Larson wins first in Sprints; Simpson wins first ever in Sharon Modifieds

by Mike Leone

HARTFORD, OH (June 23, 2000) — The ninth racing program of the 2000 season was completed Friday night at Sharon Speedway. Celebrating in victory lane were Jarod Larson-Sunburst Environmental 410 Sprint Cars, Pete Simpson-Gibson Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modifieds, Rick Prosser Jr.-Coy. Bros. E-Mods, Mark Spence-Six-Cylinder Modifieds, and Jim Davis-Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Cars.

After suffering through a lot of bad luck thus far this season, defending three-time champion, Jarod Larson of Rock Creek, Ohio, won his first 20-lap Sunburst Environmental 410 Sprint Car race of the season in one of the best features in some time. "We've really struggled all year," said Larson. "We' ve had more trouble this year-flat tires, three broken rear ends, brake lines-you name it and we've had the problem."

Jack Sodeman Jr. led the first lap before Brad Ellenberger edged ahead at the line on lap two. Larson and Doug Kekich passed young Colorado driver, Bryan Castine, for third and fourth on lap two. Kekich then passed Larson for third on lap four. Ellenberger and Sodeman raced side-by-side on the next lap as Kekich and Larson joined the battle also racing side-by-side.

Larson made some nice moves on laps seven and eight. He first got back by Kekich on the seventh circuit, then took second from Sodeman on lap eight. Kekich also got by Sodeman the same lap, while Ellenberger and Larson began to pull away.

On lap 10, Tom Quarterson, who started 12th, passed both Gary Edwards and Sodeman for fourth. Larson made the winning move on lap 11, when he passed Ellenberger, the June 9th winner, coming out of turn four. Kekich followed with an identical move the next lap for second. Quarterson continued his progression through the field when he also passed Ellenberger for third on lap 14.

The first caution of the race was for Sodeman, who came to rest with 14 laps completed. Two laps later, Marty Ling spun bringing out the caution with 16 laps completed. The last four laps went green-to-checker with Larson winning his second overall of the season in the Bill Clemson-owned, Clemson Excavating/Thompson Dragway-sponsored #47. "These Wesmar Engines out of Tulsa, Oklahoma have been great," said the winner. "We've never had horsepower like this."

Kekich held second over Quarterson, Ellenberger, and Gary Edwards. Completing the top 10 were Brian Ellenberger, Castine, Scott Bonnell, Terry Young, and Gary McCollum. Heat winners over the 24-car field were Brian Ellenberger, Ling, and Bonnell.

Pete Simpson of Hubbard, Ohio scored his first career win in the 20-lap Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modified Feature. "This is awesome," said a happy Simpson. "Taking that checkered flag first is an awesome feeling. Four years of hard work is a long time."

Simpson started on the pole and immediately jumped into the lead, while Joe Crawford passed Merle Mealy Jr. on the initial lap. On lap two, McClimans passed Mealy for third. Two laps later, Weller dropped Mealy back to fifth.

On lap six, Crawford caught Simpson and the two pulled away from the field. The first caution was displayed for Rob Kristyak, who spun with eight laps completed. Three more cautions slowed action on laps 13, 15, and 16 for separate spins by Howard Duff, Randy Snider, and Rex King.

The last four laps went to non-stop with Simpson holding off Crawford for the win in the Bulldog Graphics #57. "I used my head the last couple of laps," said the winner. "The car started to push on the final lap and I almost lost it."

Crawford's second was his best career Sharon finish. Weller got around McClimans for third on the last lap. McClimans dropped to fourth over Tim Doran. Sixth through tenth were Lou Blaney, John Braymer, Dave Schrader, Jim Rasey, and Rob Curtis. Heat winners were Braymer and King over the 17-car field.

Rick Prosser Jr. of Geneva, Ohio won his second 15-lap Coy Bros. E-Mod Feature of the year with a last lap pass. Chuck Schell raced into the lead at the start, while Scott Stiffler took second from Scott Jones. Stiffler took control of the race on lap three, while Prosser entered the picture on lap four passing Jones for third. The only caution of the race was for Bob McCann, who slammed the guardrail with four laps completed. On lap six, Prosser moved around Schell for second and ran down Stiffler. Stiffler and Prosser pulled away from the field at the half-way point. With five laps to go, Prosser began putting heavy pressure on Stiffler. On the last lap, Prosser made the winning move passing Stiffler on the inside of the backstretch. Prosser went on for the win in the Geneva Storage-sponsored #A1. Stiffler was second over a distant Schell, Bob Williams, and Jones. Heat victors were McCann and Jim White Jr. over the 18-car field. White also won the dash over McCann, John Strickler, and Steve Haefke.

