7/16/2025
Sharon Speedway
UMP MODS HEADLINE SATURDAY'S "STEEL VALLEY THUNDER” SHOW AT SHARON; PRO STOCKS, RUSH MODS, ECONO MODS & CROWN VICS ALSO IN ACTION
By Mike Leone
July 16, 2025
(Hartford, OH)...After a successful two-night World of Outlaws Late Model program last weekend despite Mother Nature trying to intervene, Sharon Speedway will return to action this Saturday night (July 19) as the 96th anniversary season rolls on. The "Steel Valley Thunder" program will feature the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modifieds presented by A&MP Electric along with the Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks, HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods, and the Crown Vics. Race time is 7 p.m. It’s Hovis Auto & Truck Supply and A&MP Electric Night.
Menards®, the home improvement giant that features building materials, tools, gardening supplies, groceries, appliances, and more, will provide attending fans the ability to win a $500 Menards® gift card (first prize), a charbroil grill (second prize), and a Masterforce® drill/driver combo (third prize) on Saturday night along with the August 2 and August 11 programs! Three general admission ticket stubs will be drawn; no additional purchases or signups are required. Menards® has 341 stores in 15 states including 32 in the state of Ohio with the Warren, Ohio store located just 14 miles from Sharon Speedway. Go to Menards.com for a store near you.
The Willy’s World Kids Club presented by MillCraftBarns will include a driver autograph session from 5-5:30 p.m. followed up by driver and fan engagement activities from 5:30-6 p.m. Featured drivers include Ty Rhoades (UMP Mods), Vinnie DePizzo (UMP Mods), Paul Davis (Stocks), Troy Pinch (RUSH Mods), Jonathan Davis (Econo Mods), and Clay Ruffo (Econo Mods). Willy’s World is a non-profit organization dedicated to educate, support, guide, and provide resources to families and children with hidden disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modifieds will make their first appearance of the season on Saturday night in an event presented by A&MP Electric. The UMP Mods will battle for $1,000 to-win with Locals Cup points on the line. Alan Dellinger remains the division's all-time winner with 87 victories. Joel Watson, who still competes in the class, is second with 30 wins. Last season there were four different winners in four races including Bud Watson, Nate Young, Dennis Lunger, Jr., and Dave Hess, Jr. There have been 63 different winners in 335 races run all-time.
The Pro Stocks have completed three events thus far this season. After being shutout of victory lane in 2024, Chris Schneider has won both of his 2025 starts as he upped his all-time win mark to 20, which moved him into sole possession of eighth place on the division’s all-time win list. His most recent win came on June 28 in the $2,000 to-win "Ray's Race" for the Penn-Ohio Championship Series. Former UMP Modified standout, Scott Stiffler, won for just the second time in a Pro Stock on June 21.
The HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will make their fourth appearance of the season on Saturday night. Defending Series Champion Chas Wolbert has won two of three races. Wolbert upped his all-time division leading tally to 24 at Sharon and 60 overall across the circuit in his career. Ayden Cipriano won the June 28 show. Wolbert also won the three other races completed to date on the circuit in the rain-plagued season as he leads both the $3,500 to-win Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series and the $1,000 to-win “Route 7 Rumble” Series points.
The Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods will be the third Modified class on the card on Saturday. The May 10 opener saw Garrett Calvert score his third career win, while Joe Gabrielson nailed down impressive wins in back-to-back weeks on June 21 and June 28. Most recently, Coleton Longwell finally nabbed his first career win in the division last Friday night worth $800. The Econo Mod car counts have been strong all year averaging 27 per night including 30 on two occasions.
Rounding out the big five-division program will be the new Crown Vic division. Saturday will be the third of five scheduled events for the 2025 as Coleton Longwell made history winning the first ever event at the track on June 21 then Travis Reeher drove Longwell's car to victory the following week. The Crown Vics will return on August 9 and August 23. The rules are available at the following link: https://www.sharonspeedway.com/downloads/get.aspx?i=1061848. For tech questions, contact Rick Robinson at 724-893-6898.
Summit Racing Equipment will present the hard charger award on Saturday night to the UMP Modifieds. 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 finishes highest in the feature.
The Performance Bodies "Nosed Out" program will award a $100 Performance Bodies gift card redeemable only at Wedge Motorsports to a driver in the UMP Modifieds, Pro Stocks or Econo Mods. The recipient amongst those competing divisions will be the driver that most closely beat out another competitor for any finishing position on the lead lap. Tiebreaker will be the driver with the best finishing position.
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 2025 season, please bring the registration form with you completed https://www.sharonspeedway.com/downloads/get.aspx?i=1006835
UMP Modified Payoff: 1. $1,000 2. $700 3. $400 4. $300 5. $200 6. $175 7. $140 8. $125 9. $120 10. $115 11. $110 12. $105 13-24. $100. Tow/Non-Qualifiers $50.
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 4:30. Warmups for the UMP Mods will take place at approximately 6:40 p.m. followed by racing at 7.
Grandstand/fan zone admission for those 14 and over is $15, while senior admission is $13. 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. As always, children under 14 and parking are always FREE. Pit passes are $35. As a reminder, coolers nor outside food or beverages are not permitted.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars will return on July 26 in a $4,000 to-win "Super Series" event presented by Bala Management. Also on the card will be the Hovis Big-Block Modifieds and the Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks. Group qualifying for the Sprints will be at 6:40 p.m. followed by racing.
Sharon Speedway is owned by Dave Blaney, Ryan Blaney, and Will Thomas III 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 X (formerly Twitter) @sharonspdwy.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
