CHANEY AND DORAN WIN IMPRESSIVE SPRINT AND DIRT MODIFIED EVENTS AT SHARON

by Mike Leone

Hartford(OH)...Highlighting wins Sunday evening at Sharon Speedway on the 15th night of racing in the 70th anniversary season on the final night of points were Rob Chaney (Sunburst Environmental Services Sprint Cars) and Tim Doran (Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley DIRT Modifieds). Other winners were Alan Dellinger (Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley E-Mods) and Rick Prosser, Jr. (Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Stock Cars). A season-high 111 cars were on hand.

In the last tune-up for the Sharon Nationals, Rob Chaney continued his outstanding season by winning his fifth 20-lap Sunburst Environmental Services Sprint Car Feature beating western Pa.'s best Jimmy Hawley. "We were getting real close on fuel and I lost my brakes on lap five. I knew Jimmy would be tough when he came here. He gave me a run there at the end. It was a good race for everyone," said the Millersburg, Ohio driver. "We've been working real hard at doing good this year and it's been paying off," concluded Chaney.

Twenty-five of the 28 cars started the event as pole-sitter Ralph Spithaler, Jr. turned over, while battling with Gary Edwards on the opening lap. When racing resumed, Hawley was on the move from his eighth starting spot passing Troy Preston for fourth on lap three. Meanwhile, Chaney, who started sixth, finally worked around Terry Young for third using the outside. After a caution for Jeff Schrum, Chaney passed Mike Kekich for second at the line on lap five, while Hawley took fourth from Young. Chaney made his winning move on lap seven driving under Edwards in turn one, while Hawley did the identical move on Edwards in turn three after getting around Kekich.

A caution for Gary McCann's spin with seven laps completed bunched up the field. When green replaced yellow, Preston put a slider on Kekich and Edwards in turn one using the inside to take third on lap nine. Chaney pulled away from Hawley building up a straightaway lead until cautions for Andy McKisson and Staple Nash slowed action with 15 and 17 laps completed. Chaney survived Hawley's last ditch effort on the restart to win in the Millersburg Oil/Superior Tank & Trailer sponsored #42. Chaney's fifth win came in just his 10th start of the season. Hawley was second in his first appearance of the season. Kekich passed Preston for third on lap 17 dropping Preston to fourth. Champion Jarod Larson came from 11th to finish fifth. Sixth through tenth were Young, West Virginia's Wayne McPeek, Edwards, Indiana's Boston Reid, and newcomer Kevin Schaeffer. Heat winners for the season-high 28-car field were won by Chaney, McPeek, and Hawley.

Tim Doran earned his nickname "Mr. Outside" by using the outside passing Guy Griffin to win his second 20-lap Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley DIRT Modified Feature of the season and his third straight championship. "I can't believe it, exclaimed a happy Doran. "Three years in-a-row and we finally have a couple (three) wins here. I feel glad about that. Same car all three years, same motor all three years. I can't say enough about my family and the crew. It means a lot, said the winning driver from victory lane.

Lonny Riggs looked good leading the first four laps until slowing on the fifth circuit giving the lead to Guy Griffin with Carl Murdick, Doran, Jim Rasey, and Kevin Bolland in tow. Doran, who started fifth, used the outside to pass Murdick for second coming off turn four on lap eight. Rex King came from 16th and joined Rasey to pass Murdick for third and fourth on lap 10. A three-car battle for the lead developed with Griffin, Doran, and King putting distance between themselves and the rest of the field. On lap 15, King went to the inside of turns one and two, but made contact with Doran and spun to bring out the caution. Another caution was waved for the third-pace car of Rasey, who's front-end collapsed, with 17 laps completed.

This set the stage for a three-lap shoot-out. Griffin used the inside, while Doran used his typical outside lane. The two ran side-by-side on lap 19 as they were nearly even at the line. Coming off turn two on the final lap Doran nosed ahead as Griffin got somewhat out of shape. Doran of New Castle, Pa. crossed the line first in his Richard Smith Construction/Book & Book Well Drilling sponsored #12. Griffin was second over a season-best finish by Tom Winkle in third. Rodney Beltz came from 11th to pressure Winkle, but settled for fourth. King rebounded to finish fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Murdick, a slowing Bolland, Randy Snider, Pete Simpson, and Randy Chronister. Winning the heats were Bolland and King.

Alan Dellinger of Niles, Ohio recorded his seventh 15-lap Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley E-Mod Feature win. A seven-car crash, which included a flip by Mike Lesky, stopped the race on the first lap. Everyone was okay. Bob Williams was the early leader from the pole position as Jeff Rudrick took second from Dale Fuller on the opening lap. Dellinger and Rick Prosser, Jr. also got by Fuller on lap two for third and fourth. Dellinger moved into runner-up on lap four taking Rudrick at the line. Dellinger's winning move came on lap six passing Williams on the outside coming off turn four. Dellinger survived five cautions for the win in his Canfield Cylinder Head/Ralph's RV Center sponsored #19. Williams followed in second. Scott Stiffler had a good run coming from 10th to take third from Rudrick on lap 13. Rudrick edged Bob McCann for fourth, but came up short to McCann, who won the championship. Taking heat wins were Dellinger, Williams, and Jim White, Jr. over the 29-car field. Jeff Johnson won the dash.

