the lead to Columbus, Ohio driver Terry Humphrey, who had made a strong run from his sixth starting spot in the early laps.
            As the laps wore down, Humphrey controlled the top spot, while Kyle Jones, Mike Stacy, Doug Meyer, and Shawn Gray ran second through fifth.  At the checkered, that was the top five.  Also following the Humphrey’s Engine Service/1 Racing #1 of Humphrey in the top ten were Dave Watson, Shawn Stroble, Chuck Silva, Chris Lawson, and Rick Sibila.
            The second race of the day was the one many fans had been waiting for…Main Event XVIII presented by Carter Lumber and Bazell Oil.  By way of a six car inversion, Robbie Pyle started on the pole in the Sceva Racing #51.  Lee Anderson started outside pole followed by Fred Campbell, Scott Hantz, Tim Felver, and fastest qualifier Tim Ice.
            When flagman Chuck Barrett waved the green, Lee Anderson shot into the lead via the outside lane.  As the cars crossed the stripe to complete the first lap, one-time Main Event winner Rick Sexton spun in turn one to bring out the race’s first caution.
            Once back to green, Anderson controlled the point under a relatively long green flag period that took the race close to the lap #20 stage.  Pyle fell several car lengths back trying to fend off challenges from Fred Campbell.  Right before the next caution was waved, Pyle had closed back in on the leader, as Anderson was working lapped traffic.
            In the second quarter of the race, Anderson continued his domination out front, while third fast qualifier Scott Hantz struggled with his car’s handle before going pitside during a caution for some changes.
            Another driver that experienced problems early on was Ice.  The veteran driver had a mechanical issue that caused spillage all over the first turn and ended his afternoon while running in the top five.
            Anderson continued to lead, claiming the Western Reserve Asphalt ½ Way Leader award.  Each and every lap claiming the $20 lap money, Anderson’s day was setting up to be a big one.  With Campbell taking second from Pyle and Felver moving into third, racing in the top five was exciting in Anderson’s mirror.  During the race’s second half, Felver worked diligently to get around Campbell for second.  However, his runs went for naught as Campbell was racing hard to hang onto second.
            In the latter stages of the race, the three quickest cars on the track were those of Anderson, Felver, and Ross Meeuwson.  Meeuwson had a rough weekend and was the only driver out of eight that had won a Main Event not locked into the show.  By way of a last minute champion provisional, Meeuwson started 27^th in the starting grid and rode patiently until the last 20 laps.  He made several daring moves to race solidly into the top ten.
            In the final circuits, many hoped that Felver could work around Campbell to challenge Anderson, but the Grand Rapids, Michigan driver had to fend off no one, as his Hudsonville Ice Cream/TA Gentry Supply/Crown Motors #18 was strong.  The 2005-Kalamazoo Klash winner backed up that win with another, Main Event XVIII.  As the car crossed the stripe, something let go in the motor, but victory was already in Anderson’s hands.
            Campbell, Felver, Pyle, and John Grega completed the top five.  The rest of the top ten were Joe Bush, David McManus, Meeuwson, Terry Van Haitsma, and Jimmy Carter. 
            For Anderson, it was his first career Main Event Racing Series win and yet another first time winner of the season ending Main Event.  18 Main Events - 18 different winners.  Could next year be 19 for 19?
            Matthew Parsons and John Smith were the front row starters for the 25-lap Street Stock feature.  Parsons, a Columbus regular, moved out front with teammate Bubba Parsons in second.  In the early going, Joe Linard moved up to the third spot by way of the outside lane.  Linard looked like the man to beat.
            However, after a mid-race restart, Linard’s car did not seem as strong and the two Parsons’ set sail.  Settling into a single file order, the top five cars came across the stripe Matthew Parsons, Bubba Parsons, Joe Linard, Steve Carnes, and John Smith.  The rest of the top ten were Josh Grove, Nick Grubbs, James Harding, David James, and Don Townsend, Jr.  Parsons was driving the Walter’s IGA/Tice Towing/Fast Racing #25.
            The Compact feature was exciting as advertised.  With 50 4-cylinders on hand for the weekend, only the best 28 made the show.  Ryan Erskine, by way of an impressive fast dash win on Saturday, started on the pole alongside John McNutt for the 25-lap feature event.
            Erskine took control early, but top qualifier Jimmy Scavarda raced by a few circuits later.  Scavarda controlled the spot for many of the early laps, as the race went green for much of the grind.  On the move were the two #70’s, Ron McMannis and Gordon Watson, Jr.  Watson was extremely strong, as was McMannis.
            At the finish, Holt, Michigan driver Jimmy Scavarda in his H&H Construction/Merindorf Meats/Schafer’s Landscaping #72 was strong enough for victory.  In post race inspection, the #70 of Watson was deemed illegal for duel overhead cams.  The official top five finishers were Scavarda, Erskine, McNutt, McMannis, and Tom Barrett.  The rest of the top ten were Brian Passick II, Randall Walton, Terry Colletti, Russ Potter, and Mason Patrick.   
            All-in-all Main Event XVIII presented by Carter Lumber and Bazell Oil was a huge success.  Main Event officials want to thank everyone for attending the race festivities.  Also, congratulations to Bobby Parsley on his first career Main Event Racing Series championship.  For more information on 2006, stay posted at www.maineventracingseries.com.

