LARSON WINS FIRST IN SPRINTS, WHILE GRIFFIN SCORED #2 IN SHARON DIRT MODIFIEDS
Hartford(OH)...Highlighting wins on the 14th night of racing in the 70th anniversary season of racing Sunday evening at Sharon Speedway were Jarod Larson (Sunburst Environmental Services Sprint Cars) and Guy Griffin (Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley DIRT Modifieds). Other winners were Jeff Rudrick (Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley E-Mods) and Gary Norman (Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Stock Cars).
Utilizing a brand-new Carlon Hein engine, Jarod Larson of Rock Creek, Ohio finally nabbed his first Sprint Car win of the year in the 20-lap Sunburst Environmental Services event leading all 20 laps for the win. "We've had a rough year. Everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong. We're happy to make it tonight. We were a little loose," said a happy Larson from victory lane.
Larson shot into the lead over fellow #47 Marty Ling. Young Boston Reid looked good passing Terry Young and then Kevin Andrusky for third on lap three. Mike Kekich cracked the top five on lap four passing Young. Reid's fine run came to an end on lap eight after suspension problems forced him into the wall. When racing resumed, Tom Quarterson, who started 12th, was on the move taking Kekich for fourth on lap eight and Andrusky for third on lap nine. Andrusky slowed on lap 12 and slammed a tire barrier and flipping on his side, while trying to exit the speedway.
When green replaced yellow, Quarterson got a good restart passing Ling for second. As the laps wound down, Larson ran the top, while Quarterson ran the bottom pulling even at times with Larson in the corners. But at the finish, Larson was able to edge Quarterson for his first win since July 12, 1998 in the Bill Clemson owned, Thompson Drag Raceway/Clemson Excavating sponsored #47. "When I looked up at the board and seen Tommy (Quarterson) was in second I knew I was going to have some trouble. He challenged me a couple times, but he raced me clean and I'm real happy to win," said Larson, who became the first driver to win three straight Sprint Car championships.
Ling had a solid finish in third. Troy Preston came from 11th to pass Kekich on the final lap for fourth dropping Kekich to fifth. Completing the top ten were 20th starter Tommy Burns, Jr., Gary Edwards, Andy McKisson, Arnie Kent, and Young. Heat victors were newcomer Elida, Ohio's Steve Suever and Larson.
Guy Griffin of Transfer, Pa. was victorious in the 20-lap Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley DIRT Modifieds for the second time. "Oh man! I get out here (victory lane) and I get so excited," said a happy Griffin. "This is the second time this year. It's hard to believe I won once let alone twice. I'm guess I'm known for running the bottom. If it works (the outside of the track) for Lou (Blaney) and Tim (Doran), I guess I can try it. If I get the car right and it goes, I guess we'll take it. It started to pick up a miss with five to go. You could lay into it a little harder," said the winning driver.
Kevin Bolland took the early lead from the pole position, while Rodney Beltz, Griffin, Tim Doran, and Dave Murdick passed Mark Flick for second on lap one. The top five cars quickly broke away. Bolland and Griffin were in heavy traffic on lap 10 running the inside. Griffin was able to use the outside off turn four to take Beltz for second as Doran followed in third. A flat tire for Mike Sutton bunched up the field at the half-way mark. When racing resumed, Griffin made the winning move on lap 11, while Doran followed in second on lap 12.
The third and final caution was for Pete Simpson, who spun with 13 laps in the books. Griffin was able to hold off Doran's challenges the last seven laps for his second win in his Quaker Steak & Lube/Mitcheltree Bros. Logging/Armacoating sponsored #11. Both of Griffin's wins have come in the absence of Lou Blaney. "I give those guys credit. I know they were all right there. Tim Doran was right there-he's good, they're all good. I guess it was our night," said Griffin from victory lane.
Doran was second and took over the point lead from Blaney. Dave Murdick made a late charge from eighth passing Beltz for fourth on lap 14 and Bolland on lap 16 to finish third. Rex King came from 11th to finish fourth after passing Beltz on lap 15 and Bolland on lap 19. Bolland fell to fifth. Sixth through tenth were Beltz, Lonny Riggs, Rob Curtis, Flick, and Randy Snider. Heat winners were Griffin and King.
Jeff Rudrick of Columbiana, Ohio led all 15 laps of the Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley E-Mod Feature for his third win. Rudrick and Bobby Powell passed Craig Douglas for first and second on the opening lap. Powell exited the track under caution with one lap completed. When racing resumed, Bob McCann, Scott Stiffler, and Steve Haefke got by Douglas for second, third, and fourth respectively on laps two and three. Haefke was on the move taking third from Stiffler on the fourth circuit. The running order remained the same until lap 13 when McCann slipped high on the backstretch allowing Haefke to get by. A caution for Bob Williams' spin with 14 laps completed bunched up the field for the final time. Rudrick, in the Coy Bros. #55, had enough to edge Haefke by two car-lengths. Haefke's second was his best-ever Sharon E-Mod finish. McCann was third over Stiffler, and Jim White, Jr. Williams, Powell, and McCann won the heats. White won the dash.
