Sharon Speedway PR

MINIMUM $4000 TO-WIN, $400 TO-START FOR ALL "410" SPRINT CAR SHOWS IN 2024 AT SHARON AS "SUPER SERIES" EVENTS TO BE PRESENTED BY BALA MANAGEMENT

By Mike Leone

 

March 29, 2024                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Hartford, OH)…Sharon Speedway is thrilled to announce that all Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Car events in 2024 will pay a minimum of $4,000 to-win, $400 to-start as marketing partner Bala Management of Masury, Ohio has come on board to present the "Super Series" slate of events!  The first Hovis "410" Sprint Car event of 2024 part of the Bala Management "Super Series" will take place on Saturday, May 11 part of the 95th anniversary season opener. 

 

The remaining $4,000 to-win, $400 to-start "Super Series" events presented by Bala Management will include June 1 for Western PA Sprint Speedweek, June 29, July 27 for the "Bill Kirila Memorial", and September 7 for the "Apple Festival Nationals". 

 

The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars will also be in action on May 18 and September 28 for the $12,000 to-win World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car events, Wednesday, June 12 for Ohio Sprint Speedweek, and August 17 for the $12,000 to-win, $1,200 to-start "Lou Blaney Memorial"!

 

"We're very excited about Bala Management increasing their marketing presence at the speedway which has allowed us to boast the minimum of '410' Sprint Car purse to $4,000 to-win, $400 to-start," expressed Sharon General Manager Dave Willoughby.  "Several years ago we were the first track in the region to guarantee $3,000 to-win for our '410' Sprint Car events and just two years added $2,400 into positions 2-20.  This latest increase is another $3,260 spread throughout the entire purse!  We can't thank Scott Thompson of Bala Management enough for his backing of this increase to our Sprint Car division payoff."

 

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars presented by Bala Management minimum feature purse: 1. $4,000  2. $1,500  3. $1,100  4. $800  5. $650  6. $625  7. $600  8. $575  9. $550  10. $500  11. $475  12. $450  13. $425  14. $410  15-24. $400.

 

For over four years, Bala Management has been providing compassionate care to clients with a wide variety of needs.  Direct Support Professionals work with individuals with mental or developmental disabilities by creating behavior plans, teaching self-care skills, cooking meals and doing laundry, and much more.  Adult Day Support (sometimes called “Day Hab” or “Adult Day Array”) helps a person build connections in their community.  For additional information on Bala Management, check out their website at www.balamgnt.com or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063668286224

Sharon Speedway is owned by the Blaney, Weller, and Kirila Families and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481. Become a fan of Sharon Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.

 

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AJ FLICK GOES 2-FOR-2 IN WESTERN PA SPEEDWEEK WITH 1ST SHARON "410" SPRINT WIN IN 3+ YEARS; CAREER 1ST RUSH SPRINT WIN FOR RYAN FRALEY; JUSTIN SHEA WINS RUSH MODS FOR THE 1ST TIME SINCE 2017; ECONO MODS TO WILL THOMAS
By Mike Leone
 
June 4, 2022               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
(Hartford, OH)Sunshine and 70 degrees graced Sharon Speedway on Saturday as the Hartford, Ohio oval was able to complete back-to-back scheduled events for the first time during the 92 anniversary season.  Celebrating in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane with their first wins of the season were A.J. Flick-Western PA Speedweek for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars, Ryan Fraley-Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars, Justin Shea-HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, and Will Thomas III-Whelen Econo Mods.  A big field of 106 cars filled the pit area for the first four-division show of 2022.
 
After two rainouts to start Western PA Speedweek, A.J. Flick backed up his Friday night Lernerville Speedway win with a second $3,000 payday in as many nights.  Flick passed George Hobaugh on lap 15 and was never challenged over the second half of the 30-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Car feature.  It was just Flick's second career Sharon win and first since May 18, 2019 for the 25-time Lernerville winner.   
 
"Man I wanted that one- this is pretty cool," acknowledged the 29-year-old Apollo, Pa. third generation driver.  "George (Hobaugh) is the guy to beat on something like this.  Freakin' Ryan Smith comes from the middle of the pack to second again; he can't give me a break.  We usually struggle a bit when the track gets slick like this, but there's something we've been playing with and the car feels really good.  I have no idea how big of a lead I had, but I felt comfortable the entire race.  I honestly had a much better car at the beginning than I was playing around with.  I was biding my time and I didn't want to make a stupid mistake when they greased the track when it had a little bit of water on it."
 
Hobaugh raced out to the early lead over Sye Lynch, Darin Gallagher, and Carl Bowser.  By lap three, Hobaugh began to stretch out his lead, but that lead was erased with Oklahoma teenager Ryan Timms got into Dan Kuriger entering turn three with both cars getting upside down.  Both drivers were okay, but done for the event.  When racing resumed on lap five, Gallagher and Flick both passed Lynch for second  and third respectively.
 
Hobaugh was setting a torrid pace out front and by the time he caught lapped traffic on lap 10 had stretched his lead to 1.5 seconds.  Flick began to pressure Gallagher for second on lap 12 and the duo caught Hobaugh in lapped traffic on lap 13 making it a three-car race for the lead; however, Kyle Colwell slowed to bring out the caution with 13 laps scored. 
 
When green replaced yellow on lap 14, Flick passed Gallagher for second and then went after Hobaugh.  Flick got a big run off the top of turn two on lap 15 and pulled a slingshot move to pass Hobaugh going down the backstretch.  Meanwhile, all eyes were on 14th starting Ryan Smith.  Smith, who won last year's events at Lernerville and Sharon and went on to win the title, moved by Bowser for fourth on the restart then drove under Gallagher for third on lap 20.  Smith ran down Hobaugh on lap 23 and after a side-by-side battle over the next three laps finally made the pass stick for runner-up on lap 26.
 
By the time Smith got to second, Flick had more than a four-second advantage.  Smith would run out of laps as Flick took his Ferguson Heating & Air Conditioning/Fence by Maintenance Service/Red Robin/Chernega Construction-sponsored #2 to the win by 3.323 seconds.  It was Smith's second runner-up to start Western PA Speedweek after going 13th to second on Friday night. 
 
Hobaugh, who led the first 28 laps of the April 30 All Star Circuit of Champions feature before dropping to fourth, slipped back to a disappointing third on Saturday night after leading the first 14 laps.  Gallagher was fourth.  Eighteen-year-old Florida native, Conner Morrell, raced from 12th to fifth in his first Sharon start.  Completing the top 10 were Bowser, Dan Shetler, 17th starting Adam Kekich, Brett Brunkenhoefer, and 23rd starting Danny Peebles.  For Peebles, in his first Sharon start, the New York driver earned the $333 Knox Bakery Hard Charger honors for the second straight night! 
 
Shetler set fast time overall against the 33-car field in qualifying with a lap of 15.499 to earn $500 from Knox Bakery.  Heat race winners were Shetler, Hobaugh, Bowser, and Lynch, while Brent Matus copped the last chance B main. 
 
Eight-time Sharon Econo Mod winner, Ryan Fraley, passed defending and three-time Equipment Rental Options RUSH Sprint Car Weekly Series Champion Chad Ruhlman on lap 10, and went on for his first career Sprint Car win.  Fraley earned $600 as he became the 10th different winner in 18 Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Car features run all-time at Sharon.  The 24 non-wing cars were an all-time RUSH Sprint Car high car count for the fifth year division.  The 20-lap feature went non-stop in 7:13.399!
 
"I never thought I would be here," expressed the 33-year-old Brookfield, Ohio racer.  "I won a few in the two-barrel E-Mod then sold everything.  My dad got diagnosed with cancer and was being a hard head and didn't want to go through chemo so I made a deal that we'd go back racing if he did.  I bought a car, he went through all his chemo treatments and is doing good today so it's cool to get our first win here.  My mom never comes to the races and she's here tonight.  Doug Kekich has helped me a lot.  He couldn't be here tonight, but he's helped me a lot in the pits and I call him a lot running things by him."
 
Veterans Andy Priest and Ruhlman led the field to green as Priest nosed ahead to lead the opening circuit; however, Ruhlman was flying along the fence and powered into the lead off turn four on lap two.  Priest moved to the top to try and follow Ruhlman's fast line, but lost second and third to Fraley and Brian Hartzell on laps four and five respectively.
 
