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DANNY DIETRICH’S 1ST “LOU BLANEY MEMORIAL” 410 SPRINT WIN IS WORTH $13,000 AT SHARON; DALTON SLACK CHARGES FROM 21ST TO WIN BRP MOD TOUR FOR $4,100

By Mike Leone

August 2, 2025

(Hartford, OH)...Picture perfect, chamber of commerce weather greeted fans and racers on Saturday at Sharon Speedway for the 17th annual “Lou Blaney Memorial”. Celebrating in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Victory Lane were Danny Dietrich (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply “410” Sprint Cars) and Dalton Slack (BRP Tour for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds). A packed house watched 74 drivers compete in a spectacular night of racing part of the two-division program during the 96th anniversary season on Ryan Blaney Family Foundation and Bala Management Night.

At last year’s “Lou Blaney Memorial”, Danny Dietrich came up just shy to Dave Blaney’s #10 in a hard-fought battle, which preceded Blaney’s shocking announcement in victory lane of his retirement from racing. On Saturday night, Dietrich raced from the seventh starting spot into the lead on lap 24 then kept Dale Blaney in the famous red #10 at bay over the final laps of the 35-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply feature to score his biggest career Sharon victory. Dietrich earned $12,000 from the base purse plus $500 from Premier Pallet and $500 from Mark Thomas Ford for a total of $13,000! Dietrich also became the 15th different “Lou Blaney Memorial” winner in 17 races as Dave Blaney is still the event’s only multiple “410” Sprint Car winner at three victories.

“There’s a lot of great winners of this race and just to be part of the Lou Blaney Memorial means a lot,” acknowledged the 37-year-old Gettysburg, Pa. standout. “The Blaneys have done a lot in racing from Dave and Dale to obviously Ryan and of course Lou himself was pretty special and important around here. It's fun to win this race and means a lot to me and my guys to come to Sharon and win. I have a lot of support here from the Snyder Family. I know Derek is watching; happy birthday to him, and his dad Alan is here. It’s always special to win in front of this crowd here. You guys really supported me at my t-shirt trailer today and filled the grandstands tonight. This is a race we try to make it to every year as it’s definitely circled on our calendar. This feels extra good after last year.”

Nate Dussel and Brandon Spithaler led the 24-car starting field to green with Dussel leading the opening lap, while fifth starting Cale Thomas made some moves to race into second over Spithaler, Zane DeVault, and Blaney. Thomas drove around Dussel to snatch the lead off turn two on lap three. Lapped traffic came into play on lap seven as Thomas and Dussel raced side-by-side for the next two laps with Dussel regaining the lead on the eighth circuit, while DeVault took third from Spithaler. The event’s only caution was for a spinning Carl Bowser, who suffered rear-end issues, with nine laps scored.

Back under green, Dussel took off in the lead over Thomas, while a four-car race for third ensued with DeVault trying to fend off Spithaler, Blaney, and Dietrich. On lap 12, Blaney passed Spithaler for fourth with Dietrich following in fifth. By lap 13, the lead duo of Dussel and Thomas pulled away, while Blaney challenged DeVault for third. One-lap later, Blaney overtook DeVault for the third spot.

Back up front, it was side-by-side for the lead as Dussel and Thomas were both in search of their first career Sharon Speedway win. The duo raced wheel-to-wheel, wing-to-wing from laps 15-17 with Thomas regaining the lead by driving around Dussel in turn four on the 17th circuit, while Dietrich passed DeVault for fourth.

The intensity ratcheted up over the next seven laps. By lap 21, it was a four-car race for the lead. Dietrich made an important pass of Blaney on lap 22 for third, took second from Dussel on lap 23, then made the winning move one-lap later putting a slider on Thomas in turn two. Blaney meanwhile passed Dussel for third on lap 24 then Thomas for second on lap 26.

Blaney had eight laps to track down Dietrich, but wasn’t able to make up much ground as Dietrich’s Gary Kauffman-owned, Weikert’s Livestock/Sandoe’s Fruit Market/Speedway Cars Volkswagen Subaru/Big Cove Whitetail/York Excavating/Drop of Ink Tattoo-sponsored #48 could run any line on the racy surface. Dietrich made some tremendous moves in lapped traffic including a three-wide pass in turn three on final lap to secure the win by 3.004 seconds. It was Dietrich’s third career Sharon win as his prior two came in the 2021 and 2024 Ohio Sprint Speedweek events.

