7/19/2025
Sharon Speedway
HARD FOUGHT UMP MOD WIN FOR RHOADES; 1ST EVER SHARON WINS FOR KOCUBA (STOCKS), WARNER (ECONO MODS) & KREPPS (CROWN VICS); WOLBERT 3-FOR-4 IN RUSH MODS
By Mike Leone
July 19, 2025
(Hartford, OH)...After a successful two-night World of Outlaws Late Model weekend, Sharon Speedway returned to “Steel Valley Thunder” action on Saturday night as the 96th anniversary season rolled on. Celebrating in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Victory Lane were Ty Rhoades (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modifieds presented by A&MP Electric), Nick Kocuba (Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks), Chas Wolbert (HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds), Brendan Warner (Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods), and Brian Krepps (Crown Vics). It was Hovis Auto & Truck Supply and A&MP Electric Night.
Though Ty Rhoades led all 20 laps of the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modified feature presented by A&MP Electric, the victory was far from easy as he had Nate Young and Eric Wilson all over him for nearly the duration. Rhoades earned $1,000 payday for his fourth career UMP Mod win in the season opener for the division at Sharon, which is part of the Locals Cup Series of events.
“I could see Eric (Wilson) and I knew Nate (Young) was there,” explained the 34-year-old Harmony, Pa. racer. “The top was still pretty good tonight. I was hoping maybe it would burn off a little more so I could go back down where I like it. I was here last weekend and Dave (Willoughby) had his hands full with this track and still gave those guys a beautiful track to race on then he gives us another one tonight. I know he’s been here all week working his butt off. This was one heck of a track to race on- you could race all over this thing.”
A heads-up draw put heat race winners Andrew Beatman and Rhoades on the front row of the feature with Rhoades racing into the early lead over Beatman, fifth starting Wilson, Young, and Dustin DeMattia. It was three-wide on lap two for second with Young advancing two spots. Young went after Rhoades and the two standouts raced side-by-side for the lead on laps six and seven with Rhoades holding on. The lead trio of Rhoades, Young, and Wilson distanced themselves from the field by lap seven.
A caution for debris slowed action with 14 laps scored. When racing resumed, Young tried a big move on Rhoades, but it didn’t work as Wilson snuck under for second on lap 16. Rhoades was running just above the middle with Young on the extreme top and Wilson on the bottom of the extremely racy surface. Rhoades was able to keep Wilson and Young at bay as he crossed the finish first by 0.659 seconds for his 10th career overall victory at Sharon in his Elite Motorsports/Wedge Motorsports/Penn Energy Resources/Bloom Machine Works/Hemly Tool Supply/Trace Landscaping/Two7 Manufacturing/A&MP Electric-sponsored #12R.
Young, who dominated the Locals Cup UMP Modified event on Friday night at Raceway 7, was third. Wyatt Scott went sixth to fourth with DeMattia rounding out the first five. Beatman dropped to sixth and earned the $100 Performance Bodies “Nosed Out” contingency for beating out Zain Harvey by just 0.289 seconds. Harvey meanwhile went 11th to 7th to garner the $100 Summit Racing Equipment Hard Charger in his Sharon debut. Jeremy Holbrook, Brandon Grossman, and Vinnie DePizzo completed the top 10.
Nick Kocuba scored an upset career first Sharon Speedway victory in the Pro Stocks. Kocuba led all 20 laps of the Gibson Insurance Agency Feature going unchallenged in the non-stop affair timed in 7:05.285. Kocuba becomes the third different winner in four events this season.
“I literally can’t put into words what this means- I might cry,” expressed the emotional 45-year-old Burgettstown, Pa. resident. “I’ve raced regularly at Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway for the past 23 years and got some wins down there, but always wanted to win at a different track. I come to these short tracks and usually am out in left field- I’m used to driving it like Pittsburgh. The car was so good. I really don’t know what to say. My goal was always to win at another race track and I’m glad it was here at Sharon Speedway. Without my dad, this car doesn’t get onto the race track. My dad and brother are with me tonight.”
Kocuba used the outside to get by 32-time Sharon winner and three-time track champion, Steve D’Apolito, at the start of the feature as D’Apolito and 23-time Sharon winner and two-time track champion, Paul Davis, were in tow. Cody Koteles, who won on Friday night at Lernerville Speedway, passed Davis for third on seven. Lapped traffic came into play for Kocuba on lap 12. Koteles continued to move forward racing under D’Apolito in turn two for second on lap 17.