Fraley began to close on Ruhlman every lap and caught the leader on lap eight.  The two raced side-by-side over the next two laps with Fraley taking the lead after Ruhlman brushed the turn two fence.  Ruhlman stayed within striking distance in the ensuing laps.  Fraley was mired in heavy lapped traffic on lap 14, but made the right moves as he broke away from Ruhlman.  Fraley continued to pull away in the final laps to take his ninth career Sharon win by a margin of 3.550 seconds in his Barris Truck Service/Intense Fab/Pruskowski Trucking-sponsored #12.
 
Ruhlman, who has seven career wins in the divisions at Sharon, was second.  After finishing a Sharon career best fourth in the final race of 2021, Hartzell did one better with his first podium finish at the track after starting sixth.  Blaze Myers was fourth after passing Priest on lap 12.  Priest dropped to fifth.  Nolan Groves, Gale Ruth, Jr., John Mollick, Arnie Kent, and Jarod Larson completed the top 10.  Heat race winners were Priest, Ruhlman, and Fraley. 
 
Justin Shea ended a near five-year winless drought at Sharon by capturing the 20-lap HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modified feature.  Shea started fifth and slipped under race-long leader Kole Holden coming to the white flag for his first Sharon win since September 9, 2017.  Shea earned $550 for his second overall Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified victory on the 2022 circuit.    
 
"I was hoping he'd (Holden) slip off the bottom in lapped traffic," explained the 40-year-old Sharpsville, Pa. resident.  "A couple times I thought I could get under him, but didn't want to push the issue too much.  When he opened the door, I took advantage.  I always try to keep it as clean as possible, but sometimes when it's slippery like this it's hard, but I thought we kept it clean tonight." 
 
Holden and Brandon Ritchey led the 23-car field to green with Holden taking the lead over Ritchey, while Clayton Deems passed Jacob Wolfe for third.  Shea dropped Wolfe back another spot when he moved into fourth on lap four.  Holden meanwhile began to pull away on lap five; however, the lead was erased when back-to-back cautions with seven laps completed occurred.
 
When racing resumed on lap eight, Shea passed Deems for third then one lap later passed Ritchey for second.  Shea ran down Holden and was on the leader on lap 14.  Holden continued to keep Shea at bay, but coming out of turn four for the white flag, Holden hesitated in traffic allowing Shea to slip under for the winning move.  Shea's third career Sharon win came by 0.624 seconds in his Shea Trucking/John Flynn Funeral Home/Dot Lou's the Wings of Time Part 2-sponsored #14s.
 
Holden's runner-up with his brand new Troyer car was his best finish since a second on August 17, 2019 for the two-time track champion.  Ritchey, the defending Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series Champion, was third.  Ben Easler went eighth to fourth.  J.C. Boyer was fifth.  Rounding out the top 10 were Clayton Deems, Wolfe, Ayden Cipriano, Josh Deems, and Rob Kristyak.  Heat victors were Tony Tatgenhorst, Easler, and Boyer.
 
Will Thomas III ran his win percentage in the Econo Mod division to 75% by winning his sixth feature in eight tries over the past two seasons.  Thomas passed Jacob Eucker on lap two and held off Jeremy Double over the final 13 laps for his first win in the division in 2022.  With more than a full field on hand, Thomas earned $450 for the 20-lap Whelen feature victory.
 
"Our car was really good early on," explained the 46-year-old Sharpsville, Pa. driver.  "This place gets really, really slippery.  I spent a lot of my years racing on asphalt circles opposed to dirt circles so it kind of helps me.  There's a lot of good cars in this division.  I know Jeremy Double was right there and he's really good.  You have Mitch Wright, and Jake Eucker has won a pile of races here.  We're just fortunate.  We live five minutes away and we love coming out here.  I appreciate all of the fans staying."
 
After Thomas took over the top spot on lap two, the event's first caution was displayed.  When racing resumed on lap three, it was three-wide for runner up with Eucker maintaining the spot, while sixth starting Double edged ahead of Mitchell Wright.  Eucker and Double then raced side-by-side on lap five with Double taking the spot.  Double caught Thomas on lap seven and was all over the leader on laps eight and nine.
 
Double had two shots alongside Thomas on the double-file restarts, but was unable to make the pass as the opening night winner came up 0.993 seconds shy.  Thomas' victory was his 25th career overall at Sharon and came in the Hallman Originals/Colonial Metal Products-sponsored #9.  Garrett Calvert charged from the 23rd starting spot to pass Eucker on lap 15 to finish third and earned a $100 gift card from Summit Racing Equipment for being the hard charger. 
 
After leading the first lap, Eucker dropped to fourth over Andy Buckley.  Brian Toto was sixth in his season debut.  Scott Burk, Jordan Simmons, 22nd starting Keith Felicetty, and Gary Olson rounded out the top 10.  Heat race winners over the 26-car field were Wright, Eucker, and Thomas.
 
There will be no racing next Saturday night (June 11); however, Ohio Speedweek for the Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars will make its annual stop at Sharon on Tuesday, June 14 for a $6,000 to-win event along with the Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars.  Advance and reserved tickets are on sale through the following link https://sharonspeedway.simpletix.com/
 
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars Western PA Speedweek (30 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. 2-A.J. FLICK[4]; 2. 6-Ryan Smith[14]; 3. 40-George Hobaugh [1]; 4. 12-Darin Gallagher[3]; 5. 28M-Conner Morrell[12]; 6. 11-Carl Bowser[5]; 7. 29-Dan Shetler[6]; 8. 5K-Adam Kekich[17]; 9. 47-Brett Brunkenhoefer[8]; 10. 3-Denny Peebles[23]; 11. 32-Rod Jones[7]; 12. 20B-Cody Bova[19]; 13. 13-Brandon Matus[15]; 14. 35-Jared Zimbardi[20]; 15. 6-Bob Felmlee[22]; 16. 23-Darren Pifer[13]; 17. 33-Brent Matus[21]; 18. 11M-Nathen McDowell[18]; 19. 35W-Jeremy Weaver[11]; 20. 42-Sye Lynch[2]; 21. 80JR-Kyle Colwell[24]; 22. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr[9]; 23. 08-Dan Kuriger[10]; 24. 5T-Ryan Timms[16].
 
DNQ for the feature: Michael Bauer (46), Matt Farnham (7NY), Chase Metheney (31c), Logan McCandless (29), Russ Sansosti (23s), Michael Lutz (86), Steve Bright (13B), Vivian Jones (32V), Matt Sherlock III (55*).
 
Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars (20 laps, $600 to-win): 1. 12-RYAN FRALEY[3]; 2. 68-Chad Ruhlman [2]; 3. 69-Brian Hartzell[6]; 4. 43JR-Blaze Myers[5]; 5. 41-Andy Priest[1]; 6. 25-Nolan Groves[11]; 7. 24-Gale Ruth Jr[7]; 8. 4J-John Mollick[8]; 9. 9-Arnie Kent[9]; 10. 47-Jarod Larson[4]; 11. 62-Brian Cressley[12]; 12. 69X-AJ MacQuarrie[21]; 13. 1T-Ricky Tucker Jr[17]; 14. 5B-Joe Buccola[13]; 15. 57N-Tyler Newhart[23]; 16. 29-Brandon Shughart[15]; 17. 1-Zack Wilson[16]; 18. 16C-Amelia Clay[14]; 19. 23S-Russ Sansosti[18]; 20. 44C-Bill Cunningham[19]; 21. 23-Charlie Utsinger[20]; 22. 13K-Kevin Kaserman[22].  DNS: 11-Jack Sodeman Jr, 12C-Calvin Clay
 
HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds (20 laps, $550 to-win): 1. 14S-JUSTIN SHEA [5]; 2. 2-Kole Holden[1]; 3. 1R-Brandon Ritchey[2]; 4. 02-Benjamin Easler[8]; 5. 12-J.C. Boyer[7]; 6. 55-Clayton Deems[4]; 7. 7-Jacob Wolfe[6]; 8. 5C-Ayden Cipriano[12]; 9. 9D-Josh Deems[17]; 10. 00-Rob Kristyak[3]; 11. 29-Cole Edwards[16]; 12. 8-Kyle Martell[23]; 13. 46R-Doug Rutana[11]; 14. JD57-Jordan Ehrenberg[15]; 15. 333G-Dalton Gabriel[13]; 16. 111-Dave Price[22]; 17. 57R-Jacob Rutana[19]; 18. 25-Greg Porter[18]; 19. 71-Gage Priester[10]; 20. 2LC-Lucas Canon[20]; 21. 63T-Tony Tatgenhorst[9]; 22. 28J-Jacob Jordan[21]; 23. 10-Chelsie Kriegisch-DSQ (unsportsmanlike conduct).
 
