---

MARTIN REDEEMS HIMSELF IN BILL FORNEY MEM RUSH LATE MODEL TOUR; WATSON TOPS UMP MODS; RUSH SPRINTS TO RUHLMAN AGAIN; 1ST WINS FOR SCHNEIDER & KRUMMERT

By Mike Leone

July 9, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Hartford, OH)...After a weekend off, Sharon Speedway was blessed with a beautiful Saturday evening for the second annual "Bill Forney Memorial". Celebrating in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane were Joe Martin-Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire Touring Series, Joel Watson-Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modifieds, Chad Ruhlman-Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars, Chris Schneider-Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks, and Garrett Krummert-HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. The pits were full with a season high 128 cars. The night was being presented by the Forney Family, A&MP Electric, and Cortland Mower Sales.

Last year, Joe Martin lost a heartbreaker on the final lap to Super Late Model hall of famer Chub Frank in the inaugural "Bill Forney Memorial" for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Models. On Saturday night, Martin redeemed himself in the second annual event by finally working his way past Super Late Model standout Michael Norris with three laps to go after a race-long, spirited battle throughout the 30-lap non-stop feature that was timed in 9:58.529. Martin's second Flynn's Tire Touring Series victory of the year and fourth of his career was worth $3,199.

"We're here for a celebration every time we come to Sharon Speedway," expressed the 37-year-old Punxsutawney, Pa. racer. "Man I love this place. I love the track, the surface and shape of it, the professionalism, the staff, the safety crew- it's a top notch facility. I love you fans up there as well. Michael (Norris) is a hell of a race car driver. He's younger than me, but I kind of idolize him. I had a better car the whole night, but when it comes to the cushion there isn't a better driver in the whole country and I'll stick to that. He made it really tough for me and I should have led a lot more laps than I did. I got to race side-by-side with one of my favorite guys and that was cool."

Norris took off in the lead following his dash victory with Martin, Will Thomas III, Logan Roberson, and Matt Latta in tow. Sixth starting Daryl Charlier was on the move as he passed Latta for fifth on lap three then drove around Roberson for fourth racing off the top side of turn four on lap four. Charlier quickly ran down Thomas and made a crossover move off the top of turn four down the frontstretch and into turn one to get by Thomas for third, despite some contact, on lap six. Roberson followed Charlier past Thomas to regain fourth on lap six.

Martin had been hounding Norris and pulled even for the first time on lap eight, but Norris made a nice move in traffic the following lap to maintain the lead, while Charlier closed in on the front duo. By lap 11, Roberson joined in making it a four-race race for the lead as the top four cars were all flying around the topside of the track in lapped traffic.

Charlier and Roberson resumed their battle as they raced side-by-side for third on lap 14, which allowed Norris and Martin to distance themselves. Martin meanwhile was able to pull even with Norris on laps 16-18, but was never able to lead a lap as Norris once again broke free on lap 19. Martin didn't go away as he tracked Norris back down and pulled even again on lap 23, but still wasn't able to make the pass stick. Martin kept Norris in sight and on lap 27 made the winning move as he was able to slide Norris off turn two and pulled away down the backstretch.

Martin was able to make the right moves through lapped traffic in the final laps and took the checkered flag first for his seventh career Sharon win by 1.572 seconds in the Tom Snyder, Jr.-owned, T&D Performance/Tuff Nuts/Weather Capital Sales/Kevin Martin Trucking/Berkshire Hathaway/Daugherty Motorsports/Accelo Racegear-sponsored #10s. Just 10 cars finished on the lead lap of the 23 that finished the caution-free event.

After out-dueling Charlier the week before for the $3,000 Tour victory at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway, Norris came up short to Martin with a hard fought runner-up finish worth $1,500 driving for his brother-in-law, Nico Dabecco. Charlier followed Norris home in third. Roberson, who continues to lead the Flynn's Tire Tour points, was fourth for the third straight race with his ninth top 5 and 10th top 10 in 10 races. After recording a pair of sixth place finishes in the last three races, Latta did one better for his first top five of the season for the fifth place points man. New York standout, Chad Homan, made his first Sharon Late Model start and had a solid sixth place finish. Thomas dropped to seventh over Josh Ferry, Breyton Santee, and Brady Wonderling.

Kurt Stebbins of Wellsville, NY led all six caution-free laps of the Non-Qualifier to earn $200 in his first ever Sharon start. Martin also set fast time in $100 FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock" Qualifying with a lap of 18.216. Winning $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Martin, Norris, Ferry, and Latta. Bo Lockwood won the last chance B main. Norris earned another $100 Sunoco fuel card for winning the Sunoco Dash.

