(Hartford, OH)... Sharon Speedway was blessed with a rare, hard to come by beautiful race day with no chance of rain in 2026 for Saturday night's racing program presented by Capitol Renegade. Celebrating in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Victory Lane with their first wins of the 97th anniversary season were Nate Dussel (All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars), Jacob Eucker (Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods) and Steve Hull (Alcon Mechanical Crown Vics). It was Diehl Automotive and Bucks Fabricating Night.
In a season of firsts, Nate Dussel became the latest driver to score his first career Sharon Speedway victory. Dussel charged from the 10th starting spot, tracked down race-long leader Jeremy Weaver and made what would be the winning pass on lap 19, then held off Brandon Spithaler's late rally to capture his first career All Star Circuit of Champions victory worth $7,500. Dussel became the season's sixth different winner in six races and fourth to win his first career at the Hartford, Ohio oval. Dussel also joined Zeth Sabo, who won his first career All Stars and Sharon victory on June 13 during Ohio Speedweek.
"This is super emotional," expressed the 36-year-old Gibsonburg, Ohio racer. "You never know how you're going to react when you get one. Honestly this is a dream come true. Will I ever win an (World of) Outlaw or High Limit Show- probably not. This is my (World of ) Outlaw/High Limit win that I'll hang my hat on. My wife is at home with our daughter and that makes me emotional too; I wish they were here, but I know they are at home crying too."
"I've been doing this for a lot of years- ran a lot of All Star shows and have run 19th a lot of times," acknowledged Dussel. "It's a tough group of cars. I've been really close the last couple years and that's just made us want it more. I have to believe in myself a little more and understand I belong with this group of guys. I have a lot of respect for the guys that run the All Star tour. I feel like I'm right there with them and maybe don't get the credit the team deserves. This car was lightning fast all night. My brother could have been an Outlaw crew chief years ago if he wanted to and could have been as good as anyone. We brought in Jason Fausey eight years ago, who has had a lot of success, so with those two together I just need to step up and be a little better driver and we can win races like this."
Weaver used the outside to power around Kalib Henry for the early lead in the 35-lap feature. Four cautions were timed perfectly for Weaver during the first 12 laps as it kept him out of lapped traffic and in clean air, while positions two through six were changing at a rapid pace. A.J. Flick had passed Henry for second following a restart on lap 10 with Dussel following in third one-lap later. This transpired before the event's last caution with 12 laps scored as the final 23 went green-to-checkered.
When racing resumed on lap 13, Dussel moved past Flick for second. Dussel then ran down Weaver on lap 18 and made the winning pass one-lap later with a slider in turn four. Spithaler, who started fifth, went on the attack getting by Flick for third on lap 20 and drove by Weaver the following circuit for second. Weaver quickly back-pedaled losing third to Flick on lap 21 and fourth to Cale Thomas on lap 24.
As the laps ticked off under green flag conditions, Spithaler closed on Dussel as he appeared to have the fastest car on the track; Dussel however made the right moves in lapped traffic. Dussel, who has been chasing checkered flags with the All Stars since 2015, would not be denied on this night as he took the checkered flag first by 1.517 seconds in his S&S Hauling & Excavating/Industrial Movers/DRF Specialties/Gary Howland Trucking/Speedways Bar & Grill/Al Davis Carpet-sponsored #1. Dussel becomes the 180th different driver to win a "410" Sprint Car feature all-time at the historic Sharon Speedway.
"I knew immediately we hit all our marks on the setup when I passed four cars in the first corner," explained Dussel. "I don't want to beat the fence down- that's not my forte. I want to do what Dale Blaney does- float the middle. Dale wasn't here tonight so I did my best Dale impression!"
Spithaler, who won Friday's night's "410" Sprint Car feature at Tri-City Raceway Park with a last lap pass, wasn't able to accomplish the feat two nights in a row as the June 27 Sharon winner had to settle for second place. After going fourth to second early, Thomas would fade back to fifth on lap 23 before racing back up to third when he got by Flick on lap 32. Flick was fourth over defending All Star Champion and current points leader, Kalib Henry.
Five different drivers occupied the runner-up spot throughout the 35-lap affair including Weaver, who dropped to sixth at the finish. Cap Henry, who was the only competing driver on Saturday night that has more than one career All Star win, was a disappointing seventh after setting fast time overall in qualifying and winning his heat from fourth. Local Leyton Wagner, an All Star regular, had a great run going 15th to 8th over another local All Star regular in Cody Bova. Sabo was 10th aboard the Rudzik Racing #49x from nearby Struthers, Ohio.
Cap Henry's fastest lap in qualifying over the 35-car field was a 13.637. Besides both Henrys nabbing heat race wins, Spithaler and Thomas were also victorious. Kalib Henry won the dash to earn the feature pole. Local Jacob Begenwald was impressive in the last chance B main racing from the seventh starting spot to score the win by more than four seconds! Begenwald then went 21st to 14th in the first nine laps of the feature before getting caught up in an accident and getting upside down. Begenwald went to the work area and charged back up to 13th before a flat tire with nine laps to go ended his night in his first career All Star start.
The Econo Mods put on a tremendous race as standouts Jacob Eucker, Jeremy Double, and Dennis Lunger, Jr. dueled at times three-wide throughout the 20-lap Alcon Mechanical feature. Eucker's winning pass on Double came in lapped traffic coming to the white flag as he ended a winless drought of more than three years at Sharon. Eucker also denied Double of his fourth consecutive win this season.
