LARSON, BLANEY, DUNN, CLAY GO TO THE HEAD TABLE AS POINTS END AT SHARON!

By JIM POLLOCK & MARK POSEY

August 24, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hartford(OH)…As the 2001 points chase ends at America’s oldest speedway, Jarod Larson captured the Sunburst Environmental 410 sprint championship, Lou Blaney garnered another championship ring in the Gibson-Governor Modifieds. The Coy Bros. Trucking E-Mods found Russ Dunn leading the pack and Dwayne Clay topped the Burghill Auto Salvage stock cars.

The Coy-Bros. Classic/York Triathlon E-Mods was the top bill of the evening with 2001 points champ Russ Dunn and Jeff Taylor pacing the 26 car field to the starting green flag. Dunn wasted no time in showing the multi talented field why he is the 2001 track champion as he moved to the lead and to the eventual win. The only time he failed to lead a lap on lap 3 when second position starter Taylor passed for the lead only to have it annulled as a pile up brought out the only red of the 20 lap feature. Taylor while setting under red was sent to the pits to correct a missing fuel cap forcing him to restart the race from the tail. As the laps counted down Dunn retained his lead advantage over current Triathlon points leader Todd Roncaglione followed by Jeff Johnson with Taylor in hot pursit. By lap 18 Taylor had moved into the third finish position with Johnson crossing fourth and Rich Stiffler rounding out the top five. Heats winners; Dunn, Jones, T. Roncaglione, Talor. Consi finish; Mckinney, S. Stiffler, Samuelson. Dash winner; Dunn

The 16 car Sunburst Environmental Sprints was led to the line by Daryl Stimeling and Deanna Barbara. At the completion of lap one the caution flew for Stimeling who suffered a flat tire forcing him to the pits and to the tail for the restart. As the green came down once again Mike Lutz motored to the lead around Barbara. Lutz fended off several challenges from the eventual second position finisher Larry (Goob) Schuller. Scott Bonnell finished in the 3rd place spot, as last weeks feature winner Gary Edwards crossed the line in 4th and Stimeling coming from the tail to the 5th place spot. Heat winners: Schrum, Bonnell.

Leading the 21 car Gibson-Governor V-8 Modifieds was first time visitor Rodney Beltz and Skip Moore. When the green fell it was John Braymer coming from his third place starting spot to the point by the completion of lap one. Braymer held on to the lead for the next 7 circuits with Jim Rasey in tow. By lap nine high groove Harry, Rex King rocketed past Braymer to lead the way for the next 5 laps only to have his advantage erased as a caution on lap 14 forcing a double file restart with Lou on the out side. As the restart flag dropped King once again took command until going way to wide in turn 4 allowing Blaney to duck underneath to the eventual win. Rasey also sneaked by King to the second place finish forcing King to third. 21st position starter Jim Weller came across 4th and Joe Crawford fifth. Heats winners; Blaney, Kristyak. BRP racing dash winner; Blaney.

Edcornell and Dave Willoughby paced the 24 car Burghill Auto Salvage stock cars to the start of their 15 lap feature. By the completion of lap one Willoughby was at the top spot and managed to hold on for the next 4 laps despite two cautions. As the field restarted double file, outside starter Russ Kapalin raced by Willoughby to go on to win his first ever feature of this season at Sharon. Kapalin had to work for this feature as current point champion Dwayne Clay kept Kapalin honest for the last five laps of the feature event. Third place went to Tom Miller, with fourth and fifth going to Dave Ferringer and Rich Allen respectively. Heat winners: Robinson, Kapalin, Clay. Consi; Wadele, Felicty, Keener. Jim Pace Performance Dash winner; Kapalin.

Results:

Sprints: 1)Lutz, 2)Schuller, 3)Bonnell, 4) Edwards, 5)Stimeling, 6)Sodeman, 7)Kekich, 8)Larson, 9)McCollum, 10)Schrum, 11)Hartzell, 12)Etzel, 13)Barbara, DNF McKisson, O’Malley DNS Harshman.

Modifieds: 1)Blaney, 2)Rasey, 3)King, 4)Weller, 5)Crawford, 6)Moore, 7)Rougeux, 8)Lutz, 9)Mattocks, 10)Weller III, 11)Kuchta, 12)Turk, 13)Schrader, 14)Bryamer, 15)Beltz, 16)Boyer, 17)Kristyak, 18)Kress, 19)Michaels, 20)Snider DNS; Gurdak DQ; Barr.

E-Mods: 1)Dunn, 2)T Roncaglione, 3)Taylor, 4)Johnson, 5)R. Stiffler, 6)S. Stiffler, 7)Sharp, 8)McKinney, 9)Shingledecker, 10)Rudrick, 11)Potosky, 12)Bratchie, 13)Jasinski, 14)List, 15)Petrosky, 16)Jones, 17)Robinson, 18)Samuelson, 19)Diver, DNF; Willison, McCann, Coy, Haefke, R. Roncalione, Ron Jeager, Rich Jeager.

Stocks: 1)Kapalin, 2)Clay, 3)T.Miller, 4)Ferringer, 5)Allen, 6)Cornell, 7)Hudzik, 8)Felicetty, 9)Babos,10)Flavell, 11)Riffe, 12)Seaman, 13)Willoughby, 14)Kowalski, 15)Love, DNF D’Apolito, Keener, Davis, G. Miller, Kennedy, Williams, Moody, Porter, Wadele.

Bringing the 2001 racing season to it’s conclusion at this grand ol’ lady of speed is the running of the 21st annual SHARON NATIONALS for a two day engagement on Saturday September 1st and Sunday Sept 2nd. Headlining the event will be the ALL STAR SPRINT series for both dates with a 30 lap $5000 to win feature on Saturday and a 40 lap $10,000 to win feature on Sunday. Appearing with the sprinters on Saturday is the Russ King/BRP tour for the V-8 Modifieds paying $2000 for the 20 event. Along with the sprints and modifieds will be a special appearance by the Vintage Auto Racing Club.

Coming back on Sunday finds the ALL STAR SPRINTS and the crowd pleasing Stock Cars putting on a 20 lap show for $500 to win. The Vintage cars also return for an encore performance.

During the 20 year history of the SHARON NATIONALS the win list reads like the who’s who of sprint car racing with Steve Kinser, Lee Osborne, Kelly Kinser, Doug Wolfgang, Dave Blaney, Kenny Jacobs, Mark Kinser, Todd Shaffer, Joey Kuhn, Fred Rahmer, Dale Blaney, Tyler Walker, Greg Hodnett, Joey Saldana and Phil Cressman walking away with the top prize.

For those of you that are interested in purchasing lap sponsorships, they are available for the Sprints and Modifieds on Saturday and Sprints and Stock Cars on Sunday at $25 per lap, and may be purchased by contacting the track office or Fran Harshman at 330-772-5481.

Campers are always welcome at this historical event with a limited behind the grandstand sites going for $25 per site with free camping available in the north field and across the street from the track.

Ticket prices the Saturday event are $20 for adults, children ages 13-16, $5.00, 6-12, $3.00, 6 and under free, with pit passes going for $25. Sunday Admissions being $25 for adults, and children prices staying the same as Saturday, pit passes being $30. Gates will be opening at 4:00 on both days.

For information call the track office at 330-772-5481 or 724-287-4938 or visit our web site at www. Sharonspeedway. com. Sharon Speedway is located 1mile east of route 7 on route 305 then south on Custer-Orangeville Rd.