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Weekly “Steel Valley Thunder" program plus Kids Gold Rush up next Saturday

By Mike Leone

August 7, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Hartford, OH)…Fresh off a season-high car count and great crowd for the Bill Kirila Memorial “Fan Appreciation Night�, Sharon Speedway will get back at it this Saturday night (August 11) for another installment of “Steel Valley Thunder�.

Featured on the racing card beginning at 7 p.m. will be the Governor Insurance DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, Barris Supply FASTRAK Late Models, Summit Racing Equipment E-Mods, Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars, HTMA/Precise Racing Products Econo Mods, and the Deforest Used Parts Mini Stocks.

Saturday’s promotion is the rescheduled “Kids Gold Rush� that was rained out two weeks ago. It’s Boundary/CREO Systems Corporate Night. Saturday’s home-cooked special is Eggplant Parmesan with salad for $6.

The DIRTcar Big-Block Modified car counts have risen as the season has progressed as it did last year. A great field of 29 cars was on hand last Saturday night, which meant the higher purse structure and tow money. Top dogs Dave Murdick and Rex split the make-up and regularly scheduled feature, but both had problems in the feature they didn’t win.

The elder King has now opened up his point lead to 10 over Murdick. Rex King, Jr. sits third with one victory despite having to sit out the regular program as he turned his car over to his father to maintain points.

The FASTRAK Late Models have been so competitive all season long as you just never know who is going to win. Outside of Will Thomas III’s three victories, no other driver has been able to repeat. In fact, following Eric Wilson’s first win of the season last Saturday night, there have been nine different winners in 11 races!

Wilson has had his ups and downs the past two seasons, but there aren’t many 15-year-olds that have two feature wins! The Cortland, Ohio third generation racer is currently sixth in points, just 24 out of third place. Thomas has a 27-point lead on sophomore racer Matt Latta.

The battles between Joel Watson and Jack Young have been well documented throughout the 2012 season in the E-Mods. Just three points separate the two combatants with Watson leading the way as each driver has three feature wins. Third place point man Joe Gabrielson is fresh off his second win of the season, but trails Watson by 57 points. The E-Mods continue to attract between 20-30 cars per night.

It was good to see a season-high 21 Stock Cars in the pits last Saturday and the competition level was high. Nine drivers were in contention for the victory for most of the race as Shaun Hooks held off point leader Tim Burns for his second win of the season. Burns, who has never won a track championship, added to his point lead extending it to 14 over four-time champion Steve D’Apolito, who finished third.

The Econo Mods produced another strong field of 19 cars. It was former Stock Car racer Steve Burns, Jr. holding on for his second win of the season. Brandon Blackshear leads Mini Stock graduate Jeremy Double by 37 markers. Fourteen-year-old Cameron Nastasi and Brian Foley, Jr. were the latest additions to the growing class, which is now up to 34 different competitors this year!

Jim Haefke, Jr. has been tough to beat wherever the 30-year-old Austintown, Ohio racer has started from this year. Last Saturday, Haefke took off from the pole position and never looked back for his track leading seventh victory. Haefke won’t be able to start any better than sixth this Saturday. The second-year racer is closing in on for his first championship as he leads defending champion Bill Fuchs by 32 points.

Pits open at 4 p.m. and grandstands at 5. Racing will get underway at 7. Adult admission is $13. Kinds 13 and under are free. Pit passes are $25.

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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