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DOUBLEHEADER ACTION RETURNS THIS WEEKEND TO SHARON WITH “FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER� PLUS 3 MAKE-UP FEATURES & “STEEL VALLEY THUNDER� SATURDAY

By Mike Leone

June 8, 2011              

(Hartford, OH)…Sharon Speedway will swing back into action with another doubleheader weekend on tap!  After a week hiatus, “Friday Night Thunder� returns at 7:30 p.m. featuring six divisions of racing plus three make-up features and then on Saturday night it’s “Steel Valley Thunder� at 7 p.m.   Saturday’s rain date is Sunday at 5:30.

Sharon has had a tough go of trying to complete events on Friday night as Mother Nature has had her way.  Seven of the nine scheduled programs have either been rained out entirely or had to be finished at a later date such as the May 6 program. 
Three of those May 6 make-up features will kick off Friday night for the for the Summit Racing Equipment Econo Mods, Joe’s Radiator & Uni-Tech Frame Straightening Mod Lites, and the Mini Late Models.  After those races are completed, Friday’s new program will get underway for the above divisions plus the Ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warriors, Uni-Tech Frame Straightening & Joe’s Radiator Mod Lites, and the Micro Sprints.

Current point leaders are Adam Anderson-Outlaw Sprint Warriors, Junior Mechling-Econo Mods, Jeff Teeters-Mod Lites, Todd Reusser-Micro Sprints, Matt Berger-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.

Switching to Saturday night’s program, fans will again get to see 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 on Precision Transport Night.   

Sharon will take part in supporting our troops that are part of Operation New Dawn.  Our soldiers will be in remote areas for one year with very little personal items to help beat the heat and poor conditions.  Cyndi Stiffler has organized a drive to help our troops receive some of these small personal items.   Some of the things that are needed include body wash, razors, socks, batteries, sunscreens and aloe lotions, foot powder, sweets, drink mixes to put in their bottled water, sugar, creamer, nutrition bars, and the list goes on and on.  A full list is posted on the website at www.sharonspeedway.com.  Anyone donating these requested items will receive $2 off gate admission! 

All money collected will go to buy supplies and extras for these servicemen. Some of the things that will be purchased will be Body wash, razors, socks, batteries, sunscreens and aloe lotions, foot powder, sweets, drink mixes to put in their bottled water, sugar, creamer, nutrition bars...the list goes on. All money collected will go to buy supplies and extras for these servicemen. Some of the things that will be purchased will be Body wash, razors, socks, batteries, sunscreens and aloe lotions, foot powder, sweets, drink mixes to put in their bottled water, sugar, creamer, nutrition bars...the list goes on. Saturday’s promotion for the kids will be bike races on the frontstretch during intermission.  Kids 3-12 years of age will be eligible.  Helmets are required.  Also, the new boy’s and girl’s bike giveaway program presented by King Bros. Feed Supply & Redi Mix will continue.  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.

Speaking of the Kings, the Big-Block Mods are coming off an exciting race from last Saturday night when Rex, Sr. charged from the back to pass Kevin Bolland on the final lap.  The elder King, who has three victories, currently holds down a 22-point lead on two-time winner Jim Rasey.

The FASTRAK Late Models produced a new winner last Saturday night when John Volpe became the newest winner in the ultra-competitive new weekly class.  Volpe has climbed to third in points as just three points separate the top three drivers and only six from the top four in points!  The top four with points in parentheses are Max Blair (215), Joe Martin (214), Volpe (211), and Josh Double (209).  Rocky Kugel has turned a lot of heads this year as he’s fresh off his career best FASTRAK finish in second last Saturday night and sits fifth, just 21 points behind.  A total of 68 different drivers have competed this year!

The E-Mod division continues to draw solid field of competitors as more than a full field have filled the pit area every night except the opening event when 23 cars were in action.  Ironman Alan Dellinger, who is competing in four divisions this year including three on Saturday night, leads the E-Mod points- the only division he stands at the head of the class in currently.  The Hermitage, Pa. driver holds just an eight-point lead on two-time winner Joel Watson.  The ever-improving Mike Kinney can almost taste his first win as he’s just 16 points back.  An incredible 69 different drivers have already been in action!

Steve D’Apolito is back at home in the Stock Cars competing at Sharon once again.  The Boardman, Ohio three-time champion collected his 29^th win of his career last Saturday night to propel him into the point lead.  Even though the Stock car counts have been down from previous years, the competition level is intense with six different winners in eight races.  D’Apolito leads Mike Clark, who is hoping to become the seventh different winner Saturday night.

Bill Fuchs just keeps finding ways to win races.  Fuchs is the speedway’s top winner of 2011 after recording his fifth checkered flag of the season and fourth straight after starting last in the feature.  The Greenville, Pa. driver will have to do it again from the tail this Saturday night.  Randy Sprouse, who won his career first feature earlier this season, continues to have an impressive year as he sits second in points.

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 grandstand discount on Saturday’s admission or $10 off for those that had pit passes!

“We invite everyone out to Sharon Speedway for two great nights of racing this weekend,� expressed second year GM Dave Willoughby.  “We have a big program Friday with 9 features for just $10!  And you can come back on Saturday for just $10 or even less if you bring an item to help out those in the military!  The racing has been outstanding all year so if you haven’t been to the track, come out and see what you’ve been missing.�

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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