Mark Spence of Mercer, Pa. led all 12 laps of the Six-Cylinder Modified Feature for his first career win. Subbing for Frank Guidace, the former micro sprint and sprint car driver, got around Troy Willoughby on the start and held off six-cylinder master, Lou Gentile, for the win in the G&G; Auto Sales/Ace Paging-sponsored #99. Randy Ferguson came from 10th to place third after passing Harold Michaels for the spot on lap seven. Kenny Hardy also got by Michaels to finish fourth dropping Michaels to fifth at the finish. Ferguson won the 11-car heat event.

Jim Davis of Southington, Ohio won his first 15-lap Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Car Feature. Joe Porter set the early pace from the pole position. Davis started the event in fifth and passed Dave Willoughby and Bobby Whitling on the start for third. On lap six, Ron Iorio slipped high allowing Davis and Whitling to get by for second and third. Meanwhile, Davis made the winning move coming off turn four also on lap six. Davis pulled away for his first win since 1996 in his #75. Point leader, Whitling, passed Porter for second on lap nine, but was no match for Davis. Tom Miller came from 12th to take third at the finish ahead of Dan Lewis and Dwayne Clay. Scoring heat event wins over the 31-car field were Clay, Lewis, and Davis. Rusty Moore won the B main.

RESULTS

SUNBURST ENVIRONMENTAL 410 SPRINT CAR

Feature - 1. Jarod Larson 2. Doug Kekich 3. Tom Quarterson 4. Brad Ellenberger 5. Gary Edwards 6. Brian Ellenberger 7. Bryan Castine 8. Scott Bonnell 9. Terry Young 10. Gary McCollum 11. Mike Kekich 12. Paul White Jr. 13. Andy McKisson 14. Bruce Powell 15. Marty Ling 16. Dan Taylor 17. Jamie McKinney 18. Brian Hartzell 19. Ed Etzel 20. Buddy Cochran 21. Jack Sodeman Jr. 22. Larry Clay 23. Tommy Burns Jr.-DNS 24. Jerry Frew-DNS.

GIBSON-GOVERNOR INSURANCE AGENCY BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED

Feature - 1. Pete Simpson 2. Joe Crawford 3. Jim Weller 4. Rob McClimans 5. Tim Doran 6. Lou Blaney 7. John Braymer 8. Dave Scharder 9. Jim Rasey 10. Rob Curtis 11. Steve Young 12. Randy Chronister 13. Rex King 14. Randy Snider 15. Howard Duff 16. Rob Kristyak 17. Merle Mealy Jr.

COY BROS. E-MOD

Feature - 1. Rick Prosser Jr. 2. Scott Stiffler 3. Chuck Schell 4. Bob Williams 5. Scott Jones 6. Jim White Jr. 7. Jeff Haefke 8. Bob McCann 9. Larry Walters 10. Ron Jaeger 11. John Strickler 12. Roger Frost 13. Dave Ferry 14. Matt Miklos 15. Steve Haefke 16. Jeff Johnson-DQ 17. Richard Jaeger-DNS 18. Herm Myers-DNS.

SIX-CYLINDER MODIFIED

Feature - 1. Mark Spence 2. Lou Gentile 3. Randy Ferguson 4. Kenny Hardy 5. Harold Michaels 6. Conny Alley 7. Jim Bickel 8. Troy Willoughby 9. Dustin Kress 10. Jim Reagle 11. Rick Kress-DNS.

BURGHILL AUTO SALVAGE STOCK CAR

Feature - 1. Jim Davis 2. Bobby Whitling 3. Tom Miller 4. Dan Lewis 5. Dwayne Clay 6. Chuck Sullivan Jr. 7. Rusty Moore 8. Dave Wagner Jr. 9. Ron Iorio 10. Gary Robinson 11. Chris Seamen 12. Tim Deutsch 13. Robert Kutsch 14. Dave Wagner, Sr. 15. Jerry Flavell 16. Dave Willoughby 17. Scott Molesy 18. Tom Scott 19. Joe Porter 20. Rick Norco 21. Steve D'Apolito 22. Bill McMurray 23. David Pinch 24. Rich Allen-DNS 25. Brian Carothers-DNS. (DNQ: Bill Jackson, Eric Gibson, Steve Babos, Jim Moyers, Mark Felicetty, Randy Riffe)