Story By: MIKE LEONE / SHARON SPEEDWAY – HARTFORD, OH – After going over a year without a rain out, Mother Nature finally took the victory on Tuesday for the scheduled Ohio Sprint Speedweek event; however, sunshine, is back in the forecast for this Saturday (June 17).
The “Steel Valley Thunder” program on Cortland Mower Sales Night will feature the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds, Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars, Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks, and the HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. Racing begins at 7 p.m.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds presented by Alcon Mechanical, Autism Awareness, King Bros. Ready Mix Concrete, King’s Sanitary Services, and Russ King Racing will headline Saturday’s show for the their first appearance of 2023. The ground pounders will battle for $1,500 to-win, $200 to-start (complete payoff below) in a tune-up for the July 8 “Lou Blaney Memorial”.
The Big-Block Modifieds were a weekly attraction at Sharon from 1981-1992 then again from 1996-2017 and have since made limited appearances each year. There have been 633 races run with 94 different winners. The late Lou Blaney leads the all-time win list with 121 victories over Rex King, who has 54 checkered flags. Rex King, Jr. has the most wins as an active racer with 27 followed by veterans Jim Rasey (19), Brian Swartzlander (14), and Dave Murdick (9). Other active Modified winners include Erick Rudolph (4), Jeremiah Shingledecker (4), Peter Britten (2), Brad Rapp (2), Steve Feder (2), Chad Brachmann (1), Garrett Krummert (1), Kyle Fink (1), Lonny Riggs (1), Mark Frankhouser (1), Mike Maresca (1), and Ryan Susice (1).
The Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars have made two appearances at Sharon this season with Chad Ruhlman winning both. The Erie, Pa. driver won the May 13 opener over a 23-car field then won the Thursday, May 25 $800 special with 22 cars on hand as an undercard to the World of Outlaws Late Models. Ruhlman has won 11 of the 26 races run all-time at Sharon as the four-time Series champion currently leads RUSH $5,000 to-win Sunbelt Weekly Series Championship points.
The Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks will make their third visit of 2023. Both victors to date have been first time Sharon winners as invader Tim Bish won the $1,000 special on May 20, while Jordan Perkins of New Castle, Pa. scored a popular win on June 3. Will there be a third first time Sharon winner on Saturday night or will one of the veterans reign supreme?
The HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds is the only division in action Saturday night that has been able to complete three shows this season. The 10th year division has produced three different winners as Ben Easler, Ayden Cipriano, and Garrett Krummert have all found Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane. Cipriano leads RUSH’s $3,500 to-win Weekly Series Championship. Easler, who won last year’s Wedge Motorsports “Route 7 Rumble” Series points also leads the $1,000 to-win championship this year.
Summit Racing Equipment will present the hard charger award to the RUSH Sprint Car 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.
Big-Block Modified Payoff: 1. $1,500 2. $1,000 3. $750 4. $550. 5. $500 6. $425 7. $375 8. $300 9. $275 10. $250 11. $225 12. $220 13. $215 14. $210 15. $205 16-24. $200. Tow $75.
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 2023 season, please bring the registration form with you completed http://sharonspeedway.myracepass.com/downloads/get.aspx?i=713060
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. Warmups for the Big-Block Modifieds are scheduled for 6:40 p.m. with heat races at 7.
Grandstand/fan zone admission for those 14 and over is $15, while senior admission is $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. Tickets are available through https://sharonspeedway.simpletix.com. 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.