9/21/2024
Sharon Speedway
DAVE BLANEY CALLS IT A CAREER AFTER WINNING LOU BLANEY MEMORIAL FOR THE 3RD TIME WITH THE 410 SPRINTS; BRP MOD TOUR TO ERICK RUDOLPH FOR THE 3RD TIME
By Mike Leone
September 21, 2024
(Hartford, OH)…After some early morning rain, the skies cleared and turned into a beautiful day at Sharon Speedway for the rescheduled 16th annual "Lou Blaney Memorial" on Saturday night. The event got underway on August 17 until rain overspread the area after Sprint Car qualifying. On that night, Ryan Blaney was on hand to remember his grandfather, raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association and celebrate his 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. While Ryan was unable to return on Saturday, the fans packed the grandstands for the largest crowd of the season outside of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car event. Sixty-nine race cars were on hand for the two-division show as Dave Blaney (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars presented by Bala Management) and Erick Rudolph (BRP Big-Block Modified Tour) celebrated in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane.
There's no better way to go out in sports than doing it on top and on Saturday night Dave Blaney decided the time was right. The National Sprint Car Hall of Famer regained the lead back from Ryan Smith on lap eight then held off a last lap charge by central Pennsylvania standout Danny Dietrich to win the 30-lap "Lou Blaney Memorial" for the third time. In the 16-year history, Blaney is the only Sprint Car driver to win the event more than once and Saturday night's sendoff in memory of his father was worth $12,000 for the 95-time World of Outlaws winner and 1995 champion, who began his career in 1981. Blaney also won the event in 2014 and became the first repeat winner in 2018.
"This is big," expressed the emotional 61-year-old Hartford, Ohio native. "This is a race Dale (Blaney) and I try to win every year. To beat that guy (Danny Dietrich) in my last race...because I'm officially done right now- there's no better way to retire than to win this one."
"It was a great race," added Blaney. "I don't think I was the fastest car by any means. The 6 (Smith) had trouble and the 48 (Dietrich) was all over me, but we hung on. I tried to protect and saw where Danny was getting his runs from. You don't think too much and run as hard as you can and hope you don't give him a lane to drive up in front of you. I can't believe we did it- this is awesome. Thank you to everyone for coming out."
Blaney drew the pole for the feature and took off in the lead over Smith and fellow National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Tim Shaffer. Brandon Spithaler had the top working going sixth to fourth on the opening lap then drove around Shaffer for third. Smith found the topside to his liking as he made the pass of Blaney off turn two to lead lap three. By lap four, the lead trio of Smith, Blaney, and Spithaler pulled away from the pack until a caution for Greg Wilson with four laps scored. Wilson had charged from 20th to 12th before clipping an infield tire and knocking the front end out.
Back under green, eyes shifted to northern Ohio standout Cap Henry. Henry started seventh and moved into the top five on lap five then drove under Shaffer for fourth on lap six. Back up front, Smith was setting a good pace. Smith, who won the $4,000 Western PA Speedweek event on June 1 at Sharon, was trying for a payoff of three times that for the central Pa. based BJD Motorsports team. Smith though got into the turn four fence on lap eight allowing Blaney to regain the lead. Spithaler then passed Smith for second on lap 10 before a caution for Logan McCandless. Under caution Smith had to pit with a flat tire.
Henry and Dietrich were swapping fourth place back and forth with Dietrich getting the spot before the caution then inherited third when Smith exited. When racing resumed on lap 11, Henry regained third. By the halfway point, the top three of Blaney, Spithaler, and Henry opened up ground on the rest of the field. Henry snuck under and past Spithaler for second on lap 18 with Dietrich following in third one lap later. Spithaler got into the fence and slowed with a flat tire to bring out the event's final caution with 19 laps scored.
The caution wasn't what Henry wanted to see as it appeared as if he had the fastest car and a great opportunity to overtake Blaney for the lead. Henry was fresh off a $30,000 victory one week ago at Fremont Speedway and had his sights set on a fourth career Sharon win. When green replaced yellow on lap 20, Dietrich passed Henry once again- this time for second, and two laps later lost third to Cale Thomas.
With five laps to go, Dietrich closed in on Blaney. The two raced side-by-side in turns three and four for several laps. On the final lap, Blaney ducked low in lapped traffic opening up the top lane for Dietrich. It appeared Dietrich may have had enough momentum to sweep around Blaney in turn two, but Blaney got to the top just in time to shunt his run. Then Dietrich tried to get under Blaney in turn three, but Blaney shut the door just in time. Blaney took his Ryan Blaney Family Foundation/DRE Custom Trailers-sponsored #10 to his 38th career Sharon victory by 0.519 seconds. Blaney also became the season's fifth different winner in five "410" Sprint Car races.