Main Event Racing Series
            Burko Trucking/Sunoco Race Fuels Fast Qualifier – Tim Ice 13.318
            Heat #1 – Jimmy Carter, Ryan Tedesco, Don Whetnall, Terry Van Haitsma, John VanDoorn
            Heat #2 – Joe Bush, Tim Curry, Donnie Hill, Robbie Dean, Doug King
            Heat #3 – Donnie Renner, Scott Baker, Rich Rohrer, Mike Root, Dean Fusco
            Last Chance – Dick Dunlevy, Jr., Terry Van Haitsma, Robbie Dean, Mike Holland, Doug King
            George’s All American Grill Hard Charger – Ross Meeuwson
            Western Reserve Asphalt ½ Way Leader – Lee Anderson
            Main Event XVIII – Lee Anderson, Fred Campbell, Tim Felver, Robbie Pyle, John Grega, Joe Bush, David McManus, Ross Meeuwson, Terry Van Haitsma, Jimmy Carter, Ryan Tedesco, Robbie Dean, Rich Rohrer, Scott Hantz, Gary Whipkey, Mike Holland, Robbie Johnson, Scott Baker, Bobby Parsley, John Crumrine, Rick Sexton, Norm Taylor, Tim Curry, Doug King, Donnie Renner, Tim Ice, Dick Dunlevy, Jr.

Modifieds
            Burko Trucking/Sunoco Race Fuels Fast Qualifier – Mike Stacy 14.538
            Fast Dash – Chad Pendleton, Stacey Gerken, Shawn Gray, Kyle Jones, Doug Meyer
            Heat #1 – Dave Watson, Lou Bando, Stan Perry, Ralph Herrod, Scott Marino
            Heat #2 – Chuck Silva, Jerry Stapleton, Glen Jewell, Rick Sibila, David Barnhart
            Heat #3 – Chris Lawson, Greg Stapleton, Bobby Heyink, Jason Mahaffey, Herb Newman
            Last Chance – Donnie Matteson, Jr., David Barnhart, Eric Withers, Kim Dill, Curt Dinsmoor
            Feature – Terry Humphrey, Kyle Jones, Mike Stacy, Doug Meyer, Shawn Gray, Dave Watson, Shawn Stroble, Chuck Silva, Chris Lawson, Rick Sibila, Lou Bando, Bobby Heyink, Stan Perry, Donnie Matteson, Jr., Jason Mahaffey, David Barnhart, Eric Withers, Ralph Herrod, Kim Dill, Greg Stapleton, Glen Jewell, Herb Newman, Curt Dinsmoor, Jerry Stapleton, Stacey Gerken, Chad Pendleton

Street Stocks
            Mid-Vid Video/Ridgeway Photos Top Qualifier – James Harding 15.625
            Fast Dash – Matthew Parsons, John Smith, Bubba Parsons, Joe Linard, Steve Carnes
            Heat #1 – Mark Frabott, David James, Beau Davis, Don Townsend, Jr., Jimmy Orr
            Heat #2 – Josh Grove, Dan Griest, Joe Hensel, Donald Parsons, Jessica Cyrus
            Heat #3 – Nick Grubbs, Phil Gussler, Ed Lorents, Roger Butler, Jeff Marsh
            Last Chance – Jessica Cyrus, Jimmy Orr, Jeff Marsh, Eric Scott, Roger Gillispie
            Feature – Matthew Parsons, Bubba Parsons, Joe Linard, Steve Carnes, John Smith, Josh Grove, Nick Grubbs, James Harding, David James, Don Townsend, Jr., Ed Lorents, Jessica Cyrus, Jimmy Orr, Joe Hensel, Bruce Holmes, Beau Davis, Phil Gussler, Eric Scott, Kevin McClintock, Mark Frabott, Donald Parsons, Roger Gillispie, Dan Griest, Jeff Marsh, Mike Litchfield, Roger Butler

Compacts
            Main Event Video/Ridgeway Photos Top Qualifier – Jimmy Scavarda 17.594
            Fast Dash – Ryan Erskine, John McNutt, Jimmy Scavarda, Ron McMannis, Russ Potter
            Heat #1 – Troy McMath, Dan Longenette, Dennis Collier, Bob Thompson, Don Rufener, Jr.
            Heat #2 – Terry Colletti, Gordon Watson, Jr., David Rhodes, Tasha Cantley, Tad Grove
            Heat #3 – Jake Rothgeb, Chris Grubbs, Randall Walton, Ray Pemberton, Billy Ebsch
            Last Chance – Tad Grove, Mason Patrick, Don Rufener, Jr., Sean Wilson, Billy Ebsch
            Feature – Jimmy Scavarda, Ryan Erskine, John McNutt, Ron McMannis, Tom Barrett, Brian Passick II, Randall Walton, Terry Colletti, Russ Potter, Mason Patrick, Dennis Collier, Jake Rothgeb, Dan Longenette, Don Rufener, Jr., Troy McMath, Tad Grove, Chris Grubbs, Bob Thompson, Earl Scranton, Sean Wilson, Billy Ebsch, Tasha Cantley, Ray Pemberton, David Rhodes, Gary Smallwood, Tony Raleigh, Jamie Sites  DQ-Gordon Watson, Jr.

Bush Grabs 28^th Mudslinger 100 At Auto City
By Greg Yost

            A capacity crowd filled the grandstands to witness 24 of the best Super Late Models in the Midwest vie for the win in the 28th running of the “Mudslinger 100” sanctioned in 2005 by the Main Event Series for the first time.  John Grega led all qualifiers with a lap of 14:63 at the historic oval.  Hastings, Michigan’s Joe Bush led the field to the green and was never seriously challenged on his way to the victory, lapping all but the top 8 finishers.  Scott Hantz, John Doering Jr., David McManus, and John Grega rounded out the top 5. Johnny Belott, Lee Anderson and Steve Sauve were the last three cars on the lead lap.
            For Bush, it was his second career Main Event victory and his first since winning the 1996 Columbus Motor Speedway Main Event.  The win also snaps a streak of bad luck in Main Event races for the T.A. Gentry Supply/Hudsonville Ice Cream/Crown Motors race team, as both Bush and Lee Anderson have been in contention to win many events only to see mechanical failure or accidents end their chances.  Bush now sits only one point behind Anderson for third on the Main Event chart and seven points behind Gary Whipkey for second.

