7/30/2023
Sharon Speedway
CAREER 1ST SHARON WINS FOR MICHAEL BAUER (410 SPRINTS) & CODY KOTELES (STOCKS); 1ST WINS FOR JC BOYER (RUSH MODS) & JACOB EUCKER (ECONO MODS)
By Mike Leone
July 29, 2023
(Hartford, OH)…Despite three rounds of showers during the morning, afternoon, and evening, Sharon Speedway management persevered with the "Steel Valley Thunder" program for the "Bill Kirila Memorial" presented by Bucks Fabricating and Barris Supply on Saturday night. Four drivers celebrated their first wins in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane including Michael Bauer-Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars, Cody Koteles-Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks, JC Boyer-HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, and Jacob Eucker-Whelen Econo Mods. Eighty-three cars filled the pit area matching the season high from the "Lou Blaney Memorial"
Michael Bauer emerged victorious for his first career Sharon Speedway "410" Sprint Car victory worth $3,000 in a race that had four different leaders and issues for early leaders Lee Jacobs and A.J. Flick. Bauer started sixth and led for two different intervals during the 30-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply feature that was contested on a blazing fast track with near record speeds. Bauer became the third new Sharon "410" Sprint Car winner of 2023 and 174th different driver to win a "410" feature in the storied history of the track.
"Wow this is setting it now," expressed an emotional and excited 30-year-old Eighty-Four, Pa. victor. "This is for everyone who stuck by me and came on board in the last couple years even when we were struggling. I have to give it up to my crew because without them I couldn't be doing this. They do a great job and today were changing bars and everything. Shannon is my crew chief and I don't mean that like how some people say their wives are their crew chiefs; she runs the notebook, she sets it up, and here we are now. She gave me a great car. I told her put it in survive mode and let's get through this and make it really free. We had all four up in the fluff, and it was just hold it strong. I was just holding it wide open. I tell people all the time I just love racing Sprint Cars, but to win one- that's awesome."
Jacobs took off in the lead in search of his first career Sharon win, but on lap two something in his steering broke and shot the John Lewis #81 hard into the turn four fence; thankfully he was okay. Under caution, two more drivers in the top five pitted including Darren Pifer and Andy Priest. Adam Kekich inherited the lead when racing resumed and the top four that also included Michael Bauer, Brandon Matus, and Flick pulled away from the field. Flick passed Matus for third on lap three. Bauer then snuck under and past Kekich in turn two for the lead on lap four.
Flick, who started ninth, continued his charge to the front driving under Kekich in lapped traffic on lap eight to take second. Bauer had a two-second advantage by the time Flick raced his way to runner-up. That lead though quickly evaporated as Bauer struggled to lap Darin Gallagher. Flick then flew by Bauer in traffic in turn one on lap 13 for the lead. By the halfway point, Flick extended his lead; however, Bauer would close in at times in traffic staying within striking distance. Flick appeared to be headed to his first Sharon win of the season, but slowed on lap 24 as mechanical gremlins ended his run.
Bauer inherited the lead and led the remaining way to become the fifth different winner in seven races this season in his Mobile Bail Bonds/Wildwood Collision/A Main Podcast/SP Technologies-sponsored #46. Kekich crossed the finish in second, but failed to scale and was disqualified. Eighth starting Dan Shetler was credited with a season best second, 4.781 seconds behind Bauer. Matus was third for his second straight podium finish as 10th starting Carl Bowser was fourth. Gallagher charged from 20th to complete the top five.
Jimmy Morris III went 17th to 6th. Brett Brunkenhoefer was seventh over Brent Matus. Bodey McClintock was ninth in his first ever appearance as Mike Marano II completed the top 10 in his season debut. Gallagher set fast time overall against the 21-car field with a lap of 12.845 not far off the 12.704 track record by Danny Holtgraver set 10 years ago. Heat winners over the 21-car field were Flick, Pifer, and Bowser.
Cody Koteles joined Michael Bauer with his first career Sharon win as well. Koteles led the entire way in the 15-lap Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stock feature to become the fourth new winner of the season and seventh different winner in eight races!
"I never imagined the track would be this heavy for my first one," acknowledged the 24-year-old Stockdale, Pa. driver. "This place is normally like glass, but it was a handful tonight. I can barely feel my arms so my dad is going to have to drive home. We've been real consistent all years, just haven't been knocking wins off. I got this car a month or so ago so to get one in it feels really good. We had a good run here last week so I think we have some momentum rolling."
Koteles was never challenged and was slowed only by one caution for Coleton Longwell's flat tire with four laps completed. Koteles crossed the finish line first by 1.425 seconds in his Hoods Up Quick Lube/Top Care Lawn Care/Anarchy Customs/955 Automotive/Royal Purple/Mighty Auto Parts-sponsored #1K to become the 217th different driver to win in the division all-time.