Dietrich, who won the $5,000 Ohio Speedweek show on June 12, settled for the $4,000 runner-up after making the last minute decision to bring the Gary Kauffman-owned #48 west after the morning rainout at BAPS Motor Speedway. "I raced my ass off and it's a tough one to swallow with a four and a half four drive back home but I have a lot of respect for that guy (Dave Blaney)," stated the 36-year-old Gettysburg, Pa. driver. "We come here to win and don't make any friends on the race track, but you have to race him with respect for one of the most respectful people on the race track. It's fun to race with him. He's fast here so to run second- we'll take it, but wish we were one spot better."
"I feel like we were a tick better than him at the end there," continued Dietrich. "He doesn't make any mistakes. I knew he could see me and had to have heard me for awhile. I thought if I could rattle his cage and maybe get in front of him, but I didn't want to crash him or myself. I know how special this race is to the Blaney Family and it's a race he should ultimately win. It's pretty cool to be able to run this race. Thanks to everyone for coming out- it's a packed house and I love to see it. I love Sharon and love coming out here when we can. If the situation is the same next week maybe we'll back for the Outlaws. We have a pretty damn good car for this place."
Fifth starting Thomas came on late to finish third in Jay Kiser's #23. After winning the Attica Raceway Park track championship on Friday night with a runner-up finish, Henry, the 2024 AFCS Champion, settled for fourth in Jeff Ward's #33w. Shaffer was fifth in the Demyan/Rudzik #49x. Dale Blaney, who won the 2019 "Lou Blaney Memorial", took the Tiger Barris #32B from the 14th starting spot to a 6th place finish. Cole Duncan was 7th after starting 12th. Completing the top 10 were A.J. Flick, Carl Bowser, and Ricky Peterson.
Spithaler set fast time overall against the 38-car field in qualifying with a lap of 13.769 to earn $250 from Knox Bakery. Heat winners were Lee Jacobs, Henry, Shaffer, and Dave Blaney, while Michael Bauer won the last chance B main. Eight drivers were unable to return from the August 17 rainout meaning a total of 46 different Sprints were on hand between the two nights.
Erick Rudolph joined Dave Blaney as a three-time winner of the "Lou Blaney Memorial" on the Big-Block Modified side. The New York standout capped off his third straight BRP Tour championship and fifth of his career by passing Mike Kinney on lap 15 to capture the victory in the 35-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply feature worth $2,500. It was also Rudolph's third Sharon win of the season as he won in all three appearances worth a total of $6,500.
"This is the first time we've come here this year when the track was slick from top to bottom," acknowledged the 32-year-old Ransomville, NY racer. "It took us a handful of laps to get going but then the car came alive and I was along for the ride. I was able to do what my car wanted to do as it was dialed in. It's been a great season and this locked us in for the championship. I have to thank my family for all the support at home, and all the guys that come with me each and every race to make sure the car is in tip top shape which makes it easy for me. I also have to thank all of my sponsors to make sure we have exactly what we need to go up and down the road."
Rex King, Jr. drew the pole and took off in the early lead over Kinney and Garrett Krummert. King, who won the 2014 and 2019 events, was also looking for his third event win as he pulled away on lap three. The battle was on for second as Kinney was trying to fend off Krummert and Rudolph before a caution for Steve Slater with 10 laps completed.
When racing resumed on lap 11, fifth starting Rudolph took third from Krummert. Kinney surprised everyone as he went to the top and drove around King in turn four to lead lap 12. Rudolph would get by King for second on lap 14 before a four-car accident in turn three. Back under green on lap 15, Kinney got too high and hit the fence allowing Rudolph to make the winning pass. King regained second on lap 17 getting by Kinney. A caution for Rodney Beltz slowed action for the final time of the event with 19 laps completed.
In the final 16 laps, King stayed within striking distance and closed late in lapped traffic, but Rudolph held on to win by 0.797 seconds. Rudolph's seventh career Sharon win came in the Briggs Motorsports-owned, Stirling Lubricants/Highmark/Nationals Maintenance Contracting/Snyder Industries/United Steelworkers-sponsored #25. Rudolph has now won three of the last five "Lou Blaney Memorial" events for the Modifieds and has given outside invaders five straight wins against the locals.
