RASEY and LARSON TRIUMPH, WELLER III, D’APOLITO and SHARP VICTORIOUS
(Hartford, OH - August 14, 2004) - As is customary with the City Disposal Pure Stock division at Sharon, all 15 laps were wheel-to-wheel racing from the front of the field to the back. Steve D’Apolito claimed his sixth victory of the season, and extended his point lead, having started 4th alongside the *21 of Bill Hanna. Stan Womer and Gary Robinson started on the front row and Robinson jumped out to the early lead and stayed in control for the first 6 laps. A red flag was thrown to stop the field on lap six as Ed Cornell’s #66 machine was throwing flames under the chassis. Cornell went to the pits unharmed, but was not able to continue. D’Apolito powered by Robinson on the restart and survived one more yellow, holding off Robinson at the checkered. Robinson had his best finish of the season with second, chased across the line by Danny Exley, Russ Kapalin from 11th and Will Aley. Allan Hudzik started 22nd and worked his way all the way to sixth! Consis were won by Dan Lewis and Allan Hudzik. Heat winners were Bill Hanna, Gary Robinson, Will Aley, D’Apolito and Mike Aley.
Last year’s Modified point champion, Ron Smoker of Hamburg, NY, paid a surprise visit to Sharon and was just as strong a competitor as he had been the two previous years. Jim Rasey and Kevin Bolland started on the front row and Rasey took off like a rocket at the initial green. However, a caution would be thrown for a complete restart. On the restart, Bolland got the jump and led for 2 laps, when Jim Weller Jr slowed on the backstretch, causing the caution to fall again. Rasey slung shot around the top of the racetrack and took over the top spot on the restart. The top would prove to work for Rasey, but he was challenged numerous times throughout the 25-lap A-main. Alan Dellinger was all over Rasey while Smoker was working his way thru the field from last after changing a tire. Rex King, Bolland and Del Rougeux battled for 3rd, 4th and 5th positions respectively. On lap 19, caution flew again for Rougeux who suffered mechanical problems, setting the stage for an exiting 6-lap finish. On lap 22, Dellinger jumped the cushion, opening the door for Smoker and King to take 2nd and 3rd spots, but neither had enough to overtake Rasey in the remaining two laps and Rasey would go on to score his third feature win of the season. Smoker finished second with King, Bolland and Josh Skarzenski rounding out the top five. Rasey, Robbie Kristyak and Skarzenski won the heats.
The Green Flag Sprint division lined up with last week’s winner, Jimmy Weller III on the pole next to Maria Mayerchak. Skip Daugherty and Doug Kekich made up the second row, followed by Alan Dellinger and Guy Griffin. Weller pulled out in front with Kekich grabbing second. Guy Griffin quickly moved into the third position and gave the fans an entertaining 360 in turn two and maintaining his position. Maria Mayerchak finished fourth with Skip Daugherty fifth.
Next out was the Sunburst Environmental Sprint Division which was missing a few “regulars” as Ed Lynch Jr., Chad Hill and Mike Lutz were taking their shots at the Knoxville Nationals. With 21 cars in the pits, all would make it to the A-main. Bob Lime and Leo O’Malley led the field to the start followed by Mike Kekich and Jack Sodeman, Jr. Sodeman took the lead and started lapping cars by the fifth circuit. Jody Keegan took over the second spot and pressured Sodeman, but jumped the cushion a couple of times, causing him to losing ground. Larson weaved his way from seventh to second by the thirteenth lap, and set his sights on Sodeman. Jason Jacoby got on the wall in turn two, bringing out the red flag. Sodeman held onto the lead for two laps, but Larson was on a mission and held the lead in spite of Sodeman’s efforts. Sodeman would have to settle for second this night, followed by Mike Kkeich, Roger Campbell and CW Harshman scoring his first top five finish. Lynch’s absence would drop him from first in points to third, allowing Kevin Schaeffer to overtake the lead, and Mike Kekich taking second. Heat winners were Jody Keegan and CW Harshman.
The Coy Brothers Trucking Emod feature was riddled with cautions. Brandon Wearing was the polesitter and led the first two laps when the first yellow came out. Jeff Sharp took over the lead on the restart, but Wearing wasn’t easily shaken, holding onto the second spot until a restart on lap 11. Shawn Shingledecker started 14th was sitting in the third spot, overtaking Wearing on the restart and climbing all over Sharp’s back bumper for the remaining four laps, but Sharp went on to win his fourth of the year, shaving 13 points off McKinney’s lead. Shingledecker was second with Wearing third, McKinney fourth and Dave Willoughby scoring his best finish of the year in fifth. Heat winners were Steve Haefke, Paul Phillips and Wearing.