Whelen Econo Mods (20 laps, $450 to-win): 1. 9-WILL THOMAS III[3]; 2. 83-Jeremy Double[6]; 3. 7G-Garrett Calvert[23]; 4. 64-Jacob Eucker[2]; 5. 965-Andy Buckley[7]; 6. 8B-Brian Toto[8]; 7. 2-Scott Burk Jr[4]; 8. 13-Jordan Simmons[5]; 9. 98-Keith Felicetty[22]; 10. 23-Gary Olson[18]; 11. 17-Jason Gracey[9]; 12. 16B-Tylar Barr[13]; 13. 0-Andrew Pisarchick C[17]; 14. 39-Steven Haefke[26]; 15. 89-Junior Mechling[25]; 16. 9JR-Emily Stoyer[19]; 17. 12-Troy Pinch[14]; 18. 15-Eric Nellis II[20]; 19. 52M-Daniel Moffitt[12]; 20. 10T-Kenny Meadows[15]; 21. 00-Mitch Wright[1]; 22. 4-George Vestal IV[16]; 23. 51-Brian Lacey[11]; 24. 37-Ryan Wisniowski[24]; 25. 56-Bryan Wagner[10]; 26. 48-Dennis Dellinger[21]
 
Sharon Speedway is owned by the Blaney, Weller, and Kirila Families and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481. Become a fan of Sharon Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.
 
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APRIL 23 OPENER AT SHARON CANCELLED DUE TO SATURATED GROUNDS

By Mike Leone

 

April 21, 2022                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Hartford, OH)…The 2022 season opener scheduled for this Saturday (April 23) featuring the ULMS Super Late Models at Sharon Speedway has been cancelled due to saturated grounds.  The event will not be rescheduled.  The 93rd anniversary season opener will now take place on Saturday, April 30 featuring the first of four appearances by the Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars presented by Mobil 1. 

 

"We're disappointed to have to cancel for Saturday but even with the warm weather predicted Mother Nature didn't leave us any choice," stated General Manager Dave Willoughby.  "We were hopeful for some dry weather this week, but cold and wet conditions on Monday and Tuesday followed by more rain on Thursday sealed our fate.  We pride ourselves in having a quality racing surface and that simply wasn't going to be possible after accessing the situation.  In addition, the spectator parking areas are simply saturated.  We wanted to make this announcement early to allow fans and racers the opportunity to make alternate plans."

 

In addition to the All Stars racing for $6,000 to-win next Saturday, the Whelen Econo Mods will also be on the card.  Pits open at 3 p.m. with grandstands at 4.  Racing is scheduled for 7 p.m.  Reserved seats, advance general admission tickets, patio seats, VIP fan suites, and camping permits are on sale at https://sharonspeedway.simpletix.com

 

Sharon Speedway is owned by the Blaney, Weller, and Kirila Families and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481.  Become a fan of Sharon Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.

 

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DAVE BLANEY BECOMES JUST THE 2ND REPEAT "410"SPRINT CAR WINNER OF 2021 AT SHARON; JOE MARTIN REDEEMS HIMSELF WITH 1ST RUSH LATE MODEL TOUR WIN IN 7 YEARS WORTH $4000; WILL THOMAS WINS $2500 IN RICHEST ECONO MOD RACE; CHRIS MCGUIRE EARNS $2000 FOR 3RD STOCK WIN; BACK-TO-BACK RUSH MOD TOUR WINS FOR CHAS WOLBERT

By Mike Leone

 

September 11, 2021               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Hartford, OH)…Sharon Speedway brought down the curtain on the 92nd anniversary racing season on Saturday with night two of the annual "Apple Festival Nationals".  A total of 172 cars competed over the two nights amongst the seven divisions.  Capturing victories on Saturday night and celebrating in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane were Dave Blaney-Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars, Joe Martin-RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series presented by Zarin Truck & Auto, Will Thomas III-Whelen Econo Mods presented by BACA, Chris McGuire-Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks for the Penn-Ohio Series, and Chas Wolbert-HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modified Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Touring Series. The 92nd anniversary season ended with eight straight events being completed. 

 

After thrilling the hometown crowd on May 22 beating the World of Outlaws for the first time in nearly 24 years, Dave Blaney returned to victory lane on Saturday night winning the $3,000 "410" Sprint Car finale to join Carl Bowser as the only repeat winners in 2021.  Blaney started eighth and made the winning pass on Adam Kekich, who won his first career Sharon race on July 24, on lap 12 and kept May 15 winner George Hobaugh at bay in the closing laps for his 34th career Sharon "410" win. 

 

"This feels great to win here," acknowledged the 58-year-old Hartford, Ohio native who now calls Concord, North Carolina home.  "I love coming up here and racing.  This falls on September 11; that's big for everyone.  It's great to see a great crowd on this day; I want to thank everyone for coming out and hope you had a good time.  For awhile I thought I was pretty equal to them (Bowser and Kekich).  I was trying to get some momentum and runs going to be able to do something with them and was able to slip by.  Ryan Blaney Foundation is on this thing.  It's kind of a throwback to a 60s car paint job of my dad's so that's pretty cool with Ryan being on it.  I have Rick Bates and Doug Kekich with me tonight so it's a good night."

 

Kekich jumped into the early lead in the 30-lap feature over Darin Gallagher, Bob Felmlee, Bowser, and Hobaugh.  Bowser passed Felmlee for third on lap two.  Blaney was halfway to the front in three laps when he dropped Felmlee back to fifth.  Gallagher got into the fence on lap four allowing Bowser and Blaney to move into second and third respectively.  By lap seven, the top three of Kekich, Bowser, and Blaney distanced themselves from the field.  Blaney then put a big slider on Bowser in turns three and four on lap nine for second.  Three laps later, Blaney made a similar move in turn four for the winning pass.

 

Kekich and Bowser went at it for second running side-by-side on lap 14 with Bowser making the pass.  Bowser began to close in on Blaney on lap 17, while Hobaugh passed Kekich for third.  Bowser stayed in Blaney's tracks in traffic until a caution for a Steve Bright spin with 23 laps completed.  Under caution, Bowser had a tire go down and went pit side handing second to Hobaugh. 

 

Hobaugh stayed within striking distance over the final seven laps, but was unable to make a serious bid at the lead as Blaney's #10 took the checkered flag first for his 37th overall win at Sharon by 0.570 seconds.  Hobaugh was second after starting sixth.  Kekich and 10th starting Caleb Griffith went at it over the final seven laps trading third back and forth with Kekich getting the spot for good on lap 25.  Griffith was fourth, while Gallagher dropped to fifth.  Dan Kuriger went 11th to sixth as Jack Sodeman, Jr., 23rd starting Brandon Spithaler, Felmlee, and Bowser completed the top 10.  Blaney set fast time overall against the 26-car field in qualifying with a lap of 14.491.  Heat winners were Kekich, Felmlee, and Hobaugh.

 

Two weeks after losing a heartbreaker on the final lap to hall of famer Chub Frank, Joe Martin turned the tables and passed three-time RUSH Late Model Touring Series Champion Jeremy Wonderling with one lap to go and went on to win the "Cider Jug 40" presented by Zarin Truck & Auto along with an anonymous donor in support of Autism Awareness.  The $4,000 victory ended a more than seven-year winless drought on the Tour for Martin, whose last and only victory came on August 30, 2014 at McKean County Raceway.  Martin became the sixth different Touring Series winner of 2021.

 

"I shouldn't be this emotional; it's a crate race but it's hard to win these races," expressed the 36-year-old Punxsutawney, Pa. standout.  "I feel like we've been good all year, but can't win these races; look at these winners  Jeremy (Wonderling), Kyle (Hardy), Chub (Frank), Michael Norris and Mark Whitener.  It means so much to me to give all these guys what they deserve.  I put a lot of pressure on myself and I thought I gave it away for sure.  With the restarts at the end, it's hard to beat these guys.  My brother moved me down and I slowed down because I thought it was rubbered up.  I got in traffic and moved up to see what I could do and it was just as good; it wasn't rubbered up.  I had to pick the bottom on the restart and we run a different gear than everyone else, and I almost lost it.  I knew I could run it in wide open like I did all weekend once he (Wonderling) got clear of me, and that's what I did.  He squeezed me down the backstretch, but I wasn't lifting; I was either going to wreck or win it."