Main Event Racing Series
            Burko Trucking Fast Qualifier – John Grega 14.63
            Lap Leader – Joe Bush
            Western Reserve Asphalt ½ Way Leader – Joe Bush
            Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – No Winner
            MERS 100 – Joe Bush, Scott Hantz, John Doering, Jr., David McManus, John Grega, Johnny Belott, Lee Anderson, Steve Sauve, Bobby Parsley, Jack Varney, Jr., Gary Whipkey, Todd Rosebrugh, John Crumrine, Scott Baker, Rich Rohrer, Jeremy Craton, Bob Maki, Ron Shamel, Jay Reinbold, Bob Ducharme, Robbie Johnson, Cliff Pully, Joel McKnight, Cord Ehrhart

Rohrer Claims Midvale Main Event
By Adam Mackey

            Leg #9 of the 2005-Main Event Racing Series was held at Midvale Speedway this past Friday, August 19 at Midvale Speedway.  18 Super Late Models were joined by Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts to fill the night’s card.
            In the evening qualifying session, Gary Whipkey completed his season sweep of top times in Midvale Main Events, as the Doylestown, Ohio driver set a blistering lap of 13.71.  Don Harvey, Jr., Joe Bush, Cord Ehrhart, and point leader Bobby Parsley completed the top five.  After the session, Whipkey pulled the number 10 pill which put John Crumrine and A.P. Ren on the front row for the 75 lap event.
            After a couple of failed restarts, action turned fast and furious.  Akron, Ohio driver, John Crumrine, who picked up the Main Event victory in July, raced into the lead to set the early pace.  Third place starter, Rich Rohrer moved into the second spot, while A.P. Ren dropped back in the outside lane.  In the first ten laps, Crumrine and Rohrer pulled away, as Doug Sommers ran in third with Bobby Parsley fourth, and Ren fifth.
            After the first official lap was completed, the next yellow did not come out until lap 29.  During that green flag period, several drivers were already feeling the effects of hot brakes.  Meanwhile, Parsley, making his second career start at the track, worked by Sommers for third by way of the outside lane.  Back to green though, Crumrine and Rohrer were still the class of the field as they stretched things out over the rest of the competitors.
            After several laps of green flag racing during the middle of the race, Crumrine’s car started to go away, while the car of Rohrer’s looked stronger.  Once or twice, the duo made slight contact while battling for the top spot.  Eventually, after a handful of laps nose-to-tail, Crumrine’s car slid up the banking in three, and as the duo exited four, Rohrer was out front.
            A few moments later, Parsley took over the second spot, as Crumrine faded.  Next it was Whipkey’s turn to move by on the lowside.  Whipkey, coming from his tenth starting position, moved into third with the pass.
            The race’s final caution came out on lap 72.  With three laps to go, Rohrer lined up in front of Parsley, Whipkey, Lee Anderson, and Crumrine.  When the green waved, Rohrer, who had used up most of his brakes, was able to keep the advantage and pick up his first Main Event victory of the season and his second feature win of the year at Midvale.
            Parsley came home an impressive second, while Whipkey, Anderson, and Crumrine completed the top five.  Harvey, Sommers, Bush, Johnson, and McKnight finished off the top ten.
            The next event for the Main Event Racing Series will by Saturday, September 3 at Auto City Speedway in Flint, Michigan.  That will be the final season event before the October Main Event XVIII. 

Main Event Racing Series
            Burko Trucking Fast Qualifier – Gary Whipkey 13.71
            Lap Leaders – John Crumrine, Rich Rohrer
            Western Reserve Asphalt ½ Way Leader – John Crumrine
            Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – No Winner
            Non Starters – Scott Baker, Dino Long
            MERS 75 – Rich Rohrer, Bobby Parsley, Gary Whipkey, Lee Anderson, John Crumrine, Don Harvey, Jr., Doug Sommers, Joe Bush, Robbie Johnson, Joel McKnight, Ryan Tedesco, A.P. Ren, Rich Kirkpatrick, Cord Ehrhart, Mark Willison, Bob Gainer

Hantz Takes Third Main Event Of Season
By Adam Mackey

            For the first time in many years, the outlaw-bodied Super Late Models were invited to Winchester Speedway for the Main Event Racing Series Carter Lumber 100.  It was event #8 on the 2005 season schedule.
            It was a learning experience for many, as only a few of the drivers on hand had ever before competed at the famed ½ mile.  While only 12 drivers were there to race, action was fast, furious, and extremely exciting all afternoon.
            In the qualifying session, Knightstown, Indiana driver Jeff Lane rocketed around the outside lane of the speedway to set the fastest time in the history of a sanctioned stock car race at the track with a 14.988.  The average lap speed was 120.096.  Scott Hantz, Lee Anderson, Bobby Parsley, and Joe Bush completed the top five in time trials.
            After qualifying, Lane drew a number “8” which put Robbie Johnson on the pole and Rich Rohrer on the outside.  As the green dropped, Rohrer rocketed into the lead, while Johnson was left behind trying to defend second place.
            As the early laps ticked off, the Canton, Ohio driver remained out front in his first career start at the track.  However, Anderson, Lane, and Hantz were on the move.  After several laps, Anderson was able to work around Johnson for second.  At that point, Rohrer had a sizable lead built up, but the current runner-up was closing in quickly.
            Anderson was able to work by for the lead, as Lane and Hantz took over second and third.  As Anderson held his decent lead, smoke started to flume from the car.  Although it didn’t look to slow the Grand Rapids, Michigan driver down, the heavy smoke was very noticeable.  Eventually, the Main Event regular took his car pitside and retired while still leading.
            With Anderson retiring as Lane and Hantz closed in, Lane took over the top spot.  As the two CRA Super Series regulars quickly race around the track, Hantz started to challenge for the lead.  Lap-after-lap the Angola, Indiana driver peeked underneath the lowside of Lane to try making a run.  After a several lap side-by-side battle, Hantz was able to wrestle the top spot away on lap 49.
            As the cars continued to race cleanly and totally caution free, rain started to fall in a heavy nature.  On lap 58, the race’s first caution came out for the precipitation, and the event was eventually called for the persistent rain.  Hantz was victorious for the first time at Winchester, while Lane came home a close second.  Bobby Parsley, the Main Event point leader, was the only other driver on the lead lap, coming home in third.  Rich Rohrer finished only one lap down in fourth and Rick Turner ended his race two laps down in fifth.
            The rest of the top ten were Joe Bush, Scott Tomasik, John Crumrine, Robbie Johnson, and Lee Anderson.
            The next event on the Main Event schedule is this coming Friday, August 19 at Midvale Speedway.  The Miller Lite 75 will be joined by Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts.  A special practice session is set for Thursday at 4:00.  Friday racing begins at 8:00.  The raindate for the event is Saturday, August 20 at 6:30.  For more information go to www.midvalespeedway.com or www.maineventracingseries.com.

