Story By: MIKE LEONE / SHARON SPEEDWAY – HARTFORD, OH – The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Cars presented by Born2Run Lubricants will begin their seventh season of competition in 2024.
The Chevrolet Performance 602 crate engine powered non-wing Sprint Car division will be presented for the first time by Billy’s Garage of Franklin, Pa. in 2024 at Sharon Speedway. All of the events will be streamed live on DIRTVision.
The Billy’s Garage RUSH Sprints will make their first appearance of 2024 at Sharon on Wednesday, June 12 as part of Ohio Speedweek for the FAST on Dirt Series “410” Sprint Cars. They’ll return three days later as part of the first “Steel Valley Thunder” show of the year on June 15 then once again on June 22.
The Billy’s Garage RUSH Sprint Cars will be part of the kickoff of the two-day program for the World of Outlaws Late Models on Friday, July 12. Other “Steel Valley Thunder” events that will include the RUSH Sprints are July 20 for Billy’s Garage Night, August 3, and August 10. The season finale for the Billy’s Garage RUSH Sprints will be part of the two-day “Apple Festival Nationals” on September 6-7.
Chad Ruhlman was the 2018 and 2019 $5,000 RUSH Weekly Series Champion then took 2020 off to launch his son’s career in a RUSH Sprint Car. Ruhlman was back with the Series in 2021 driving for longtime car owner Tim Engles and won the $5,000 championship. Ruhlman and Engles added their second and third titles as a team in 2022 and 2023, which was Ruhlman’s fifth championship in six years. Jeremy Weaver was the 2020 Series champion aboard Ted Hull’s #41.
A new Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series Champion will be crowned in 2024 with Ruhlman taking the year off as longtime UMP Mod and Super Late Model racer, Brent Rhebergen, has taken over the driving duties for Engles. Meanwhile, 2020 championship car owner, Ted Hull, has put Blaze Myers in his #41 RUSH Sprint Car. Blaze’s father Billy, who also competes in the RUSH Sprint Cars, is the owner of Billy’s Garage.
There have been 30 RUSH Sprint Car events completed all-time at Sharon with 12 different winners. Ruhlman leads the way with 14 victories. Two-time winners include Gale Ruth, Jr., Jarod Larson, Nolan Groves, Ryan Fraley, and Blaze Myers. Andy Feil, Brian Ruhlman, Brian Woodhall, Jeremy Weaver, Rod George, and Steve Pedley each have one feature win at Sharon to their credit.
Billy’s Garage is located at 1364 Pittsburgh Rd., Franklin, Pa. and does full service auto repairs, PA state inspections on vehicles as well as trailers and motorcycles in addition to offering towing services in Pa. Billy’s Garage has been in business since 2007 and strives to do quality work at affordable prices.