CB3 Splits the King's Pair

(Hartford, OH)…Night 2 of the annual “Apple Festival Nationals” wrapped up the 2011 racing season at Sharon Speedway with 130 cars in the pit area on a cool fall-like evening and a great crowd on hand. Celebrating with wins in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane were Rex King-BRP Modified Tour for the Governor Insurance Agency Big Blocks, Ryan Montgomery-FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series for the Barris Supply Late Models, Tim Burns-Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars, Brandon Blackshear-Summit Racing Equipment Econo Mods, and Bill Fuchs & Jamie Wrightsman-Presidential Lawn Care Mini Stocks.

The season long FASTRAK drawing for the Golf Cars 4 All golf car was held as Troy Holtgraver of Pittsburgh, Pa. was the winner. All proceeds from the drawing went to the American Cancer Society as over $2,000 was raised.

On Friday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, New York invader Chad Brachmann ran down Rex King and passed the western Pa./eastern Ohio great for the BRP Modified Tour win. On Saturday night, Brachmann came from 13th to run down King in the closing laps, but wasn’t able to steal a second straight win away from King, who would recorded his third career win in his father Russ’ Memorial event. The 35-lap feature was worth $2,000.

“He was just much faster last night at Pittsburgh,” revealed the Bristolville, Ohio veteran. “I was just happy to be able to run on that slick track as good as we did last night. It was a real good car and I have a lot of great people; my boys, my wife, my family. I have a ton of sponsors and 95% of them are here tonight. A lot of employees from King Bros. are here. I appreciate everything they do for us.”

King drew the outside pole and took the lead away from Rob Curtis, who was debuting a new car for Mini Stock driver Rob McElhaney. Jim Rasey, a three-time Russ King Memorial winner, passed Curtis on lap two for second. Kevin Hoffman started sixth and was on the move driving under Curtis for third on lap four. Jeremiah Shingledecker was another driving making his way to the front. Shingledecker started 12th and cracked the top five on lap seven then grabbed fourth from Tom Mattocks on lap nine. Brachmann wasn’t far behind moving into the top five on lap 12 past Mattocks.

Following a caution for Curtis, Hoffman got around Rasey for second on lap 13 with Brachmann taking fourth from Shingledecker. Lapped traffic came into play on lap 23 allowing Hoffman to close in; meanwhile, Brachmann dove under Rasey on lap 23, but couldn’t make the pass stick. Finally Brachmann was able to clear Rasey driving under and past Rasey for third on lap 28.

King opened up some ground as the laps ticked off, while it was a four-car race for second with Hoffman trying to hold off Brachmann, Rasey, and Shingledecker. A scary accident took place on lap 32 when Justin Rasey slammed the fence and Rob Kristyak took a wild flip into the turn three catch fence and also collected Rex King, Jr. All drivers were okay, but heavy damage was sustained by Rasey and Kristyak.

When racing resumed, Brachmann and Shingledecker got great restarts taking over second and third from Hoffman and Rasey. With a clear track, Brachmann began to cut into King’s lead and was nearly right on him at the finish, but came up shy by 0.251 seconds to King’s Bristol Disposal/Midway Garage Door/RD Banks Chevrolet/Hunyady Auction/Cedar Steel/Auntie V’s Pizza/GS Engine Power-sponsored #65. King’s division-leading fifth win of the season was his 39th of his career moving him into a second place tie with Bob Kraus on the all-time win list!

On the July 12 Lou Blaney Memorial, Brachmann rallied from 21st to finish third and in his second appearance on Saturday night had to pass 11 cars to record a career best finish at the track. Making just his third start of the season, Shingledecker recorded his third top five matching his third from April 30. Hoffman crossed the line in fourth, but came up light at the scales for the second time in three races at Sharon. Rasey and Kevin Bolland were credited with fourth and fifth.

Sixth through 10th were Dave Murdick, New York’s Shannon Whaley, Jim Weller, Jr., 20th starting Scott Gurdak, who was behind the wheel of the Lon Baker #2, and King, Jr. Heat victors over the season-high 36-car field were Bolland, Curtis, Rasey, and Murdick. Steve Feder and Skip Moore won the two B mains.

  Photo courtesy of Rob Mortier