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Full “Steel Valley Thunder� program on docket for Saturday along with Twin-State Night & Food Drive

By Mike Leone

June 28, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Hartford, OH)…After a pair of special race events last Saturday for the “Gary Knollinger Memorial� and Tuesday for Ohio All Star Sprint Speedweek, Sharon Speedway will return to it’s core “Steel Valley Thunder� program this Saturday (June 30).

The evening’s events will be presented by Greenville Savings Bank and will feature the Governor Insurance Agency DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, Barris Supply FASTRAK Late Models, Summit Racing Equipment E-Mods, Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars, Summit Racing Equipment Econo Mods, HTMA/Precise Racing Products Econo Mods and the Deforest Used Parts Mini Stocks. Race time is 7 p.m.

Saturday’s promotion is the rescheduled Twin-State Auto Racing Club Night. All Club members will be admitted free into the grandstands or half off pit admission by showing their member card. Also, fans are reminded to take part in the food drive as you’ll receive a $3 grandstand discount by bringing a non-perishable item.

It took until June 9 for someone other than Rex King or Kevin Bolland to win a DIRTcar Big-Block Modified. It was that night when Brian Swartzlander made his season’s first start a successful one; then the following week, Jeremiah Shingledecker garnered his first career Sharon win; and finally, last Saturday Dave Murdick became the third straight different winner! And with his victory, the Butler, Pa. resident powered into the point lead by one over Bolland and three over King!

Will there be another new winner this Saturday? Jim Weller, Jr. led last week’s feature before getting caught up by a lapped car. Dean Pearson was a two-time winner in 2011 and recently captured his first career Lernerville win. Don’t count out guys like Rex King, Jr., Jim Rasey, Del Rougeux, Jr., Rob Kristyak, Skip Moore, Tom Mattocks, and Kevin Hoffman when he gets his motor back.

Three-time winner Will Thomas III continues to lead the FASTRAK Late Model points in his first full season on dirt. The Sharpsville, Pa. former asphalt standout has a 28-point lead on Matt Latta, who won his first career race on June 16. Bobby Whitling, who won his first career FASTRAK feature last month, is having a solid season in third. Last Saturday, a season high 35 cars were on hand for the “Gary Knollinger Memorial,� which was won by Joe Martin for his first victory of the season.

The E-Mods will be back Saturday after a week off. Aces Jack Young and Joel Watson are one-two in the points with Young leading by five. None of the top four drivers in points have ever won a championship at Sharon. Joe Gabrielson and early point leader Shawn Shingledecker are currently third and fourth. The E-Mods have had the strongest weekly fields of cars with competitive racing just about every night.

With a pair of runner-ups and a third place finish in the last four events, four-time champion Steve D’Apolito has cut Tim Burns’ point lead down to 10. D’Apolito, who owns 31 career wins at Sharon, has been shutout of victory lane to date this season. While not big on car count, the Stock Cars have a competitive field every night with at least 10 cars capable of winning. In fact, Paul Davis is the division’s only multiple winner at three, but missing a couple of events has him currently sixth in points- 40 behind Burns.

With his victory on Tuesday night, Brandon Blackshear extended his point lead to 28 and became the track’s top winner with five feature wins in the Econo Mods. The Brookfield, Ohio driver has now doubled his career win total this season to 10. Brian Hathaway, Jim Dellinger, Jeremy Double, and Steve Burns, Jr. are second through fifth in points and all have wins except Double. Double in his first year of Econo Mods, does have a pair of runner-ups.

Defending champion Bill Fuchs has watched his point lead shrink to just five over Jim Haefke, Jr. in the Mini Stocks. Haefke has easily been the track’s most improved racer scoring four feature wins in his second year of racing. Jerry Batcher won his first career Sharon feature on Tuesday night and moved into the top 10 in points.

Pits open at 4 p.m. on Saturday with grandstands at 5. Race time is 7 p.m. Adult admission is $13 and pit passes are $25. Kids 13 and under are always free.

There will be no racing on Saturday, July 7, but coming up on Tuesday, July 10 will be the fourth annual “Lou Blaney Memorial� presented by Ollie’s Bargain Outlet featuring the “410� Sprint Cars for $5,000 to-win along with the DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds for $2,000 to-win. Alzheimer’s Association Benefit Event will include NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, and Dave Blaney competing in Sprint Cars. Tickets are on sale by going to www.sharonspeedway.com or by calling 330-772-548.

The Sprint Cars will be back again on Saturday, July 14, but this time without the wings as the B.O.S.S. group makes their first ever visit.

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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