Hawley wins first Sharon 410 win; Weller wins Mods again

by Mike Leone

HARTFORD, OH (May 5, 2000) — The third race of 2000 was completed on Friday evening at Sharon Speedway. Taking the checkered flag first were Jimmy Hawley-Sunburst Environmental 410 Sprint Cars, Jim Weller-Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modifieds, Jeff Sharp-Coy Bros. E-Mods, Russ Kapalin-Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Cars, and Chad Reitz-Micro Sprints.

Jimmy Hawley recorded his first career Sharon Speedway 410 Sprint Car Feature win in the first night of Bonus Buck Weekend I. "We're going to try for all three this weekend (Sharon, Mercer, Tri-City) for the $3,000," said the West Middlesex, Pa. driver. "I've got a good crew and team and it wouldn't be possible without them."

Tommy Burns, Jr. and Doug Kekich fought for the lead at the start with Burns leading the first lap, while Scott Bonnell took third from Jack Sodeman, Jr. prior to distaster striking. An eight car melee on the second lap saw Brian Ellenberger flip violently, barrell-rolled along the turn two catch fence, and ended up landing just past the entranace ramp going into the backstretch. Ellenberger was able to walk away from the scary scene.

When racing resumed, Bonnell looked fast as he passed Doug Kekich for runner-up, while Hawley, who started eighth, got around Larson for fourth. Central Pa. racer, Josh Wells, who was making his first-ever Sharon start, spun bringing out the yellow with five laps completed. Under caution, both Bonnell and Kekich pulled off the track in second and third yielding the positions to Hawley and Larson.

When green replaced yellow, Burns was able to hold off Hawley for two laps, but on the eighth lap, Hawley drove by Burns on the inside of the backstretch for the winning move. Hawley immediately pulled away and distanced himself from the field. Hawley breezed through lap traffic and at the checkers had a 1/2-lap margin of victory in the Dr. John and Debi Crawford-owned #cIII. Burns held off Larson and McKisson, who got around Gary Edwards on lap 14, for fourth. Edwards fell to fifth. Tom Quarterson was the last car on the lead lap in sixth ahead of Sodeman, Marty Ling, Jamie McKinney, and Gary McCann. Central Ohio racers, Norton Southard, Rob Chaney, and Tim Hunter made their first starts and finished 13th, 22nd, and 23rd respectively, but only Southard finished the race. Veteran central Pa. driver, Jim Nace, made his first start in the Pete Smith-owned West Virginia Sprinter #1, but dropped from the event and was credited with 19th. Winning the heat events were Burns, Quarterson, and Hawley over the 26-car field.

Jim Weller made it two-for-two in the 20-lap Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modified Feature. Weller made a bold move around Andy Priest on lap 16 to take the win. "The caution really helped," said the Hubbard, Ohio resident. "I got faster on the top as the race went on and that was the key."

Andy Priest shot around Lou Blaney at the start of the feature for the lead, while Weller passed Tim Doran for third on lap two. Weller preceded to run down Blaney and passed the veteran going into turn one on the ninth lap. At this point, Weller was a straightaway behind Priest. Doran grabbed third on lap 10 from a slowing Blaney.

The only caution of the race, which would prove critical, was with 13 laps completed when Steve Young, Tim Engles, and Jason Engles tangled in turn one. During the caution, Blaney dropped out with magneto problems moving Rex King to fourth.

When racing resumed, Weller pressured Priest for three laps trying the inside line. On the 16th lap, Weller drove his mount hard into turn one on the outside and made the bold move for the winning pass. Weller went on for the win in his Liberty Steel Products/TFI Transportation-sponsored #31. Priest was a close second followed by Doran, King, and Jeff Hoffman. Sixth through tenth were Jim Rasey, Joe Crawford, John Braymer, Scott Gurdak, and Tim Engles. Heat winners were Hoffman and Priest over the 20-car field.

Jeff Sharp won his first career Sharon Speedway win in the 15-lap Coy Bros. E-Mod Feature. The Salem, Ohio driver survived four cautions and Rick Prosser. Jr. hounding him for the entire distance as he led all the way to score the win in the Coy Bros./Girard Equipment-sponsored #54. Sharp's teammate, Jeff Rudrick, came from 11th to finish third followed by Jeff Johnson and Steve Haefke. Winning heats were Bob McCann and Rudrick over the 22-car field.