 

After a side-by-side battle for the lead on the opening lap of the 40-lap feature, Martin took control over Logan Zarin with Wonderling, Will Thomas III and Kyle Hardy in tow.  A great battle for third developed on lap five as Wonderling was trying to fend off Thomas and Hardy.  The trio went three-wide with Thomas taking the spot, while Martin and Zarin began to distance themselves from the field. 

 

While Thomas took control of third, Wonderling and Hardy continued their battle for fourth.  Hardy nosed ahead on lap seven, but Wonderling regained the spot one lap later.  Hardy didn't back down and put a big slider on Wonderling in turns three and four on lap 10 to take the spot.  Back up front, Zarin began to close in on Martin before Martin caught traffic on lap 13.  Three laps later, Zarin caught the leader, while Thomas also closed the margin.  Hardy was making ground on Thomas as well and it appeared he was about to rip around Thomas for third, but got hung up in traffic on lap 19 allowing Wonderling to make the pass once again.

 

After 26 caution-free laps, Dan Lepro wasn't able to clear the track necessitating the caution.  When racing resumed, Zarin didn't have a good restart, which allowed Wonderling to pass both Thomas and Zarin for runner-up.  Zarin's struggles also shuffled Thomas out of the top five and moved eighth starting Russ King into fourth past Hardy.  King and Hardy really went at it in the ensuing laps.  Hardy worked on King for many laps before finally getting under King in turn three on lap 37; contact was made between the two, which resulted in a flat tire for King.  King's unsportsmanlike actions under caution resulted in a black flag from the event.

 

When racing resumed on lap 38, Wonderling was able to make the outside work taking the lead away from Martin.  While everyone was having flashbacks of two weeks ago when Martin lost the race on the final lap, Martin wasn't about to let another race slip away.  This time Martin charged back around Wonderling one lap later and fended off Wonderling on the final lap to win by 0.430 seconds in the Tom Snyder-owned, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/T&D Performance/Tuff Nuts/Weather Capital Sales/Kevin Martin Trucking-sponsored #10s.  The victory was Martin's sixth of his career at Sharon.

 

"When I raced before I didn't this kind of stuff but Tommy (Snyder) has the best of the best," explained Martin.  "To know what I used to race against with my own stuff to what I got now; we got a piece of equipment.  It's all credit to him.  He puts in a lot of time and effort.  This is dead serious stuff these two guys I'm racing with (Wonderling and Hardy).  It takes a lot of work.  The more we race, the better we get.  I want to thank the fans.  I'm disappointed with the car count, but you fans got to see another good race.  The Sprints put on a good show too.  The track is awesome.  Sharon Speedway from top-to-bottom has their stuff together and the safety crew is second to none.  We appreciate the track prep, the safety crew everything they do, Vicki (Emig) and Mike (Leone) giving us big money to race for and getting these good guys to race with us- it's a lot of fun."

 

After three straight finishes of seventh or worse on the Tour, Wonderling returned to the podium for the sixth time this season.  His runner-up finish was worth $2,000.  Hardy was able to pass Zarin in the final laps to finish third for the second straight race at Sharon and his 12th podium finish in 13 Tour races this season. Zarin's fourth place was easily his best finish Tour finish of the season.  Matt Latta went ninth to fifth for his first top five Tour finish of the season. 

 

Thomas dropped to sixth at the finish.  After a career best Tour finish of fifth two weeks ago at Sharon, Cory Sines had another strong effort in seventh after starting 10th.  Daryl Charlier and Bud Watson finished eighth and ninth.  Michael Duritsky, Jr. earned the $100 Precise Racing Products "Hard Charger" gift card for his run from 17th to 10th.  On Friday night, Wonderling earned his third $100 FK Rod Ends fast time award with a lap of 17.996.  Wonderling and Martin added $25 for winning FK Rod Ends heat races.  Martin received a $100 Sunoco gift card for winning the dash.

 

Will Thomas III capped off a tremendous first season driving an Econo Mod winning his fifth feature in seven tries.  Thomas took the lead on a restart on lap 17 from Ty Rhoades and went on to win the richest race in the 12-year history of the division.  The ninth starting Thomas earned $2,500 in the 25-lap Whelen feature presented by Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) along with an eight-foot trophy.  The event was coordinated with additional sponsorship from the Mitchell Wright Family, Young's Family Trucking, Spencer's Farm, and Spencer Motorsports.

 

"I can't thank all of the BACA guys enough for stepping up and the Wright Family for doing this," stated the 45-year-old Sharpsville, Pa. driver.  "The Econo Mod class here is really, really tough, but we worked way harder on this car than we did the Late Model.  I thought we had a good run in that going, but had a late race jingle on a restart.  I feel very blessed to win this.  I want to thank everyone for supporting Apple Fest this weekend; everyone knows I love it.  Fortunately we got a late race restart alongside Ty (Rhoades).  He's a great driver and I knew he'd run me clean.  Just fortunate enough to be here." 

 

Keith Felicetty led the first three laps before Rhoades took over on lap four.  Thomas then moved into second past Felicetty following a restart on lap 15.  A multi-car accident stopped action with 16 laps completed.  When racing resumed on lap 17, Rhoades and Thomas raced side-by-side with Thomas making the winning pass off the outside of turn four.  Thomas went on for his 24th career Sharon win by 2.266 seconds in the Hallman Originals/Colonial Metal Products/Colonial Slitting Industries/Motorstate Distributing/955 Automotive-sponsored #9.

 

Rhoades, who won the $1,000 UMP Mod feature on July 31 in his own #12R, earned $1,000 in Tom Sok's #28 for second on Saturday night.  Dustin DeMattia was third over Andy Buckley and Jeremy Double.  Dennis Lunger, Jr., who won the opener on April 24, returned and ended the season going 15th to sixth.  Mitchell Wright dropped to seventh over Jordan Simmons.  Gary Olson earned the $100 hard charger by going 23rd to ninth.  Felicetty dropped to 10th.  Winning the heats on Friday night over the 28-car field were Double, Wright, and Felicetty.  Felicetty then won the $100 dash to earn the feature pole.  Gary Robinson won the last chance B main.

 

On July 24, Chris McGuire ended a more than two-year winless drought with his first victory since June 18, 2019.  On Saturday night, the 2018 Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stock track champion brought the curtain down on the 2021 season winning for the third time in the final five shows!  McGuire's 25-lap feature win was worth $2,000 with the Penn-Ohio Series.

 

"This car has been really good this year," acknowledged the 30-year-old Erie, Pa. racer.  "Hats off to Dave (Willoughby) and his crew.  This track is the best in the tri-state area.  Other tracks need to take note of this; they have it figured out.  I knew I was good, but I got a little nervous when I felt the deck bar get ripped out a little bit.  I slowed it down a bit, got my momentum back, and tried to be as smooth as I could up top.  I gambled on tires a little bit and they fired back off after a lap or so and it was smooth sailing.  Winning anything at Sharon is huge for me.  This is such a historical place."

 

Chris Schneider, who won the $10,000 "Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals" and $1,000 special earlier this season, jumped to the early lead in search of his third big win; however, his lead was short-lived as McGuire took over on lap three.  Fifth starting Coleton Longwell, who won his first career race on July 31, grabbed second from Schneider on lap five and took the lead from McGuire one lap later on a restart. 

 

After a pair of cautions with seven laps completed, Longwell and McGuire ran side-by-side for the lead on laps 8-10 with Longwell on the bottom and McGuire on the top.  McGuire nosed ahead on lap eight and would survive two more cautions and pulled away late to score his sixth career win by 3.488 in his Welders Supply/Tobber Racing/Ed's Drywall-sponsored #63.  Longwell was second to McGuire for the second straight race.

 

Jason Johns was third as Schneider dropped to fourth after leading the first two laps.  Steve D'Apolito was fifth after starting 12th.  Completing the top 10 were Jason Fosnaught, Bobby Whitling, Hunter Exley, Tyler Wyant, and Mike T. Miller.  Johns, Schneider, McGuire, and Paul Davis won Friday night's heat races over the 37-car field.    Schneider picked up $250 from Razor Sharp Logistics for winning the dash.  Last chance B mains went to Bruce Hartzfeld and Scott Stiffler.

 

Track champion Chas Wolbert won his second consecutive RUSH Sportsman Modified Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Touring Series event at the Hartford, Ohio track.  The 2021 $3,500 Hovis Weekly Series Champion led all 25 laps of the feature.  Wolbert's fifth Sharon win of the season was worth $800 and backed up his $600 Tour win on July 31 during "Manufacturers Night".  Wolbert upped his all-time leading Tour win total to seven. 

