Larson wins third in Sprints; Blaney takes fourth checkered flag in Sharon Modifieds
by Mike Leone
HARTFORD, OH (Aug. 25, 2000) — The final regular show of the season was completed on Friday night at Sharon Speedway. Winning events were Jarod Larson-Sunburst Environmental 410 Sprint Cars, Lou Blaney-Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modifieds, Bob McCann-Coy Bros. E-Mods, and Dwayne Clay-Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Cars.
Jarod Larson won the battle, but lost the war. Larson won the 20-lap Sunburst Environmental 410 Sprint Car Feature, but was denied his fifth straight championship losing to Gary Edwards.
"First thing I want to say is congratulations to Gary Edwards for winning the point championship," said the Rock Creek, Ohio winner. "He deserved it. He run strong all year, and he's a good guy."
Larson shot around Mike Kekich, Edwards, and Todd Bauer to have the lead by the backstretch of the opening lap. Larson immediately opened up a big lead as the battle was on for second and on back. Ed Lynch Jr., who started seventh, darted by Jimmy Hawley and Todd Bauer for fourth on lap five. Lynch advanced to third when got around Brad Ellenberger on lap 12.
Lynch then ran down Edwards in lapped traffic and the two battled for runner-up, while Larson drove off. Lynch got by Edwards on lap 17 only to allow Edwards to get back by on lap 18. Lynch got by Edwards for good on lap 19. But up front, Larson had his third Sharon win of the year in the Bill Clemson-owned, Clemson Excavating/Thompson Dragway-sponsored #47.
"We were struggling earlier tonight," said Larson. "The magneto went out in hot laps. We made a bunch of changes and the motor came back. I'm glad to win tonight."
Lynch was second in his first regular season start. Edwards' third earned him his first track championship. Hawley was fourth over Ellenberger. Sixth through tenth were Terry Young, Bauer, Kekich, Gary McCollum, and Scott Bonnell. Heat victors were Hawley and Bauer over the 21-car field.
Lou Blaney won his fourth 20-lap Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modified Feature win and his fourth straight after a clean sweep last weekend.
"We've got the car working pretty good and the motor running real well," said the Hartford, Ohio driver. "It's been good the last week and I hope it continues the rest of the year."
Blaney started fourth and raced into second on the opening lap. Blaney chased Tim Engles and was all over him in the first seven laps. On lap eight, Blaney made the winning move coming off turn four on the inside. Once in front, Blaney survived four caution for his 20th overall win of 2000.
The battle was for second throughout the event. Rasey passed Engles for the spot on lap 16 after the two battled for over seven laps. Tim Doran, who started 12th, made a late charge passing Joe Crawford for fourth on lap 17, and Engles for third on lap 19. At the checkers, Doran edged Rasey to finish second. Rasey was third over point champion Jim Weller and Crawford. Sixth through tenth were John Braymer, Engles, Jason Engles, Dave Price and Randy Chronister. King and Crawford won the heats.
Bob McCann of New Castle, Pa. won his first of the season in the 15-lap Coy Bros. E-Mod Feature. Ron Jaeger led the first four laps, before Jeff Sharp took over. McCann started fifth and had second from Ron Jaeger on lap 10. The winning move came on the 11th circuit when McCann nosed under Sharp to take the lead off turn four. Once in front, McCann held on for his second win in as many days in his McConnell's Sunoco-sponsored #94. Sharp held off ninth starter, Rick Prosser Jr., for second. Jim White Jr. was fourth over Jaeger. Winning the heats were Prosser and Sharp over the 22-car field. Jeff Rudrick won the dash.
Dwayne Clay made it two-in-a-row winning the 15-lap Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Car Feature. The Warren, Ohio driver led all the way from the pole position in his H&R; Transport-sponsored #007 for his third win. Gary Robinson came from 12th to pass Bobby Whitling for third on lap nine, and then edged Jim Davis for second at the checkers. Whitling was fourth and claimed his first championship. John Beniston rounded out the top five. Clay and Whitling won the heat races over the 21-car field.
RESULTS
SUNBURST ENVIRONMENTAL 410 SPRINT CAR
Feature - 1. Jarod Larson 2. Ed Lynch Jr. 3. Gary Edwards 4. Jimmy Hawley 5. Brad Ellenberger 6. Terry Young 7. Todd Bauer 8. Mike Kekich 9. Gary McCollum 10. Scott Bonnell 11. Jamie McKinney 12. Doug Kekich 13. Dave Penezich Jr. 14. Donny Minor 15. C.W. Harshman 16. Larry Clay 17. Shon Barris 18. Ed Etzel 19. Troy Cochran 20. J.B. Scarbrough 21. Jeff Schrum-DNS.
GIBSON-GOVERNOR INSURANCE AGENCY BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED
Feature - 1. Lou Blaney 2. Tim Doran 3. Jim Rasey 4. Jim Weller 5. Joe Crawford 6. John Braymer 7. Tim Engles 8. Jason Engles 9. Dave Price 10. Randy Chronister 11. Pete Simpson 12. Rex King 13. Randy Snider 14. Skip Moore.
COY BROS. E-MOD
Feature - 1. Bob McCann 2. Jeff Sharp 3. Rick Prosser, Jr. 4. Jim White Jr. 5. Ron Jaeger 6. Arlan Coy 7. Scott Stiffler 8. Bob Diver 9. Jeff Johnson 10. Jeff Rudrick 11. Mark Willison 12. J.B. Dandy 13. Dave Clawson 14. Chuck Schell 15. Steve Haefke 16. Jim Fry 17. Jeff Haefke 18. Roger Frost 19. Richard Jaeger 20. Richard Stiffler 21. Scott Jones 22. car #35-DNS.
BURGHILL AUTO SALVAGE STOCK CAR
Feature - 1. Dwayne Clay 2. Gary Robinson 3. Jim Davis 4. Bobby Whitling 5. John Beniston 6. Russ Kapalin 7. Jerry Flavell 8. Steve Babos 9. Sammy Wheat 10. Mark Wlodarsky 11. Steve D' Apolito 12. Chris Seamen 13. Andy Buckley 14. Carl Davis 15. Dave Willoughby 16. Chuck Sullivan Jr. 17. Dan Lewis 18. Jeff Webber-DNQ 19. Glenn Pupino-DSQ 20. Richard Williams-DNS 21. Eric Gibson-DNS.