Rick Prosser, Jr. drove an amazing race coming from 24th to win the 15-lap Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Stock Car Feature only to come up 30 pounds light giving the win to Gary Norman. Norman took the lead from the pole, while Russ Kapalin and Jason Longwell passed Jim Davis for second and third. Dwayne Clay, who started ninth, quickly raced through the field passing Longwell for third on lap four and Kapalin for second on lap six. Clay ran down Norman, but his chances at winning ended on lap seven when he received a flat tire placing Kapalin, Prosser, and Allan Hudziik in the mix. When racing resumed after the yellow for Clay's flat tire, Prosser and Hudzik both passed Kapalin for second and third on lap 11. Prosser's apparent winning move came on the final lap when he drove hard into turn one for the lead on the inside. Prosser edged Norman at the checkers. After coming up short on the scales, Norman was awarded his first win of the year. The New Castle, Pa. driver was aboard the Ken Neely Lumber/Triple-S Auto Sales sponsored #9 for the win. Hudzik was given second for his best finish ahead of Kapalin, Longwell, and Rich Howell. Scoring heat wins were Howell, Norman, and Clay.
Sunburst Environmental Services Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. JAROD LARSON 2. Tom Quarterson 3. Marty Ling 4. Troy Preston 5. Mike Kekich 6. Tommy Burns, Jr. 7. Gary Edwards 8. Andy McKisson 9. Arnie Kent 10. Terry Young 11. Scott Priester 12. Bob Lime 13. C.W. Harshman 14. Gary McCollum 15. Dan Taylor 16. Kevin Andrusky 17. Boston Reid 18. Steve Suever 19. Buddy Cochran 20. Paul White, Jr.
Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley DIRT Modifieds: 1. GUY GRIFFIN 2. Tim Doran 3. Dave Murdick 4. Rex King 5. Kevin Bolland 6. Rodney Beltz 7. Lonny Riggs 8. Rob Curtis 9. Mark Flick 10. Randy Snider 11. Mike Sutton 12. Pete Simpson 13. Carl Murdick 14. Rick Kress 15. Randy Chronister 16. Greg Davis 17. Skip Moore 18. Jim Rasey.
Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley E-Mods: 1. JEFF RUDRICK 2. Steve Haefke 3. Bob McCann 4. Scott Stiffler 5. Jim White, Jr. 6. Rick Prosser, Jr. 7. Jeff Sharp 8. Bob Diver 9. Chuck Schell 10. Craig Douglas 11. J.R. Mechling 12. Jim Marino 13. Scott Jones 14. Russell Stanke 15. Bob Williams 16. Bill Taylor 17. Mike Lesky 18. Matt Miklos 19. Jeff Haefke 20. Alan Dellinger 21. Bobby Powell 22. Jeff Johnson 23. Arlan Coy 24. Ron Jaeger-DNS.
Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Stock Car Feature Finish: 1. GARY NORMAN 2. Allan Hudzik 3. Russ Kapalin 4. Jason Longwell 5. Rich Howell 6. Mark Felicetty 7. Gary Robinson 8. Jim White, Jr. 9. Robert Kutsch 10. Glenn Pupino 11. Patty McCann 12. Chuck Sullivan, Jr. 13. Darrell Neal 14. Ralph Blackson 15. Dwayne Clay 16. Dave Wagner, Jr. 17. Jim Davis 18. Carl Pasternack 19. Bobby Douglas 20. Ken Moy, Jr. 21. Charlie Baptiste 22. John Jackson 23. Eric Ulbricht 24. Rick Prosser, Jr.-DSQ 25. Tom Miller-DNS 26. Joe Porter-DNS 27. Steve Babos-DNS 28. Tom Martin-DNS 29. Dave Wagner, Sr.-DNS 30. Carl Davis-DNS.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
Aug 29 Regular show of Sprint Cars, DIRT Modifieds, E-Mods, and Stock Cars.. Autograph night for the E-Mods.
Sept 4 19th Annual Sharon Nationals: All Star Sprints, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series non-point Eckerd 300 Syracuse Qualifier/Russ King Memorial for the DIRT Modifieds, plus E-Mods.
Sept 5 19th Annual Sharon Nationals: All Star Sprints plus Stock Cars.
Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with racing at 6 p.m.