Shepard wins All Stars at Sharon; Blaney wins again in Modifieds
by Mike Leone
HARTFORD, OH (Sept. 2, 2000) — Night two of three of the 20th Annual Sharon Nationals was completed on Saturday night at Sharon Speedway. Jeff Shepard was victorious in the All Star Sprint Cars and Lou Blaney won the Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modified Feature.
Michael moved up to second for his best career Sharon finish and earned the $100 TW Metals nightly bonus. Kauffman was third after starting eighth. Kemenah and Byron Reed completed the top five. Rounding out the top 10 were P.J. Chesson, Todd Shaffer, Jerrod Hull, Mike Lutz, and Jacobs. Winning heat events were Hull, Kelly Kinser, Dave Ely, Kevin Huntley, and Todd Bauer. Arnie Kent won the C main and James Chesson won the Georgia Marketing & Promotions B main. C.W. Harshman won the $500 to-win Alky slow-car dash. Shepard set fast time over the 50-car field with a lap of 15.710 breaking the track record for the now 3/5th-mile oval.
Lou Blaney survived a marathon 20-lap Russ King Memorial Big-Block Modified Feature for his third straight win and fifth of the season at Sharon. "We weren't the fastest," said Blaney. "But I guess we outlasted them, that was about it."
The race saw three flips, including seven cautions, and took nearly an hour to complete. Tim Doran led the first seven laps before slowing and giving the lead to Dave Murdick. Blaney, of Hartford, Ohio, passed Dave Murdick on lap 10 for the winning move. Blaney then went on for his 21st overall win of 2000 in the Carpenter's Towing/Troy-Alan Chevrolet/Colonial Metal Products. Murdick held on to finish second for his best finish of 2000. Andy Priest came from ninth to pass Steve Young on lap 12 to finish third. Carl Weatherby, who started 12th, also got by Young to finish fourth in his first start of the season. Young was fifth. Sixth through tenth were Tommy Marshall III, Lonny Riggs, Skip Moore, Randy Chronister, and Dave Price. Heat winners over the season-high 27-car field were Rex King, Jim Rasey, and Blaney.
RESULTS
ALL STAR SPRINT CARS
Feature (30 laps) - 1. Jeff Shepard ($5,140), 2. Sean Michael, 3. Keith Kauffman, 4. Chad Kemenah, 5. Byron Reed, 6. P.J. Chesson, 7. Todd Shaffer, 8. Jerrod Hull, 9. Mike Lutz, 10. Kenny Jacobs, 11. Ed Lynch Jr., 12. Rodney Duncan, 13. Greg Wilson, 14. Todd Gracey, 15. Todd Bauer, 16. Rob Chaney, 17. Kelly Kinser, 18. Kevin Huntley, 19. Phil Gressman, 20. Danny Smith, 21. Scott Bonnell, 22. Chad Hill, 23. Dave Ely, 24. James Chesson (DQ).
Did not qualify: Brian Ellenberger, Travis Rilat, Rocky Hodges, Mike Kekich, Daryl Stimeling, Steve Suever, Barry Ruble, Mike Wagner, David Scott, Andy McKisson, John Ivy, Arnie Kent, Dave Penezich Jr., Terry Young, Don Kreitz Jr., Kevin Schaeffer, C.W. Harshman, Gary McCollum, Shon Barris, Gary Rankin, Buddy Cochran, Brent Matus, Lance Dewease, Andy Rankin, Brad Ellenberger, Brian Gobrecht.
BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS
Russ King Memorial (20 laps) - 1. Lou Blaney ($2,220), 2. Dave Murdick, 3. Andy Priest, 4. Carl Weatherby, 5. Steve Young, 6. Tommy Marshall III, 7. Lonny Riggs, 8. Skip Moore, 9. Randy Chronister, 10. Dave Price, 11. Larry Johns, 12. Jason Engles, 13. Carl Murdick, 14. Josh Skarzenski, 15. George Hobaugh, 16. Rob Curtis, 17. Bill Dorman, 18. Joe Crawford, 19. Jim Rasey, 20. Kevin Bolland, 21. Jim Weller, 22. Tim Doran, 23. Rex King, 24. Jeff Miller, 25. Del Rougeux Jr. (DNS), 26. Randy Snider (DNS), 27. Gale Ruth (DNS).