CHANEY AND MURDICK AMONG HAPPY FIRST SHARON WINNERS

by Mike Leone

Hartford(OH) Sharon Speedway completed its second show of its 70th anniversary season on Sunday evening. Highlighting wins were Rob Chaney (Sprint Cars) and Dave Murdick (DIRT Modifieds). Other winners were Jeff Rudrick (E-Mods) and Rick Prosser, Jr. (Stock Cars).

After years of bad luck at Sharon Speedway, Rob Chaney is beginning to put some good luck together. The Millersburg, Ohio driver won his second career race at Sharon Speedway in his past two regular show appearances. Chaney started eighth and made his winning move on lap 13 when he blew by Jeff Schrum. "Early on we were a little tight. I couldn’t run the top (of the track) and I moved down to the bottom because there was no one down there. The car really hooked up so I stayed there and I got to the front."

Gary Edwards led the first lap until Schrum took over on the second circuit. Schrum’s lead lasted until lap seven when Troy Preston took charge. Brad Ellenberger rode over Gary McCann’s mount and flipped into the turn two fence bringing out the red with eight laps completed. He was okay.

Ralph Spithaler, Jr. grabbed second from Schrum on the restart, but slowed causing the caution. Schrum retook the lead on the restart from Preston. Chaney disposed of Preston for runner-up on lap 11. Two laps later, Chaney dove under Schrum for the lead in turns one and two. Preston’s car went up in a ball of flames causing the red with 15 laps in the books. Schrum’s crew worked on the car under red moving Tommy Burns, Jr. to second. But Burns stopped with 16 laps completed. Gary Edwards then became the fourth driver running in second to break. The last two laps went to green to checker with Chaney holding on for the win in the #42. Chaney stated, "This is a brand new car Tom (Burkey) bought for me. It was pretty fast right out of the box. We’re pretty happy with how the car is going."

Jarod Larson moved to second at the finish. Barry Ruble was third after starting 13th. Mike Kekich was fourth and Jamie McKinney came from 15th to finish fifth. Completing the top ten were Schrum, Bob Lime, Dave Murdick, C.W. Harshman, and Edwards. Heats went to Chaney and Kekich.

After coming up light after winning a feature last year, Dave Murdick was legal and savored his first DIRT Modified win. The Slippery Rock, Pa. driver started third and moved into second passing Dale Fuller on lap three. Rex King and Lou Blaney followed in third and fourth on the fourth lap. The trio ran down leader Randy Snider on lap seven.

On lap nine, Murdick went under Snider for the lead in turn one. King and Blaney drove by Snider on the 10th lap. The last ten laps saw Blaney and King swap second and third with Blaney getting by for good on lap 19. But up front, Murdick had enough horses to keep Blaney and King at bay for the win in the un-sponsored #35 owned by Tim Temple. The happy winner eluded to the sponsor-less team from victory lane, "It’s pretty low budget. The car was home-built last year. It’s probably the last home-built car on the track anymore."

Guy Griffin came from 19th to record his best finish of the season in fourth. Tim Doran was fifth. Completing the top ten were Snider, Jim Rasey, Fuller, Steve Young, and Rob McClimans. Scoring heat wins were King and Doran.

Jeff Rudrick ended Alan Dellinger’s 12-race win streak by winning his first career Sharon Speedway win in the 15-lap E-Mod Feature. Rudrick led all 15 laps from the pole position holding off Bootie Petkso, Joel Watson, and Rick Robinson, who were all over him in the closing laps. Rudrick of Columbiana, Ohio drove the Coy Bros. #55 to victory by one car-length over Petsko without power steering. Petsko passed Robinson and Watson on the lap 13 restart. Watson edged Robinson for third. Jeff Haefke was fifth. Taking the three heats were Dellinger, Petsko, and Rick Prosser, Jr.

Rick Prosser, Jr. won his first Stock Car Feature of this season. Prosser and Joe Porter passed Jim Waldele on lap two for first and second. Prosser of Geneva, Ohio then pulled away from the field and never looked back scoring the easy win in his Geneve Storage #A1. Porter stayed in second for the duration holding off Dwayne Clay, who started ninth. Gary Robinson charged through the field to finish fourth after starting 24th. Nathan Miller completed the top five. Heat winners were Clay, Miller, and Prosser.

Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. ROB CHANEY 2. Jarod Larson 3. Barry Ruble 4. Mike Kekich 5. Jamie McKinney 6. Jeff Schrum 7. Bob Lime 8. Dave Murdick 9. C.W. Harshman 10. Gary Edwards 11. Jack Sodeman, Jr. 12. Brent Matus 13. Tommy Burns, Jr. 14. Troy Preston 15. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 16. Doug Kekich 17. Gary McCann 18. Brad Ellenberger.

DIRT Modified Feature Finish: 1. DAVE MURDICK 2. Lou Blaney 3. Rex King 4. Guy Griffin 5. Tim Doran 6. Randy Snider 7. Jim Rasey 8. Dale Fuller 9.Steve Young 10. Rob McClimans 11. Pete Simpson 12. Mike Sutton 13. Shon Derr 14. Bill Dorman 15. Carl Murdick 16. Randy Chronister 17. Tom Winkle 18. George Hobaugh 19. Jim Reagle 20. Bob Dorman.

E-Mod Feature Finish: 1. JEFF RUDRICK 2. Bootie Petsko 3. Joel Watson 4. Rick Robinson 5. Jeff Haefke 6. Jeff Sharp 7. Bob Diver 8. Chuck List, Sr. 9. Jeff Johnson 10. Craig Douglas 11. Jim Marino 12. John Strickler 13. Don Martin 14. Arlan Coy 15. Chuck Schell 16. Ron Jaeger 17. David Strickler 18. Jim White, Jr. 19. Bill Taylor 20. Mike Hess 21. Rick Prosser, Jr. 22. Scott Stiffler 23. Gary Miller, Jr. 24. J.B. Dandy 25. Alan Dellinger-DNS 26. Bob McCann-DNS 27. Bert Blackson-DNS 28. Mike Lesky-DNS 29. Randy Brooks-DNS.

Stock Car Feature Finish: 1.RICK PROSSER, JR. 2. Joe Porter 3. Dwayne Clay 4. Gary Robinson 5. Nathan Miller 6. Jim Brunson 7. Mike Sohm 8. Carl Pasternack 9. Eric Gibson 10. Tom Martin 11. Tom Miller 12. Russell Stanke 13. Patty McCann 14. Jim Davis 15. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 16. Glenn Pupino 17. Al Priester 18. Jim White, Jr. 19. George Kafantaris 20. Ben Elser 21. Jim Waldele 22. Jason Longwell-DNS 23. Mark Felicetty-DNS 24. Darrell Neal-DNS 25. Clint Gibson-DNS.

Media Contact: Mike Leone, 53 East Glenora Drive, Grove City, PA 16127. Phone/Fax: 724-748-3358. 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, Oh. For more information call (330) 652-5030 or the speedway on race day at (330) 772-5481. The fax number is (330) 772-7704. The mailing address is P.O. Box 403, Mineral Ridge, OH 44440.