Main Event Racing Series
            Burko Trucking Fast Qualifier – Jeff Lane 14.988
            Lap Leaders – Rich Rohrer, Lee Anderson, Jeff Lane, Scott Hantz
            Western Reserve Asphalt ½ Way Leader – Scott Hantz
            Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – No Winner
            Non Starter – Brian Keselowski
            MERS 100 (63 Laps) – Scott Hantz, Jeff Lane, Bobby Parsley, Rich Rohrer, Rick Turner, Joe Bush, Scott Tomasik, John Crumrine, Robbie Johnson, Lee Anderson, Gary Whipkey

Doering, Jr. Takes Dixie Main Event
By Adam Mackey

            The 7^th event of the 2005-Main Event Racing Series schedule was held at the Dixie Motor Speedway in Birch Run, Michigan, this past Friday, August 5.  26 cars were in the pits to try to qualify for the 100-lap feature.
            In the afternoon time trial session, Hastings, Michigan driver Joe Bush set fast time with a 14.656.  Pit side, the veteran driver drew a number “6” pill which put the sixth fastest qualifier, John Doering, Jr. on the pole for the feature event with point leader, Bobby Parsley, starting second.
            When the green flag waved, Doering moved into the lead in his Flint Auto Auction/Rick Cole Enterprises #5.  In the early going, John Grega moved into the second spot and was hot on the heels of the race leader.  The Fruitport, Michigan driver seemed to have enough to make a challenge before the race’s mid-stage, but Doering was running just strong enough to stay out front.
            Around the race’s halfway mark, another driver was emerging as a challenger.  Top qualifier, Joe Bush, had worked his way into the third spot and was all over Grega for the runner-up position.  The duo would run second and third, a few car lengths behind the leader, for a good while.  Late in the race, Bush drove to the inside of Grega in turn three.  As the cars reached the middle of the turn, the duo touched resulting in a spin.  Neither driver took blame and both restarted at the rear.
            That moved Bush’s teammate, Lee Anderson, back into the second spot.  Anderson’s car was not as strong as he wished, and Doering’s car seemed to get better as the race wore on.  At the checkered flag, Doering picked up his first Main Event victory of the season, while Anderson, Scott Hantz, Parsley, and Harold Fair, Jr. completed the top five.  The rest of the top ten were Dave Kuhlman, Steve Sauve, Stan Boyd, Norm Davis, and John Crumrine.

NOTES:

            Race number seven proved to be a little less exciting than the previous race that the Main Event Racing Series had at Dixie this season.  In that event, three wide racing took place out front, but in this event, very few passes took place in the first five spots.  There were a couple of drivers that made moves during the race, however.
            Saginaw, Michigan driver Steve Sauve twice had problems that sent him pit side.  The veteran driver, after nearly going a lap down, was able to fix his early problems and race back to the seventh position for a hard earned top ten.  Sauve stated that he couldn’t complain about the finish after their two pit stops during the 100.
            Stan Boyd, the Holly, Michigan driver started at the back of the event after qualifying problems again relegated him to race in the last chance event.  A solid run in the 100 put him in eighth at the finish.
            Alliance, Ohio driver Joel McKnight backed up his solid Barberton Speedway finish with a solid qualifying effort at Dixie.  The yellow and black #8 just missed locking into the field through time trials by one spot, started mid-pack in the 100 after the last chance and came home 13^th after racing with John Grega for many laps in the final stages.
            The next event will be held at Winchester, Indiana, Speedway this coming Sunday, August 14.  The event will be a 100-lapper with $2,500 going to the winner.  Practice is at 10:30, qualifying is at 12:30, and racing is at 2:00.  The ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series and the CRA Street Stocks will also be in action.  For more information go to www.maineventracingseries.com or www.winchesterspeedway.com.