Joel Watson passed Dan Davies on a restart on lap nine and fended him off over the second-half of the event to capture the UMP Modified victory. Watson, who crashed with a lapped car while leading at the last show on June 18, redeemed himself with for a $1,000 payday in the 25-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply feature.

"We jumped tires on a lapped car- it was just a fluke thing as probably a mere inch would have made the difference in whether we wrecked or didn't," explained the 48-year-old Conneaut, Ohio driver. "It means a lot to win. We've been working so hard to get this car back together. We had to go to North Carolina to get it re-clipped; lots and lots of damage and lots of work in the garage. My guys dedicated all their time to getting it done and I can't thank those guys enough."

Davies raced out to the early lead with Bud Watson, Joel Watson, and Mike McGee trailing. The two Watsons raced side-by-side for second on lap four with Joel making the pass. Just as lapped traffic was approaching, the first caution was displayed for Dave Airgood, Jr. with eight laps completed. When racing resumed, Joel Watson drove around Davies for the lead on lap nine with fifth starting Nate Young moving into third.

Two more cautions slowed action on laps 15 and 16. When green replaced yellow on lap 17, Young moved past Davies for second. The two battled hard in the ensuing laps with Davies regaining runner-up on lap 20 with a pass off the topside of turn four. Davies though would lose ground in the final laps as Watson's 29th career win came by 3.136 seconds in his NWR/Close Racing Supply/Capp Steel Erectors/Tire Express/Walker Roofing/Lodge at the Lake/Zimmer's Service Center-sponsored #92.

Young was third over McGee. Brian Ruhlman went 11th to fifth. Bud Watson dropped to sixth over Zach Johnson, Gary Olson, Mason Lobb, and Jonathan Taylor. Taylor earned the $100 Summit Racing Equipment gift card for being the hard charger by gaining 11 spots in the feature. Heat winners over the 33-car field were Davies, Bud Watson, Joel Watson, and McGee. Taylor won the last chance B main.

Chad Ruhlman found the high side to his liking in the RUSH Sprint Cars. After dropping to fourth early on, Ruhlman went to the top, banged the boards and passed fellow veteran Andy Priest on lap six for the winning move in the 20-lap Terry Bowser Excavating feature. It was Ruhlman's second win of the season at Sharon, worth $600.

"Grandma Betty is more excited than I am- this is great," expressed the 45-year-old Erie, Pa. standout. "We changed some stuff and went back to last year's notes. We haven't been very good on the top here. Nolan (Groves) has been setting the standard up on top the last month on the cushion. He's a great kid, but must have had a big hunk of mud stuck in his wheel or something. It was cool to throw slide jobs and have Andy (Priest) down on the bottom like that. Hats off to the track prep guys again- this place is awesome! It's been a lot of fun. Brian (Ruhlman) is putting a '410' (non-wing Sprint) together for me and we're going to double team it with Tim (Engles) down at Lernerville and heading to Eldora later this year. I wouldn't have had this opportunity without RUSH to get into this. To go run USAC at Eldora is the ultimate goal so thank everyone that has made this possible."

Priest raced to the early lead, while Nolan Groves passed Ruhlman for third on the opening lap. Groves went to the top like he did in his heat race and drove around Jarod Larson for second on lap four off turn two; however, contact between Larson and Groves down the backstretch sent Larson into a 360-spin. Though Larson never stopped, the caution was displayed and Larson was placed in sixth where he resumed.

Back under green on lap four, Ruhlman made a veteran move to slip under teenager Groves down the frontstretch and was able to get to the top in turn one first to secure second. Blaze Myers put a slider on Groves to take third on lap five. Groves appeared to pack his wheel full of mud and backslid through the field over the remainder of the event.

After racing side-by-side on lap six, Ruhlman's momentum off the top carried him into the lead past Priest. Ruhlman caught lapped traffic on lap 13, but that wouldn't slow his efforts as he set a blistering pace around the fence. Ruhlman's all-time leading ninth career Sharon victory came by a commanding 5.492 seconds in the Tim Engles-owned, Dirt Road Logistics/Shawgo Realty/Signature Property Group/DoTerra Essential Oils-sponsored #68.

Priest was a season best second. Myers was third after starting seventh. Tyler Newhart recorded his first top five of the season in fourth. After winning the last two Sharon races, Gale Ruth, Jr. was fifth. Larson was sixth over Brian Hartzell, Ryan Fraley, Ricky Tucker, Jr., and rookie Zack Wilson. Heat winners over the 20-car field were Groves and Ruhlman.