Jonathan Davis passed Jason Jones on lap two and would finish a career best second. Brian Carothers came from eighth to take third getting by Jones on lap five. Jones dropped to fourth over Russ Coyne as both racers recorded their season best finishes. Hunter Exley and Davis won the heat races. Before suffering mechanical woes that ended his night, Curt J. Bish set a new track record in the first heat race with a lap 17.432!
After Tony Tatgenhorst and Ayden Cipriano suffered issues on the final lap, ninth starting JC Boyer emerged victorious in a wild last lap scramble in the 20-lap HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modified feature for his first win of 2023! With 26 cars on hand, Boyer earned $550 for just his second career win as he became the fourth different winner in five races this season.
"That was two close calls at the end there," described the 30-year-old nearby Burghill, Ohio resident. "I thought for sure Tony (Tatgenhorst) had that one. We knew starting ninth we'd have our work cut out for us and needed cautions to go our way so it worked out pretty good. You could ring the top in (turns) one and two to make up ground. I hate to see that for Tony and Ayden (Cipriano)- those guys ran a hell of a race, but bad luck gets you sometimes. I'm fortunate enough tonight to be up here so I'll take it. When Tony and Ayden got together, I thought for sure I was going to hit Tony's front end, then I was trying to run the highline and I saw the smoke and nowhere to go and go into the back of Ayden, but I'm glad I made it through."
Tatgenhorst led the first five laps before a caution for Ben Easler and Billy Cunningham, who was making his first career RUSH Mod start. When racing resumed, Cipriano used the outside to take over the top spot; however, only one lap would be completed before another caution when cars got bunched up sending Jacob Wolfe spinning. This time, Tatgenhorst used the outside on the restart to regain the lead on lap seven.
Tatgenhorst opened up some ground as the laps ticked off. Cipriano though closed back in on lap 14 and was all over the leader on lap 18 as Tatgenhorst was in search of his first win of the season. Cipriano got a good run on the outside of turns one and two, but Tatgenhorst moved up to block his charge. Cipriano's front bumper got hooked with Tatgenhorst's rear bumper and they were attached the entire way down the backstretch. Tatgenhorst clipped an infield tire in turn three and spun while Cipriano continued on. It was the second heartbreaker of the year for Tatgenhorst, who has had victory in sight before unfortunate incidents.
Cipriano inherited the lead, but on the last lap entering turn three went up in smoke. Boyer made contact with the slowing Cipriano, but was able to sneak under as the third place car of Rob Kristyak, who made contact with Cipriano. Boyer then had a clear path to the checkered flag winning by 0.773 seconds in his PI&I Motor Express/L&M Processing/Winners on Main/Youngstown Powder Coating/Kelly-Cummings Funeral Homes/Ohio Intra Express/RKR-sponsored #12.
Kristyak was a season best second. After eight years of trying, Jacob Jordan recorded his first career top five at Sharon in third after starting 15th to boot! Bill Cunningham matched his career best Sharon RUSH Mod finish in fourth despite starting 12th. Gage Priester also recorded his first career top five at Sharon in five years of trying with a fifth!
Kole Holden, Lucas Canon, Jacob Rutana, Jordan Ehrenberg, and Wendell Pinckney in his first start of the year completed the top 10. Ehrenberg started 24th and earned the $100 Summit Racing Equipment Hard Charger gift card. Canon, Kristyak, and Cipriano won the heat races over the 26-car field, which was the highest count since the 2021 season finale.
Jacob Eucker became the fourth new winner of the night copping the victory in the 20-lap Whelen Econo Mod feature. Eucker led the final 17 laps holding off a furious charge by Dennis Lunger, Jr. to become the season's fourth different winner in four races. With 24 cars on hand, Eucker earned $450.
"Man the track was fast," stated the 22-year-old nearby Fowler, Ohio driver. "That was probably the first time I've ever had the track rip the wheel out of my hands. I saw (Dennis) Lunger a bit through (turns) one and two. He's always raced me clean- he's a clean driver and I knew I'd be okay. I have to thank my parents, fiancé Brooke, grandparents and all of my sponsors."
Standout Jeremy Double started on the pole and was trying to become the first repeat winner of the season, but lost the handle on his own and spun from the lead in turn four on lap four. Eucker, who started third, inherited the lead over Lunger. Lunger had three double file restarts alongside Eucker, but was unable to make the pass. Lunger got alongside of Eucker in turn one on the final lap, but Eucker had the momentum off the top and carried that to victory by just 0.777 seconds in his Ohio Commerce Center/Dr. John Eucker/Close Racing Supply/Danski Dyno Performance-sponsored #64. Eucker's 15th career win tied him for third on the division's all-time win list to go along with a UMP Modified win.