Main Event Racing Series
            Burko Trucking Fast Qualifier – Joe Bush 14.656
            Lap Leader – John Doering, Jr.
            Western Reserve Asphalt ½ Way Leader – John Doering, Jr.
            Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – No Winner
            Non Starter – Mike Luberda, Jr. (rear-end)
            MERS 100 – John Doering, Jr., Lee Anderson, Scott Hantz, Bobby Parsley, Harold Fair, Jr., Dave Kuhlman, Steve Sauve, Stan Boyd, Norm Davis, John Crumrine, Gary Whipkey, John Grega, Joel McKnight, Rich Rohrer, Joe Bush, Jerry Artuso, Todd Rosebrugh, Tim Felver, Bob Maki, Gene Quackenbush, Cord Ehrhart, Scott Baker, Jay Rienbold, Johnny Belott, Robbie Johnson

Whipkey Takes Barberton Main Event Victory
By Adam Mackey

            Many drivers were tentative about running the Barberton Speedway for the Main Event Racing Series Carter Lumber 75, but racing action at the tight speed plant was very exciting and clean all night long.
            In the afternoon qualifying session, Late Model track regular, John Ambrose set fast time after being the fastest in practice all afternoon.  Ambrose drew the number 6 pill, the smallest inversion number possible and that put the top two in points, Bobby Parsley and Gary Whipkey, on the front row for the 75-lapper.
            When the green dropped, Parsley’s car slid up the banking in the tricky turn four portion of the speedway.  Chief starter Chuck Barrett didn’t like the start so they tried it again.  The second try was much better and Whipkey raced into the lead on the first circuit.  The Doylestown, Ohio driver was trying extra hard since his sponsors, Carter Lumber and Lenny’s Collision, were also the race’s sponsor.
            Whipkey would find the race a challenge, though, as Don Harvey, Jr. was the first driver to move into second that looked strong enough to challenge.  However, Harvey’s night ended early as mechanical problems sent him into the frontstretch wall for the only hard accident of the night.  Drivers behind him were able to avoid anything more severe, but Parsley’s night ended during the caution with some engine issues.
            Back to green, the next challenger was top qualifier John Ambrose.  The Akron, Ohio driver started in the sixth spot, but was easily able to work his way into second to race with the leader.  During the middle stages of the race, Ambrose went through a period where he was stronger than Whipkey.  One lap, in fact, contact sent Whipkey’s car sideways in turn four, but the 2004 Main Event Series’ champion was able to steer out of it.
            With Whipkey, Ambrose, and Rich Rohrer pacing the field toward the race’s latter stage, Ambrose had mechanical problems that ended his night and a chance at victory.  His misfortune gave Rohrer second.
            Rohrer’s car was not strong on restarts, but after several laps, the Canton, Ohio driver would reel in the cars in front of him.  The final restart of the race had seven laps remaining.  When the green waved, Whipkey pulled away for a several car length lead.  As the final couple of laps wore down, Rohrer closed the gap, but as the checkered waved Whipkey was still out front for his first victory of the season.
            Following the Carter Lumber/Lenny’s Collison #59 were Rohrer, Doug Sommers, John Crumrine, and Robbie Johnson.  The rest of the top ten were Scott Baker, Joel McKnight, Cord Ehrhart, Joe Bush, and Rich Kirkpatrick.
            The next event will be held at Dixie Motor Speedway this coming Friday, August 5.  For more information, go to www.maineventracingseries.com.

Main Event Racing Series
            Burko Trucking Fast Qualifier – John Ambrose
            Lap Leader – Gary Whipkey
            Western Reserve Asphalt ½ Way Leader – Gary Whipkey
            Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – No Winner
            MERS 75 – Gary Whipkey, Rich Rohrer, Doug Sommers, John Crumrine, Robbie Johnson, Scott Baker, Joel McKnight, Cord Ehrhart, Joe Bush, Rich Kirkpatrick, Brian Keselowski, John Ambrose, Mark Willison, Lee Anderson, Bobby Parsley, Don Harvey, Jr. 

Felver Flies To Main Event 100 Victory At Owosso
By Adam Mackey

            35 Outlaw Super Late Model drivers were in the pits for the Main Event Racing Series trip to Owosso Speedway.  Johnny Belott set the Burko Trucking fast time for the 100-lapper, while Scott Giroux won the last chance race.
            Jack Landis and Bobby Parsley brought the 29-car starting field in for the green.  At the completion of lap one, Parsley used the outside lane to move out front.  Landis settled into second, while John Doering, Jr. ran third and Tim Felver moved from sixth to fourth.  The first caution came out for John McNutt, as the Owosso Speedway point leader slammed the outside retaining wall on the frontstretch.
            Several cautions plagued the early laps of the race, but after things settled down, Felver started to make his move again.  One lap after blowing by Doering for third, Felver ran to the outside of Landis for second.  However, another caution flag waved at lap 16.
            On the restart, Felver realigned in the third spot.  When starter, Chuck Barrett, waved his green, Felver immediately raced to the outside of Landis for second and, before blinking an eye, flew past Parsley for the top spot.  Once the Owosso, Michigan driver was out front at his home track, he stretched his lead until catching some lap traffic.
            Drivers other than Felver that made solid moves through the field included Scott Hantz and Johnny Belott.  Belott originally started in the eighth spot, but an early race spin relegated him to the back of the large pack.  Belott, though, was able to race his way back into the top six by the end of the race.  Hantz started in the seventh spot and eventually worked his way into second, but never got a chance at Felver with the race staying green for the final 40 laps.
            At the checkered, it was Felver picking up his first win of the year, while Hantz, Parsley, Landis, and Lee Anderson completed the top five.  The rest of the top ten were Belott, John Grega, Joe Bush, Mike Luberda, Jr., and Steve Sauve.
            The next event on the Main Event circuit will be on Friday, July 29 at Barberton Speedway.  The 75-lapper will pay $2,000 to win.  For more information, go to www.maineventracingseries.com or www.barbertonspeedway.com.

