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Swartzlander, Felmlee, Paden, Dellinger and Hooks Capture Opening Night Wins at Sharon Speedway The 2008 racing season kicked off at the Sharon Speedway as Brian Swartzlander, Bob Felmlee, Andy Paden, Alan Dellinger and Shaun Hooks captured the feature events win on Saturday, May 10th.
Franklin, PA driver Bob Felmlee captured the Warren Harley-Davidson 410 Sprint Division opener for the second consecutive year. New York driver Jared Zimbardi and Sharon Speedway veteran Leo O'Malley led 17 car field to the green flag. Zimbardi charged into the lead however the event was slowed several times. The first red flag flew when O'Malley flipped just as the first lap was completed. A caution for Ed Lynch Jr. waved on lap two followed by another red flag for the violent flip of Bill Jones, Jr. on lap five. Fortunately none of the drivers were injured.
When the field restarted on lap seven Felmlee overtook Zimbardi and went onto capture the checkered flag in the 25 lap feature event. Zimbardi, who hails from Salamanca, NY, drove a terrific race to bring his 360ci powered machine home in the runnerup position. Lynch recovered from his lap two spin to claim the third spot with Dan Shetler and Mike Kekich rounding out the top five. Chris Shuttleworth, CW Harshman, Jeff Taylor, Bob Lime and Roger Campbell completed the top ten. Kekich and Felmlee brought home the heat race wins.
The Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Big Block Modified feature saw 2006 divisional champion Brian Swartzlander capture another feature victory at the Hartford, OH oval. Teenager Brad Rapp and Bristolville, OH driver Rob Kristyak led the 22 car field to the green. Kristyak led the first ten circuits before Swartzlander got by and charged into first place. The McCutcheon Enterprises/Precise Racing Products Teo Chassis weathered three more cautions as Swartzlander held on for a very popular victory. Defending divisional champion Del Rougeux Jr. overtook Rapp, who drove an excellent race with a small block under the hood, on lap 24 for the runnerup spot. Rapp, Dave Murdick and Jim Weller Jr., who started 20th completed the top five. Dean Pearson, Skip Moore, Rob Curtis, Ken Moy Jr. and Greg Younkin finished in the sixth through tenth positions. Murdick and "The Comeback Kid" Dean Pearson won the preliminary events.
Greenville, PA driver Andy Paden took advantage of Nick Miller's misfortune to bring home a much deserved victory in the Limited Sprint Division. Miller jumped into the lead from his front row starting position and built up a comfortable lead by the halfway point of the event. Unfortunately for Miller a victory was not in the cards as he flipped wildly on lap 11 and Paden inherited the lead. Paden held off the late race challenge of three time divisional champion Guy Griffin to capture a very popular victory. Second year driver Brandon Spithaler finished third with Chad Carpenter fourth and Jim Morris III finishing fifth. Peter Miller, Jason Scoville, Kyle Layton, Tyler Palmer and Joel Trent captured the sixth through tenth spots. Jonathan Frederick and Griffin were victorious in heat race action
Hermitage, PA driver Alan Dellinger once again proved he can drive anything with four wheels as he followed up his victory in the Rick Glass Pure Stock 50 by capturing the Tom's Sewer and Drain Service E-Mod feature event. Dellinger methodically worked his way up from the ninth starting position to lead the 15 lap event by lap four. The Hermitage, PA driver was never challenged as he went on to capture his first E-Mod checkered flag of 2008. Russ Dunn, Bob McCann, Jeff Hassay and Rich Stiffler completed the top five with Tim Deutsch, Jim Turley, Junior Mechling, Paul Phillips and Jeff Johnson completing the top ten. Dunn and the versatile Dellinger captured the E-mod heats
New Castle, PA driver Shaun Hooks may have led every lap of the Tight-Seal Glass Block Pure Stock main event but it was definitely a well deserved win. Hooks battled Allan Hudzik in the early stages of the event before holding off Andy Thompson to bring home the final checkered flag of the evening. Thompson held off Jamie Duncan for the runnerup spot with Stan Woomer and Brain Carothers completing the top five. Hudzik fell back to finish in the sixth spot with Charlie Jasinski, Larry Root, Terry Wheeler and Mark Sanders rounding out the top ten. Jasinski, Wheeler and Alan Delinger were the winners in the Pure Stock prelims.
Sharon Speedway is located at the intersection of Routes 7 and 305 in Hartford, OH and is just a short drive from both Pittsburgh and Cleveland. "Buckle Up and Hang On" as Sharon Speedway brings you Saturday Night Racing at its finest!!!
For additional information please visit the Speedway's website at www.sharonspeedway.com or contact Kate at the Speedway office at (330) 772-5481.
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