Jim Rasey has a knack of picking up big wins in BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour events held at Sharon Speedway. The three-time winner of the Russ King Memorial at the speedway captured the Lou Blaney Memorial before a packed house. Ironically, it was just Rasey’s third start of the season, as he has been concentrating on Late Model racing in the Carolinas.
“I’ll tell you what,” Rasey said choking back the emotions, “this was the most important race of the year for me; this one’s for Lou.” Rasey continued,“I followed that man probably thousands of laps around this place, hot laps, heat races, losing on the last lap.”
The luck of the draw put local favorites, Jim Weller, Jr. and Rasey on the front row, with another local hotshoe, Rob Kristyak, right behind. Rasey got the advantage on the start, but a flip by Mike Turner on the backstretch halted action before the lap was completed. Turner was unhurt. Although he was able to drive his battered mount from the track, he could not return to competition.
On the second attempt to start the 30 lapper, Weller took the lead as the field thundered into turn one. He led the first five circuits, followed closely by Rasey, Rob Kristyak, Modified rookie Rod Jones, New Yorker Paul Habeck and Kevin Bolland.
A flip by Gary Smoker in the third turn caused the second stoppage in the race. Smoker was unhurt in the incident, but the same could not be said of his car.
The double file restart gave Rasey another opportunity to assume command of the event. He did, but a quick caution for Rex King, Sr. and Ryan Hall realigned the filed. Once again, Weller held off Rasey’s charge. Rasey pressured Weller for two laps, with Kristyak still holding down the third position. Jones continued his impressive run, but now he was under attack from Kevin Bolland and Paul Habeck.
Rex King, Jr. brought out a caution with seven laps down. This put Weller and Rasey on the front row for another double file restart. This time, Weller fired first, but another caution brought the field back to the original starting positions. This proved to be Weller’s undoing, as Rasey took command on the restart.
Two laps later, the filed slowed again for Steve Feder, who came to a halt in turn one.
Rasey powered into the lead at the drop of the green, but Jeremiah Shingledecker made a tremendous restart as well, gaining third and pressuring Weller for second.
While Rasey led, the battle raged for the second position. With twenty laps down, Shingledecker executed a slide job on Weller as the pair went through turn three. Weller did not check up and tagged Shingledecker as the cars came off turn four. Both competitors spun and had to rejoin the tail of the field.
That incident moved Dave Murdick into the second position. Although Murdick has been impressive of late, he was no match for the high-flying Rasey.
Rasey led the remaining laps to capture the win over Murdick. A hot three-car battle for third place over the last three laps ended with Bolland taking the position over Shingledecker, who rallied from that incident with Weller on lap 20. Rex King, Sr. completed the top five.
Habeck, one of two invaders on hand, took sixth, followed by R. Kristyak, Mark Frankhouser, J.R. McGinley, and Jones.
Rasey earned $540 in lap money, while Weller gathered $140 for leading seven laps. Lap donors were: Kristyak Racing, King Brothers Ready Mix, Wedge Motorsports, The Waffle Guy, Bud’s Towing & Recovery, Debbie & Me at Midnight, Casey Racing, Cassie Brown, Carpenter’s Towing (Lou’s Lap), Burns Motorsports, John O’Brien, Oyler Photos & More, Darla EBIE, Bootie’s Race team, Rapp Racing, Ray’s Racing Collectibles, King Motorsports, Hassey Motorsports, Quality Aut Body, B & D Chicken Farm, King Brothers Septic Installation, King Brothers Driveway Material, Leah & Ashley Blaney, Emma, Ryan & Erin Blaney, John Hinely Photo, Tim Burns Racing, and Milk Barn Drive In.
The $100 hard charger award went to Rex King, Sr.
In heat race action, Kevin Green hit the utility tire located at the turn two entry and violently flipped his car. Green climbed from the demolished racer and later went to a local hospital for a check-up. Although he suffered no broken bones, he was stiff and sore from the ordeal.
Heat wins for the 36 car field went to Rob Kristyak, Weller, Bolland, and Dave Murdick.
The B Mains were taken by Kyle Fink and Mike Turner.
