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6 divisions of racing excitement slated for Saturday before Tuesday's Ohio Sprint Speedweek

By Mike Leone

June 19, 2013

(Hartford, OH)…With summer in full force, it’s been a busy stretch for Sharon Speedway with a pair of events last week now two more slated within the next week.  “Steel Valley Thunder� racing will resume this Saturday, June 22 followed by Ohio Speedweek for the All Star Sprints on Tuesday, June 25.

Sharon has completed 11 straight events and will look to make it 12 on Saturday as good weather is predicted.  Saturday is Joy Global Night and will feature the Governor Insurance Agency DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, Barris Supply RUSH Late Models, Summit Racing Equipment Modifieds, Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars, HTMA/Precise Racing Products Econo Mods, and the Deforest Used Parts Mini Stocks.  Racing begins at 7 p.m.

Once again Saturday night, one lucky boy and girl under the age of 14 will win a bicycle or scooter thanks to King Bros. and Sharon Speedway.  This promotion will continue throughout the 2013 season.  Saturday’s kitchen special is sauerkraut and kielbasa with mashed potatoes.

After what looked like Jim Weller, Jr. was clearly the dominate car with his new Troyer in the DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, Rex King has stepped up his game with two consecutive victories after struggling since his April 27 win.  Weller’s lead has shrunk to 12 points over King in the Governor Insurance Agency Championship point chase.  The two veterans have gone at it now for some 30 years at Sharon!

Two-time winner Rex King, Jr. is third in points with one-time victor Dave Murdick fourth.  Ricky Richner and Eric Gabany have been two great additions to the weekly field this year with their “358� small-blocks and are fifth and sixth respectively in points.  Richner is coming off his season best run in third one week after a season worst ninth place finish.

Dennis Lunger, Jr. kicked off a great weekend for himself in Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Weekly Series action winning his third of the season last Saturday then went and made his first ever start Sunday at Allegheny Mountain Raceway a successful one.  Lunger leads the Sharon points by a whopping 49 over defending champion Will Thomas III.  Lunger is also the highest Sharon regular in the $5,000 to-win Sweeney Weekly Championship points as he sits fourth.  Third through fifth in Sharon points are Josh Double, Matt Latta, and Eric Wilson.

It was quite a week for Modified racer Mike Kinney.  The Ashtabula, Ohio driver won his season’s first on June 8, finished fourth in the $2,000 to-win UEMS event on June 12 then found victory lane for the second time in a week last Saturday night!  Kinney now has a 16-point lead on Jeff Johnson in search of his first ever championship in the Summit Racing Equipment-sponsored division.  Joe Gabrielson is just two points behind Johnson in third.  Early point leader Alan Dellinger has dropped to fourth over Shawn Shingledecker.

The Stock Cars turned in their biggest count for a regular show this season last Saturday at 18 and the highest since the open show on May 26.  Ironically, Rod Laskey was the winner of both of those shows.  After battling for the championship last year, Laskey has only made four Sharon starts this year, but has made them count with two wins, a second, and a fourth!

While in the Gibson Insurance Agency point chase, Mike Clark sits atop the standings by 14 over defending champion Tim Burns.  Clark, who has never won a championship either, is having his career best season with two wins this far.  Third through fifth are Paul Davis, Jamie Scharba, and Brian Carothers.

The battles between 17-year-old Jeremy Double and 12-year-old Jacob Eucker in the Econo Mods have sure stirred the interest of the crowd.  Double of nearby Bristolville, Ohio has four wins to Hartford, Ohio racer Eucker’s three.  The two compete side-by-side up front seemingly week in and week out.

Another three-time winner, Ryan Fraley, has been the more consistent of the trio as he has a five-point advantage on Double in the HTMA/Precise Racing Products point chase heading into Saturday.  Eucker trails the point leader by just 17.  One-time winner Steve Burns, Jr. and rookie Ty Rhoades round out the top five.

Travis Creech is having quite the rookie season.  The Mini Stock racer won his third of the season last Saturday night and has battled his way to second in the Deforest Used Parts points closing the gap to 39 behind five-time winner Scott Gilliland.

Pits open at 4 p.m. Saturday with grandstands at 5 and heat races slated for 7.  Grandstand admission for those 14 and over is $13, while children under 14 are always free.  Pit passes are $25.  Parking and camping is always free.

Don’t forget that coming up on next Tuesday (June 25) will be the first of four Sprint Car shows in 2013 at Sharon!  The first event will be an All Star Circuit of Champions-sanctioned event as part of Ohio Speedweek with the winner pocketing $5,000.  The Econo Mods ($350 to-win) and Mini Stocks ($200 to-win) will be part of the program in points-paying events.  Qualifying for the Sprints will get underway at approximately 6:30 p.m.

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 @SharonSpdwy.

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