After finishing fifth in his first ever Sharon appearance on August 10, Canadian Dalton Slack returned and did two spots better after starting eighth. Krummert was fourth. Kinney dropped to fifth, but still a great effort for the former UMP Modified racer. Ninth starting Jeremiah Shingledecker was sixth. Tyler Willard, another Canadian, was seventh over Jordan Ehrenberg and Dave Murdick. Brad Rapp raced from 18th to 10th. Jeff Miller went 22nd to 12th and earned the $100 Summit Racing Equipment hard charger gift card.
Heat winners were Rudolph, Krummert, Murdick, and Willard, while third generation racer, Hayden Holden, won the last chance B main in his second visit. There were 31 cars on hand, and like the Sprint Cars, eight drivers were unable to return from August 17 bringing the count to 39 different cars.
The next and final event of the 2024 season will be next Saturday ( September 28) for the return of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series for $12,000 to-win. The Economod Mania Tour will also be on hand for $800 to-win presented by Alcon Mechanical. Reserved seats and advance general admission tickets are available through the WoO at https://mpv.tickets.com/?agency=WRG_SNG_MPV&orgid=52711&eventId=104123. Tickets will be available at the gates. The event will not sell out.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply "410" Sprint Cars presented by Bala Management "Lou Blaney Memorial" (30 laps, $12,000 to-win): 1. 10-DAVE BLANEY[1]; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich[4]; 3. 23-Cale Thomas[5]; 4. 33W-Cap Henry[7]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer[3]; 6. 32B-Dale Blaney[14]; 7. 22D-Cole Duncan[12]; 8. 2-AJ Flick[11]; 9. 11-Carl Bowser[13]; 10. 98-Ricky Peterson[9]; 11. 81-Lee Jacobs[8]; 12. 20B-Cody Bova[15]; 13. 40-George Hobaugh Jr[22]; 14. 46-Michael Bauer[21]; 15. 08-Dan Kuriger[16]; 16. 5K-Adam Kekich[24]; 17. 11N-Kasey Jedrzejek[17]; 18. 1-Nate Dussel[10]; 19. 22-Brandon Spithaler[6]; 20. 5-Jeremy Weaver[23]; 21. 6B-Ryan Smith[2]; 22. 29M-Logan McCandless[18]; 23. 13-Brandon Matus[19]; 24. W20-Greg Wilson[20].
DNQ for the feature: 3-John Jerich, 29-Dan Shetler, 27K-Jeremy Kornbau, 7NY-Matt Farnham, 6-Bob Felmlee, 3V-Chris Verda, 33-Brent Matus, 90-Jordan Givler, 5-Jordan Harble, 47-Brett Brunkenhoefer, 47L-Dusty Larson, 15-Mitch Harble, 31C-Chase Metheney, 21N-Andy Priest.
BRP Tour for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds "Lou Blaney Memorial" (35 laps, $2,500 to-win): 1. 25-ERICK RUDOLPH[5]; 2. 165-Rex King Jr[1]; 3. 3RS-Dalton Slack[8]; 4. 29-Garrett Krummert[3]; 5. 20P-Mike Kinney[2]; 6. 37MD-Jeremiah Shingledecker[9]; 7. 777-Tyler Willard[10]; 8. JD57-Jordan Ehrenberg[4]; 9. 61-Dave Murdick[7]; 10. 11R-Brad Rapp[18]; 11. 32-Jim Rasey[11]; 12. 75-Jeff Miller[22]; 13. 5C-Ayden Cipriano[19]; 14. 18-Colton Walters[15]; 15. 27H-Hayden Holden[21]; 16. 18W-Jeff Walters[23]; 17. 3K-Shawn Kozar[20]; 18. 25B-Steve Barr[24]; 19. 13-Rick Regalski Jr[17]; 20. 64-Rodney Beltz[6]; 21. 9-Will Thomas[14]; 22. 26-Kyle Richner[16]; 23. 73MD-Travis Shingledecker[13]; 24. 35-Steve Slater[12].
DNQ for the feature: 29*-Eric Beggs, 63-Jessica Kriegisch, 12-JC Boyer, 60-Tom Holden, 2-Kole Holden, 74-Kevin Green, 1X-Ryan Riffe.
Complete timing and scoring results: https://speedhive.mylaps.com/events/2812879
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 X (formerly known as Twitter) at www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
