1st Appearance By Big-Block Mods + Debut Of Crown Vics Highlight Saturday’s “Steel Valley Thunder” Show At Sharon Speedway
Story By: MIKE LEONE / SHARON SPEEDWAY – HARTFORD, OH – After losing three of the first six scheduled shows to start the 2025 season, Sharon Speedway looks forward to returning to racing action this Saturday night (June 21). The 96th anniversary season’s first “Steel Valley Thunder” show will feature the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds, non-wing RUSH Sprint Cars, Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks, Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods, and the debut of the Crown Vics. Warmups will begin at approximately 6:40 p.m. followed by heat race action at 7. It’s Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, Sara Cipriano at Novus Home Mortgage, and Gault Heating & Cooling Night.
The Willy’s World Kids Club presented by MillCraft Barns will include a driver autograph session from 5-5:30 p.m. followed up by driver and fan engagement activities from 5:30-6 p.m. Featured drivers include Colton Walters (Big-Block Mods), Steve D’Apolito (Stocks), Jeremy Double (Econo Mods), and Brandon Albert (Crown Vics). Willy’s World is a non-profit organization dedicated to educate, support, guide, and provide resources to families and children with hidden disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder.
After being rained out on May 31, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds will make what will be their first of now six visits to Sharon in 2025 on Saturday night. The ground-pounders will race for $2,000 to-win/$200 to-start. Last season saw Erick Rudolph win in all three of his appearances including the “Lou Blaney Memorial”, while Ayden Cipriano captured his first career big-block victory on June 1. The late Lou Blaney leads the division’s all-time win list with 121 victories. Rex King, Jr. is the top active winner with 28 victories. Other top active winners include Jim Rasey at 19 wins and Brian Swartzlander at 14.
The non-wing RUSH Sprint Cars will make their third appearance of the season. The RUSH Sprints competed on May 17 and June 7 as defending Series Champion John Mollick is a perfect two-for-two. Mollick, who has one career Big-Block Modified victory at Sharon, has now won five of the last six RUSH Sprint races at the track dating back to last season after being shutout at Sharon in prior seasons. Those victories though remain Mollick’s only ones of 2025 on the circuit as Gale Ruth, Jr. leads the way with three and Blaze Myers has two. Ruth leads the $5,000 to-win Billy’s Garage Weekly Series points in search of his first title.
The Gibson Insurance Agency Pro Stocks last competed on opening night back on May 10 when Chris Schneider scored his 19th career victory, which moved him into a tie for eighth place on the division’s all-time win list. Schneider beat out multi-time track champions Paul Davis and Steve D’Apolito, who will be part of the Willy’s World Kid’s Club autograph session on Saturday night.
Like the Stocks, the Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods also haven’t competed since the May 10 opener. On that night, Garrett Calvert scored his third career win. Calvert earned $600 as there were 25 cars on hand; that same payoff will be a possibility if there are 24 or more cars signed in on Saturday nigh. The Econo Mods are in their 16th year as a regular division at Sharon, and Jeremy Double leads the way with 22 career victories.
Rounding out the big five-division program will be the debut of the Crown Vic division, which has exploded in popularity throughout the nation. Saturday will be the first of five scheduled events for the 2025 season as they will return on June 28 followed by appearances on July 19, August 9, and August 23.
Summit Racing Equipment will present the hard charger award on Saturday night to the Big-Block Modifieds. 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 finishes highest in the feature.
The Performance Bodies “Nosed Out” program will award a $100 Performance Bodies gift card redeemable only at Wedge Motorsports to a driver in the Pro Stocks or Econo Mods. The recipient amongst those competing divisions will be the driver that most closely beat out another competitor for any finishing position on the lead lap. Tiebreaker will be the driver with the best finishing position.
Big-Block Modifieds Payoff: 1. $2,000 2. $1,200 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. Non-Qualifiers/Tow $75.
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 4:30. The drivers meeting will be at 6:15 p.m. followed by Sprint engine heat. Warmups are scheduled for approximately 6:40 p.m. followed by racing.
Grandstand/fan zone admission for those 14 and over is $15, while senior admission is $13. 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. As always, children under 14 and parking are always FREE. Pit passes are $35.
Coming up next Saturday (June 28) will be another five-division “Steel Valley Thunder” program. The night will be highlighted by “Ray’s Race” for the Pro Stocks along with the RUSH Sprint Cars, RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, Econo Mods, and Crown Vics. Race time is 7 p.m.
