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Keegan Captures First Win of 2008, Dellinger "Doubles Up", Swartzlander and Griffin Repeat!!
Hartford, OH August 23, 2008 It was a beautiful August evening at the Sharon Speedway as race fans enjoyed a Modified Autograph session at intermission followed by "Fantastic Five" racing action that would find Jody Keegan picking up his first win of the 2008 racing season in Warren Harley-Davidson 410 Sprint action. In addition to Keegan, Brian Swartzlander (Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Modifieds), Alan Dellinger(Tight-Seal Glass Block Pure Stock and Tom's Sewer and Drain Service E-Mods) and Guy Griffin (Limited Sprints) also returned to Victory Lane in their respective divisions. Trophies were presented to all divisional winners by the Trumbull Business College and Lincoln Electric.
The Tight-Seal Glass Block Pure Stock Division began the night's feature action. Jamie Duncan and Brian Carothers led the field to the green and Duncan took command with Carothers, Larry Root and Shaun Fawcett battling for the second spot. The first 13 laps of the event were caution free and it appeared as though Duncan was en-route to capturing his first win of the season when second place runner Carothers got tangled with a slower car and spun in turn two. The restart that followed gave Alan Dellinger the opportunity he needed to close the gap on the front runners. Dellinger got by Root and Fawcett on lap 13 and set his sights on race leader Duncan for the final circuit. Dellinger used the top groove to pass Duncan and deny the Bristolville, OH driver his first Sharon Speedway win just as the two cars reached the start-finish line. It was Dellinger's ninth win of the season in Pure Stock competition. Duncan held on for second followed by Root, Fawcett who tallied their best Sharon Speedway finishes on the season. Russ Byler completed the top five.
In Pure Stock heat race action earlier in the evening Byler, Fawcett and Root picked up the victories.
Brian Swartzlander and Jim Rasey paced the 24 car field as the Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Modifieds took the green. Rasey grabbed the lead as the field raced down the backstretch however a red flag for a bone-jarring barrel roll by Rob Curtis would stop the racing action. Curtis suffered a few bruises but would walk away from what remained of his Troyer Chassis under his own power.
When the field took the green for the second time it was Swartzlander taking command with Rasey in second. The event's second red flag would wave on lap five as newcomer Ed Alcorn's motor expired and flames shot from underneath of his car. The restart that followed would find Swartzlander, Rasey and Tim Doran separating themselves from the rest of the field as they battled for the top spot.
At the checkered flag it was Swartzlander picking up his second Sharon Speedway victory of the year. Rasey captured the runner-up sport for his best Sharon Speedway finish of 2008 followed by Doran, Dave Murdick and Brad Rapp.
Rex King Jr., Murdick and Rapp brought home the Modified heat race wins.
An "Invert Six" redraw would find Oil City, PA driver Rob Felmlee on the pole for the 25 lap Warren Harley-Davidson 410 Sprint Feature event. It was Felmlee's first night back at the Sharon Speedway following an injury at the Lernerville Speedway several weeks ago. Felmlee showed no "ill effects" from the injury as he charged in to the lead. Unfortunately a red flag for the flipping sprinters of Jim Nicely and Leo O'Malley would slow the field. Both Nicely and O'Malley were uninjured and their cars were towed to the pit area. Felmlee would show the way when the green would wave on the restart with Jody Keegan, Steven Lines and Bob Line following behind.
A caution on lap three would end the evening for the current divisional points leader Dan Shetler as he tangled with newcomer Karl Bowser. Keegan was able to get around Felmlee on the ensuing restart and the twosome were soon joined by Australian Steven Lines as they battled for the top spot. Felmlee's final attempt at regaining the top spot would find the Oil City, PA veteran spinning in turn two on the final lap. Just as the caution was displayed Lines would tangle with a slower car in turn three and his evening would also come to a premature end as he flipped the Jeff McCall owned sprinter.
The final restart would find Keegan leading the final circuit to bring home his first win of the 2008 racing season. Roger Campbell, Bill Jones Jr., Mike Kekich and Shawn Minor completed the top five.
Lines and Campbell picked up the Warren Harley-Davidson 410 Sprint heat race wins.
