Lynch wins $5,000 Sharon Ohio Speedweek event; Braymer wins first in Modifieds
by Mike Leone
HARTFORD, OH (June 29, 2000) — The fifth leg of Ohio All Star Sprint Speedweek was completed at Sharon Speedway early Friday morning after periods of rain delayed action. Ed Lynch Jr. became the fifth winner in as many days winning the All Star Sprint Car Feature. John Braymer won the Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modified Feature.
Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Pa. won an action-filled 30-lap All Star Sprint Car Feature for his first $5,000 All Star win of the year. "In special races you 've got to keep swinging the bat and coming back," said a happy Lynch. "The All Stars are a real good group to run with. You never know who is going to win and we just proved that."
An invert six, saw Todd Shaffer on the ButlerBuilt Hot Seat pole position with Jerrod Hull alongside. Hull grabbed the early lead with Shaffer in tow. Shaffer continued to pressure Hull, but was unable to get by. Finally on lap seven Shaffer drove around Hull on the outside of turn two for the lead. The first and only caution of the event was for Kenny Jacobs, who slowed with a flat tire in third position. This moved Greg Wilson to third for the restart.
When racing resumed, Lynch, who started fifth, got by Wilson for the third spot on lap 13. On lap 17, Lynch then took second from Hull and began to set his sights on Shaffer. With Shaffer on top and Lynch on the bottom, "The Apollo Rocket," reeled in Shaffer and made the winning move coming off turn four to lead lap 22.
The remainder of the race was run in lapped traffic. Lynch caught the tail end of the field allowing Shaffer to close in for second. Shaffer temporarily got by, but was unable to lead another lap as Lynch held down the lead choosing the correct line through heavy traffic. At the finish, Lynch had just enough tire left for his first Sharon win of the season in the Indy Equipment/Howard Concrete-sponsored, Lynch Racing #2L. "I've got to thank Hoosier tires," said Lynch from victory lane. "I was going to go with a softer compound, but they talked me out of it and that's why it worked."
Shaffer held second over Hull. Chad Kemenah came from 12th to place fourth over local Jimmy Hawley. Sixth through tenth were Wilson, Byron Reed, Todd Gracey, Kevin Huntley, and Danny Smith. Steve Suever set his first career fast-time with the All Stars with a lap of 16.063 over the 43-car field. Winning the heats were Gressman, Smith, Hawley, and Jacobs. Lynch also won the Commercial Truck & Trailer Dash and Suever won the B main.
John Bryamer of Hermitage, Pa. led all 20 laps of the Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modified Feature for his first win since coming out of retirement this year. "I sold my business," said Braymer. "My wife bought me a car and we're here."
Braymer started on the pole and jumped into the lead with Rex King alongside. The top five remained in running order until separate cautions on laps six and 11 for Jim Weller and Brian Swartzlander.
When racing resumed, Lou Blaney, who started 10th, moved into fifth on lap 12 when he got around Tom Winkle. Blaney took fourth from Dave Murdick on lap 13. Meanwhile, Braymer and King pulled away from the field. On lap 15, Blaney got under Rob Curtis for third coming off turn four on lap 15.
With three laps to go, King was all over Braymer, while Blaney started to close in on the two. King tried every move, but Braymer was able to hold on for his first win in his Integrated Fabrication/H.R.E.-sponsored #17. King was a season-best second over a close Blaney. Winkle got around Curtis for fourth on lap 16 dropping Curtis back to fifth at the finish. Sixth through tenth were Dave Murdick, Tim Doran, Josh Skarzenski, Rob McClimans, and Steve Young. Weller and Winkle won the heats over the 21-car field.
RESULTS
ALL STAR SPRINT CAR
Feature - 1. Ed Lynch Jr. 2. Todd Shaffer 3. Jerrod Hull 4. Chad Kemenah 5. Jimmy Hawley 6. Greg Wilson 7. Byron Reed 8. Todd Gracey 9. Kevin Huntley 10. Danny Smith 11. Kenny Jacobs 12. Kasey Kahne 13. Phil Gressman 14. Billy Wilburn 15. Rob Chaney 16. Mark Keegan 17. Jason Statler 18. Scott Bonnell 19. Jason Dukes 20. Rodney Duncan 21. Jarod Larson 22. Kent Wolters 23. Jamie McKinney 24. Steve Suever. (Did not qualify: Doug Kekich, Paul White Jr., Daryl Stimeling, Kerry Jones, Bryan Castine, Chad Hill, Andy McKisson, Todd Bauer, Larry Clay, Tom Quarterson, Calvin Landis, Craig Rankin, Mike Kekich, Barry Ruble, Eric Hysong, Marty Ling, J.B. Scarbrough, Ed Neumeister, C.W. Harshman)
GIBSON-GOVERNOR INSURANCE AGENCY BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED
Feature - 1. John Braymer 2. Rex King 3. Lou Blaney 4. Tom Winkle 5. Rob Curtis 6. Dave Murdick 7. Tim Doran 8. Josh Skarzenski 9. Rob McClimans 10. Steve Young 11. Randy Snider 12. Pete Simpson 13. Dave Schrader 14. Randy Chronister 15. Chuck Kennedy 16. Lonny Riggs 17. Carl Murdick 18. Brian Swartzlander 19. Jim Weller 20. Merle Mealy Jr. 21. Rob Kristyak-DNS.