Lunger was runner-up in his first appearance of 2023 barely edging out Garrett Calvert. Will Thomas III was fourth. Double came all the way from the tail in the final 17 laps to finish fifth. Brian Toto went 19th to 6th. Ed Vogel, who started second, faded to seventh in his 2023 debut. Carter Bidwell, Zac Etzel, and Gary Sullivan completed the top 10. Heat winners over the season high 24-car field were Calvert, Thomas, and Lunger.
Coming up next Saturday (August 5), the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modifieds will headline the "Steel Valley Thunder" program for $1,000 to-win in their final tune-up before the $2,558 to-win "Bill Gabrielson Memorial" on August 19. Also on the card will be the Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks, HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, and the Whelen Econo Mods. Race time is 7 p.m.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars (30 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. 46-MICHAEL BAUER[6]; 2. 29-Dan Shetler[8]; 3. 13-Brandon Matus[7]; 4. 11-Carl Bowser[10]; 5. 12-Darin Gallagher[21]; 6. 16-Jimmy Morris III[17]; 7. 47-Brett Brunkenhoefer[13]; 8. 33-Brent Matus[5]; 9. 19M-Bodey McClintock[16]; 10. 34M-Mike Marano II[14]; 11. 4W-Eric L Williams[18]; 12. 2-AJ Flick[9]; 13. 25-Jarrett Rosencrance[12]; 14. 7T-Andy McKisson[11]; 15. 22C-Jon Carpenter[19]; 16. 21N-Andy Priest[4]; 17. 81-Lee Jacobs[1]; 18. 23-Darren Pifer[3]; 19. 47L-Dusty Larson[15]; 20. 5K-Adam Kekich[2]- DSQ (did not scale). DNS: David Kalb, Jr. (11J).
Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks (15 laps): 1. 1K-CODY KOTELES[1]; 2. 8-Jonathan Davis[3]; 3. 02C-Brian Carothers[12]; 4. 81J-Jason Jones[2]; 5. 8C-Russ Coyne[5]; 6. 44-Jacob Wheeler[9]; 7. 23HJR-Hunter Exley[4]; 8. 7-Coleton Longwell[10]. DNS: Scott Malone (12M), Curt J. Bish (29), Paul Davis (3), Bobby Whitling (7W).
HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds (20 laps, $550 to-win): 1. 12-JC BOYER[9]; 2. 00-Rob Kristyak[4]; 3. 28J-Jacob Jordan[16]; 4. 59-Bill Cunningham[12]; 5. 71-Gage Priester[7]; 6. 2-Kole Holden[11]; 7. 2LC-Lucas Canon[5]; 8. 57R-Jacob Rutana[8]; 9. JD57-Jordan Ehrenberg[24]; 10. 11-Wendell Pinckney[13]; 11. 1R-Brandon Ritchey[19]; 12. 333G-Dalton Gabriel[15]; 13. 46R-Doug Rutana[18]; 14. 29-Cole Edwards[17]; 15. 7K-Brenten Kay[22]; 16. 1*-Joe Watson[20]; 17. 00K-Jackson Kristyak[26]; 18. 63T-Tony Tatgenhorst[1]; 19. 5C-Ayden Cipriano[3]; 20. 7-Jacob Wolfe[10]; 21. 25-Jolene Smith[23]; 22. 86-Shayne Izzo[14]; 23. N20-Brandon Tercho[21]; 24. 59C-Billy Cunningham Jr[2]; 25. 02-Benjamin Easler[6]. DNS: 55-Scott Kay.
Whelen Econo Mods (20 laps, $450 to-win): 1. 64-JACOB EUCKER[3]; 2. 71L-Dennis Lunger Jr[4]; 3. 7G-Garrett Calvert[5]; 4. 9-Will Thomas[6]; 5. 83-Jeremy Double[1]; 6. 8B-Brian Toto[19]; 7. 83E-Ed Vogel[2]; 8. 26X-Carter Bidwell[7]; 9. 52-Zac Etzel[13]; 10. 47S-Gary Sullivan[10]; 11. 5M-Donnie May[15]; 12. 16C-Amelia Clay[18]; 13. 37-Ryan Wisniowski[22]; 14. 09P-Dan Price[21]; 15. 71A-Don Watson[11]; 16. 965-Andy Buckley[9]; 17. 15-Eric Nellis II[14]; 18. 89C-Travis Carothers[20]; 19. 20-Alex Siekkinen[24]; 20. 12-Troy Pinch[8]; 21. 4-George Vestal IV[16]; 22. 56-Bryan Wagner[12]; 23. 35-Rick Wilson Jr[17]. DNS: 55W-Bob Wagner
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.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
