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SHARON TO KICK OFF DOUBLEHEADER WEEKEND WITH “FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER� PLUS 3 MAKE-UP FEATURES & “STEEL VALLEY THUNDER� SATURDAY FOR ARMED FORCES

By Mike Leone

May 18, 2011            

(Hartford, OH)…Sharon Speedway is hoping this will finally be the weekend where two nights of racing action will be able to be completed this Friday and Saturday, May 20-21!  The weather is looking promising to allow that to happen.  On tap is another installment of “Friday Night Thunder� at 7:30 p.m. and “Steel Valley Thunder� on Saturday night at 7 p.m.  Saturday’s rain date is Sunday at 5:30.

Wet conditions have wrecked havoc all season long and especially on Friday nights.  The last Friday without a chance of rain was clear back on March 18 before the season even started.  To date, the only “Friday Night Thunder� program completed thus far was a month ago on April 15 when the show was finished up before rain hit after midnight.   After seven tries, there still has yet to be a weekend where both shows were completed.

Friday’s program will begin with three make-up features from the rained out May 6 program including the Uni-Tech Frame Straightening & Joe’ Radiator Sportsman Dwarf Cars, Micro Sprints, and Ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warriors.   

Following the completion of those 15-lap features, Friday’s regularly scheduled program will begin including those three divisions along with the Summit Racing Equipment Econo Mods, Joe’s Radiator & Uni-Tech Frame Straightening Mod Lites, and the Mini Late Models.  The other three features will be made up on May 27.
After one and a half nights of racing, current point leaders are Guy Griffin-Outlaw Sprint Warriors, Junior Mechling-Econo Mods, Jeff Teeters-Mod Lites, Todd Reusser-Micro Sprints, Joe Grzelak, Jr.-Sportsman Dwarf Cars, and Rick Ament-Mini Late Models.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and race time is set for 7:30 this year to allow for more time for fans racers to travel to Sharon Speedway. Adults are $10, students 9-13 are $5, and children eight and under are free. Pit passes are $25.

After the second Saturday rainout of the season last weekend, everyone is anxious to get back on the track with the best weather of the year predicted for Saturday with sunshine and temps in the low 80s.  The racing card will be presented by Warehouse Sales in Sharon, Pa. and include the Governor Insurance Agency Big-Block Modifieds, Barris Supply FASTRAK Late Models, Ainsley 500 Heating & Cooling E-Mods, Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars, and the Presidential Lawn Care Mini Stocks.

Saturday’s promotion is Armed Forces Night.  All active servicemen and veterans of war will be admitted into the grandstands free of charge!  Also, Sharon has received two passes from Lernerville Speedway for their Monday, May 30 USAC National Sprint Car and FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series event that will be given away on Saturday night!

Also, the new boy’s and girl’s bike giveaway program presented by King Bros. Feed Supply & Redi Mix will begin Saturday night.  Kids 4-14 can sign up until intermission.  If either Rex King, Sr. or Jr. wins the feature, a new bike will be presented to a lucky boy and girl the following Saturday.

Another strong field of competitors is expected in the pit area Saturday night.  The past two events have drawn over 100 cars.  The FASTRAK Late Models have led the way with 30-36 cars for all four events, while the E-Mods haven’t been far behind attracting between 23-33 cars with an average of 29!  The Big-Block Modified car count has improved after a slow start and solid field is expected with no other Modified races in the region Saturday night.

Current point leaders after four point events are Rex King-Big-Block Modifieds, Mike Blose-FASTRAK Late Models, Joel Watson-E-Mods, Jamie Duncan-Stock Cars, and Bill Fuchs-Mini Stocks.  The Mini Stocks are enjoying their highest car counts since their inception in 2009. 

On Saturday, pits open at 4 p.m. with the grandstands at 5 and racing at 7.  Adult admission is $13. Students 9-13 are $5. Kids eight and under are free. The family pass is $32 for mom, dad, and four kids 13 and under.  Pit passes are $25.  Remember, if you bring your rain stub from Friday night to Saturday’s race, you’ll receive a $3 discount on Saturday’s admission!

“We’re sure hoping Mother Nature gives us a break this weekend,� expressed second year GM Dave Willoughby.  “It’s been very frustrating for everyone and it sure would be nice to have a great weekend of racing without having to worry about the weather!  We invite everyone to come out and enjoy two nights of racing.  We have a big program Friday with 9 features for just $10!  And you can come back on Saturday for just $10!  The racing action has been tremendous and we expect nothing less this Saturday.  And we hope all you servicemen and veterans will take in a night of racing Saturday as our guests!�

After another “Friday Night Thunder� program next Friday, May 27, coming up next Saturday is the first special race event of the season.  The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series will make their first of four stops in the Bill Emig Memorial “Wildcard Weekend� for $1,500 to-win.  Also featured on this night will be the E-Mods racing for $1,000 to-win, $100 to-start.  The Stock Cars and Mini Stocks will also be on the racing card. This is also Tori Martin’s “Racing for the Cure� American Cancer Society Benefit Night, and FASTRAK will also be competing in a $500 to-win King of the Hill event.

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.  Become a fan of Sharon Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.

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