HARTFORD, Ohio — After five straight rain outs, Sharon Speedway was finally able to swing open the gates for the 97th anniversary season opener on a beautiful Saturday as the fans packed the grandstands to watch 84 race cars battle in the three-division program.
The “Super Series” event presented by Bala Management on Novus Home Mortgage by Sara Cipriano of Hermitage saw Logan Wagner (Western PA Speedweek for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply “410” Sprint Cars), Garrett Krummert (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds), and Brad Shaffer (Gibson Insurance Agency Crown Vics) celebrate in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Victory Lane.
Five-time Port Royal Speedway track champion, Logan Wagner, had never raced at Sharon prior to Saturday night. With Port Royal off, the central Pennsylvania standout headed west and the decision paid off handsomely.
Wagner started ninth, methodically worked his way to the front and passed Henry Malcuit for the lead on lap 27 then led the final laps for the $5,500 payday in the “Floyd Trevis Memorial” for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply “410” Sprint Cars.
“It was my dad’s (Mike) decision to come out here,” revealed the 35-year-old Harrisonville, Pa. standout. “I’ve been here when my dad raced and watched, but haven’t had the pleasure of driving here. Hats off to the Blaney crew. They do a phenomenal job on this race track and it shows.
“I found a really good lane off turn four where I could hug down and get good drive on the left rear and squatted out. I was able to get by (Carl) Bowser and a couple other guys, and get my tires heated up and really got the car underneath me. I wasn’t sure early on if I had enough, but the car really came on late. It’s a lot of fun to drive a car when it’s that good. I have to thank all of the fans for coming out.”
The finish:
Feature (30 laps): 1. 55-Logan Wagner[9]; 2. 11-Carl Bowser[6]; 3. 13-Brandon Matus[3]; 4. 29-Logan McCandless[5]; 5. 5-Jeremy Weaver[7]; 6. 45-Keith Sheffer Jr[1]; 7. 8-Billy Dietrich[11]; 8. 10-Dale Blaney[4]; 9. 2-AJ Flick[8]; 10. 22-Brandon Spithaler[13]; 11. 08-Danny Kuriger[14]; 12. W20-Greg Wilson[22]; 13. 12J-Derek Hauck[19]; 14. 5K-Adam Kekich[16]; 15. 88J-Joey Amantea[12]; 16. 32B-Jeremy Kornbau[17]; 17. 17K-Mark Smith[23]; 18. 20B-Cody Bova[20]; 19. 46-Michael Bauer[24]; 20. 35Z-Jared Zimbardi[18]; 21. 2D-Jordan Givler[21]; 22. 70-Henry Malcuit[2]; 23. 49X-Cale Thomas[10]; 24. 13B-John Garvin Jr[15].
