HARTFORD, Ohio — Mother Nature may have done her best to ruin Sharon Speedway’s 15th Annual Lou Blaney Memorial on Saturday evening.
However, not even her persistence could keep the “Sunshine” from dominating action, as Clauson Marshall Racing’s own Tyler Courtney was the eventual $10,000 winner.
Courtney led every circuit of the 35-lap contest to clinch his first-ever Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 main event victory at the eastern Ohio staple.
Courtney, who started third on the main event grid, is now a 22-time winner with “America’s Series,” leading Lane Racing’s Chris Windom, Ransomville winner, Zeb Wise, Vermeer Motorsports’ Kerry Madsen, and local Hall of Famer, Dave Blaney, to the final checkered flag.
Leading every circuit did not go without a few challenges, as a pair of lap two restarts, as well as cautions on laps 18, 28 and 30 would keep competitors on Courtney’s heels. Despite the momentum shifts, the two-time and defending All Star champion held strong, ultimately boosting his current Series driver and owner championship leads.
As noted, Mother Nature did her best to control action all night at Sharon Speedway, spitting rain drops off and on during the entire preliminary card before opening up completely just prior to the evening’s A-Main. A quick, but heavy downpour forced a delay, but track crews were quick to recover the surface and action resumed.
“I wasn’t sure what to think after that last rain, but hats off to the entire track crew for getting this place back into shape,” Courtney said. “This is a big deal for us, especially with such a big and important week ahead. I’m proud of this entire team.
“We didn’t have the results we wanted at Ransomville, but to turn around and win such a prestigious event like the Lou Blaney Memorial says so much about their work ethic and refusal to give up.”
The finish:
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[3]; 2. 4-Chris Windom[5]; 3. 26-Zeb Wise[9]; 4. 55-Kerry Madsen[7]; 5. 10-Dave Blaney[1]; 6. 45-Tim Shaffer[11]; 7. 32B-Dale Blaney[6]; 8. 19R-Mark Smith[14]; 9. 9P-Parker Price Miller[4]; 10. W20-Greg Wilson[10]; 11. 97-JJ Hickle[21]; 12. 6-Bob Felmlee[24]; 13. 5K-Adam Kekich[22]; 14. 28M-Conner Morrell[26]; 15. (DNF) 22-Brandon Spithaler[12]; 16. (DNF) 23K-Zeth Sabo[18]; 17. (DNF) 81-Lee Jacobs[8]; 18. (DNF) 3V-Chris Verda[16]; 19. (DNF) 11-Carl Bowser[20]; 20. (DNF) 70-Henry Malcuit[25]; 21. (DNF) 22C-Cole Duncan[19]; 22. (DNF) 47-Brett Brunk