Main Event Racing Series
            Burko Trucking Fast Qualifier – Johnny Belott
            Lap Leaders – Bobby Parsley, Tim Felver
            Western Reserve Asphalt ½ Way Leader – Tim Felver
            Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – No Winner
            Last Chance Transfers – Scott Giroux, Jack Varney, Jr., Jason Felver, Claude Plante, Jr., Steve Sauve, Jimmy Smith
            Non Starters – Norm Davis, Joel McKnight, Brian Keselowski, Michael Simko, Bill Bond, Cliff Pully

Crumrine Claims Main Event 100 At Midvale
By Adam Mackey

            The biggest night scheduled for 2005 lived up to expectations this past Sunday, July 3.  The Main Event Racing Series Super Late Models were joined by Sport Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts on an action packed night of racing.  Over 100 drivers were pitside, while the crowd was the biggest in several years.
            In qualifying for the Main Event Racing Series, Barberton, Ohio driver Don Harvey, Jr. set on top of the chart until near the end.  That’s when Doylestown, Ohio driver Gary Whipkey worked his usual qualifying magic to take the top spot by over two tenths.  Whipkey blistered the asphalt with a 13.65, about one-tenth off of his track record from several years ago.  Harvey was second with a 13.88, while Lee Anderson 13.90, Rich Rohrer 13.95, and Joe Bush 13.95 completed the top five.
            After the time trial session, Whipkey drew the highest inversion pill possible, a “10”.  That slated Doug Ehret and A.P. Ren, both drivers who were competing for the first time this season, for the front row.  As the green dropped, Ehret slid up the banking clipping Ren and creating a complete restart.  The second start went much smoother.
            As Ehret took the number one spot and led the field, Ren was caught in the outside lane and dropping back.  On the move was Akron, Ohio driver Scott Baker.  Baker raced into the lead with an inside lane pass during the race’s early going.  Driving the Al Reeves’ owned #6, Baker set the pace as John Crumrine and Rich Rohrer started to make their moves to get to the front.  Crumrine moved into second, while Rohrer raced into third.
            On a restart in the first half of the race, Crumrine quickly jumped to the inside of Baker and stuck his nose in the inside lane in turn one.  The top two cars made contact, and it looked as though Baker would spin as he shut the door, but was able to steer out of it.  Exiting turn two, Crumrine drew alongside Baker and flew by for the top spot.  Behind him, Rohrer used a bonsai move to race past as well.  Immediately, both drivers started pulling away from the rest of the field after coming from the fifth and seventh starting positions respectively.
            Crumrine was strong on restarts, as the driver brought the field in at a slow pace on the backstretch, then picked up the pace in three, and raced off of turn four for a several car length advantage each time.  During a long green flag run from lap 40 to lap 69, Crumrine worked up a big lead, before seeing Rohrer close right in to the rear bumper.  Over the final laps of the 29-lap green flag period, Rohrer hounded Crumrine for the top spot, while Whipkey, who had taken third from his tenth starting position, started to fade.  Caution moments later, thwarted Rohrer’s strong run at the leader.
            With 30 to go, Crumrine only had to fend off a couple of smaller challenges from Rohrer.  No one else in the starting field had anything for the two drivers, as each time a restart took place, they pulled away from the rest of the pack.
            At the checkered, it was John Crumrine picking up his first career Main Event Racing Series victory, as he made it two-for-two on the weekend following his Super 6 Late Model win at Lorain the previous night.  Following the Automotive Electric/Tallmadge Asphalt #44 were Rohrer, Whipkey, Don Harvey, Jr., and Bobby Parsley.  Robbie Johnson, Ryan Tedesco, Dino Long, Baker, and Cord Ehrhart finished off the top ten.

Main Event Racing Series – Midvale
            Burko Trucking $100 Fast Qualifier – Gary Whipkey 13.65
            Lap Leaders – Doug Ehret, Scott Baker, John Crumrine
            Western Reserve Asphalt $100 ½ Way Leader – John Crumrine
            Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – No Winner
            MERS 100 – John Crumrine, Rich Rohrer, Gary Whipkey, Don Harvey, Jr., Bobby Parsley, Robbie Johnson, Ryan Tedesco, Dino Long, Scott Baker, Cord Ehrhart, Lee Anderson, Brian Keselowski, A.P. Ren, Joe Bush, Doug Ehret, Dan Fults, Joel McKnight, Mark Willison

Hantz Takes Win & Point Lead At Dixie
By Adam Mackey

            31 Outlaw Super Late Models were in the pits for the 3^rd leg of the 2005-Main Event Racing Series.  The racing at Dixie Motor Speedway was exciting all night long, as even the last chance race had at least 6 Super Late Model track champions.
            In qualifying action, Scott Hantz, of Angola, Indiana set the Burko Trucking fast time.  He then pulled out the “8” pill to invert the top eight qualifiers for feature action.
            When the green dropped on the Champagne & Marx Excavating 40^th Annual Dixie Classic, Gary Whipkey and Fred Campbell brought the field in for 100 laps.  After the first circuit, Campbell was the leader, as Whipkey fell into second via the inside lane and was defending that position.
            The race was slowed for the first time on lap 7, as Dr. Bob Ducharme spun in the first and second turns.  That bunched the field back up, as Campbell had already worked up a decent sized lead.
            The next green flag run went for many laps, as Campbell pulled away from Whipkey and Grega, the second and third place cars.  On lap 35, Grega, while running the bottom lane with Whipkey, made some contact with the second place car.  Whipkey, the 2004 champion, spun and brought out the yellow.  However, Grega immediately admitted fault, took tail, and gave Whipkey his spot back.
            With the field back up to speed, Lee Anderson, the night’s second fast qualifier started working his way to the front in a hurry.  He restarted in the fifth spot, but was quickly able to work by Bobby Parsley for fourth.  Moments later, Anderson went to the outside of Tim Ice and Whipkey and quickly worked into second.  All this time, Hantz started making his run to the front as well.  Caution came out on lap 48 for Tim Felver and Dennis Berry as they spun while racing in the top ten.  That set up one of the best battles for the lead, in recent memory.
            With Campbell out front, Anderson raced to the outside for the lead.  Campbell closed the door off of the second turn and singled things out again.  Entering turn one of the next circuit, Anderson gave the second groove another try.  As the top two exited turn two, Campbell again closed the door, Anderson checked up, and Hantz raced into second.  A couple of laps later, Hantz made his run at Campbell.  As the duo raced side-by-side for the top spot, Anderson snuck to the inside to make it a three wide battle off of turn four.  Anderson could not make it stick and Hantz raced into the lead.  Shortly thereafter, Anderson took second.
            With just over 90 laps complete, Anderson’s car started to come on stronger.  He twice went to the inside of Hantz for the lead, but on his second try, the duo touched, Hantz spun and Anderson took the tail position.
            A couple of laps into the restart, Jerry Artuso and Ice got together in turn three.  Ice’s car turned sideways and blasted the outside retaining wall with driver side impact.  Ice climbed out in obvious disgust and was captured before making it to the car of Artuso.
            Over the final circuits, Hantz was plenty strong enough to pull away from Joe Bush, Fred Campbell, Gary Whipkey, and Bobby Parsley.  Also following the EMF Corporation/Southern Circuits #72 were Todd Rosebrugh, Steve Sauve, John Grega, Tim Felver, and Jack Landis.  Hantz picked up an additional $300 bobsautosales.com/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep award for being top qualifier and winning the feature event.  With Hantz’s win, he became the series’ point leader.
            The next MERS race will be held on Sunday, July 3 at Midvale (OH) Speedway.  Pit gates for the Main Event cars will open at 1:00, MERS hotlaps are from 3:00-4:00, and MERS qualifying will be at 5:00.  The 100 lapper will pay $2,500 to win.  The raindate for the event is Monday, July 4.