 

"This is awesome," expressed the 27-year-old Warren, Ohio driver.  "We had some great runs this year. Thank you to RUSH and Sharon Speedway for allowing us to race here.  Dave Willoughby and staff gives us a great facility and track surface to run on every week.  We have great competition.  Everyone works on their stuff and gets it to the front the best they can.  I want to thank the fans for sticking it out to watch us.  I'm really pushing to get a big-block for next year.  I have everything I need except a motor, which is the main thing I need.  We'll be putting a for sale sign on this soon so if I get rid of this we'll hopefully be making the move.  You never know, Rob Kristyak may let me drive his car sometimes (jokingly)!" 

 

Wolbert used the outside to pass his good friend J.C. Boyer at the start of the feature for the early lead, while Jacob Wolfe went sixth to third.  After being light on Friday night, Caden Petry raced from ninth to win the last chance B main, but would bring out the first caution with front end damage with three laps completed. 

 

When racing resumed on lap four, eighth starting Rob Kristyak was ripping the fence and moved into the top five past Clayton Deems. The event's second and final caution was displayed for rookie Doug Rutana with five laps scored.  The final 20 laps went non-stop.  Back under green, Wolfe was all over Boyer in the race for second, while Kristyak drove around Tatgenhorst for fourth on lap nine.

 

Up front, Wolbert caught lapped traffic on lap 13 and made a three-wide move on Amelia Clay and Dave Price.  As Wolfe and Boyer continued to battle, Boyer made contact with an infield tire on lap 21 and did a 360 spin, which allowed Kristyak to blow by both Boyer and Wolfe on the outside for second.  With only four laps to go, the margin for Kristyak to run down Wolbert was insurmountable as Wolbert's Alcon Mechanical/Dunkin Donuts of Warren, OH/C.T. Wolbert Trucking/Walters Building Co./Ohio Intra Express/Russ King Racing/BCT Construction-sponsored #c3 took the checkered flag first by 4.665 seconds.  It was Wolbert's milestone 20th career Sharon win and all-time leading 45th of his career in RUSH.

 

Kristyak earned $500 for a season best second place.  Wolfe, who was leading the Tour points, crossed the finish line in third, but was disqualified in post-race tech for an ignition violation.  That moved Boyer to third for his best career Tour finish.  Tatgenhorst was fourth and moved into the Tour points lead.  Clayton Deems was fifth over Kole Holden.  Josh Deems went 10th to seventh.  Jordan Ehrenberg dropped to eighth.  Brandon Ritchey was ninth, which was good enough to secure the $1,000 Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series championship.  Cory Sines, who finished seventh in the RUSH Late Model feature, ran his first ever Modified race and finished 10th.  On Friday night, Boyer, Ehrenberg, and Holden won the heat races over the 27-car field.    

 

Coming up next Saturday (September 18) will be the final event of 2021 featuring the Renegade Monster Truck Tour with Monster Trucks, Mini Monster Trucks, and Renegade Road Rippers.  In addition, there will be a Monster Ride Truck along with Track Party & Kids Fun Zone.  For more information, check out www.MonstersATsharon.com

 

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars (30 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. DAVE BLANEY (10)  2. George Hobaugh (40)  3. Adam Kekich (5K)  4. Caleb Griffith (Ward 33W)  5. Darin Gallagher (Peluso 12)  6. Dan Kuriger (08)  7. Jack Sodeman, Jr. (23Jr)  8. Brandon Spithaler (22)  9. Bob Felmlee (6)  10. Carl Bowser (11)  11. Dylan Norris (Gobrecht 44)  12. Dan Shetler (7K)  13. R.J. Jacobs (18J)  14. David Kalb, Jr. (11J)  15. Russ Sansosti (23s)  16. Jimmy Morris (16)  17. Bryan Salisbury (21)  18. Bob Lime (901)  19. Eric L. Williams (4w)  20. Brandon Matus (13)  21. Steve Bright (13B)  22. Cameron Nastasi (99)  23. Brent Matus (33).  DNS: Michael Lutz (86), Frankie Nervo (21N), Darren Pifer (23).

 

RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series "Cider Jug 40" presented by Zarin Truck & Auto (40 laps, $4,000 to-win): 1. JOE MARTIN (Snyder 10s)  2. Jeremy Wonderling (3J)  3. Kyle Hardy (99)  4. Logan Zarin (1z)  5. Matt Latta (21)  6. Will Thomas III (9)  7. Cory Sines (25s)  8. Daryl Charlier (Centerline 114)  9. Bud Watson (225)  10. Michael Duritsky, Jr. (90J)  11. Ashton Briggs (11A)  12. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J)  13. Steve Hollabaugh (3)  14. Ryan Frazee (11F)  15. Josh Ferry (33)  16. Dan Lepro (2L)  17. W.L. Stile (51)  18. Russ King (Sines 15)-DSQ (unsportsmanlike conduct).

 

Whelen Econo Mods presented by BACA (25 laps, $2,500 to-win): 1. WILL THOMAS III (9)  2. Ty Rhoades (Sok 28)  3. Dustin DeMattia (77D)  4. Andy Buckley (Leamer 965)  5. Jeremy Double (83)  6. Dennis Lunger, Jr. (71L)  7. Mitchell Wright (M1)  8. Jordan Simmons (Smith 13)  9. Gary Olson (23)  10. Keith Felicetty (98)  11. Garrett Calvert (7G)  12. Steve Haefke, Jr. (Vestal 4)  13. Dale Reiser (262)  14. Rick Robinson (11H)  15. Gary Robinson (44R)  16. Jason Gracey (17)  17. Junior Mechling (89)  18. Emily Stoyer (9JR)  19. Troy Pinch (12P)  20. Jacob Eucker (64)  21. Alan Dellinger (Meadows 10T)  22. Jarrett Young (21)  23. Dennis Dellinger (XR17).  DNS: Brian Lacey (51).  DNQ: Ed Roberts (6s), Drew Barnes (528), Ryan Wisniowski (37), Bryan Wagner (56).

 

Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks for the Penn-Ohio Series (25 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. CHRIS MCGUIRE (63)  2. Coleton Longwell (7)  3. Jason Johns (31)  4. Chris Schneider (55)  5. Steve D'Apolito (84)  6. Jason Fosnaught (J19)  7. Bobby Whitling (7W)  8. Hunter Exley (23H)  9. Tyler Wyant (24)  10. Mike T. Miller (T6)  11. Brian Carothers (02c)  12. Jamie Scharba (11S)  13. Jason Jones (81)  14. Matt Bernard (7B)  15. Tim Bish (11B)  16. Chase Lambert (22)  17. Scott Stiffler (14)  18. Tyler Kubic (222)  19. Ray Gregory (82R)  20. Larry Kugel (0)  21. Curt J. Bish (Tarr 29)  22. Bruce Hartzfeld (101)  23. Alan Dellinger (Laskey 1R)  24. Jonathan Davis (8).  DNS: Paul Davis (3).  DNQ: Jim Fosnaught (20J), Blake Scharba (12B), Ed Bolyard (Patrick 05), Steve Horvath (2H), Tim Burns (Duncan 67J), Jamie Maxwell (6), Mike Kerr (25K), Doug Iorio II (28), Troy DeZarn (Nichols 21), Scott Malone (12M), Brett McDonald (25), Gary Fisher (99F).

 

HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modified Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Touring  Series (25 laps, $800 to-win): 1. CHAS WOLBERT (c3)  2. Rob Kristyak (00)  3. J.C. Boyer (12)  4. Tony Tatgenhorst (63T)  5. Clayton Deems (55R)  6. Kole Holden (2)  7. Josh Deems (9D)  8. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57)  9. Brandon Ritchey (1R)  10. Cory Sines (25)  11. Shayne Izzo (86)  12. Ayden Cipriano (5c)  13. Brandon Albert (30)  14. Chelsie Kriegisch (10)  15. Greg Porter (25)  16. Cameron McFadden (83)  17. Gage Priester (71)  18. Jake Rutana (11J)  19. Jeff Schaffer, Jr. (14)  20. Dave Price (111)  21. Amelia Clay (16c)  22. Doug Rutana (70B)  23. Caden Petry (7P)  24. Jacob Wolfe (7)-DSQ (ignition).  DNQ: Gary Haupt (16), Dalton Gabriel (333G), Lucas Canon (2LC).

