---

Apple Festival Nationals up next with 2 complete shows Fri & Sat for 5 divisions; 2-day discounted passes; Free camping & entertainment

By Mike Leone

September 11, 2012

(Hartford, OH)…After a rainout last Saturday, Sharon Speedway is hoping for better weather this weekend as the big “Apple Festival Nationals� is on tap this Friday and Saturday (September 14-15). Each night will feature a complete show for the Barris Supply FASTRAK Late Models, Summit Racing Equipment E-Mods under the UEMS sanction, Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars under open rules, HTMA/Precise Racing Products Econo Mods, and the Deforest Used Parts Mini Stocks for both 4 and 6 Cylinders. Race time on Friday is 6:30 p.m. for the Open Stock make-up feature and 6 on Saturday.

There will be free camping available all weekend with a bonfire and entertainment after the races both nights led by 93.3 The Wolf’s “Fast Freddy�! Fans and racers both can take advantage of discounted two-day passes for just $20 for grandstand admission and $55 for pit admission. Saturday is Sims Buick GMC Night.

On Friday night, the Barris Supply FASTRAK Late Models will compete in a Weekly Series event with $1,000 on the line. In addition, last Saturday’s rained out Pace Performance “Futures Cup� Trifecta race paying $200 to-win will also be held. The normal required FT400 right rear tire rule will not be in effect for FASTRAK.

Then on Saturday, the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Northeast Touring Series will make their fifth and final appearance of the season. Thus far this season, Max Blair swept the Bill Emig Memorial “Wild Card� Weekend over Memorial Day weekend, while Sammy Stile and Mike Pegher, Jr. won the last two events that attracted 42 and 47 cars respectively.

Blair, the three-time Northeast Touring Champion, has set a new single season win mark with nine victories and currently leads consistent Chad Ruhlman by 73 points heading into Saturday night. Pegher, Dan Angelicchio, and last year’s Apple Festival Nationals winner, Ryan Montgomery, complete the top five in points. Sharon point leader, Will Thomas III, has two Touring Series victories this year at Expo Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park, and would love to add a victory at his home track.

Back on May 26, the United E-Mod Series (UEMS) made their first visit with a strong field of 37 competitors as Joel Watson won the $1,000 affair. UEMS is back for two nights this weekend and part of the “Apple Festival Nationals� for the first time ever! Sharon has had one of the strongest fields of E-Mods on a weekly basis in the region the last two years; add in the UEMS talent and it should be awesome field of cars!

Randy Hall of Olean, NY currently is tied for the point lead with last year’s Sharon track champion Carl McKinney. Hall has three victories, while McKinney is still looking for his first. Steve Dixon, opening night Sharon winner Brent Rhebergen, and John Boardman round out the top five in points. Part-time competitor, Dave Hess, Jr., leads UEMS with four victories including his most recent victory on Sunday at Bradford Speedway.

It’ll be a huge weekend for the Stock Cars. It’ll begin with the May 27 make-up feature on Friday night with $750 up for grabs. A complete new program for the Open Stock Cars will then be contested for $500. Saturday will feature another complete program, but the ante will be upped to $1,000 to-win in the final open Stock Car tune-up before the big $1,500 to-win show on October 6. Chris Schneider won the $500 Open Stock Car event back on May 26 for his first ever Sharon win and has his sights set on a $2,250 weekend.

The Econo Mods and Mini Stocks will round out the card on both nights of competition. The Econo Mods will race for $350 each night, while the Mini Stocks will race for $200 each night. The Mini Stocks have been opened up to allow the six cylinders to compete.

Besides the May 27 Open Stock make-up, the Open Stock Cars will battle for $500 on Friday night and $1,000 for Saturday night in preparation for the $1,500 to-win October 6 event. Also on the card with complete shows each night are the HTMA/Precise Racing Products Econo Mods and the Deforest Used Parts Mini Stocks.

“We’re really looking forward to this weekend,� acknowledged third year GM Dave Willoughby. “This is always a great event for us and really showcases our local racers. We’ve gotten a lot of good response for the weekend so hopefully the weather cooperates and everyone can come out and spend the weekend with us.�

Kids 13 and under are free all weekend in the grandstands. Normal adult admission prices are in effect at $13 each night, but a two-day pass is just $20! Pit passes are $30 on Friday and $35 on Saturday, but a two-day is only $55!

Pits open both days at 4 p.m. The grandstands will open at 5 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday. Teams are permitted to stay in the pits overnight. There are no track registration fees for any division. Points will not be awarded during the weekend.

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