In the best race of the night, Russ Kapalin of Jefferson, Ohio scored his second win of the season in the 15-lap Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Car Feature. In the early laps, Gary Robinson and Steve D'Apolito put on quite a battle for the top spot. The two swapped the lead three times before Robinson took over on lap six prior to the only caution of the event with nine laps completed. When racing resumed, Robinson continued to lead, while D'Apolito slipped high allowing Kapalin and Carl Davis to go by for second and third. The two ran down Robinson. Then on the 13th lap, Robinson slowed on the backstretch yielding the lead to Kapalin. Kapalin was able to hold off Davis, who started 16th, and hard charging Matt Lux, who started 11th, for the win in his Kapalin Inc. #R40. Bobby Whitling came from 10th to place fourth ahead of 14th starter Rusty Moore. Winning the heat events were Lux, Shaun Hooks, and Ron Iorio over the 29-car field.

Chad Reitz of Franklin, Pa. was victorious in the first appearance of the season by the Micro Sprints. The 12-lap main saw Jason Dolick lead the first nine laps, before coming to a stop on the 10th lap. This gave the lead to Reitz, who led the rest of the way for the win in his World of Wheels/Lite Craft Chassis-sponsored #9. Jim Graham placed third over Craig Daniels, Jeff Boyle, and Brandon Casper, who completed the top five. Scoring heat wins were Graham and Billy Taylor over the 17-car field.

RESULTS

SUNBURST ENVIRONMENTAL 410 SPRINT CAR

FEATURE - 1. Jimmy Hawley, 2. Tommy Burns Jr., 3. Jarod Larson, 4. Andy McKisson, 5. Gary Edwards, 6. Tom Quarterson, 7. Jack Sodeman Jr., 8. Marty Ling, 9. Jamie McKinney, 10. Gary McCann, 11. Mike Marano II, 12. Gary McCollum, 13. Norton Southard, 14. Jerry Frew, 15. Ed Etzel, 16. Larry Clay, 17. Scott Bonnell, 18. Doug Kekich, 19. Jim Nace, 20. Josh Wells, 21. Brian Ellenberger, 22. Rob Chaney, 23. Tim Hunter, 24. Dan Taylor, 25. Bruce Powell, 26. Dave Wagner-DNS.

GIBSON-GOVERNOR INSURANCE AGENCY BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED

FEATURE - 1. Jim Weller, 2. Andy Priest, 3. Tim Doran, 4. Rex King, 5. Jeff Hoffman, 6. Jim Rasey, 7. Joe Crawford, 8. John Braymer, 9. Scott Gurdak, 10. Tim Engles, 11. Rob Kristyak, 12. Lonny Riggs, 13. Rob McClimans, 14. Randy Snider, 15. Jason Engles, 16. Rob Curtis, 17. Pete Simpson, 18. Lou Blaney, 19. Steve Young, 20. Skip Moore-DNS.

COY BROS. E-MOD

FEATURE - 1. Jeff Sharp, 2. Rick Prosser Jr., 3. Jeff Rudrick, 4. Jeff Johnson, 5. Steve Haefke, 6. Dale Fuller, 7. Ron Jaeger, 8. Arlan Coy, 9. Jim White Jr., 10. Roger Frost, 11. Jeff Covelli, 12. Scott Stiffler, 13. Bob McCann, 14. Herm Myers, 15. Matt Miklos, 16. Paul Phillips, 17. Jeff Haefke, 18. Gary McGregor, 19. Scott Jones-DNS, 20. Chuck Schell-DNS, 21. Scott Weaver-DNS, 22. Jerry Yoder-DNS.

BURGHILL AUTO SALVAGE STOCK CAR

FEATURE - 1. Russ Kapalin, 2. Carl Davis, 3. Matt Lux, 4. Bobby Whitling, 5. Rusty Moore, 6. Tom Miller, 7. Steve D'Apolito, 8. John Beniston, 9. Dave Ferringer, 10. Chuck Sullivan Jr., 11. Steve Babos, 12. Greg Pesa, 13. Mark Felicetty, 14. Joe Porter, 15. Chris Seamen, 16. Dave Willoughby, 17. Gary Robinson, 18. Dwayne Clay, 19. Doug Iorio, 20. Shaun Hooks, 21. Eric Gibson, 22. Ron Iorio, 23. Scott Molesy, 24. John Jackson, 25. Dan Lewis, 26. Andy Buckley, 27. Leigh Wheeler-DNS, 28. Bill Jackson-DNS, 29. Glenn Pupino-DNS.

MICRO SPRINT

FEATURE - 1. Chad Reitz, 2. Jim Graham, 3. Craig Daniels, 4. Jeff Boyle, 5. Brandon Casper, 6. Russ Kost, 7. Jon Adams, 8. Nate Stein, 9. Jason Dolick, 10. J.J. Kapuckuck, 11. Gary Andrews Jr., 12. Billy Taylor, 13. Mike McConnell, 14. Nick Leech-DNS, 15. Brian Hassel-DNS, 16. Jay Groves-DNS, 17. Andrew Wilds-DNS.