Rick Prosser, Jr. of Geneva, Ohio picked up his sixth 15-lap Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Stock Car Feature win. Prosser also won the B main and had to charge from the 19th starting spot to score the win. Joe Porter and Chuck Sullivan, Jr. looked good early as both were searching for their first career win. Porter led the first nine laps, until Sullivan took over on lap 10. Porter then got sideways allowing Pasternack, Prosser, and Jim White, Jr. to go by. Prosser moved into second passing Pasternack on lap 11. The next lap saw Prosser get under Sullivan on the backstretch when Sullivan slipped a little high off turn two. Prosser survived the second and final caution of the race for Darrell Neal with 12 laps completed for the win in his Geneva Storage/Big "M" Motors sponsored #A1. Sullivan held off White for second as the two recorded their career-best Sharon finishes. Point champion Clay and Allan Hudzik were fourth and fifth. Heat victors were Clay, Gary Miller, Jr., and Sullivan over the season-high 36-car field.

Sunburst Environmental Services Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. ROB CHANEY 2. Jimmy Hawley 3. Mike Kekich 4. Troy Preston 5. Jarod Larson 6. Terry Young 7. Wayne McPeek 8. Gary Edwards 9. Boston Reid 10. Kevin Schaeffer 11. Bob Lime 12. Joe McEwen 13. Barry Ruble 14. Jamie McKinney 15. Staple Nash 16. Brent Matus 17. Andy McKisson 18. Jason Dukes 19. Leo O'Malley 20. Paul White, Jr. 21. Gary McCann 22. C.W. Harshman 23. Jeff Schrum 24. Buddy Cochran 25. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 26. Tommy Burns, Jr.-DNS 27. Eric Hysong-DNS 28. Troy Cochran-DNS.

Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley DIRT Modified Feature Finish: 1. TIM DORAN 2. Guy Griffin 3. Tom Winkle 4. Rodney Beltz 5. Rex King 6. Carl Murdick 7. Kevin Bolland 8. Randy Snider 9. Pete Simpson 10. Randy Chronister 11. Jim Rasey 12. Dave Murdick 13. Mike Sutton 14. Rob Curtis 15. Lonny Riggs 16. Lou Blaney 17. Skip Moore 18. Rick Kress.

Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley E-Mod Feature Finish: 1. ALAN DELLINGER 2. Bob Williams 3. Scott Stiffler 4. Jeff Rudrick 5. Bob McCann 6. Rick Prosser, Jr. 7. Bobby Powell 8. Steve Haefke 9. Jay Watson 10. Jim White, Jr. 11. Dale Fuller 12. Jeff Johnson 13. Mark Willison 14. Holly Nelson 15. Russell Stanke 16. Bill Taylor 17. Ron Jaeger 18. Craig Douglas 19. J.R. Mechling 20. Chuck Schell 21. Arlan Coy 22. Mike Potosky 23. Jeff Sharp 24. Mike Lesky 25. Jim Marino-DNS DNQ-Kasey Allen, Jeff Haefke, Matt Miklos, Scott Jones

Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Stock Car Feature Finish: 1. RICK PROSSER, JR. 2. Chuck Sullivan, Jr. 3. Jim White, Jr. 4. Dwayne Clay 5. Allan Hudzik 6. Carl Pasternack 7. Gary Robinson 8. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 9. Joe Porter 10. Willie Aley 11. Tom Miller 12. Patty McCann 13. Russ Kapalin 14. Gary Miller, Jr. 15. Glenn Pupino 16. Sammy Wheat 17. Robert Kutsch 18. Ken Moy, Jr. 19. Dave Wagner, Jr. 20. Darrell Neal 21. Jason Longwell 22. Fred Bulik 23. Mike Sohm 24. Steve Babos DNQ-Ralph Blackson, John Jackson, Carl Davis, Eric Gibson, Jim Davis, Tom Martin, Rick Norco, Mark Felicetty, Dave Wagner, Sr., Bill Fox, Buddy Carpenter, Rich Howell.

Upcoming shows:

Sept 4 19th Annual Sharon Nationals: All Star Sprints ($5,000 to-win), Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series non-point Eckerd 300 Syracuse Qualifier/Russ King Memorial for the DIRT Modifieds ($2,000 to-win), plus York Triathlon Series E-Mods ($500 to-win)

Sept 5 19th Annual Sharon Nationals: All Star Sprints ($10,000 to-win) plus Stock Cars ($500 to-win).

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.