HODNETT WINS SHARON NATIONALS OPENER; WINKLE UPSETS DIRT MODS

Hartford(OH)...Kicking off the 19th Annual Sharon Nationals Saturday at Sharon Speedway with wins were Greg Hodnett (All Star Sprints), Tom Winkle (DIRT Modifieds), and Alan Dellinger (E-Mods). A season-high 130 cars were on hand.

Greg Hodnett of Memphis, Tennessee won his second straight race at Sharon Speedway winning the opening night of the 19th Annual Sharon Nationals All Star Sprint Car Feature. "It was a really good race," said last year’s Nationals’ winner. "Joey (Saldana) did a good job. He got in the lead and I didn’t think that there was any chance of us catching him. Lap traffic just happened to go our way," said Hodnett.

Saldana started six and moved into third on the opening lap following a red for Kasey Kahne, who tipped over. Saldana then passed Keith Kauffman for second in turn three on lap two. Saldana continued his run to the front rocketing by James Chesson on the inside of turn three on lap four. A red for a Brian Paulus on lap five, who flipped in turn two, and a caution for a stopped Jim Nier on lap nine were the last cautions of the race.

When racing resumed, Hodnett and Jeff Shepard both drove by Chesson on the backstretch for second and third on lap 10. Saldana and Hodnett dealt with lap traffic the rest of the way with Hodnett using the inside, while Saldana stayed up on top. Hodnett caught Saldana on lap 27 as Saldana struggled with the lap cars of Butch Schroeder and Kahne. Hodnett’s winning move came on the 28th circuit when he drove by Saldana on the inside of turn four. Hodnett led the last three laps for the $5,000 win in the Bob Stewart owned, Apple Chevrolet sponsored #12. "I found a nice line to get us through one and two. I just started pinching him up. He did a great job and I’m just fortunate to be on top", said the winner. "It kind of half-way started to take some rubber down there and you needed to be down there on that little black strip and it was pretty good," concluded Hodnett.

Saldana, Shepard, Chesson, and Rodney Duncan, who started ninth, completed the top five. Sixth through tenth were Lance Dewease, Paul McMahan, Chad Kemenah, Danny Wood, and Kenny Jacobs. Heat winners were Shawn Keen, Schroeder, Shepard, Kemenah, and Ralph Spithaler, Jr. The Georgia Marketing C main was won by Andy McKisson. The United Expressline B main went to Dewease. C.W. Harshman won the Alky Dash. Saldana set fast time over the 58-car field with a lap of 15.859 in qualifying.

Tom Winkle of Evans City, Pa. won his biggest career race taking the 20-lap Advance Auto Parts/Super DIRT Series Eckerd 300 Syracuse Qualifier/Russ King Memorial for the DIRT Modifieds. "I’d like to thank Rex King for having the race-my car owner Earl Smith for backing us and making it all possible, and all of my sponsors," said Winkle from victory lane.

Winkle started on the pole and led all the way for the $2,000 win in his McClymonds Trucking sponsored #28 for his first win since August 10, 1997. "It helps to start up front. I’ll take it," concluded Winkle.

Lonny Riggs passed Carl Murdick for second coming off turn four on lap six, but had nothing for Winkle even on the two restarts. Riggs’ runner-up was his best career Sharon finish. Guy Griffin came from 12th to pass Murdick for fourth on lap 13, then got under Rasey on lap 18 to finish third. Rasey fell to fourth over Jeff Hoffman. Sixth through tenth were Rex King, Dave Murdick, Kevin Bolland, Murdick, and Tim Doran. Winning the heats were Rasey, Doran, and Lou Blaney over the 28-car field.

Alan Dellinger of Niles, Ohio captured the $500 to-win Coy Bros. 20 for the York Triathlon Series E-Mods. Dellinger led all the way in the Canfield Cylinder/Ralph’s RV Center #19, despite a flat tire the last lap and half. Bob McCann inherited second when Bob Williams and Rick Prosser, Jr. tangled on the first lap and stayed in the position the rest of the way. York Series point leader, Bobby Powell, had a great run coming from eighth to finish third after passing Jeff Taylor on lap three for his best Sharon finish of the year. Taylor was fourth ahead of Steve Haefke. Heat victors were Bob McCann, Alan Dellinger, Bob Williams, and Rick Prosser, Jr. Scott Stiffler and Ron Roncaglione won the two B mains.

