Big-Block Mods & Penn-Ohio Pro Stocks Highlight Sharon Saturday

By Mike Leone

Hartford, OH July 28, 2018 Sharon Speedway will wrap-up the month of July this Saturday night (July 28) with a “Steel Valley Thunder” program on Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Night. The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds, Penn-Ohio Championship Series for the Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars, HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, Summit Racing Equipment Econo Mods, and Junior Sprints for kids will be part of the program. A mechanics race for Stock Cars will also be run at the end of the night. Race time is 7 p.m.

After being unable to complete a full night for the first three months of the season, the Big-Block Modifieds will try Saturday night to get in their third event during the month of July. The prior two July events were under The Mod Tour sanction with Mike Maresca taking the $2,000 “Lou Blaney Memorial” win for his first career Sharon victory on July 7, while last Saturday night saw three-time track champion, Rex King, Jr. victorious. It was quite the weekend for the Bristolville, Ohio racer, who also won Friday’s Mod Tour event at Lernerville. Top racers like Jim Weller, Rex King, Dave Murdick, Jim Rasey, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Garrett Krummert, Will Thomas, and others will be hungry for a victory.

The Penn-Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series will make their second appearance of the season in an $1,000 to-win, $150 to-start feature event. Back on June 16, Brent Johnson’s first career Sharon win was worth a monster $10,000 payday as he thwarted off Chris Schneider. The Penn-Ohio Series has only been able to complete three other events with Schneider, Bobby Whitling, and Andrew Gordon victorious.

The Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars haven’t had much better luck than the Big-Block Modifieds getting shows in. Besides the $10,000 Penn-Ohio event, only two regular events were run, and with the high car counts, winners Jason Fosnaught and Gordon both earned $700 checks. Chris McGuire has a five-point lead over four-time track champion, Steve D’Apolito, in the track standings. Curt J. Bish, Fosnaught, and Mike Clark are third through fifth in points.

Garrett Krummert became the first repeat winner in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds this season taking the victory last Saturday night despite starting seventh. The GM 602 crate engine division continues to draw solid car counts and has only dipped under 20 cars on two occasions over the past three years. Blaze Myers, Chas Wolbert, and Jeremy Weaver have also been victorious. Myers’ win was the first of his career, while Weaver’s was his second but first ever at Sharon. Krummert has opened up a 20-point lead in the HTMA/Precise Racing Products standings over Josh Deems. Rocky Kugel, Kole Holden, and Kyle Martell are third through fifth.

Veteran racer Dwayne Clay earned his milestone 40th career Sharon win last Saturday in the Econo Mod division for his first victory of the season. Jacob Eucker currently leads the Summit Racing Equipment standings as he’s the division’s only repeat winner as he was forced to start 12th last Saturday after two straight wins. Brian Toto and Ty Rhoades are tied for second just five points back with Mark Titus in fourth as all three are in search of their first career Sharon wins. Defending and two-time champion, Steve Haefke, sits fifth without a win in 2018.

As a reminder on Saturday for the Big-Block Modifieds, RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, and Econo Mods, if 24 or more cars are present then the highest purse structure will be offered, and if there are 32 or more cars a non-qualifier will be run. The highest finishing “358” Small-Block Modified will receive a $100 bonus.

Pits are open throughout the afternoon on Saturday with pit passes going on sale at 4 p.m., while the main grandstands open at 5. Pill cutoff is 6:20 p.m. and heat races are at 7. Grandstand admission for those 14 and over is $13. Patio seating upgrades are just $5 and fan suite seating upgrades are just $20 over the cost of general admission. In order to reserve either of these ahead of time, call the office Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 330-772-5481. As always, children under 14 and parking are always FREE! Pit passes are $30. Pit passes for children 12 and under are $20.

After a month hiatus, the “410” Sprints will open the month of August on the 4th for their first of three straight Saturday night appearances racing for $3,000. It’ll be another Menards “Super Series” event on Sawtelle Tree Night. The Stock Cars, RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, and Econo Mods will also be part of the program.

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 www.twitter.com/sharonspdwy.