7/17/2024
Sharon Speedway
$10 GENERAL ADMISSION, FREE HOT DOGS & $2 BEERS SATURDAY AT SHARON FOR "STEEL VALLEY THUNDER"; UMP MODS, RUSH SPRINTS, RUSH MODS & ECONO MODS
By Mike Leone
July 17, 2024
(Hartford, OH)…After a rain out, a weekend off for the Independence Day holiday, and the two-day World of Outlaws Late Model show, Sharon Speedway will host its first "Steel Valley Thunder" weekly program in a month this Saturday night (July 20). Fans will be treated to $10 general admission, free hot dogs, and $2 beers! In addition, all first responders will be admitted free! The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modifieds will highlight the program and will be joined by the Billy's Garage RUSH Sprint Cars, HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, and the Whelen Econo Mods presented by Alcon Mechanical. It's A&MP Electric, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply and Billy's Garage Night. Race time is 7 p.m.
The Hovis Auto & Truck UMP Modifieds presented by A&MP Electric will be making their second 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. The UMP Mods were part of the last completed "Steel Valley Thunder" program on June 22 when Bud Watson won a thriller over Ty Rhoades for his second career win. The UMP Mods will return on August 10, August 24 for the "Bill Gabrielson Memorial", and finally on Friday, September 6 for the "Apple Festival Nationals".
There have been 332 races run all-time in the UMP Mod division dating back to the mid 1990s on the half-mile track with 61 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 followed by Scott Stiffler, who has moved into the Pro Stocks, with 20. Last year, four events were completed with Rhoades the only repeat winner as he upped his career total to three, while Dave Hess, Jr. captured his fifth career win at the track, and Watson was a first time winner.
The Billy's Garage RUSH Sprint Cars will be making their fifth appearance of the season. Arnie Kent won the June 12 opener for his first win at Sharon in nearly 22 years, while Blaze Myers won his third career at the track in their second race of the season. Since then, John Mollick has been red hot winning the last two at Sharon part of his six wins in the last seven events! 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.
The HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds are back for the second straight Saturday. Kole Holden, who leads RUSH's $3,500 to-win Weekly Series Championship, won the June 22 opener at Sharon. Most recently, Chas Wolbert won the $800 special for his 21st career win at the track and more impressively milestone 50th of his career in the division! Holden and JC Boyer are tied for the Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series points lead, which takes into account all events at Raceway 7 and Sharon.
Like the RUSH Mods, the Whelen Econo Mods are back for what will be their third show of the season on Saturday night. The Econo Mods made their first appearance of the season on June 15 when Joe Gabrielson made a winning debut in the division. Gabrielson's victory was the 10th of his career at the Hartford, Ohio as he has nine career UMP Mod wins to his credit. Last Friday night saw Dennis Lunger, Jr. win the $800 special presented by Alcon Mechanical as he passed Jeremy Double to deny him of becoming the division's all-time winner. Double tied Brandon Blackshear with 21 wins in the division on September 9, 2023.
Summit Racing Equipment will present the hard charger award to the UMP Modified 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, Econo Mods or Pro Stocks. 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.
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 will begin at 7 p.m. Grandstand/fan zone admission for those 14 and over is just $10. 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.
Coming up on Saturday, July 27 will be the "Bill Kirla Memorial" in a "Super Series" event presented by Bala Management featuring the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars racing for $4,000 to-win, $400 to-start. The Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks, HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, and the Whelen Econo Mods presented by Alcon Mechanical will also be on the card. Qualifying for the Sprints will get underway at 6:30 p.m. followed by racing at 7.
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
