Ellenberger wins first in Sprints; Blaney wins third in Sharon Modifieds

by Mike Leone

HARTFORD, OH (Aug. 18, 2000) — Racing was completed for the 14th time on Friday night at Sharon Speedway. Winning events were Brian Ellenberger-Sunburst Environmental 410 Sprint Cars, Lou Blaney-Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modifieds, Scott Stiffler-Coy Bros. E-Mods, and Dwayne Clay-Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Cars.

Brian Ellenberger wired a marathon 20-lap Sunburst Environmental 410 Sprint Car Feature for his first win, and became the 11th different winner in 14 races. "I got a good starting positions, the car was great, but I ran out of fuel at the end," said the Butler, Pa. resident in victory lane. "We're getting geared up for the (Sharon) Nationals and hopefully we'll be back here in victory lane."

The feature got off to a rough start when Marty Ling got upside down and collected Gary McCollum, Leo O'Malley, and Bruce Powell. He was okay. When racing resumed, Ed Etzel flipped out of the track causing another red. He was also okay.

When action resumed, Scott Bonnell passed Jarod Larson for second, and Doug Kekich took third from Larson on lap three. Two more cautions slowed action before Jimmy Hawley, who started seventh, entered the picture also getting by Kekich on lap nine for fourth.

The next eight laps went green with the top five cars not changing until a spin by Shon Barris with 17 laps completed. Under yellow, Bonnell exited with a flat tire moving Kekich to second and Hawley to third. When green replaced yellow, Kekich went up in smoke causing the sixth caution with 18 laps completed.

Ellenberger would survive all of the cautions despite a empty fuel tank after the checkers to score his second career win in his Hunter's Truck Sales/Open Joist 2000-sponsored #20. Hawley came home second over Craig Rankin, Jeff Schrum up from 15th, and Larson. North Carolina's Andy Hillenburg finished sixth, but came up light at the scales moving Terry Young, Gary Edwards, McCollum, Barris, and Kekich into positions sixth through tenth. Winning the heats over the 23-car field were Larson and Ellenberger.

Lou Blaney shot by Pete Simpson on lap one and led every lap of the 20-lap Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modified Feature for his third win. "The track was slick and it helped to start up front," said the Hartford, Ohio driver. "It's been a tough year for us at Sharon, but we'll take the win tonight."

Jason Engles passed Randy Snider for third on lap one, and then got by Simpson for runner-up on lap two. Positions two through five were up for grabs until Rex King brought out two cautions on laps 12 and 13. When racing resumed, Doran raced by Simpson for third on the 14th circuit. Doran then pressured Engles until he spun on lap 19, but did a 360 spin to keep going.

Out in front, Blaney drove off the to the win in his Carpenter's Towing/Colonial Metal Products/Troy-Alan Chevrolet-sponsored #10. Doran and Jim Rasey got by Engles for second and third as Engles dropped to fourth over John Braymer. Sixth through tenth were Joe Crawford, Simpson, Randy Snider, Tim Engles, and Randy Chronister. Heat victors were Blaney and King.

Scott Stiffler of Niles, Ohio won his first career 15-lap Coy Bros. E-Mod Feature win. Rick Prosser, Jr. passed Jim White, Jr. on the start for the lead, while Stiffler, who started the event in sixth, made his way to second on lap two passing White. Prosser and Stiffler pulled away from the pack at the halfway point. Stiffler's winning move came on the ninth circuit when he drove under Prosser on the inside of turn one. Stiffler survived two more restarts for the win his Integra-sponsored #14. The lapped car of Bruce Crouch took out Prosser on the last lap moving White back to second over Jeff Rudrick, Jeff Johnson, and Bob Diver. Richard Stiffler and Prosser won the heats. Prosser also won the dash.

Dwayne Clay won his second 15-lap Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Car Feature. The Warren, Ohio driver started sixth and moved into third on the opening lap. Clay then raced by Carl Davis for second on lap three. Clay ran down leader Russ Kapalin on lap five. The first caution appeared with six laps completed. On the restart, Clay took over from Kapalin and was never threatened in his H&R; Transport-sponsored #007. Kapalin held off 11th starter, Gary Robinson, for second. Davis was fourth over Jeff Buccella. Heat winners over the 28-car field were Bobby Whitling, Clay, and Robinson.

RESULTS

SUNBURST ENVIRONMENTAL 410 SPRINT CAR

Feature - 1. Brian Ellenberger 2. Jimmy Hawley 3. Jeff Schrum 4. Craig Rankin 5. Jarod Larson 6. Terry Young 7. Gary Edwards 8. Gary McCollum 9. Shon Barris 10. Doug Kekich 11. Mike Kekich 12. Scott Bonnell 13. Andy McKisson 14. Jamie McKinney 15. Donny Minor 16. Larry Clay 17. Leo O'Malley 18. Tony Stebel, Jr. 19. Tommy Burns, Jr. 20. Marty Ling 21. Bruce Powell 22. Ed Etzel 23. Andy Hillenburg-DSQ.

GIBSON-GOVERNOR INSURANCE AGENCY BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED

Feature - 1. Lou Blaney 2. Tim Doran 3. Jim Rasey 4. Jason Engles 5. John Braymer 6. Joe Crawford 7. Pete Simpson 8. Randy Snider 9. Tim Engles 10. Randy Chronister 11. Dave Price 12. Kevin Hoffman 13. Rex King 14. Dave Price.

COY BROS. E-MOD

Feature - 1. Scott Stiffler 2. Jim White, Jr. 3. Jeff Rudrick 4. Jeff Johnson 5. Bob Diver 6. Steve Heafke 7. Ron Jeager 8. Arlan Coy 9. John Strickler 10. Richard Jaeger 11. Jim Mechling 12. Scott Jones 13. Rick Prosser, Jr. 14. Jeff Sharp 15. Bruce Crouch 16. Jeff Shank 17. Richard Stiffler 18. J.R. Mechling-DNS 19. Jeff Haefke-DNS.

BURGHILL AUTO SALVAGE STOCK CAR

Feature - 1. Dwayne Clay 2. Russ Kapalin 3. Gary Robinson 4. Carl Davis 5. Jeff Buccella 6. Gary Miller, Jr. 7. Jim Davis 8. Shaun Hooks 9. Bobby Whitling 10. Dan Lewis 11. Matt Lux 12. Steve D'Apolito 13. Dave Willoughby 14. Gary Norman 15. John Beniston 16. Tom Miller 17. Chris Seamen 18. Richard Williams 19. Bill McMurray 20. Jeff Webber 21. Robert Kutsch 22. Jerry Flavell 23. Glenn Pupino 24. Eric Gibson 25. Randy Riffe 26. Bill Haas 27. Steve Babos-DNS 28. Tim Scott-DNS.