Chris Schneider was in a good spot- out in front of the Pro Stock feature throughout the duration of the crash-filled 20-lap Gibson Insurance Agency event. In a tune-up for next Saturday's $10,000 to-win Penn-Ohio "Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals", Schneider led the entire way to become the third different winner in as many races this season and earned $550.

"I'm just real thankful I didn't have to start further back- it looked real rough back there," stated the 43-year-old Lower Burrell, Pa. racer. "I just got out front and tried different lines to feel out the car. This is a new car this year. It's a tad different than the other car I had. It was just a practice night."

The race featured an uncharacteristic five cautions, but three of them were multi-car accidents that all occurred with eight laps completed. When racing resumed on lap nine, sixth starting Curt J. Bish passed Scott Stiffler for second. Twelfth starting Brian Carothers then disposed of Stiffler for third following the final restart on lap 12. Schneider was not contested over the final nine laps as his Butler Truck Parts/Freeport Transport/It's All Clean Pressure Washing/B&T Trucking/Hot Dog Guys-sponsored #55 cruised to his 16th career win by 3.810 seconds over Bish.

Carothers was third. Jackson Humanic and Steve D'Apolito were also able to get by the fading Stiffler to finish fourth and fifth respectively. Stiffler dropped to sixth as Paul Davis, Larry Kugel, Garrett Calvert, and Jason Johns rounded out the top 10.

While it was a new car in victory lane for the first time ever, a familiar face emerged from the cockpit of the Jordan Ehrenberg #JD57 as Garrett Krummert put on the most dominating performance of the season in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. Krummert took command on lap two and drove off to his first win of the season in the 20-lap HTMA/Precise Racing Products feature that went caution-free in 6:55.298. Krummert became the fourth different winner in as many races this season.

"We were off tonight, Jordan (Ehrenberg) was coming to race, and he's been struggling a bit so we wanted to see if it was the car or something he was doing different," explained the 34-year-old West Middlesex, Pa. racer. "I'm glad we did it because we found a couple things he probably wouldn't have found by not having a bunch of experience. Hopefully this will turn his season around and he'll be better the rest of the year."

Krummert and Tony Tatgenhorst battled side-by-side for the first two laps. And while Tatgenhorst led the opening lap on the outside, Krummert's winning pass came on the bottom on lap two. Krummert caught lapped traffic on lap nine and faced heavy traffic on lap 14, but that was only a momentary slowdown as Krummert took the checkered flag first by a huge margin of 6.750 seconds for his 10th career win in the division and 11th overall at Sharon, but first in the Cabin 2 Castle Home Inspections/330 Creations-sponsored #JD57. Just 11 cars were on the lead lap at the finish.

Tatgenhorst, who won the opener on May 28, was second. Kole Holden, who leads RUSH's $3,500 to-win Hovis Weekly Series points, was third. Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series points leader, Ben Easler, went sixth to fourth as Brandon Ritchey completed the top five. Sixth through 10th were J.C. Boyer, Justin Shea, Josh Deems, Ayden Cipriano, and Rob Kristyak. Heat winners over the 22-car field were Krummert, Easler, and Tatgenhorst.

Sharon Speedway will host the fourth annual "Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals" this Friday and Saturday (July 15-16). Friday night will be an open practice for all divisions along with qualifying for the Penn-Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series with a possible king of the hill. Saturday will be a complete show for the Penn-Ohio Pro Stocks battling for $10,000 to-win. The Whelen Econo Mods will also be in action. Racing begins at 7 p.m.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series "Bill Forney Memorial" (30 laps, $3,199 to-win): 1. JOE MARTIN (Snyder 10s) 2. Michael Norris (Dabecco N1) 3. Daryl Charlier (Centerline 3RK) 4. Logan Roberson (17) 5. Matt Latta (21) 6. Chad Homan (91) 7. Will Thomas III (9) 8. Josh Ferry (33) 9. Breyton Santee (9) 10. Brady Wonderling (z1) 11. Mike Wonderling (18) 12. David Pangrazio (136) 13. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 14. Logan Jaquay (Briggs 99*) 15. Ashton Briggs (11A) 16. Craig Graham (98) 17. Matt Sipes (25) 18. Brandt Graham (14) 19. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J) 20. Colby Beighey (36) 21. Bo Lockwood (57) 22. Andy Michael (17x) 23. Steve Hollabaugh (3) 24. Joe Long (71) 25. Jonathan Stockdale (31).

RUSH Late Model Non-Qualifier (6 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Kurt Stebbins (26) 2. Mason Jaquay (Briggs 99B) 3. Jacob Peterson (112). DNS: William Pinckney (Cole 49), Chad Sines (15).