The next event for the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour will be held at Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday, August 14. The Bill Emig Memorial will be presented by Rock Concrete, of Monaca, PA.
Then, the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour will present the Hillbilly Hustle, a special two-day event at West Virginia Motor Speedway on Labor Day weekend, September 3-4, 2010. Complete programs will be held on each night. West Virginia Motor Speedway is located in Mineral Wells, WV. Remember that hotel reservations for this event can be made with the International Hotels Group, a 2010 Modified Tour marketing partner. Just click on the icon appearing on the Modified Tour’s website, www.modifiedtourinc.com.
BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour Round Six: July 7, 2010: Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH: 30 Laps: 1. (32) Jim Rasey, Southington, OH ($2540); 2. (61) Dave Murdick, Slippery Rock, PA ($1000); 3. (777) Kevin Bolland, New Brighton, PA ($800); 4. (37MD) jeremiah Shingledecker, Polk, PA ($600); 5. (65) Rex King, Sr., Bristolville, OH ($550); 6. (25) Paul Habeck, Fairport, NY ($500); 7. (00) Rob Kristyak, Bristolville, OH ($450); 8. (03) Mark Frankhouser, Phillipsburg, PA ($400); 9. (66) J.R. McGinley, Fairmount, PA ($350); 10. (820) Rod Jones, West Middlesex, PA ($325); 11. (11R) Brad Rapp, Shippenville, PA ($300); 12. (X) Jeremy Paup, Polk, PA ($290); 13. (77) Steve Barr, Mercer, PA ($280); 14. (31) Jim Weller, Hubbard, OH ($270); 15. (75) Jeff Miller, Sarver, PA ($260); 16. (17M Skip Moore, Jackson Center, PA ($250); 17. (45) Steve Feder, Butler, PA ($240); 18. (B4) Ryan Hall, Stoneboro, PA ($230); 19. (8J) Dean Pearson, Harrisville, PA ($225); 20. (17H) Kevin Hoffman, Franklin, PA ($220); 21. (165) Rex King, Jr., Bristolville, OH ($210); 22. (26Z) Tommy Kristyak, Stoneboro, PA ($205); 23. (516) Gary Smoker, Mercer, PA ($200); 24. (99) Charlie Donk, Palmyra, NY ($200); 25. (66F) Kyle Fink, Strattanville, PA ($200); 26. (96) Mike Turner, Butler, PA Fombell ($200).
DNQ (all $100): Eric Gabany; Carl Murdick; Ron Eperthener, Jr.; Don Brown; Kevin Green; Kevin Hoffman; Chris Haines; Shawn Fleeger; Rodney Beltz; Dillon Barr.
The Modified Tour, Inc. would like to thank the 2010 series sponsors: Bicknell Racing Products; Hoosier Racing Tire Corp.; Sunoco Racing Fuel – Bazell Oil Co., Inc.; World Racing Group – DIRTcar; Approved Toilet Rentals, Inc.; Behrent’s Speed Center, Inc.; Bert Transmission; Big Daddy’s Speed Center Inc.; Engles Trucking Services, Inc.; Bilstein Shocks – Fastline Performance; Fast Axle, LLC; Frankland Racing Supply; ISC Racers Tape; Hall’s Safety Equipment Corp.; Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG); Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Inc.; King Brothers; Kirkey Racing Fabrication Inc.; Landrum Spring; McCool’s Signs and Graphics; Motorsports World; Oyler Photos & More; Pennsylvania Army National Guard; Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP; Preist Enterprises, Inc.; Pro Shocks; RaceQuip; Ray’s Racing Collectibles; Red Bear Hand Cleaner; Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants; Slippery Rock Sportswear; Smokey’s; SpeedBear Fasteners; Turbo Start Batteries; Ultra-Shield Race Products; Valken Wheels; Wedge Motorsports, LLC; Winters Performance Products Inc.; and Wrisco Industries Inc.
The Modified Tour, Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established in 1998 to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area the opportunity to compete for higher purses and for a seasonal point fund. It has had great success at bringing the local cars together at tracks throughout the tri-state area and in expanding the profile for this exciting brand of motorsports.