HARTFORD, Ohio — Dave Blaney last stood in victory lane at Sharon Speedway on Sept. 21 he won his father Lou’s memorial event and promptly retired.
Eight months later he was back in victory lane at Sharon with his No. 10 as a car owner, with his younger brother, Dale, winning the 30-lap winged sprint car main event.
The youngest of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Blaney brothers passed Bobby Elliott on lap two and was never challenged capturing the $4,000 victory.
“All the thanks to Dave (Blaney),” stated the 61-year-old Hartford, Ohio great. “He put me in the seat and it’s pretty cool to be able to run the red 10 and win a race. Dave is freaking awesome. We were pretty good and I enjoyed lapped traffic.
“I knew Brandon (Spithaler) was probably beating the top down and I was getting through traffic pretty well. I was disappointed to see the yellows because I felt better moving around the track in traffic and running different lanes, but the old guy was getting tired.”
After preliminary events whittled the 34-car field down to 24 starters, newcomer Bobby Elliott and Logan McCandless led the field to green both in search of their first career Sharon victories. Elliott raced into the lead with Blaney passing McCandless for second and Brandon Spithaler following in third.
Blaney made the winning pass driving under Elliott in turn four to lead lap two before Brandon Matus slowed in turn two and wasn’t able to get off the track before Bob Felmlee ran over him and got upside down. Greg Wilson was also involved. Everyone was okay, but only Wilson was able to resume.
Blaney began to distance himself from the field on lap five; meanwhile, Spithaler put a slider on Elliott to take over second. Blaney had built up a straightaway lead when he caught lapped traffic on lap eight. Vivian Jones slowed to bring out the caution with 12 laps scored.
Under caution, Zane DeVault exited with a flat tire running sixth. When green replaced yellow on lap 13, Carl Bowser and Ricky Peterson both passed Justin Clark for fourth and fifth respectively. Two laps later, Clark slowed to bring out the caution. Back under green at the halfway point, ninth starting Bowser continued his progression forward getting by Elliott for third.
Spithaler was trying to track down Blaney for the lead, but got into the fence in turn two and upside down on lap 18 ending his bid for two wins in two nights after winning at Lernerville Speedway on Friday night.
When green replaced yellow, Blaney built up another straightaway lead over Bowser and Peterson when he caught lapped traffic on lap 23. An intense battle was going on for fourth as Elliott was trying to fend off Jeremy Weaver and Devon Borden. Weaver passed Elliott for the spot on lap 26 and then Borden had just passed both when the caution was displayed for Leyton Wagner negating the pass.
Blaney pulled away over the final four laps and took the checkered flag first by a commanding 3.531 seconds in the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation-sponsored No. 10 for his 22nd career victory at Sharon.
Bowser had another strong effort in second to earn $2,000. Peterson rounded out the podium. Weaver, who started 11th, nipped Elliott at the line for fourth by 0.024 seconds.
Elliott, who is an All Star Circuit of Champions rookie in 2025, was fifth in his Sharon debut.
John Mollick (RUSH Sprint Cars) and Chas Wolbert (HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds) also won features.