Main Event Racing Series – Dixie
            Burko Trucking $100 Fast Qualifier – Scott Hantz
            Lap Leaders – Fred Campbell, Scott Hantz
            Western Reserve Asphalt $100 ½ Way Leader – Fred Campbell
            Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – Scott Hantz $300
            Last Chance – Jerry Artuso, Johnny Belott, Steve Sauve, Stan Boyd, Mike Luberda, Jr., Bob Ducharme, Bill Bond, Norm Davis, Joel McKnight, Cord Ehrhart, Jay Reinbold, Tony DePaulo, Harold Fair, Jr.
            MERS 100 – Scott Hantz, Joe Bush, Fred Campbell, Gary Whipkey, Bobby Parsley, Todd Rosebrugh, Steve Sauve, John Grega, Tim Felver, Jack Landis, Mike Luberda, Jr., John Crumrine, Lee Anderson, Jerry Artuso, Gene Quackenbush, Tim Ice, Dave Kuhlman, Johnny Belott, Dennis Berry, Stan Boyd, Rich Rohrer, Scott Baker, David McManus, Bob Ducharme

Hantz Hurries To Lake Erie Victory Lane
By Adam Mackey

            The second event of the 2005 Main Event Racing Series schedule was held this past Wednesday, June 8, at Lake Erie (PA) Speedway.  A strong field of 22 big name outlaw Super Late Model drivers were on hand.
            In qualifying, Grand Rapids, MI driver Lee Anderson set the Burko Trucking fast time with a blistering lap of 14.226.  Toledo winner, Bobby Parsley, was second fast, while Joe Bush, Jay Sommers, and Jack Landis completed the top five.  After qualifying, the number 8 pill was drawn, putting Tim Ice and Gary Whipkey on the front row.
            With ¾ of the first lap complete, Whipkey had raced into the lead.  However, entering turn three, Sommers slid sideways making contact with Bush, sending him spinning.  The caution came out without completing the first lap, creating a complete restart.
            On the second try, Ice had the better start and led the first lap in a side-by-side battle with Whipkey.  At that point, top qualifier, Lee Anderson got into the outside retaining wall on the front stretch and smacked the wall in turn one, ending his night.  Anderson was running for the Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep $200 bonus if he could win the feature.
            The field went back to green with one lap in and Seville, Ohio driver, Tim Ice, set sail.  Behind him, Whipkey was trying to fend off a challenge from Jack Landis and Scott Hantz.  While protecting the bottom lane, Hantz flew by and into the runner-up position.  Moments later, Landis also worked by the Carter Lumber #59.  Ice had built up a sizable lead at that point, but a caution on lap 13 would again bunch up the field.
            On the restart, Hantz immediately started working the second groove.  By the completion of lap 15, the Angola, Indiana driver had led his first lap of the race.  Continuing for two more laps, the duo battled for the top spot, but Hantz eventually had sole possession of the lead.
            The middle part of the race had some great racing and ran clean with very few cautions.  Hantz was working slower traffic easily, while Ice and Bush changed positions and lost some ground on the leader.  After falling into third, Ice spun in the first and second turns as he and Rich Rohrer slipped in some liquid.  Both drivers received their spots back after the track was cleaned up.
            A couple of laps into the next green flag run had second place competitor, Joe Bush, experience mechanical problems that ended his night.  That moved Ice back into second and put Bobby Parsley into the third spot.
            Over the final green flag run, Ice only once mounted a charge that kept Hantz close.  In the end, the EMF Corporation/Southern Circuit #72 of Hantz picked up the victory.  For Hantz, it was his second career Main Event victory, with his first coming at Toledo in a previous season.
            Ice, Parsley, Scott Baker, and Ryan Tedesco rounded out the top five finishers.  Completing the top ten were Whipkey, Robbie Johnson, Jay Sommers, John Crumrine, and Jack Landis.
            The next event on the Main Event schedule is at Dixie Motor Speedway on Friday, June 17.  Pit gates will open at 12:00, hotlaps are at 4:00, qualifying will be at 6:00, and racing will start at 7:30.  For more information, go to www.maineventracingseries.com or www.dixiemotorspeedway.com.

