$10,000 Awaits Saturday’s “Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals” Winner

By Mike Leone

Hartford, OH June 11, 2019 For the second straight year, Sharon Speedway is primed to host the area’s richest Stock Car event in history this Saturday night (June 15). The second annual “Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals” will feature the Homak Penn-Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series racing for $10,000 to-win, while the Summit Racing Equipment Econo Mods have been added to the card this year racing for a record payoff of $2,000 to-win! Practice will get underway for both divisions on Friday night (June 14) at 7 p.m. followed by group qualifying. Racing is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday night.

Saturday’s 75-lap Gibson Insurance Agency Stock feature will again pay $10,000 to-win and start 30 cars; however, the purse throughout has been increased over last year’s event with $500 just to take the green flag. There will also be a $1,000 to-win, $125 to-start Non-Qualifier. Heat races will be inverted by four from qualifying with the winners transferring on to the dash. Multiple last chance B mains will be run rather than the “alphabet soup” mains from last year.

At last year’s “Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals”, Brent Johnson fended off Chris Schneider in a near photo finish for his first career Sharon win and the $10,000 prize. The Brookville, Pa. driver is one of 69 drivers that had pre-entered as of June 9. Last year, 81 drivers from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee participated on Saturday with a few others have issues during practice on Friday night and having to scratch from the event.

Thus far this season, Chris Schneider won the $2,000 Penn-Ohio make-up feature from 2018 “Apple Festival Nationals” on May 11, while former track champions Bobby Whitling and Chris McGuire have scored $700 wins on May 18 and June 8 respectively. McGuire currently leads the track points in search of his second straight title. Show-up points only will be awarded this weekend for Sharon’s Stock points.

The Econo Mods meanwhile have only completed two shows with one of them being the 2018 “Apple Festival Nationals” make-up. The May 11 make-up went to Kyle Miller for his biggest payday worth $750, while Ty Rhoades won back on May 18 for the third time in the last six races. Rain washed out the May 25 and June 1 shows, while the Econo Mods were not on the schedule the other nights.

For those that did not pre-enter, the cost to enter on Saturday is $200 for the Stocks and $75 for the Econo Mods. For an entry form, rules, and more information on the event along with the Penn Ohio Series, check out their website at www.pennohioprostocks.com or call 724-730-1623. AMB/MyLaps transponders are required. A limited amount of rentals will be available.

Camping will open on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pits are open throughout the day on Friday and Saturday with pit passes going on sale at 4 p.m., while the main grandstands open at 5. Practice will begin at 7 p.m. and run until approximately 9. Pill cutoff is 8 p.m. Following practice, group qualifying will get underway for the Stocks and Econo Mods. THERE WILL BE NO WARM-UPS ON SATURDAY NIGHT! Heat races will get underway at 7 p.m.

After the races on Friday night there will be a bonfire and DJ Brian Kelly Productions. Breakfast will be served on Saturday morning from 8-10 a.m. with lunch starting at noon

Grandstand admission on Friday is FREE! Grandstand admission on Saturday for those 14 and over is $10. Pit passes on Friday are $30 and $35 on Saturday. 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. Children under 14, parking, and camping is FREE! Sharon has a no carry-in cooler policy.

“Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals” Feature Payoff: 1. $10,000 2. $3,200 3. $1,800 4. $1,400 5. $1,100 6. $900 7. $850 8. $800 9. $775 10. $750 11. $725 12. $700 13. $675 14. $650 15. $625 16. $600 17. $575 18. $550 19. $525 20-30. $500.

Non-Qualifier Payoff: 1. $1,000 2. $400 3. $300 4. $250 5. $200 6. $150 7-24. $125. Tow $100

Econo Mod Feature Payoff: 1. $2,000 2. $700 3. $500 4. $425 5. $400 6. $350 7. $325 8. $275 9. $250 10. $225 11-24. $200. Tow $75.

The 2nd Annual Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals at Sharon Speedway is presented to you by Can-Am, Blue Ox Timber, and E & K Equipment; along with the support of Wedge Motorsports, Gravatt’s Electric & Generac Generators, DEKALB Asgrow, Performance Bodies, Bish Heating & Cooling, Danski Dyno & Performance, Les Frickshun, Redline Performance & Machine Race Engines, Crawford Custom Consulting, ITC Crane, Timber Lake Lodge, R & R Enterprise Auto Sales & Garage, RCR Automotive, SS Chassis & Supply, World of Wheels, Zimmer’s Service Center Inc., C & R Tire, Close Racing Supply, Shaffer’s Auto & Exhaust, Gault Heating Inc., Mills Automotive & Off Road, Centerline Collision, ARP’s Racing Engines, May’s Towing, Bernard’s Electrical Service’s & Troubleshooting, The Dirt Network, Shingledecker Welding, Robinson Automotive, NorthStar Unlimited LLC, and Slider Race Cars.

In addition, contingency sponsors include – Trick Shot Penetrating Lubricant, Genesis Racing Shocks, Lias Tire, Hoosier Tire, Precise Racing Products, SS Chassis & Supply, ARbodies, Ultra Shield Race Products, Wedge Motorsports, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, Bernard’s Electrical Services, Schaeffer’s Specialize Lubricants, and Dirt Defender LLC.

Coming up on Tuesday, June 18 is Ohio Speedweek for the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars in a $5,000 to-win event along with the RUSH Sprint Cars. Advanced and reserved tickets are on sale by going to SharonSpeedway.com and clicking on ‘Buy Tickets’ at the top left.

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.