---

ALL STAR SPRINTS COMING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 FOR OHIO SPEEDWEEK; NASCAR’S KASEY KAHNE TO COMPETE; BRAD DOTY TO MAKE APPEARANCE

By Mike Leone

June 16, 2011            

(Hartford, OH)…The 410 Sprint Cars will be making their first of two appearances of the 2011 season coming up this Wednesday, June 22 when the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions come to town for the 29^th annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek.  NASCAR Sprint Cup racer Kasey Kahne has announced he will be competing and signing autographs at some point during the night.  Former World of Outlaw Sprint star Brad Doty will be on hand selling his new release of “Still Wide Open�.  The Presidential Lawn Care Mini Stocks will also be on the program. 

This year’s version of Ohio Sprint Speedweek will feature eight nights of racing over nine days beginning at Attica Raceway Park on Friday night (June 17 with the Sharon event being stop #6 of the popular summer tradition.  Sharon’s race will pay $5,000 to-win. 

And, to make it even more exciting, Kasey Kahne will compete during the first six Speedweek events!   Kahne will also be signing autographs at some point during the night.  The Enumclaw, Washington native drives the Red Bull #4 Toyota in NASCAR and owns two teams that compete in the World of Outlaw Sprint Series with drivers Joey Saldana and Cody Darrah.  Kahne also co-owns another car that is driven by Paul McMahan.  NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Brad Sweet also campaigns one of Kahne’s sprint cars on occasion when time permits.

It doesn’t end there as Brad Doty will be on hand to meet the fans and have the latest release of his popular “Still Wide Open� book for sale.  Doty was a star on the World of Outlaw tour before a career ending accident at Eldora Speedway in 1988, and has since moved to the announcer’s booth providing commentary for World of Outlaw broadcasts.  Doty owns five career Sharon Speedway victories. 

Last year’s event saw Tim Shaffer top a 42-car field.  The Aliquippa, Pa. native is the defending two-time $50,000 All Star Champion as well as last year’s $150,000 Knoxville Nationals winner.  Shaffer, who competed off and on during his early Sprint Car career in the 1980s and 1990s, owns four career Sharon wins.  Shaffer, who drives the CH Motorsports #83, currently sits second in both the new Ohio Region points as well as the National points trailing Dale Blaney. 

Speaking of Blaney, the Hartford, Ohio native has recorded 12 career wins at his hometown track and was also the 1995, 1996, and 2008 All Star champion.  Blaney will be anxious to get behind the wheel of the Ti22 Performance #2 at Sharon once again.

Atop the all-time Sharon Speedway Sprint Car win list is Ed Lynch, Jr.  The Apollo, Pa. driver has scaled back his operations in 2011 running special events only, but is expected to be in the field looking to add to his 50-win mark. 

Ohio Speedweek always draws in the best talent from the Midwest, western Pennsylvania, along the All Star regulars and usually a few surprises.  Two of central Pennsylvania’s best in Daryn Pittman and Stevie Smith will be sure to make their presences known.  Western PA’s own Danny Holtgraver, the 2010 Lernerville Speedway champion, along with Pete Miller III, who won Sunday’s Sprint Car event at Sportsman’s Speedway, have followed the All Star tour as much as possible in 2011. 

“Sharon has always played in an important part in Ohio Speedweek history,� explained second year GM Dave Willoughby.  “We’re happy once again to be part of this long-running tradition.  We hope the fans and racers come out and support this great event plus fans will get a bonus seeing Kasey Kahne compete and have the opportunity to meet Brad Doty!�

The Presidential Lawn Care Mini Stocks will race a complete program highlighted by their feature paying $300 to-win!  Bill Fuchs, who won the opening night $300 to-win special, has added four more additional wins since to lead the points.  Part-time competitor Mike Scharba has won three races, while Randy Sprouse is the division’s only other winner. 

Advance tickets are on sale for the event, which will admit ticket holders into the facility at 4 p.m. - one hour before the tickets go on sale and the gates open for preferred seating.  An order form for tickets is available by going to www.sharonspeedway.com, clicking, fans, and then tickets or at the following direct link http://www.sharonspeedway.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/All-Star-Sprint-Ticket-Order-Form-2011.pdf .

Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6, qualifying for the Sprints at approximately 6:15 and racing at 7.  Adult admission is $20.  Students 9-13 are $8.  Pit passes are $35.  

The 410 Sprint Cars will return next as part of the third annual Lou Blaney Memorial on Tuesday, July 12 and will be sanctioned by the O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series for $3,000 to-win.  The Big-Block Modifieds will also be on the card for $2,000 to-win.  This is the NASCAR Night featuring Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, and Dave Blaney.

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.

Back to News