By the time Koteles got to second and without any cautions, Kocuba was long gone. Kocuba would take the checkered flag first by a commanding 5.408 seconds in his Burgh Gaming/Clarkin Chiropractic/Duritza’s Shop ‘n Save/Three Rivers Karting/RYM Racing Graphics-sponsored #10! Koteles was second over D’Apolito and Davis. Jason Fosnaught was fifth in the McDonald #25. Seventy-three-year-old Larry Kugel gained two spots edging out Scott Stiffler in a near-long battle for sixth. Stiffler was seventh as Jason Jones, Jamie Scharba, and Russ Coyne rounded out the top 10. Heat victors were Davis and Stiffler.
Chas Wolbert continued his domination of the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds in 2025. Fresh off a win on Friday night at Raceway 7, Wolbert led all 20 laps of the HTMA/Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic feature for his third win in four tries this season at Sharon and eighth overall on the RUSH circuit as he continues to lead RUSH’s $3,500 to-win Weekly Series Championship and the $1,000 to-win “Route 7 Rumble” Series.
“They have been doing farming before the features this year which doesn’t really play into our cards even though we’ve been fortunate enough to be here a couple times,” explained the 30-year-old Warren, Ohio driver. “This is my kind of style of track tonight- low and slow. This car has been so good, it can run the middle, run the top, wherever it needs to be. We’ve been in this for so long and we have a great notebook and people behind us. Without God though, none of this would be possible, so glory to him all the time.”
Another invert 0 put heat race winners Wolbert and Leo McGurrin on the front row of the feature. Wolbert ran the bottom, while McGurrin raced around the top as Wolbert led the early laps before a three-car accident with two laps scored. That would be the only stopped of the affair as the final 17 laps went green-to-checkered. Wolbert extended his lead every lap and when the checkered flag was displayed, Wolbert’s advantage was 4.586 seconds in his Wolbert’s Alcon Mechanical/CT Wolbert Trucking/Ohio Intra Express/Dunkin of Warren/Y-Town Powder Coating/Russ King Racing/Scoville Designs/Race 1-sponsored #c3.
McGurrin, who finished second to Wolbert on Friday night at Raceway 7, repeated the feat in his first race at Sharon in more than three years. Kole Holden was third over Jacob Rutana. Darin Gallagher went 10th to fifth. Todd English was sixth as JC Boyer advanced from 12th to 7th. Doug Rutana, Karston King and Kyle Martell were 7th through 10th.
Brendan Warner has been so close to victory over the past two seasons in the Econo Mods at Sharon; in fact, Warner had finished in the top five in five of his six starts including back-to-back runner-up finishes in June. On Saturday night, Warner finally accomplished the feat and did it by passing two of the best in veteran Dennis Lunger, Jr. and the division’s all-time winner, Jeremy Double. Warner earned $600 as there more than a full field of cars once again in the Alcon Mechanical-sponsored division.
“This is the one place I really, really wanted to win at,” stated the 19-year-old Bradford, Pa. driver. “It’s just me, my mom, dad, and girlfriend- we don’t have much of a pit crew. To win here after a three-hour drive is just freaking awesome. I tried the top and there wasn’t anything up there for me. I saw (Jeremy) Double kept washing up, Dennis (Lunger) went to the top so I knew if it stuck on the bottom it would grip up and hopefully get by them. Lunger Motorsports sets up my stuff and this car has been a rocket ship.”
It was three-wide on the opening lap as Lunger took the early advantage over Double, Eucker, and last Friday night’s winner, Coleton Longwell. Warner started in fifth and moved past Eucker and Longwell for third on lap three. Five cautions slowed action between laps 3-6. Double had nosed ahead to lead lap six over Lunger before the caution. Double chose the inside for the double file restart, but it was Warner sneaking under in turns one and two as it was three-wide for the lead. Warner made the pass stick with Lunger getting by Double for second.
Warner would then pull away from his mentor Lunger and Double. Double got back by Lunger for second on lap nine. The event’s final caution slowed action for the seventh and final time with 12 laps scored. Back under green for the final time, Warner went unchallenged over the final eight laps and crossed the finish line first by a big margin of 5.367 seconds in the Gleason Construction/Rick Bokman Inc/Pennhill Resources/Donvan’s Towing/Minard Run Oil Company-sponsored #12*. Warner became the fourth different winner in five races this season and 39th different driver to win an Econo Mod feature all-time at Sharon.
Double beat out Lunger for second. Jonathan Davis, who moved from the Pro Stock division to the Econo Mods in 2025, easily recorded his best finish in the division with a fourth as his prior best was a 16th. Longwell was fifth. Sixth through 10th were Eucker, Jarrett Young from 10th, Bryan Wagner, 15th starting George Vestal IV, and Clay Ruffo. Heat winners over the 26-car field were Warner, Eucker, and Longwell.
