Stimeling leads the way for three first-time Sharon winners

by Mike Leone

HARTFORD, OH (April 14, 2000) — Friday night racing returned to Sharon Speedway for the first time since 1989. A large turnout of fans witnessed three first-time Sharon Speedway winners. Taking the checkered flag were Daryl Stimeling-Sunburst Environmental 410 Sprint Cars, Jim Weller-Gibson-Governor Insurance Big-Block Modifieds, Bill Watson-Coy Bros. E-Mods, and Russ Kapalin-Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Cars.

"This place was really fast," were the first words out of the mouth of Daryl Stimeling, the 20-lap Sunburst Environmental 410 Sprint Car winner. "They did a lot of work and we really like it here."

The Lewiston, Pa. driver, who made the four hour tow, said, "We tried to shake some bugs out for the All Star race at Attica tomorrow. I used to come out here a lot when Todd Shaffer dominated in the 90s."

Stimeling immediately raced into the lead on lap one passing Gary McCollum. Stimeling was never threatened throughout the event. Two cautions slowed the race. One on lap 16 for debris and the second for Gary McCann, who slowed on lap 17. Stimeling had a 1/2-lap lead built up prior to the caution, but still cruised to his first career Sharon win in his Sunbury Motors/Gray’s Speed Equipment-sponsored/Ford-powered #30.

Gary Edwards came home second after battling with Scott Bonnell for most of the race. Edwards passed Bonnell on the opening lap, only to lose the spot on lap 11. But Edwards cleared Bonnell for good on lap 18 for a solid second place finish. Bonnell faded in the last laps as Andy McKisson and Mike Kekich got by for third and fourth on the 19th lap dropping Bonnell to fifth at the checkers. Sixth through tenth were Tommy Burns Jr., McCollum, Bruce Powell, Jerry Frew, and McCann. Heat winners were Edwards and McCann.

Jim Weller battled a sparking rear-end to score the 20-lap Gibson-Governor Insurance Big-Block Modified Feature win. "I don’t know what it was, transmission or some sort," said the Hubbard, Ohio driver in victory lane.

Weller raced by Carl Murdick on the start and would survive five cautions and a sparking rear-end to capture the win in his Liberty Steel #31.

Blaney passed Pete Simpson for third on the opening lap. Lou Blaney and Murdick then preceded to put on one the greatest battles seen in some time. The two went at it side-by-side for the next 17 laps to the delight of the fans. Blaney used his typical outside lane and Murdick guarded the bottom. It wasn’t until lap 18 when Blaney got under a loose Murdick for good. John Braymer followed on lap 19 getting by Murdick for third. Braymer, who started 12th, trailed Blaney close at the checkers in a solid third-place run after several years off from racing. Murdick was fourth over Jim Rasey. Completing the top ten were Rex King, Tim Engles, Del Rougeux Jr., Bob Dorman, and Lonny Riggs. Heat winners were Blaney and Weller.

Making a rare appearance, Bill Watson captured his first career Sharon Speedway win in the 15-lap Coy Bros. E-Mod Feature. Watson, like Stimeling and Weller, found the second starting spot to his liking as all three took the lead on the opening lap and never looked back. The Conneaut, Ohio driver was behind the wheel of his #2* for the win. The race was marred by two scary incidents that brought out the red flags. Arlan Coy got sideways and flipped on lap three, and the Jaeger brothers tangled on 11 with Richard getting some air-time. All drivers were okay. Jeff Covelli, who started ninth, passed Jeff Sharp on lap eight and then Jeff Haefke for runner-up on lap nine. Rick Prosser Jr. worked his way from 12th to come home third over Haefke and Brent Rhebergen. Watson, Dale Fuller, and Covelli won the heats. Chuck Schell won the B main.

Russ Kapalin was the benefactor of Dan Lewis in scoring his first career win in the 15-lap Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Car Feature. Lewis came from fifth to take the lead from Kapalin on lap three and appeared headed for the win, but came across the scales 25 pounds light. This gave the win to Kapalin of Jefferson, Ohio in his #R40, who barely edged a hard charging Bobby Whitling for an apparent second. Gary Miller Jr. ended up getting credited for third over Dave Ferringer and Matt Lux. Miller and Lewis won the heat races.

RESULTS

Sunburst Environmental 410 Sprint Car Feature: 1. Daryl Stimeling 2. Gary Edwards 3. Andy McKisson 4. Mike Kekich 5. Scott Bonnell 6. Tommy Burns Jr. 7. Gary McCollum 8. Bruce Powell 9. Jerry Frew 10. Gary McCann 11. Brian Hartzell 12. Mike Lutz 13. Dan Taylor 14. Jarod Larson-DNS 15. C.W. Harshman-DNS 16. Jeff Schrum-DNS.

Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modified Feature: 1. Jim Weller 2. Lou Blaney 3. John Braymer 4. Carl Murdick 5. Jim Rasey 6. Rex King 7. Tim Engles 8. Del Rougeux Jr. 9. Bob Dorman 10. Lonny Riggs 11. Jeff Miller 12. Rob McClimans 13. Rob Curtis 14. Kevin Bolland 15. Rob Kristyak 16. Skip Moore 17. Pete Simpson 18. Jason Engles-DNS 19. Greg Davis-DNS 20. J.R. Green-DNS 21. Les Myers-DNS.

Coy Bros. E-Mod Feature: 1. Bill Watson 2. Jeff Covelli 3. Rick Prosser Jr. 4. Jeff Haefke 5. Brent Rhebergen 6. Kasey Allen 7. Jeff Rudrick 8. Holly Nelson 9. Bill Frontz 10. Brian Felmlee 11. Scott Weaver 12. Dale Fuller 13.Ron Jaeger 14. Richard Jaeger 15. Dave Clawson 16. Fred Bratchie 17. Jeff Sharp 18. Chuck Schell 19. Jeff Johnson 20. Mark Willison 21. Mike Hess 22. Arlan Coy 23. Scott Jones 24. Scott Jones-DNS DNQ-Randy Brooks, Paul Phillips, Tom Congdon, Bill Taylor, Jerry Yoder, Bruce Crouch.

Burghill Auto Salvage Stock Car Feature: 1. Russ Kapalin 2. Bobby Whitling 3. Gary Miller Jr. 4. Dave Ferringer 5. Matt Lux 6. Steve Babos 7. Dave Willoughby 8. Steve D’Apolito 9. Mark Felicetty 10. Joe Porter 11. Chris Seamen 12. Dwayne Clay 13. Gary Robinson 14. Ron Iorio 15. John Beniston 16. John Jackson 17. Gary Johns 18. Dan Lewis-DSQ 19. Glenn Pupino-DNS 20. Bill Fox-DNS 21. Carl Pasternack-DNS 22. Tom Miller-DNS 23. Ray Gregory-DNS.

Upcoming shows:

April 21 - Sprints, Big-Block Mods, E-Mods, and Stock Cars plus parking lot drags and kids bike races.

April 28 - All Star Sprints ($5,000 to-win) plus Stock Cars.

May 5 - Sprints, Big-Block Mods, E-Mods, Stock Cars, and Micro Sprints plus Bonus Buck$ Weekend I/Lowe’s Home Improvement Night.

May 12 - Sprints, Big-Block Mods, E-Mods, and Stock Cars plus parking lot drags and kids bike races/Bill Emig Emig Memorial Big-Block Mod Qualifier for Mercer/Boardman Steel, Inc./Diamond Steel Const. Night/CD 106 Wolf Night Out.