Steel Valley Thunder Returns To Sharon Saturday

By Mike Leone

Hartford, OH May 29, 2013 After the two-day Bill Emig Memorial held over Memorial Day Weekend last weekend, Sharon Speedway will return with its “Steel Valley Thunder” program this Saturday night (June 1) featuring the Governor Insurance Agency DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, Barris Supply RUSH Late Models, Summit Racing Equipment Modifieds, Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars, HTMA/Precise Racing Products Econo Mods, and the Deforest Used Parts Mini Stocks. Racing begins at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s promotion is Twin-State Auto Racing Club Night. All card-carrying club members will receive free grandstand admission or $13 off pit admission! Once again Saturday night, one lucky boy and girl under the age of 14 will win a bicycle or scooter thanks to King Bros. and Sharon Speedway. This promotion will continue throughout the 2013 season. The home-cooked kitchen special is stuffed shells.

The competition level and average car count in the DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds is at its highest level in several seasons. The result has been five different winners in six racers. Opening night winner Rex King, Jr. became the first repeat winner of the season in last Sunday’s special $1,500 to-win feature.

With the season now at the 1/3rd mark, veteran Jim Weller, Jr. has just an eight-point lead on King, Jr., while the elder King is 14 points back. New Yorker Ricky Richner is in his first season of racing at Sharon and has been very consistent with six finishes between fourth and sixth place, which has resulted in him sitting in the fourth spot in points.

After a pair of Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Touring events for the Barris Supply RUSH Late Models, Weekly Series competition returns Saturday. While the weekend’s events drew 37 different competing teams, several local teams were missing and are expected back in action beginning this week. While show-up points only were awarded last weekend, Dennis Lunger, Jr. currently has a comfortable 48-point lead on last year’s runner-up Matt Latta, who is in search of his season’s first win. 2011 and 2012 champions Josh Double and Will Thomas III are ranked third and fourth in points with one win a piece.

Like King, Jr., opening night winner Jeff Johnson returned to victory lane in the Modifieds. Despite missing an event, Johnson is sixth in points, just 32 markers back of the division’s all-time winner Alan Dellinger. Shawn Shingledecker, who is looking for his first win of the season, is second in points. Three teams are currently tied for third spot in points including Mike Kinney, Joe Gabrielson, and Clayton Kennedy! The Summit Racing Equipment sponsored division has consistently put on some of the best racing week in and week out.

Last weekend the Stock Cars participated in their first open rules format of the season and it was Rod Laskey topping a season high 22-car field for the $750 payday. No points will be on the line again Saturday due to a major event held at Pittsburgh, but the Stock Cars will still have the opportunity to race, and it could be a wide open affair! Thus far, Paul Davis has scored two victories with Mike Clark, Bryan Wagner, and Bob Sloss winning the other regular events.

Jeremy Double has already more than “doubled” his career win total as last Saturday’s increased payoff special win was already his third checkered flag of the season in the Econo Mods! Despite being the division’s winningest driver and second highest at the track, the Bristolville, Ohio teen has just a two-point lead on the vastly improved two-time winner Ryan Fraley. Twelve-year-old Jacob Eucker, Steve Burns, Jr., and rookie Ty Rhoades are third through fifth in the HTMA/Precise Racing Products points.

Scott Gilliland continues to show the way in the Deforest Used Parts Mini Stocks, but rookie Travis Creech has stepped up his program in recent weeks and 2011 champion Bill Fuchs is right in the game. Gilliland leads the Speedway with four wins and has a 40-point lead over Fuchs. Two-time winner, Creech, is just six more points back, while the improved Ray Gregory is fourth and 2012 champion Jim Haefke, Jr. is currently fifth. After a dominating 2012, Haefke has really struggled with his new car as he’s still in search of his first win.

Pits open at 4 p.m. Saturday with grandstands at 5 and heat races slated for 7. Grandstand admission for those 14 and over is $13, while children under 14 are always free. Pit passes are $25. Parking and camping is always free.

Don’t forget about a pair of special midweek events coming up in June. On Wednesday the 12th, the Pay It Forward Foundation will present the “Summer Bash” featuring NDRL’s United Late Model Series (ULMS) and their United E-Mod Series (UEMS) paying $3,000 and $2,000 to-win respectively. The Econo Mods will also be in action.

Sprint Car fans will want to mark Tuesday, June 25 down for the first of four Sprint Car shows in 2013 at Sharon. The first event will be an All Star Circuit of Champions-sanctioned event as part of Ohio Speedweek with the winner pocketing $5,000. The Econo Mods and Mini Stocks will be part of the program. Gates open at 4 p.m. for both of these programs.

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 @SharonSpdwy.