Jonathan Frederick and Jason Scoville would lead the 13 car Limited Sprint field to the green. Scoville would lead the first five laps of the event as Rob Felix, Guy Griffin and Pete Miller III battled for the second spot. Griffin definitely had the fastest car on the speedway and used his racing knowledge to get by Felix for the second spot and then Scoville to take over the top spot on lap six.
By lap ten teenager Brandon Spithaler had moved by Felix for the runner-up spot and set his sights on Griffin. The event's final caution on lap 14 would give Spithaler one final opportunity to overtake Griffin however the Greenville, PA native was able to hold on to the top spot and capture his fourth Limited Sprint main event of the season. Spithaler would finish second followed by Pete Miller III, Felix and Andy Paden.
Paden and Spithaler captured the Limited Sprint heat race events. As the division heads into the final night of points competition Griffin holds a slim three point lead over Spithaler.
The Tom's Sewer and Drain Service E-Mod Feature event would conclude the evening. Veterans Bob McCann and Russ Dunn would bring the field to the green flag with McCann leading the first four laps over Dunn. Dunn would get by McCann to lead lap five with McCann fighting his way back to the top spot on lap six. As McCann and Dunn battled for the top spot "Double Duty" Alan Dellinger methodically worked his way from the ninth starting position to get by Dunn for the second spot on lap six. Just one lap later Dellinger would once again put the Dwayne Clay owner #008 into the lead as he went on to capture his eighth Sharon Speedway E-Mod victory of the year. McCann appeared to have the runner-up spot secured until a mechanical problem on the final circuit would allow several competitors to get by. Franklin, PA driver Shawn Shingledecker captured the runner-up spot followed by Dunn, Howard Fraley and Jeff Walters.
Dellinger, Jeff Johnson and Tim Deutsch were victorious in the E-Mod heat race events earlier in the evening.
Saturday, August 30th is the final "Fantastic Five" event of the 2008 racing season at the Sharon Speedway. It will also be Pepsi Night and the 2008 Points Champions in each of the speedway's five division's will be crowned.
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.
Warren Harley-Davidson 410 Sprint Feature Finish: Jody Keegan, Roger Campbell, William Jones Jr , Mike Kekich, Shawn Minor, Bob Felmlee, Steven Lines, Russ Sansosti, Bob Lime, Butch Beasley, Leo O'Malley, Jack Helget, Jeff Taylor, Dan Shetler, Carl Bowser, James Nicely
Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Modified Feature Finish: Brian Swartzlander, Jim Rasey, Tim Doran, Dave Murdick, Brad Rapp, Carl Weatherby, Del Rougeux Jr., Andy Priest, Mike Kinney, Rick Ryder, Dustin Martin, Rob Kristyak, Rex King Jr., James Canon, Shawn Kozar, Carl Murdick, Russell King, Dean Pearson, Clarence Alcorn, Skip Moore, Brian Sadler, Rob Curtis, Erik Martin, Mark Felicetty
Tight-Seal Glass Block Pure Stock Feature Finish: Alan Dellinger, Jamie Duncan, Larry Root, Shaun Fawcett Russell Byler, Jeffrey Kravec, Gary Robinson, Will Aley, Mike Aley, Bruce Redman, Tim Burns, Bill Hanna, Eric Williams, Russ Coyne, Tony Bruno, Bryan Wagner, Gary Laurie, Matt Wagner, Pat Adams, Dan Aaron, Brian Carothers, Stan Woomer, Tom Miller, Jeff Yocum, Mike Harmon, Jim Flaherty, Allan Hudzik
Tom's Sewer and Drain Service E-Mod Feature Finish: Alan Dellinger, Shawn Shingledecker, Russ Dunn, Howard Fraley, Jeff Walters, Tim Deutsch, Joe Gabrielson, Jim Dellinger, Bob McCann, Jeff Hassay, Scott Jones, Jim Turley, William Mechling, Mark Hopkins, Paul Phillips, Brandon Blackshear, Vince Crisanti, Jeff Johnson, Joseph Crytser, Michael Butler, Steve Haefke, Edward Wilson Jr., Scott Stiffler
Limited Sprint Feature Finish: Guy Griffin, Brandon Spithaler, Peter Miller III, Rob Felix Jr., Andy Paden, Chad Carpenter, Jim Morris III, Calvin Clay, Jack Whitmore, Chad Mathews, Jonathan Frederick, Jason Scoville, A.J. Albrecht
Sharon Speedway Marcie BarlowMedia Relations
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