 

Sharon Speedway is owned by the Blaney, Weller, and Kirila Families and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481. Become a fan of Sharon Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.

 

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SMITH GOES 2-FOR-2 IN WESTERN PA SPRINT SPEEDWEEK WITH 1ST EVER SHARON WIN; CAREER 1ST WIN FOR 12TH STARTING GROVES IN RUSH SPRINTS; WOLBERT WINS #2 IN RUSH MODS; 1ST WIN FOR DOUBLE IN ECONO MODS

By Mike Leone

 

June 5, 2021               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Hartford, OH)…Summer-like conditions and finally a race night without a chance of rain graced Sharon Speedway on Saturday night.  Capturing victories and celebrating in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane on Buck's Fabricating Night were Ryan Smith-Western PA Speedweek for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars, Nolan Groves-Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars, Chas Wolbert-HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, and Jeremy Double-Whelen Econo Mods.  A total of 111 race cars filled the pit area for the four-division program.

 

Fresh off his first career Lernerville Speedway win on Friday night, central Pennsylvania invader Ryan Smith made it back-to-back wins to open up Western PA Sprint Speedweek with his first ever Sharon win.  Smith hounded race-long leader Carl Bowser before making the winning pass with six laps to go.  Smith earned an additional $500 thanks to Krill Recycling in addition to $350 from Knox Bakery for setting fast time boosting his payday to $3,850.  Smith became the fourth different winner in four "410" Sprint Car races held at Sharon in 2021.

 

"So far so good- it's a shame Mother Nature was rude to us the first two nights," acknowledged the 33-year-old Fleetwood, Pa. winner.  "This place is awesome.  The guys do a heck of a job with the race track.  Thanks to Tyler (Beichner) for putting this together and the place is packed- it doesn't get any better than this.  That race proved it; I raced my nuts off to get the lead.  I kind of rode there waiting for traffic to come in; it got dicey, but it was a lot of fun.  The guys had the car really good.  I had to be patient.  I had a shot at him (Bowser) on the one restart, and may have been able to make it stick, but I think we would have crashed.  I saw the 11 (Bowser) creeping the bottom on the restart after I got the lead.  I couldn't miss my mark so I had to rip it pretty hard to carry speed and stay ahead of him."

 

As the Diehl Automotive Pace Truck exited the speedway, Carl Bowser and Ryan Smith brought the 24-car starting field to green for the 30-lap feature with Bowser getting the jump and taking the early lead over Smith, Dan Kuriger, Brandon Matus, and Brandon Spithaler.  Sye Lynch and Cody Bova tangled on the backstretch on lap two with both cars spinning wildly and kicking up a cloud of dust from the infield; thankfully everyone was able to avoid them. 

 

Back under green, Bowser and Smith broke away from the field on lap four.  Eighth starting Darin Gallagher was on the move taking fourth from Matus on lap six and closed in on Kuriger one lap later.  Bowser was in lapped traffic on lap 10, but a caution for Spithaler gave him a clear track.  When green replaced yellow, Smith tried the bottom as he raced side-by-side with Bowser, but Bowser had the momentum off the top to maintain the lead, while Gallagher nosed ahead of Kuriger for third.  A.J. Flick started alongside Gallagher in row four and followed him forward taking fourth from Kuriger on lap 13.  Bowser caught lapped traffic on lap 17, while Flick made the pass of Gallagher for third.

 

As the laps ticked off, Smith continued to stay right with Bowser and closed in on lap 23.  Smith made an excellent move in traffic on lap 24 sliding past Bowser for the winning pass.  Bowser kept Smith in striking range over the final six laps, but once again was denied his first Sharon win as Smith took the BJD Motorsports-owned, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers/Western Mountain/X-1 Race Cars-sponsored #6 to the win by 0.623 of a second.

 

After a runner-up finish on Friday night at Lernerville, Flick made the podium again with a third place effort to keep the $2,500 Speedweek crown in sight.  Kuriger was fourth.  In his first appearance on the red clay surface, central Pa. racer Bradley Howard went ninth to fifth.  After going eighth to third in 10 laps, Gallagher dropped to sixth at the finish.  Matus was seventh over Bob Felmlee.  Dan Shetler crossed the line in ninth, but took a hard flip after the checkered flag as cars got bunched up entering turn one and was awarded the $100 hard luck from Wedge Motorsports.  Lynch came back from his early spin to complete the top 10.  May 15 winner, George Hobaugh, went 22nd to 11th to earn the $333 hard charger award from Rustler Sales and Service.

 

Smith set fast time overall against the 38-car field in qualifying with a lap of 15.315.  Smith, Kuriger, Felmlee, and Bowser won the heat races, while Kyle Colwell and Hobaugh split the last chance B mains.    

 

Twelfth starting Nolan Groves passed two-time Equipment Rental Options RUSH Sprint Car Weekly Series, Champion Chad Ruhlman, on lap 13 for the lead and the Go-Kart standout drove away to win his first career feature.  Groves became the fifth different Pace Performance RUSH Sprint Car winner in five races on the 2021 circuit as he earned $600 in the 20-lap Terry Bowser Excavating feature.  An all-time division record 23 cars were on hand!

"This is too unreal to believe right now," expressed the 17-year-old Sugar Grove, Pa. winner, who was the RUSH "Futures Cup" Champion in 2020.  "I'm at a loss for words.  I can't thank everyone enough.  Once I figured out the line the car liked, it was pretty fast."       

 

Teammates Amelia Clay and Jason Scoville traded the lead in the early laps before Chad Ruhlman took the lead on lap four, while his son Kevin moved into third.  Kevin Ruhlman's night came to an end with a hard flip in turn four after getting into the fence with four laps completed.  He was okay.  Back under green flag conditions, sixth starting Steve Pedley drove under Clay for second on lap six. 

 

Groves made his way into contention when he passed Brian Ruhlman for fourth on lap six then Clay for third one lap later.  Groves continued to move forward driving under Pedley for second on lap 10.  Groves ran down Chad Ruhlman on lap 13 and snuck under the standout in turn four for the lead before the event's final caution for a spin by Clay.  The final seven laps went caution-free as Groves drove away to win by a commanding 3.631 seconds in the Paul Beedle-owned, Coyote Performance Products/Tom Abbott Auctioneers/Spray Foam Options/Schuylers Service Center/Speedway Service Center/Kart Works-sponsored #25.  Groves became the eighth different winner in 11 RUSH Sprint races run all-time at Sharon as Chad Ruhlman remains the only multiple winner.

 

Chad Ruhlman was second as he's primed for another run at the $5,000 Series title.  Pedley was third.  Blaze Myers passed Brian Ruhlman on lap 16 to take fourth as Brian Ruhlman was fifth in his season debut.  John Mollick went 14th to sixth as Brandon Shughart, Arnie Kent, Brian Hartzell, and Rod George completed the top 10.  Heat winners were Shughart, Kent, and Brian Ruhlman.

 

Defending RUSH Sportsman Modified Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series Champion, Chas Wolbert, took advantage of an invert zero and went on to lead all 20 laps of the HTMA/Precise Racing Products feature for his second win in three races.  With more than a full field of cars, the 26-year-old Warren, Ohio driver's win was worth $500 as he not only leads the Sharon track points, but also the $3,500 Hovis Weekly Series, and the $1,000 Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series standings.

 

Rookie Ben Easler kept Wolbert in his sights until the event's final caution with 13 laps scored.  When racing resumed, seventh starting Justin Shea moved into second.  Shea, who has a win this year at Pittsburgh, was unable to mount a challenge over the final seven laps as Wolbert took his Alcon Mechanical/Dunkin Donuts of Warren, OH/C.T. Wolbert Trucking/Walters Building Co./Ohio Intra Express/Russ King Racing/BCT Construction-sponsored #c3 to his all-time leading 17th career Sharon win by 1.745 seconds.

 

Easler, who is just 14 years of age, continues to impress as he came home third.  Rob Kristyak went eighth to fourth as Tony Tatgenhorst rounded out the first five.  Tenth starting Jacob Wolfe was sixth over Jordan Ehrenberg, Kole Holden, Preston Cope, and Kyle Martell.  Heat winners over the season high 25-car field were Wolbert, Easler, and Holden.

 

Jeremy Double came out on top of a caution-plagued Whelen Econo Mod feature that was cut short by four laps from the scheduled 20-lap distance due to the time limit.  Double, who finished runner-up in the first two events of the season, earned $400 with more than a full field of cars in action.  The 25-year-old Bristolville, Ohio resident also became the third different winner in as many races this season.