“I’m not sure if it was when the track cleaned up or from the fuel load burn-off but I found a sweet spot with my wing and could drive across it,” explained Dietrich. “I got tired of running around the bottom in (turns) three and four- it was boring to me so I decided to go up there and keep at it for a few laps to clean it off in (turn) four. It only took a couple laps and I got by Zane (DeVault) and said to myself it’s going to be hard to leave this and go back to the bottom. These guys busted their butts and got the car just right to where I could sit the right rear on the cushion and keep on ripping. I’m sure Dale was coming and knew his car would work when it got really clean. With three to go I knew I had to get back on the wheel and up on the horse. On the last lap if A.J. (Flick) went to the top and whoever went to the bottom, I knew I was going to have to split them because I wasn’t going to follow or let the middle lane open for Dale if he was close enough.”

Blaney, who last won the “Lou Blaney Memorial” in 2019, settled for second worth $4,000. “The car was a lot better than the driver,” acknowledged the 61-year-old Hartford, Ohio driver. “I’ve run four times this year, he’s (Dietrich) probably run 55 or 60 times- that’s no excuse, but I need to race more. I didn’t make as many good laps as I probably could have, but we’ll come back and I’ll try to get better. The car is really good and was all night long; Dave, Rick, Rodney, and Fred were here.”

Dussel and Thomas battled hard for seemingly the entire race trading different positions back and forth, and when the checkered waved it was Thomas getting the third spot over Dussel by just 0.246 seconds. Ironically at the 2024 event, Thomas also reached the podium in third behind winner Dave Blaney and Dietrich. Dussel was fourth for his best career Sharon finish, which was worth $2,000 plus an extra $500 for leading lap 10 from Bala Management.

Jeremy Weaver went 11th to 6th. Spithaler dropped to seventh after starting on the outside pole. Central Pa. racer Ryan Smith was eighth. Northeast Pa. driver Jordan Thomas made his first ever visit and was 9th after starting 12th and picked up an extra $500 from Mark Thomas Ford for running 10th on lap 10. Dan Kuriger was 10th. Cole Duncan went 18th to 11th and earned an extra $500 from Bala Management for being the hard charger in addition to a $100 Summit Racing Equipment gift card.

DeVault set fast time overall in qualifying against the 39-car field with a lap of 14.887 and earned $500 from Premier Pallet. Kuriger, Smith, Adam Kekich, and Cale Thomas won the heat races. Bowser won the last chance B main. Jeremy Kornbau was the first non-qualifier and received an extra $200 from Premier Pallet and also $250 from Sunburst Environmental for being the night’s hard luck recipient after contact from Andy Priest in turn four on the final lap took him out of a feature transfer spot. In total, Kornbau received $650.

One night after winning his first career BRP Tour race and first ever in the United States at Lernerville Speedway, Dalton Slack put on a performance that won’t soon be forgotten. Slack charged from the 21st starting spot, passed Kyle Richner for the lead on lap 27, and went on for his first career Sharon victory in the 35-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modified feature. Slack earned $2,500 from the base purse, $500 from Mark Thomas Ford, $500 from Warren Performance Diesel, $100 from John Kirk, and another $500 from Bala Management for being the hard charger bringing his earnings to $4,100!

“The way the Sprint Cars ran they got the track really black and that’s like it is where we’re from,” explained the 21-year-old Welland, Ontario, Canada racer. “That’s what I love so it was a perfect timing, I guess. I was hustling on those restarts. Thirty-five laps is a short distance. I buried myself in that heat race and I was mad, but to be standing here is a dream after winning both of these races this weekend- it’s absolutely incredible! Cooter (Rex King, Jr.) told me anything under $10,000 I can’t stand on the roof, but 21st to 1st I think I can stand on the roof!”

Richner took off in the lead over Ayden Cipriano, Tyler Willard, and Garrett Krummert. Krummert passed Willard for third on lap three then drove around Cipriano for second on lap four. Krummert tracked down Richner and the two raced side-by-side for the lead on laps 6-9 before Krummert took over on the ninth circuit. The duo put on an excellent battle as Krummert was on the top and Richner on the bottom, and Richner stayed right with Krummert even after losing the lead.

A caution for 2011 “Lou Blaney Memorial” winner, Rob Kristyak, slowed action with 12 laps completed. When racing resumed, Slack entered the picture taking over fifth. Slack then drove around fellow Canadian Tyler Willard on lap 14 for fourth then snagged third from Jeremiah Shingledecker on lap 21. Richner regained the lead from Krummert on lap 22 and two laps later Slack made his way to second as he drove around Krummert.

The event’s final caution was displayed for Rocky Kugel with 26 laps completed. Slack made the winning move on the outside when green replaced yellow. Slack led the remaining laps in the Transport Sales & Service/Bicknell Racing Products/MP Delivery Swift Springs/Integra Shocks-sponsored #3RS as he took the checkered flag first by 2.675 seconds to become the 13th different “Lou Blaney Memorial” winner in 17 races for the Modifieds. Slack also became the 98th different driver to win a Big-Block Modified feature all-time at Sharon.

