EDWARDS WINS FIRST 410 SPRINT FEATURE SINCE 1985, BLANEY BREAKS DRY SPELL, BUCKLEY CAPTURES FIRST EVER SHARON WIN, DUNN LOCKS UP E-MOD POINTS CHASE, RIETZ GAINS MICRO TOP SPOT!
By JIM POLLOCK & MARK POSEY
August 17, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hartford(OH)…With no moon in sight, the evenings show went as if a full moon was shining bright! With racing interrupted by red flags, medical emergencies, pedestrian/race car collisions and tempers at their peak the 12th Friday night race turned into a two day affair.
To correct an omission from last week, the inaugural Sharon Seniors comprised of retired drivers was a huge success. Capturing the top spot in their 12 lap feature using stock cars currently in the point chase at Sharon Speedway, found Chuck Harshman in winner circle, Lou Morrocco as first loser, Bill Gabrielson third, Bobby Johnson fourth, Jack Pearce fifth, Steve D’Apolito sixth, Don Williams seventh, Frank Ferry eighth. Again we apologize for the ommision.
Pacing the 22 car Sunburst Environment Sprints to the green, Mike Lutz and Gary Edwards took the initial start with Edwards moving into the top position by the end of the first go around. Surviving two red flags and one caution, Edwards fended off several challenges from current point leader Jarod Larson. Edwards who has had great success in the early 80’s retired for a few seasons only to come back driving a 360 Sprint with equal success capturing several wins at both Hickory Motor Speedway and Mercer. With Edwards winning his first 410 Sprint feature since 1985 forcing Larson to settle for second, bringing home the third place spot was Mike Lutz, Brian Ellenberger fourth and Mike Kekich fifth. Heats, Larson and Schrum.
On the pole for the Gibson-Governor Insurance V-8 Modifieds was the 10 of local favorite Lou Blaney and the 32 of last weeks feature winner Jim Rasey taking the green of the 21 car field. Blaney who has been winless in the past month, jumped to the lead and drove away from the field to the checker, surviving 4 cautions in the process. Rasey followed to yet another second place finish, keeping him second in the points battle. Scott Gurdak 3rd. John Braymer 4th and Dave Schrader rounding out the top five. Heats Rasey, Crawford and Blaney.
The Coy-Bros. Trucking E-Mods where paced the 28 car field to the green by Russ Dunn and Bob McCann. Dunn motored to the lead of the caution filled, time shortened event, (for the third straight time). 3rd place starter Jeff Rudrick raced to the lead on lap 3, holding on to lap 4, with Dunn regaining the top position going on to take the checker flag and securing the 2001 track championship. Rudrick settled for second, Rick Robinson from 12th to 3rd , Jeff Johnson 4th and Steve Haefke 5th. Heats Jr. Mechling, Rudrick, Domhoff.
Steve Babos and Steve D’Apolito brought the 28 car Burghill Auto Salvage Stock car field to their opening laps, with Babos leading the way for the first five laps. The hotly contested fifteen lap feature was finally won by first time visitor Andy Buckley coming from his 6th place starting position. Rounding out the top five was Dave Willoughby, Rich Allen, Carl Davis and 28th starter Gary Robinson. Heats Clay, Kapalin and Ferringer.
Making their final appearance to the Speedway this season was the Snap-On tools Micro Sprints. With Russ Koss and Bill Cunningham pacing the field. With the drop of the green, Chad Reitz moved to the point, surviving 2 red flags and one caution.
Finishing out the top five of the 15 car field where, Brian Riddle, Jason Dolich, Brandon Casper and Nathan Stein. Heats, Felix and Kapuchuck.
Results:
Sprints: 1)Edwards, 2)Larson, 3)Lutz, 4) Ellenberger, 5)Kekich, 6)Schuller, 7)Stimeling, 8)Ripper, 9)McCollum, 10)Hartzell, 11)Etzel, 12)Beasley, DNF, Priest, Ling, Harshman, McKinney, Schrum, Straley, Braden, McKisson, DNS Barris, O’Malley.
Modifieds: 1)Blaney, 2)Rasey, 3)Gurdak, 4)Braymer, 5)Schrader, 6)Weller, 7)Dorman, 8)Snyder, 9)Crawford, 10)Weller III, 11)Kuchta, 12)Rougeux, 13)Mattocks, 14)Boyer, 15)Moy, 16)Kristyak, 17)King. 18)Michaels, 19)Ferry, DNF Hoffman, DNS Moore, Kress, Chronister.
E-Mods: 1)Dunn, 2)Rudrick, 3)Robinson, 4)Johnson, 5)Haefke, 6)S. Stiffler, 7)Jones, 8)Taft, 9)Willison, 10)Sharp, 11)Domhoff, 12)Diver, 13)Phillips, 14)McCann, 15)Myers, 16)R. Stiffler, 17)Lesky, 18)Rector, 19)Jr. Mechling, 20)Brain Crouch. 21)White, 22)Rich Jaeger, DNF Ron Jeager, Abbot, Jim Mechling, Jasinski, Bruce Crouch.
Stocks: 1)Buckley, 2)Willoughby, 3)Allen, 4)Davis, 5)Robinson, 6)Waldele, 7)Kapalin, 8)Babos, 9)Clay,10)Porter, 11)Miller, 12)D’Apolito, 13)Ferringer, 14)Cornell, 15)Hudzik, 16)Flavell, 17)Haas, 18)Seaman, 19)George, 20)Stambaugh, 21)Kennedy, 22)Kowolski, DNF, Felicetty, Williams, Riffe, Moody, Amato, Wheat. DQ, Stankey
Micros: 1)Reitz, 2)Riddle, 3)Dolich, 4)Casper, 5)Stein, 6)Koss, 7)Kupuchuck, 8)McConnell, 9)Weaver, DNF, Robertson, Cunningham, Best, Daniels, Williams, Felix.
Our final regular show finds ABC Supply Co. sponsored, Coy-Bros. Classic/York Triathlon 20 lap E-Mod feature. Appearing along with the E-Mods are the V-8 Modifieds, 410 Sprints, and Stock Cars. Also the Reese Services X-10 Paving Parking Lot Drags rescheduled from the August 3rd show. $25 lap sponsorships are still available for the 20 lap Coy-Bros. E-Mod feature and may be secured by contacting the track office or Fran Harshman at 330-772-5481. Points will also be ending for the Sprints, Modifieds and Stock cars.
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.
Anyone wishing to send get well wishes to Modified driver Joe Crawford’s father, Richard, may do so at the following address.
Richard Crawford C/O Shady Side Hospital, 5200 Center Ave. Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213 or you may phone him at 412-623-5413. Get well wishes also go out to Marty Ling’s father, Bob, who received a kidney transplant Friday the 17th. Marty’s brother Rodney donated his kidney to his father.
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.