6/13/2024
Sharon Speedway
"STEEL VALLEY THUNDER" OPENER SATURDAY AT SHARON FEATURING BIG-BLOCK MODS FOR $2000 TO-WIN, RUSH SPRINTS, PRO STOCKS & ECONO MODS
By Mike Leone
June 13, 2024
(Hartford, OH)…After three special events opened up the 95th anniversary season, Sharon Speedway will host their first "Steel Valley Thunder" weekly program of 2024 this Saturday night (June 15). The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds will highlight the program and will be joined by the Billy's Garage RUSH Sprint Cars, Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks, and the Whelen Econo Mods. It's Hovis Auto & Truck Supply and Cortland Mower Sales Night. Race time is 7 p.m.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds presented by Autism Awareness, King Bros. Ready Mix Concrete, King's Sanitary Services, Russ King Racing, and Thermo Supply will make their second of six visits during the 95th anniversary season as the ground pounders will again battle for $2,000 to-win, $200 to-start (complete payoff below). Ayden Cipriano won his first career Big-Block Modified race on June 1 on a night sponsored by his mother's Sara Cipriano at Novus Home Mortgage Hermitage.
The Big-Block Modifieds were a weekly attraction at Sharon from 1981-1992 then again from 1996-2017 and have since made limited appearances each year. There have been 638 races run with 96 different winners. The late Lou Blaney leads the all-time win list with 121 victories over Rex King, who has 54 checkered flags. Rex King, Jr. has the most wins as an active racer with 28 followed by veterans Jim Rasey (19), Brian Swartzlander (14), Rob Kristyak (11), and Dave Murdick (9). Other active Modified winners include Erick Rudolph (4), Jeremiah Shingledecker (4), Peter Britten (2), Brad Rapp (2), Steve Feder (2), Garrett Krummert (2), Mat Williamson (2), Chad Brachmann (1), Kyle Fink (1), Lonny Riggs (1), Mark Frankhouser (1), Mike Maresca (1), Ryan Susice (1), Will Thomas III (1), and Ayden Cipriano (1).
The Billy's Garage RUSH Sprint Cars will compete in their second race in the last four nights. On Wednesday, Arnie Kent won at Sharon for the first time in nearly 22 years since a victory in "410" Sprint Car competition! It was Kent's first RUSH Sprint Car win anywhere around the circuit since a pair of wins in the inaugural 2018 season as he became the 13th different winner all-time in the division. With five-time RUSH Champion, Chad Ruhlman, not competing in 2024, look for several new winners; in fact, the top four finishers on Wednesday had never won in RUSH competition at Sharon! That includes veteran John Mollick, who was second and moved into the points lead for RUSH's $5,000 to-win Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series Championship.
The Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks will make their second visit of 2024 on Saturday. The Pro Stocks were part of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car show on May 18 when a big field of 35 cars were on hand. On that night, Christian Schneider won his first career Sharon race worth $1,000 as he became the 219th different driver to win a Pro Stock race in the history of the track. Twenty-four or more cars on Saturday will mean a $750 to-win feature event.
The Whelen Econo Mods round out the four-division program, and thanks to Alcon Mechanical will see their purse increase for 2024 take effect beginning on Saturday night. The Econo Mods will be starting their 15th year as a regular division at Sharon, and typically average around a full field of cars. Brandon Blackshear and Jeremy Double are now tied atop the division's all-time win list with 21. Blackshear has competed in recent seasons in the RUSH Sprint Car division so Double, a three-time track champion, will look to move into sole possession of first place. Jacob Eucker is the next active driver with 16 wins.
Summit Racing Equipment will present the hard charger award to the Econo Mod division. The driver that passes the most cars in the feature will receive a $100 Summit gift card. In the event of a tie, the tiebreaker will be the driver that finished highest in the feature.
The Performance Bodies "Nosed Out" program will award a $100 Performance Bodies gift card redeemable only at Wedge Motorsports to a driver in the Pro Stocks or Econo Mods. The recipient amongst any of those competing divisions will be the driver that most closely beat out another competitor for any finishing position on the lead lap. Tiebreaker will be the driver with the best finishing position.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds presented by King Bros. Ready Mix Concrete, Russ King Racing, King's Sanitary Service, Autism Awareness & Thermo Supply Payoff: 1. $2,000 2. $1,200 3. $750 4. $550. 5. $500 6. $425 7. $375 8. $300 9. $275 10. $250 11. $225 12. $220 13. $215 14. $210 15. $205 16-24. $200. NQ/Tow $75.
There is no Sharon registration fee. One-way driver radios are mandatory; channel 454.000. AMB/MyLaps transponders are required; rentals available for $25. If you have yet to register for the 2024 season, please bring the registration form with you completed https://www.sharonspeedway.com/downloads/get.aspx?i=899241
Fans can not only experience viewing from the frontstretch and backstretch grandstands, but also from the infield fan zone, which includes concessions and restrooms. Sharon is the only track in the area to have viewing from the unique infield perspective. There will be times throughout the night when fans can cross on the frontstretch back and forth.
The pits will be open throughout the afternoon with passes going on sale at 4 p.m., while general admission opens at 5. Econo Mods will hot lap at approximately 6:40 p.m. Racing begins at 7 p.m.
Grandstand/fan zone admission for those 14 and over is $15, while senior admission is $13. Patio seating upgrades are just $10 and fan suite seating upgrades are just $20 over the cost of general admission. These can be upgraded on race night at the track office. As always, children under 14 and parking are always FREE. Pit passes are $30. As a reminder, coolers nor outside food or beverages are not permitted.
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.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