Richner, whose father Rick was a former competitor at Sharon in the Big-Block Modifieds, was second in the Niagara Falls, NY driver’s second start at the track as he made his debut one-year ago at the event and finished 22nd. Rex King, Jr., who was the last local driver to win the event in 2019, went 10th to 3rd. Willard was fourth. After leading laps 9-21, Krummert faded to fifth at the finish.

Brad Rapp was sixth over Shingledecker, Justin Shea, Cipriano, and Dave Murdick. Murdick received an extra $600 for running 10th on lap 10 with $500 from Bala Management and $100 from John Kirk! Heat winners over the 35-car field were Rapp, Kugel, Richner, and Shingledecker, while Slack won the last chance B main. New York’s Ryan Susice was aboard a second Rick Regalski entry and was chosen for the $250 Sunburst Environmental hard luck after getting towed from the event on lap two.

Thank you to the following sponsors that added $8,700 into the “Lou Blaney Memorial”: Premier Pallet ($2,500), Bala Management ($2,000), Mark Thomas Ford ($2,000), Mohney Heating & Cooling ($1,000), Warren Diesel Performance ($500), Sunburst Environmental ($500), and John Kirk ($200)!

Coming up next Saturday (August 9) is a five-division “Steel Valley Thunder” program featuring the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds along with the Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks, HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods, and the Crown Vics. It’s Twin-State Auto Racing Club Night. Race time is 7 p.m.

Two nights later on Monday, August 11 will be the return of the Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds in a $10,000 to-win event along with the “410” Sprint Cars for $4,000 to-win. The event is presented by Capital Renegade Custom Coaches and Trailers, Al Heinke, Thermo Supply, Russ King Racing, King Sanitary, and King Bros.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply “410” Sprint Cars (35 laps, $13,000 to-win): 1. 1. 48-DANNY DIETRICH[7]; 2. 10-Dale Blaney[4]; 3. 49X-Cale Thomas[5]; 4. 1-Nate Dussel[1]; 5. 4-Zane DeVault[3]; 6. 5-Jeremy Weaver[11]; 7. 32B-Brandon Spithaler[2]; 8. 6D-Ryan Smith[6]; 9. 79-Jordan Thomas[12]; 10. 08-Danny Kuriger[8]; 11. 22D-Cole Duncan[18]; 12. 15K-Creed Kemenah[19]; 13. 13-Brandon Matus[13]; 14. 2-AJ Flick[17]; 15. 20B-Cody Bova[20]; 16. 5K-Adam Kekich[10]; 17. 21P-Carmen Perigo Jr[22]; 18. 29-Logan McCandless[9]; 19. 45-Devon Borden[16]; 20. 3-John Jerich[15]; 21. 47L-Dusty Larson[24]; 22. 38-Leyton Wagner[14]; 23. 11-Carl Bowser[21]; 24. 3J-Jacob Begenwald[23].

DNQ for the feature: 27K-Jeremy Kornbau, 3V-Chris Verda, 21N-Andy Priest, 17X-Cory Turner, 7T-David Kalb, Jr., 16-Jim Morris, 47-Brett Brunkenhoefer, 83X-Nate Reeser, 99-Cameron Nastasi, 33-Brent Matus, 4W-Eric L Williams, 10W-Jake Waters, 81-Rayce Jacobs, 76-Davey Jones, 18-Arnie Kent[19].

BRP Mod Tour for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds (35 laps, $3,600 to-win): 1. 3RS-DALTON SLACK[21]; 2. 26-Kyle Richner[1]; 3. 165-Rex King Jr[10]; 4. 777-Tyler Willard[5]; 5. 29-Garrett Krummert[4]; 6. 11R-Brad Rapp[8]; 7. 37MD-Jeremiah Shingledecker[6]; 8. 14S-Justin Shea[9]; 9. 5C-Ayden Cipriano[2]; 10. 61-Dave Murdick[13]; 11. 9-Will Thomas[18]; 12. 18JR-Mike Dougherty Jr[7]; 13. 17M-Kyle Fink[11]; 14. 32-Jim Rasey[23]; 15. 45-Steve Feder[17]; 16. 20P-Mike Kinney[20]; 17. 18-Colton Walters[19]; 18. 13-Rick Regalski Jr[16]; 19. 12-JC Boyer[14]; 20. 71-Steve Barr[24]; 21. 9R-Chad Reitz[12]; 22. 35-Steve Slater[22]; 23. 87-Rocky Kugel[3]; 24. 55-Rob Kristyak[25]; 25. 13A-Ryan Susice[15].

DNQ for the feature: 86R-Rob Curtis, 73MD-Travis Shingledecker, 60K-Kole Holden, 64-Rodney Beltz, 3K-Shawn Kozar, 60-Tom Holden, 18W-Jeff Walters, 1R-Brandon Ritchey, 27R-Dave Reges, 9M-Cameron Miller.

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.

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