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modifieds (25 laps, $1,000 to-win): 1. 92-Joel Watson[3]; 2. 71D-Dan Davies[1]; 3. 42-Nate Young[5]; 4. 11M-Mike McGee[4]; 5. 49-Brian Ruhlman[11]; 6. 225-Bud Watson[2]; 7. 105-Zach Johnson[16]; 8. 23-Gary Olson[12]; 9. 28-Mason Lobb[14]; 10. 5-Jonathan Taylor[21]; 11. 58-Joe Gabrielson[15]; 12. F4-Gregory Johnson[7]; 13. 10T-Kenny Meadows[17]; 14. 39-Steve Haefke Jr[20]; 15. 1-Vinnie DePizzo[22]; 16. 7G-Garrett Calvert[24]; 17. 17-Jason Gracey[23]; 18. 27-Jeff Johnson[9]; 19. 32-Alan Atkinson[10]; 20. 07R-Brent Rhebergen[6]; 21. 77-David Defibaugh[19]; 22. 16B-Tylar Barr[18]; 23. 77D-Dustin DeMattia[8]; 24. 42*-Dave Airgood[13]. DNQ: Keith Felicetty (98), Troy Johnson (2J), J.J. Bametzrieder (74), Ed Wilson Jr (33), Eric Nellis II (15), Mike Potosky (m20), Dennis Dellinger (17x), Alex Siekkinen (20), Robert Smith (83).

Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars (20 laps, $600 to-win): 1. 68-Chad Ruhlman[3]; 2. 41-Andy Priest[1]; 3. 43JR-Blaze Myers[7]; 4. 57N-Tyler Newhart[6]; 5. 24-Gale Ruth Jr[5]; 6. 47-Jarod Larson[2]; 7. 69-Brian Hartzell[9]; 8. 12-Ryan Fraley[11]; 9. 1T-Ricky Tucker Jr[8]; 10. 1-Zack Wilson[10]; 11. 29-Brandon Shughart[14]; 12. 5B-Joe Buccola[16]; 13. 69X-AJ MacQuarrie[18]; 14. 13K-Kevin Kaserman[15]; 15. 44C-Bill Cunningham[12]; 16. 16C-Amelia Clay[17]; 17. 25-Nolan Groves[4]; 18. 23-Charlie Utsinger[20]; 19. 11-Don Blaney[19]; 20. 19-Brandon Blackshear[13].

Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks (20 laps, $550 to-win): 1. 55-Chris Schneider[2]; 2. 29-Curt J Bish[6]; 3. 02C-Brian Carothers[12]; 4. 17-Jackson Humanic[5]; 5. 84-Steve D'Apolito[8]; 6. 14-Scott Stiffler[3]; 7. 3-Paul Davis[7]; 8. 0-Larry Kugel[4]; 9. 97-Garrett Calvert[17]; 10. 31-Jason Johns[16]; 11. 28-Doug Iorio II[20]; 12. 81-Jason Jones[19]; 13. 21-Troy DeZarn[22]; 14. 11S-Jamie Scharba[14]; 15. 7-Coleton Longwell[9]; 16. 13J-Jordan Perkins[10]; 17. 55X-Rob Shook[13]; 18. 63-Chris McGuire[11]; 19. 12M-Scott Malone[15]; 20. 67J-Jamie Duncan[21]; 21. 8-Jonathan Davis[1]. DNS: Ray Gregory (82R), Mark Hopkins (69H).

HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds (20 laps): 1. JD57-Garrett Krummert[1]; 2. 63T-Tony Tatgenhorst[2]; 3. 2-Kole Holden[4]; 4. 02-Benjamin Easler[6]; 5. 1R-Brandon Ritchey[3]; 6. 12-JC Boyer[5]; 7. 14S-Justin Shea[7]; 8. 9D-Josh Deems[9]; 9. 5C-Ayden Cipriano[12]; 10. 00-Rob Kristyak[10]; 11. 29-Cole Edwards[8]; 12. 333G-Dalton Gabriel[11]; 13. 8-Kyle Martell[15]; 14. 28J-Jacob Jordan[17]; 15. 57R-Jacob Rutana[14]; 16. 01T-Todd English[16]; 17. 5-John Watson[20]; 18. 2LC-Lucas Canon[13]; 19. 21X-Cory Riffe[19]; 20. 46R-Doug Rutana[21]; 21. 111-Dave Price[18]; 22. 25-Greg Porter[22].

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. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on Twitter @sharonspdwy.

---

Back to News