 

It was far from an easy victory as Double had to fend off standouts Jacob Eucker and Will Thomas III over the course of the numerous restarts.  Double's 15th career Sharon win moved him into a tie for second place on the division's all-time win list and came in the Honey Labs/Wedge Motorsports/No Limits Broadband/Russ King Racing/2 Brothers Motorsports/Mahan Welding/King Bros-sponsored #83.

 

Thomas, who started sixth due to winning the last event, was halfway to the front on the opening lap then drove under Eucker for second on lap eight, but had to settle for second.  Eucker was third over Nate Young.  Keith Felicetty had a strong run in fifth after starting 10th.  Eucker, Double, and Young won the heat races over the season high 25-car field. 

 

Coming up next will be the third annual "Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals" sanctioned by the Penn-Ohio Series.  Friday night (June 11) will include open practice from 6-8 p.m. followed by qualifying, and a King of the Hill.  Saturday's program will be a complete show for the Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks paying $10,000 to-win along with the Sportsman Dwarf Cars in their first appearance of the season.  Then on Tuesday, June 15, Ohio Speedweek for the FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions will be at Sharon for $6,000 to-win along with the Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars.

 

Western PA Speedweek for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars (30 laps, $3,500 to-win): 1. RYAN SMITH (Bitner/Denochick 6)  2. Carl Bowser (11)  3. A.J. Flick (2)  4. Dan Kuriger (08)  5. Bradley Howard (49)  6. Darin Gallagher (Peluso 12)  7. Brandon Matus (13)  8. Bob Felmlee (6)  9. Dan Shetler (7K)  10. Sye Lynch (42)  11. George Hobaugh (40)  12. Adam Kekich (5K)  13. Josh Baughman (17)  14. Darren Pifer (23)  15. Landon Myers (19M)  16. Michael Bauer (Pryde 29)  17. David Kalb, Jr. (11J)  18. Brent Matus (33)  19. Leyton Wagner (38)  20. Kyle Colwell (80JR)  21. Lee Jacobs (Lewis 81)  22. Jack Sodeman, Jr. (23Jr)  23. Brandon Spithaler (22)  24. Cody Bova (20B).

DNQ for the feature: Cameron Nastasi (99), Nick Tucker (70), Brett Brunkenhoefer (47), Matt Sherlock III (55*), Ken Rossey (66), Chase Metheney (31c), Frankie Nervo (21N), Eric L. Williams (4w), Bob Lime (901), Jeremy Hill (14), Davey Jones (76), Steve Bright (13B), Logan McCandless (29), Jeremy Kornbau (27K).

 

Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars (20 laps, $600 to-win): 1. NOLAN GROVES (Beedle 25)  2. Chad Ruhlman (Engles 68)  3. Steve Pedley (21)  4. Blaze Myers (43JR)  5. Brian Ruhlman (49)  6. John Mollick (Clever 14)  7. Brandon Shughart (29)  8. Arnie Kent (18)  9. Brian Hartzell (69)  10. Rod George (Hull 41)  11. Jason Scoville (16c)  12. A.J. MacQuarrie (69x)  13. Gale Ruth, Jr. (McConnell 24)  14. Tyler Newhart (57N)  15. Ricky Tucker, Jr. (1T)  16. Amelia Clay (16c)  17. Brad Blackshear (19)  18. Kevin Kaserman (13K)  19. Bob Bland, Jr. (44)  20. Gale Ruth, Sr. (Boyles 5B)  21. Kevin Ruhlman (23)  22. Bill Watson (37x).  DNS: Andy Feil (Mahoney/Eckart 9J).

 

HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds (20 laps, $500 to-win): 1. CHAS WOLBERT (c3)  2. Justin Shea (14s)  3. Ben Easler (02)  4. Rob Kristyak (00)  5. Tony Tatgenhorst (63T)  6. Jacob Wolfe (7)  7. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57)  8. Kole Holden (2)  9. Preston Cope (24)  10. Kyle Martell (8)  11. Nick Ritchey (1R)  12. Chelsie Kriegisch (10)  13. Jacob Rutana (11J)  14. Gary Haupt (16)  15. Ayden Cipriano (5c)  16. Gage Priester (71)  17. Dave Price (111)  18. Jacob Jordan (28J)  19. Bill Adams (717)  20. Dalton Gabriel (333G)  21. Steve Burns, Jr. (70B)  22. Cameron McFadden (83)  23. Greg Porter (25)  24. J.C. Boyer (12)  25. Cole Edwards (29).

 

Whelen Econo Mods (16 laps, $400 to-win): 1. JEREMY DOUBLE (83)  2. Will Thomas III (9)  3. Jacob Eucker (64)  4. Nate Young (42)  5. Keith Felicetty (98)  6. Travis Creech (75)  7. Kasey Lam (12)  8. Junior Mechling (89)  9. Jason Gracey (17)  10. Michael Hudzik (31H)  11. Dylan Morando (27x)  12. Gary Sullivan (47s)  13. George Vestal IV (4)  14. Stone Lapcevich (22)  15. Jordan Simmons (13)  16. Gary Olson (23)  17. Vinnie DePizzo (1)  18. Kyle Layton (99L)  19.Alex Siekkinen (20)  20. Todd Miller (15)  21. Jarrett Young (21)  22. Dale Reiser (262)  23. Rick Wilson, Jr. (35)  24. Scott Burk (2).  DNS: Troy Pinch (12P).

 

Sharon Speedway is owned by the Blaney, Weller, and Kirila Families and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481. Become a fan of Sharon Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.

 

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RAIN & UNSEASONABLY COLD WEATHER FORCES SHARON TO CANCEL MAY 29 PROGRAM
By Mike Leone
 
May 28, 2021             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
(Hartford, OH)Due to saturated grounds from all day rain on Friday coupled with rain showers predicted throughout the day and night on Saturday along with unseasonably cold weather, Sharon Speedway has made the decision to cancel the May 29 event.  It marked the second cancellation of the 92^nd anniversary season.
 
Coming up next Saturday (June 5) will be round four of Western PA Speedweek for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply 410 Sprint Cars.  The Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars, HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Mods, and the Whelen Econo Mods will also be on the card plus kids bike races at intermission.  Pits open at 4 p.m. with grandstands at 5, Sprint group qualifying at 6:30 and racing at 7. 
 
Dont forget, Ohio Speedweek for the FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions Sprints Cars is coming up on Tuesday, June 15.  Itll be the second of four appearances of the All Stars racing for $6,000 to-win.  The RUSH Sprints will also be on the card.  Get your reserve seats or advance general admission tickets now https://sharonspeedway.simpletix.com.
 
Sharon Speedway is owned by the Blaney, Weller, and Kirila Families and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481. Become a fan of Sharon Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.
 
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SHARON ANNOUNCES 2020 DIVISIONAL SPONSORS; 91ST ANNIVERSARY SEASON TO BEGIN MAY 2 WITH ALL STAR SPRINTS

By Mike Leone

 

January 14, 2020                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Hartford, OH)…With the calendar changing to 2020, Sharon Speedway is gearing up for its 91st anniversary season, which will officially get underway on May 2 with the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars and RUSH Sportsman Modifieds that will follow an open practice on April 25.  A tentative schedule of events has been posted on the Sharon website.  Sharon has also announced it divisional sponsors for the 2020 season.

 

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply will return to present the night's headlining division, which typically features the "410" Sprint Cars in addition to four IMCA-type Modified events.  There will be nine non-sanctioned "410" Sprint Car events along with the three All Star shows. 

 

Hovis' corporate office and distribution center is located in Mercer, Pa.  Hovis has locations in the following western Pa. cities: Allison Park, Butler, DuBois, Emlenton, Erie, Franklin, Grove City, Hermitage, Meadville, New Brighton, New Castle, North Huntingdon, Oil City, Titusville, Wexford, and Zelienople.  For more information on Hovis, check out their website at www.hovisauto.com and "like" their page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HovisAutoSupply.

 

Gibson Insurance Agency has been a long time supporter of the Stock Car division at Sharon.  That will continue in 2020.  The Stocks are on the schedule 11 times including the Penn-Ohio "Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals" and the "Apple Festival Nationals".  Sharon continues to have the region's highest weekly Stock count.  Drivers compete for $700 to-win weekly when there's 24 or more cars.  Curt J. Bish is the defending track champion after capturing his inaugural crown in 2019.

