7/12/2023
Sharon Speedway
BIG-BLOCK MODIFIEDS HIGHLIGHT SATURDAY'S "STEEL VALLEY THUNDER" PROGRAM AT SHARON; RUSH SPRINTS, PRO STOCKS & RUSH MODS ALSO IN ACTION
By Mike Leone
July 12, 2023
(Hartford, OH)…After coming off a successful 15th annual "Lou Blaney Memorial" last Saturday night, Sharon Speedway returns to action with a "Steel Valley Thunder" program presented by M&R Power Equipment this Saturday night (July 15). The four-division racing card will feature the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds along with the Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars, Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks, and the HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. It's Twin-State Auto Racing Club Night. Racing begins at 7 p.m.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds presented by Alcon Mechanical, Autism Awareness, King Bros. Ready Mix Concrete, King's Sanitary Services, and Russ King Racing will headline Saturday's show for the their third appearance of 2023. The ground pounders will battle for $1,500 to-win, $200 to-start (complete payoff below).
Back on June 17, Garrett Krummert ended a near eight-year winless drought in the division to take the $1,500 main event over the 20-car field. Last Saturday night, the BRP Tour made their only appearance of the season and it was Canadian invader Mat Williamson earning his first career Sharon victory, worth $2,500, as there were 40 cars on hand!
The Big-Block Modifieds were a weekly attraction at Sharon from 1981-1992 then again from 1996-2017 and have since made limited appearances each year. There have been 635 races run with 95 different winners. The late Lou Blaney leads the all-time win list with 121 victories over Rex King, who has 54 checkered flags. Rex King, Jr. has the most wins as an active racer with 27 followed by veterans Jim Rasey (19), Brian Swartzlander (14), and Dave Murdick (9). Other active Modified winners include Erick Rudolph (4), Jeremiah Shingledecker (4), Peter Britten (2), Brad Rapp (2), Steve Feder (2), Garrett Krummert (2), Chad Brachmann (1), Kyle Fink (1), Lonny Riggs (1), Mark Frankhouser (1), Mike Maresca (1), Ryan Susice (1), and Mat Williamson (1).
The Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars have made four appearances at Sharon this season with Chad Ruhlman winning all four. The Erie, Pa. driver won the May 13 opener then won the May 25 $800 special as an undercard to the World of Outlaws Late Models. On June 17, Ruhlman won from 17th after a thrilling duel with Blaze Myers, and once again out-dueled Myers to win the $800 "Wednesday Night Thunder" event on June 28. The RUSH Sprints have had 22 or 23 cars for all four events this season. Ruhlman has won 13 of the 28 races run all-time at Sharon as the four-time Series champion currently leads RUSH $5,000 to-win Sunbelt Weekly Series Championship points.
The Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks will make their fourth visit of 2023. All three victors to date have been first time Sharon winners! Invader Tim Bish won the $1,000 special on May 20; Jordan Perkins of New Castle, Pa. scored a popular win on June 3; and most recently, Jackson Humanic finally got the monkey off his back winning on June 17. Will there be a fourth first time Sharon winner on Saturday night or will one of the veterans reign supreme?
The HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will complete the four-division program. The 10th year division has produced three different winners as only Ben Easler has been able to repeat. The 2022 RUSH Weekly Series Champion won the season opener then returned to Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane at the last show on June 17. Ayden Cipriano and Garrett Krummert have also been victorious. Two-time track champion, Kole Holden, has won five races around the circuit to lead the $3,500 Weekly Series points; however, is still searching for his first Sharon win of 2023. Cipriano leads the $1,000 Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series points.
Summit Racing Equipment will present the hard charger award to the RUSH Sportsman Modified division. The driver that passes the most cars in the feature will receive a $100 Summit gift card. In the event of a tie, the tiebreaker will be the driver that finished highest in the feature.
Big-Block Modified Payoff: 1. $1,500 2. $1,000 3. $750 4. $550. 5. $500 6. $425 7. $375 8. $300 9. $275 10. $250 11. $225 12. $220 13. $215 14. $210 15. $205 16-24. $200. Tow $75.
There is no Sharon registration fee. One-way driver radios are mandatory; channel 454.000. AMB/MyLaps transponders are required; rentals available for $25. If you have yet to register for the 2023 season, please bring the registration form with you completed http://sharonspeedway.myracepass.com/downloads/get.aspx?i=713060
Fans can not only experience viewing from the frontstretch and backstretch grandstands, but also from the infield fan zone, which includes concessions and restrooms. Sharon is the only track in the area to have viewing from the unique infield perspective. There will be times throughout the night when fans can cross on the frontstretch back and forth.
The pits will be open throughout the afternoon with passes going on sale at 4 p.m., while general admission opens at 5. Heat races will get underway at 7 p.m.
Grandstand/fan zone admission for those 14 and over is $15, while senior admission is $10. Patio seating upgrades are just $10 and fan suite seating upgrades are just $20 over the cost of general admission. These can be upgraded on race night at the track office. Tickets are available through https://sharonspeedway.simpletix.com. As always, children under 14 and parking are always FREE. Pit passes are $30. As a reminder, coolers nor outside food or beverages are not permitted.
Coming up next week will be a two-day event. Friday night (July 21) will feature the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars racing for $2,000 to-win along with the Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks. The Pro Stocks will then return on Saturday night (July 22) for the Penn-Ohio Championship "Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals" with twin features paying $3,500 to-win. The UMP Modifieds presented by A&MP Electric will also be in action racing for $1,000 to-win.
Sharon Speedway is owned by the Blaney, Weller, and Kirila Families and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter @sharonspdwy.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
