8/7/2024
Sharon Speedway
MODIFIED TRIPLEHEADER SATURDAY AT SHARON WITH BIG-BLOCKS, UMP & RUSH SPORTSMAN; RUSH SPRINTS ALSO IN ACTION
By Mike Leone
August 7, 2024
(Hartford, OH)…Sharon Speedway is set for a big night for Modified enthusiasts this Saturday (August 10). It'll be a tripleheader of ground-pounding Modified action featuring the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds, the Hovis UMP Modifieds and the HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds! The Billy's Garage RUSH Sprint Cars are also part of the "Steel Valley Thunder" event. It's Hovis Auto & Truck Supply and A&MP Electric Night. Race time is 7 p.m.
After a rainout this past Saturday night, 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 try again to complete their third event of the 95th anniversary season as the ground pounders will again battle for $2,000 to-win/$200 to-start (complete payoff below). It'll be the last tune-up before next Saturday's "Lou Blaney Memorial" featuring the BRP Tour.
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, while Erick Rudolph won a caution-free thriller two weeks later for the New York driver's fifth career win at the track. There have been 639 races run with 96 different winners all-time. Rex King, Jr. has the most wins amongst active drivers with 28, but hasn't won since August 26, 2023.
The Hovis Auto & Truck UMP Modifieds presented by A&MP Electric will be making their third of five appearances of 2024 on Saturday night. The $1,000 to-win event is part of the "Local's Cup" Series with other area speedways. On June 22, Bud Watson won a thriller over Ty Rhoades for his second career win. Nate Young finally broke into victory lane for the first time in his career at the last event on July 20 topping a strong field of cars. The UMP Mods will return on August 24 for the "Bill Gabrielson Memorial" paying $2,558 to-win/$258 to-stat and lastly on Friday, September 6 for the "Apple Festival Nationals".
There have been 333 races run all-time in the UMP Mod division dating back to the mid 1990s on the half-mile track with 62 different winners. Alan Dellinger, who no longer competes in the division, is still the all-time winner at 87. Joel Watson, who is still active, is second with 30 victories.
Rounding out the Modified portion of the program are the HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, who will be racing for the fourth time in the past five weeks. Kole Holden, who leads RUSH's $3,500 to-win Weekly Series Championship, won the June 22 opener and the most recent event on July 27. Chas Wolbert, who has five wins at Raceway 7, won the $800 special on July 13 for his 21st career win at Sharon and more impressively milestone 50th of his career in the division! Veteran Rob Kristyak scored a win on July 20. Holden also leads JC Boyer in Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series Championship, which takes into account all events at Raceway 7 and Sharon.
The Billy's Garage RUSH Sprint Cars will be making their sixth appearance of the season on Saturday night. Arnie Kent won the June 12 opener for his first win at Sharon in nearly 22 years! Since then it's been the Blaze Myers and John Mollick show as each driver has won a pair of features. Most recently on July 20, Myers nosed out Mollick to win by the closest of margins, 0.001 seconds, prior to Myers flipping after the checkered flag. Mollick, who had never won in the division at Sharon prior to his June 22 win, leads the $5,000 to-win Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series points over Myers. Former UMP Mod and Super Late Model standout, Brent Rhebergen, has gotten hot of late with two victories in the last three events around the region and will now try and win his first career Sharon Sprint Car feature.
Summit Racing Equipment will present the hard charger award to the RUSH Sprint Car 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 UMP Mods. The recipient 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.
Hovis UMP Modified Payoff: 1. $1,000 2. $700 3. $400 4. $300 5. $200 6. $175 7. $140 8. $125 9. $120 10. $115 11. $110 12. $105 13-24. $100. Tow/Non-Qualifiers $50.
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. Racing gets underway 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.
Up next is the “Lou Blaney Memorial” next Saturday (August 17) featuring the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply “410” Sprint Cars battling for $12,000 to-win/$1,200 to-start! The BRP Tour for the Big-Block Modifieds will also be in action for $2,500 to-win. NASCAR star Ryan Blaney will also be making an appearance. For reserved seats, advance general admission, and camping permits visit https://sharonspeedway.simpletix.com/
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 X (formerly known as Twitter) @sharonspdwy.
Article Credit: Mike Leone