 

Since 1947, the Gibson Agency has been providing quality insurance as a reputable family-run agency.  Gibson specialize in a broad range of personal and business as well as niche markets such as home, renters, auto, life, high-net-worth, business owners, business auto, farm, commercial property, contractors and more.  Gibson is based locally in Girard, Ohio; however, their coverage extends to nearby areas including Youngstown, Warren, Cortland, Hubbard, Brookfield and across the nation throughout 48 states.  For more information on Gibson, check out their website www.gibsonagency.com and like their Facebook at www.facebook.com/gibsonagency.

 

HTMA/Precise Racing Products will remain as the presenting sponsor of the RUSH Sportsman Modified.  Sharon has been the home track for the division since its inception in 2014.  The division has averaged more than a full field of cars each of the past four years and only on four occasions during that time have had less than 20 cars.  The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will be on the schedule 15 times in 2020.  In addition to the Sharon point fund, racers also compete for the $3,500 to-win RUSH Weekly Championship plus new in 2020 will be the $1,000 to-win "Route 7 Rumble" presented by Wedge Motorsports, which will be a point championship between all the races at Sharon and Raceway 7.  Kole Holden is the defending Sharon champion and has won the title two of the last three years. 

 

Precise Racing Products has parts and tires for all forms of racing including Dirt, drag, asphalt, road race, kart, ATV, and MX.  HTMA/Precise Racing Products has locations in Sarver, Pa. and Finksburg, Maryland.  For more information, check out their website at www.preciseracing.com and like their Facebook at www.facebook.com/hoosiermidatlantic.

 

New for 2020, the Elite Series will be the divisional sponsor and sanction all Econo Mod races at Sharon.  Elite teams will earn points towards the $2,000 Elite Modified Series Championship.  The Elite Econo Mods will be on the schedule 10 times including four loyalty races with increased purses and giveaways on May 23, June 27, August 22, and September 11-12.  Dustin DeMattia won the 2019 Sharon track point title over Ty Rhoades, while Rhoades captured the Elite Championship over DeMattia.  For more information on the Elite Series, check out their website at www.elitemodifiedseries.com and like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elitemodifiedseries

 

Sharon Speedway is owned by the Blaney, Weller, and Kirila Families and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481.  Become a fan of Sharon Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.

 

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RETURN OF "410" SPRINT CARS FOR $3000 "SIMON YODER MEMORIAL" HEADLINE "STEEL VALLEY THUNDER" PROGRAM SATURDAY AT SHARON

By Mike Leone

 

August 9, 2017                       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Hartford, OH)…After two successful All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car events earlier this summer, the "410" Sprint Cars will make their third of four appearances during the 2017 88th anniversary season this Saturday night (August 12).   The weekly Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars, HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, Summit Racing Equipment Econo Mods, and Junior Sprints for kids will round out the "Steel Valley Thunder" program presented by Thompson Fab.  Racing is set for 7 p.m.  Adult admission is just $10.

 

The "Simon Yoder Memorial" will feature a 30-lap $3,000 to-win, $250 to-start feature event for the "410" Sprint Cars (complete payoff posted below).  Drivers will draw for heat race starting positions.  The top six drivers from the heat races (provided two or three heat races are run) will compete in a six-lap dash paying $150 to-win with a complete payoff that will determine the first three rows of the feature.  The remainder of the lineup will be heads up from the heat races or B main finish.  There will be no entry or registration fees.  Standard local Sprint Car rules will be utilized.  Mufflers and tethers are not required. 

 

The "410" Sprint Cars have made two visits this season under the All Star Circuit of Champions sanction with Kyle Larson winning the Ohio Speedweek event on June 20 and Christopher Bell the "Lou Blaney Memorial".  The "410s" will return on September 8-9 for the "Apple Festival Nationals" in another $3,000 to-win non-sanctioned event. 

 

With several tracks not running Sprint Cars on Saturday, the event has drawn interest from throughout the region.  Dave Blaney will look to add to his 28 career "410" Sprint Car wins at the track.  Leading the local contingent is Jack Sodeman, Jr.  The North Jackson, Ohio driver won the last two championships when the Sprints last ran weekly in 2009 and 2010.  Sodeman has 12 "410" wins at Sharon.  Dan Shetler, the 2008 track champion, has been fast throughout the region this year and is expected to compete along with locals such as A.J. Flick, Carl Bowser, Sye Lynch, Dan Kuriger, Brandon and Brent Matus, Michael Bauer, and many more. Central Pa. driver, Bradley Howard, who has competed with the All Stars for much of the last two years has stated his intention to compete. 

 

"We've had great success with our Sprint Car shows," stated general manager Dave Willoughby.  "Last year we were unable on a couple tries to get our non-sanctioned 410 Sprint show in, but had a great turnout in 2015.  Looks like the weather should cooperate on Saturday, and this year we've added a second non-sanctioned show as part of the Apple Festival Nationals.  We have to thank all of the contributors that allowed us to raise the purse in memory of Simon Yoder, while keeping the general admission price at just $10.  We really hope both the fans and racers support this event so we can do more Sprint Car events in the future." 

 

Yoder was a longtime Sprint Car fan and supporter of several drivers over the years until succumbing to cancer.  The following contributors have helped increase this payoff of this event: Jim Miller, Good Tire Service, BLR Trucking, Deems Logging, Bill Altman, Palmer Pools, Intense Fabrication, Don Book Trucking, Mitcheltree Bros. Logging & Lumber, Jake Yoder, and Nathan Exley. 

 

The Stock Cars had last Saturday night off, while on July 29 Chris McGuire and Chris Schneider picked up wins for the Penn-Ohio Series events.  Only three regular weekly events have been completed this season for the Stocks.  McGuire won the season opener followed by Andy Buckley and Paul Davis won the last regular event clear back on June 10.  Davis has an 11-point lead on Andy Thompson in the Gibson Insurance Agency standings.  Mike Miller, Mike Clark, and Jamie Scharba are third through fifth.

 

The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds are coming off a big night where they had 29 cars in competition and received the highest pay structure.  Ironically three drivers have won two events in a season marred by rain including point leader Kole Holden along with Chas Wolbert and Rocky Kugel.  Wolbert is coming off the $800 make-up feature win from last Saturday night, while Holden meanwhile picked up a win Sunday at Eriez Speedway as he also leads the $3,000 to-win RUSH Weekly Series points.  Holden has an eight-point lead on Wolbert, while Chelsie Kriegisch, Shayne Izzo, and Kyle Martell complete the top five in the HTMA/Precise Racing Products standings with just three nights of point events remaining.

 

Tyler Frankenberry was able to end Steve Haefke's run of five straight wins in the Econo Mods.  Frankenberry led all 20 laps of the Summit Racing Equipment feature event for his first career win.  Haefke meanwhile had charged from 23rd to third as he appeared ready to content for a sixth straight win before spinning out.  The defending champion has just a seven-point lead over Brandon Blackshear, who has one win this season.  Zach Myers, Kyle Miller, and Mike Hillman are third through fifth in points.

 

After getting rained out on July 1, the Junior Sprints for kids will try and complete their second show of the season.  Jordan Simmons won the first event, while Mike Lutz, Jr. won their debut at the 2016 "Apple Festival Nationals".  The Junior Sprints will also compete on Friday night, September 8 for the 2017 "Apple Festival Nationals".

 

"410" Sprint Car Feature Payoff: 1. $3,000  2. $1,000  3. $800  4. $600  5. $550  6. $475  7. $425  8. $400  9. $350  10. $300  11. $280  12. $260  13-24. $250.  $100 non-qualifier/tow.

 

"410" Sprint Car Dash Payoff: 1. $150  2. $125  3. $100  4. $75  5. $50  6. $50.

 

Pits open at 4 p.m. with grandstands at 5, Sprint Car warm-ups at 6:40, and racing at 7.  Grandstand admission is $10 for those 14 and over.  Patio seating upgrades are just $5 and fan suite seating upgrades are just $20 over the cost of general admission.  In order to reserve either of these ahead of time, call the office Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 330-772-5481.  As always, children under 13, parking, and camping is always FREE!  Pit passes are $30.  Sharon has a no carry-in cooler policy.

 

Sharon Speedway is owned by the Blaney, Weller, and Kirila Families and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481.  Become a fan of Sharon Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.

 

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We're still hoping for enough snow this week for our Snowmobile, ATV & Side-by-Side races scheduled for Saturday at 11 AM. Stay tuned for updates throughout the week.