By: Ron Burt
We are right in the thick of the racing calendar in the Tri-state. Many tracks have already hosted high dollar races for different classes. Several traveling series are making their way across the Midwest. Racetracks are getting ready locally to hold Mid-season championships. Some will offer large cash pay-outs, and some will also give double points. Make sure you follow and check my Facebook page, Ohio Sports Blitz for all 17 racetracks I cover dirt and pavement.
June 9th Attica Raceway Park kicked off the 2023 Ohio Sprint Week with the Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions. Zeb Wise from Angola took home the $6000, payday. The following night the series moved to Fremont Speedway and the victory and $10,000. went to Gettysburg PA driver Danny Dietrich. June 11th the series went to Wayne County Speedway in Orrville Ohio and was rained out, so the cars returned the following night and current series point leader Tyler Courtney, from Indianapolis took the checker and $10,000. June 13th the series was scheduled for Sharon Speedway on the OH/PA state line, but mother nature won, with the 2nd rain-out of the week. June 15th the series resumed at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe with a 2nd Pennsylvanian getting a win. Tim Shaffer took home the $6000. first place prize money. Thirty-four drivers showed up at the historic Eldora Speedway on June 16th. Five heat races were run. They had a large enough car count to have a C and B features to transfer to the A-main. When the dust cleared and the fireworks lit up the sky, Sam Hafertepe Jr. of Sunnyvale Texas was in the winner’s circle getting $12,000. for his win. Ohio Sprint Week wrapped up in Portsmouth at Raceway Park. Brent Marks was the third Pennsylvania driver to win and picked up the largest check, $22, 554. This was Brent Marks second consecutive Dean Knittel Memorial title; Tyler Courtney was crowned Ohio Speedweek champion for the top finishes during the week. Tyer Courtney is currently the Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions points leader with a 166-point lead over Chris Windom and 178-points over Zeb Wise.
Congrats to Rusty Schlenk for winning his 5th career Barney Oldfield Race at Oakshade Raceway. It wasn’t easy as he had to battle Carter Murday who won the last two weeks at Oakshade. Dusty Moore placed 2nd and Murday was 3rd. The Sportsman feature was won by Josh Robertson. This is his 3rd feature win in three weeks at Oakshade. Adam Lantz got his second win of the year in the Dominator Stock Class and Cory Gumm pulled away from the field to win his 3rd Compact A-main of the season.
Getting feature wins at Angola Motorsports Park, Late Model Hollywood Tommy Cook, Modified Steve Minich, Street Stock Jeremy Hamilton and FWD Chip Heintzelman.
The three-day Lorain ISMA/MSS Supermodified Nationals had three winners. When the smoke cleared the pavement, with the best top finishes and points, the 2023 Super Crown Nationals Champion was won by Mike “Hollywood” McVetta.
On Father’s Day, Kody Swanson set the fast time and won the 40-lap feature for the 500 Sprint Car Tour (asphalt) at Toledo Motor Speedway. At the finish Swanson enjoyed a 1.839-second lead over 2nd place Tyler Roahrig and Bobby Santos III finished 3rd.
Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron Out! ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