All Star Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. GREG HODNETT 2. Joey Saldana 3. Jeff Shepard 4. James Chesson 5. Rodney Duncan 6. Lance Dewease 7. Paul McMahan 8. Chad Kemenah 9. Danny Wood 10. Kenny Jacobs 11. Frankie Kerr 12. Kasey Kahne 13. Jimmy Hawley 14. Keith Kauffman 15. Ed Lynch, Jr. 16. Brian Gobrecht 17. Brian Ellenberger 18. Butch Schroeder 19. Dean Jacobs 20. Danny Smith 21. Kelly Kinser 22. Jim Nier 23. Byron Reed 24. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 25. Brian Paulus 26. Shawn Keen-DNS DNQ-Craig Rankin, Jerrod Hull, Jarod Larson, Andy McKisson, Kevin Schaeffer, Greg Wilson, Rod George, Mike Kekich, Daryl Stimeling, Jess Thomas, Tommy Burns, Jr., Scott Bonnell, Brian Carlson, Rob Chaney, Jeff Schrum, Todd Shaffer, P.J. Chesson, Robert Altmeyer, Roger Campbell, Jr., Gary McCollum, Buddy Cochran, Brent Matus, Joe McEwen, Terry Young, Barry Ruble, Doug Kekich, Jim Damon, C.W. Harshman, Gary Rankin, Tom Quarterson, Paul White, Jr., Mike Marano II

Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series/Russ King Memorial DIRT Modified

Feature Finish: 1. TOM WINKLE 2. Lonny Riggs 3. Guy Griffin 4. Jim Rasey 5. Jeff Hoffman 6. Rex King 7. Dave Murdick 8. Kevin Bolland 9. Carl Murdick 10. Tim Doran 11. Rodney Beltz 12. Randy Snider 13. Tim Engles 14. Bill Dorman 15. Mike Sutton 16. Rob Curtis 17. Jason Engles 18. Pete Simpson 19. Randy Chronister 20. Skip Moore 21. Chris Schiffer 22. Doug Duncan 23. Steve Young 24. Greg Davis 25. Kevin Hoffman 26. Lou Blaney 27. Andy Priest 28. Rodney Beltz-DNS.

York Triathlon Series E-Mod Feature Finish: 1. ALAN DELLINGER 2. Bob McCann 3. Bobby Powell 4. Jeff Taylor 5. Steve Haefke 6. Chuck Kennedy 7. Rick Prosser, Jr. 8. Russ Dunn 9. Jeff Sharp 10. Bill Watson 11. Ron Roncaglione 12. Scott Stiffler 13. Mike Hess 14. Todd Roncaglione 15. Bob Diver 16. Jeff Rudrick 17. Kari Petrosky 18. Holly Nelson 19. Jeff Johnson 20. Arlan Coy 21. Herm Myers 22. J.R. Mechling 23. Jay Watson 24. Carl McKinney 25. Bob Williams 26. DNQ-Holly Nelson, Jack Andrew, John Strickler, Ron Jaeger, Dale Fuller, Tom Congdon, Bill Taylor, Kris Allen, Charlie Jasinski, J.B. Dandy, Jim Bertges, Lance Drew, Dave Strickler, Mike Lesky, Ed Cornell, J.R. Green, Ed Cornell, Dave Clawson.

Media Contact: Mike Leone, 53 East Glenora Drive, Grove City, PA 16127. Phone/Fax: 724-748-3358. Office phone: 724-964-9300. E-mail: mleone@infonline.net

Sharon Speedway is north of Interstate 80 on Route 7 to Route 305, then east on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio. For more information call (724) 287-4938 or the speedway at (330) 772-5481. The fax number is (330) 772-7704. The mailing address is P.O. Box 159, Hartford, OH 44424.