Main Event Racing Series – Lake Erie
            Burko Trucking $100 Fast Qualifier – Lee Anderson 14.226
            Lap Leaders – Tim Ice, Scott Hantz
            Western Reserve Asphalt $100 ½ Way Leader – Scott Hantz
            Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – No Winner $300 Next Event Fast Time and Win
            MERS 100 – Scott Hantz, Tim Ice, Bobby Parsley, Scott Baker, Ryan Tedesco, Gary Whipkey, Robbie Johnson, Jay Sommers, John Crumrine, Jack Landis, Rich Rohrer, Brian Keselowski, Mike Holland, Cord Ehrhart, Norm Taylor, Don Harvey, Jr., Joe Bush, Joel McKnight, Rob Patrick, Shawn Dunning, Lee Anderson

Parsley Takes First Career MERS Victory At Toledo
By Adam Mackey

            A fine field of 29-outlaw Super Late Models was pit side Sunday afternoon, May 29, at Toledo Speedway.  The Main Event Racing Series was joined by the CRA Super Series for a Twin 100 show at the famed half-mile.
            In qualifications, Hastings, Michigan driver Joe Bush bested 25 other qualifiers with a blistering lap of 15.006.  Bobby Parsley, Lee Anderson, Scott Hantz, and Dennis Berry finished off the top five.
            On the original start of the Main Event 100, Dennis Strickland and Harold Fair, Jr. brought the field in for the green.  After making it three quarters of a lap without a problem, an accident in turn three had Brent Jack and Tim Felver eliminated from action and Jerry Artuso and Joel McKnight also involved.
            On the second try at getting the race started, outside polesitter, Fair, broke suspension components heading into the first corner and absolutely demolished his car in the turn one retaining wall.  Fair was okay, but the damage to the car was insurmountable.
            That moved the #10 of Jack Landis to the outside pole position.  At the completion of the first lap, Landis had used the outside lane to take the number one spot from Strickland.
            The night’s second fastest qualifier, Bobby Parsley, was on the move from the get-go.  With less than seven laps complete, Parsley moved his car past fellow CRA Super Series competitor, Scott Hantz.  After moving right in on the rear bumper of Dennis Strickland for second, Parsley’s run was slowed momentarily by a lap 9 Dennis Berry caution.
            With the green flag again waving, Parsley immediately worked around the outside of Strickland as did Hantz.  Both drivers started closing quickly on the leader, Jack Landis.  Shortly thereafter, a caution came out for Joel McKnight and Steve Tabor as both driver had problems on the frontstretch.  Tabor retired from the event.
            The next restart saw a lead change, as the Shepherdsville, Kentucky driver drove to the inside of Landis and race into the number one position.  The Crown Spray Power #21 of Parsley would prove to be a very tough challenge for anyone, coming from his seventh starting spot quickly.
            From the lap 14 restart, things settled down for a bit and the race went caution free for nearly 50 laps.  During that period of time, Lee Anderson started his run to the front as teammate Joe Bush and Dave Kuhlman tried to follow.  Anderson, however, proved to be in the same playing field as Parsley, as no one else had anything for them.  After Hantz was able to get by Landis for second, Anderson worked around the Edgerton, Ohio driver for third.
            At lap 60, the scariest wreck in the history of the Main Event Racing Series took place, as cars mid-pack were working lap traffic.  Contact between two lead lap cars eventually caused the right front of Jerry Artuso’s racecar to go down.  As he ricocheted off of the wall, he slammed into the right side of Ron Allen’s #06 racecar.  Allen’s car flipped on its roof and slid head first into the turn one wall.  As the car slid down the banking, still on its roof, racing fuel was dumping from the cell.  A spark ignited the liquid and engulfed the #06 in flames that words cannot describe.  Knowing the precious seconds were clicking away with Allen still in the car, things were looking pretty grim.  However, 14 seconds after the fire engulfed the race machine, Allen was somehow able to unbuckle and climb from his badly mangled ride.  The driver was transported to a local hospital with burns but was conscious and alert at the time.  He was to be held overnight.
            After taking several minutes to put out the fire and check the track for damage, the race went back to green.  Parsley, on the restart, was able to pull away from the second place competitor, Anderson.  Over the final ten laps, Anderson closed in on Parsley and made it a close finish at the checkered, as Bobby Parsley picked up his first career Main Event Racing Series victory.  Anderson finished second, Hantz came home third, while Strickland was fourth and Kuhlman brought his car home fifth.  The rest of the top ten cars were Landis, Bush, Harold Fair, Sr., Gary Whipkey, and Rich Rohrer.
            Parsley, the driver of the Crown Spray Power #21, stated in victory lane that he definitely used up all of the tires and had the race been five laps longer, Anderson would have most likely been the winner.

Main Event Racing Series – Toledo
            Burko Trucking $100 Fast Qualifier – Joe Bush 15.006
            Lap Leaders – Jack Landis, Bobby Parsley
            Western Reserve Asphalt $100 ½ Way Leader – Bobby Parsley
            Bob’s Auto Sales/Barberton Automotive Clean Sweep – No Winner $200 Next Event Fast Time and Win
            MERS 100 - Bobby Parsley, Lee Anderson, Scott Hantz, Dennis Stickland, Dave Kuhlman, Jack Landis, Joe Bush, Harold Fair, Sr., Gary Whipkey, Rich Rohrer, Mike Demars, Robbie Johnson, John Crumrine, Brad Birr, Cord Ehrhart, Bob Mikolajczyk, Jerry Artuso, Ron Allen, C. Jay Baughan, Joel McKnight, Steve Tabor, Dennis Berry, Harold Fair, Jr., Scott Baker, Brent Jack, Tim Felver

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