Brian Krepps became the third different winner in three Crown Vic events thus far and the third driver of the night to win his first career Sharon Speedway race! Krepps led all 12 laps of the feature taking the victory by a margin of 0.844 seconds in his Jimmy Neno’s Pizzeria & Taproom/Galaxy Industries-sponsored #4.
“This division is a lot of fun,” acknowledged the 43-year-old Hubbard, Ohio driver. “The cars are equal and a lot of it is up to the driver. Speaking of which, guys, we want to keep this class going so tell all your friends to build cars, help your friends build cars, whatever it is- just get them out here.”
Elyn Wickham, who won the heat race, went fourth to second. Damion Gearhart was third in his first race aboard the #7 that saw Longwell and Travis Reeher win in the first two weeks. Brandon Albert was fourth over newcomer Dakota Papsun.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars will return this Saturday night, 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 for $2,000 to-win and the Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks. Group qualifying for the Sprints will be at 6:40 p.m. followed by racing.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modifieds presented by A&MP Electric (20 laps, $1,000 to-win): 1. 12R-TY RHOADES[2]; 2. 10-Eric Wilson[5]; 3. 42-Nate Young[3]; 4. 3-Wyatt Scott[6]; 5. 77D-Dustin DeMattia[4]; 6. 5B-Andrew Beatman[1]; 7. 22-Zain Harvey[11]; 8. 151-Jeremy Holbrook[10]; 9. 17G-Brandon Grossman[7]; 10. 1-Vinnie DePizzo[9]; 11. 52-Zac Etzel[13]; 12. 9T-Mason Canter[8]; 13. 83E-Ed Vogel[12]; 14. 32-Ryan Skinner[15]. DNS: 17-Dennis Dellinger & 68-Andrew Hammond.
Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks (20 laps): 1. 10-NICK KOCUBA[2]; 2. 1K-Cody Koteles[4]; 3. 84-Steve D'Apolito[1]; 4. 3-Paul Davis[3]; 5. 25-Jason Fosnaught[5]; 6. 0-Larry Kugel[8]; 7. 14-Scott Stiffler[6]; 8. 81J-Jason Jones[7]; 9. 11S-Jamie Scharba[9]; 10. 8C-Russ Coyne[10]; 11. 44-Jacob Wheeler[11]; 12. 19T-Travis Norman[12]
HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds (20 laps): 1. C3-CHAS WOLBERT[1]; 2. 22L-Leo McGurrin[2]; 3. 2-Kole Holden[3]; 4. 57R-Jacob Rutana[5]; 5. 23-Darin Gallagher[10]; 6. 711-Todd English[4]; 7. 12-JC Boyer[12]; 8. 46R-Doug Rutana[8]; 9. 165K-Karston King[9]; 10. 8-Kyle Martell[7]; 11. 333G-Dalton Gabriel[11]; 12. 2LC-Lucas Canon[14]; 13. 70B-Nolan Burns[13]; 14. 00K-Jackson Kristyak[15]; 15. 12S-Troy Pinch[16]. DNS: 00-Rob Kristyak.
Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods (20 laps, $600 to-win): 1. 12-BRENDAN WARNER[5]; 2. 83-Jeremy Double[3]; 3. 71L-Dennis Lunger Jr[1]; 4. 8-Jonathan Davis[2]; 5. 7-Coleton Longwell[6]; 6. 64-Jacob Eucker[4]; 7. 27-Jarrett Young[10]; 8. 56-Bryan Wagner[8]; 9. 4-George Vestal IV[15]; 10. 40R-Clay Ruffo[13]; 11. 9G-Arianna Samuelson[24]; 12. 89C-Travis Carothers[12]; 13. 71A-Don Watson[16]; 14. 4RJ-Robert Simmons[18]; 15. 24R-Derrick Randolph[20]; 16. 44R-Bobby Robinson[17]; 17. 10-Derek Tessean[11]; 18. 26X-Carter Bidwell[9]; 19. 17C-Brian Campbell[22]; 20. 36-Cody Stronghart[7]; 21. 02C-Brian Carothers[23]; 22. 15-Eric Nellis II[19]; 23. 16C-Amelia Clay[21]; 24. 31-Seth Brenot[26]. DNS: 17D-Alan Dellinger & 28-Dan McEwen Jr.
Crown Vics (12 laps): 1. 4-BRIAN KREPPS[1]; 2. 919-Elyn Wickham[4]; 3. 7-Damion Gearhart[2]; 4. 30-Brandon Albert[3]; 5. 117-Dakota Papsun[5].
Sharon Speedway is owned by the 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 known as Twitter) @sharonspdwy.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