"It's always fun to race with those guys," stated the 25-year-old Fowler, Ohio winner. "They are fast and I'm just happy someone was able to give Double a run for his money this year. He's been fast. Hats off to the track crew. The track was great, especially with the Sprints and having a cushion still. This feels awesome. Restarting alongside Double brought back memories of going at it when we were young. Something just clicked and I started running the top better and better. I was reeling him in and I thought I had something for him, but glad we caught lapped traffic. My dad gave me an amazing setup tonight- it was great!"
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Eucker used the outside to race into the early lead. Lunger passed Buzz Seitz on lap two for second, while sixth starting Double took over third on lap five. The lead trio would go three-wide on laps seven and eight as Double moved into second on the eighth circuit. Double snatched the lead away from Eucker on lap nine and began to pull away on lap 11. A caution for Calvin Clay slowed action with 12 laps completed.
Double continued to lead as racing resumed for the final eight-lap green flag run to the finish. Eucker had the outside working as he caught back up to Double and the two raced side-by-side for the lead for four consecutive laps, 16-19. Double got a big run off turn four coming the white flag while Double got slowed by the lapped car of Clay, who was sideways in front of him. Eucker regained the lead on the 19th lap and then pulled away as he took the checkered flag first by 0.468 seconds. Eucker's 17th career Econo Mod win and 18th overall at the track came in his Danski Dyno/Close Racing Supply/Dr. John Eucker/K&R Investment Properties-sponsored #64, but it was his first since August 5, 2023!
Double was second. Lunger lost pace with the lead duo as he crossed the finish in third more than three seconds behind Double. Clay Ruffo went seventh to fourth. Arianna Samuelson had a strong run in 5th after starting 12th. Seitz dropped to sixth over Jonathan Davis, Mason Canter, 19th starting Brian Carothers, and 13-year-old Ryan Johnston, who started 16th. Heat winners over the 23-car field were Seitz, Eucker, and Lunger.
Steve Hull became the latest driver to etch his name as a winner in the Sharon Speedway record book as he captured the win in the Crown Vic division. Hull started seventh and out-dueled the most recent first career winner, Branden Porter, throughout the second-half of the 12-lap Alcon Mechanical feature. Hull becomes the 5th different winner in 6 events this season and 8th in 11 races all-time.
"This track is beautiful," expressed the 54-year-old Concord, Ohio driver. "I finally beat Branden (Porter) as I've run second to him so many times this year. I came from asphalt (racing), and these cars are a blast to drive and everyone is so equal."
Mark Lawrence led the opening lap before Porter took over on lap two. Hull was already up to second on lap three. Porter and Hull went at it racing side-by-side for the lead lap after lap. Hull officially took the lead on lap seven and it was one he wouldn't relinquish as he took the checkered flag first by 1.091 seconds over Porter in his Continental Construction Services/Bulldog Specialty Coatings/JR Convoy Tire-sponsored #37. Bradley Shaffer was third. Lawrence dropped to fourth over Jacob Moon. Bill Fuchs and Shaffer won the heat races.
There will be no racing at Sharon over Labor Day weekend. Racing returns on September 11-12 for the "Apple Festival Nationals". Additional details will be forthcoming.
All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars (35 laps, $7,500 to-win): 1. 1-NATE DUSSEL[10]; 2. 22-Brandon Spithaler[5]; 3. 45-Cale Thomas[4]; 4. 2-AJ Flick[3]; 5. 101-Kalib Henry[1]; 6. 5-Jeremy Weaver[2]; 7. 33W-Cap Henry[6]; 8. 38-Leyton Wagner[15]; 9. 20B-Cody Bova[8]; 10. 49X-Zeth Sabo[14]; 11. 3V-Chris Verda[24]; 12. 7NY-Matt Farnham[17]; 13. 47-Todd King[19]; 14. 13-Brandon Matus[16]; 15. 5E-Bobby Elliott[18]; 16. 15C-Chris Andrews[12]; 17. 32B-Jeremy Kornbau[22]; 18. 12DD-Darren Dryden[9]; 19. 46-Michael Bauer[23]; 20. 29-Logan McCandless[7]; 21. 5K-Adam Kekich[20]; 22. 3J-Jacob Begenwald[21]; 23. 11-Carl Bowser[13]; 24. 14-Zane DeVault[11].
DNQ for the feature: 12J-Derek Hauck, 08-Dan Kuriger, 81-Rayce Jacobs, 86-Mike Lutz, 16-Jim Morris, 47-Brett Brunkenhoefer, M4-Louie Mattes, 47-Dusty Larson, 13B-John Garvin Jr, 33-Brent Matus, 76-Davey Jones[9]
Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods (20 laps): 1. 64-JACOB EUCKER[2]; 2. 83-Jeremy Double[6]; 3. 71L-Dennis Lunger Jr[3]; 4. 14R-Clay Ruffo[7]; 5. 9G-Arianna Samuelson[12]; 6. B1-Buzz Seitz[1]; 7. 8-Jonathan Davis[9]; 8. 9T-Mason Canter[10]; 9. 02C-Brian Carothers[19]; 10. 11J-Ryan Johnston[16]; 11. 344R-Gary Robinson II[18]; 12. 24R-Derrick Randolph[5]; 13. 31-Seth Brenot[15]; 14. 4RJ-Robert Simmons[13]; 15. 16C-Amelia Clay[8]; 16. 71A-Don Watson[14]; 17. 35-Rick Wilson Jr[17]; 18. 16O-Calvin Clay[22]; 19. T4-Travis Lueckert[21]; 20. 4-George Vestal IV[4]; 21. 8B-Brian Toto[20]. DNS: 89-Junior Mechling.
Alcon Mechanical Crown Vics (12 laps): 1. 37H-STEVE HULL[7]; 2. 16-Branden Porter[3]; 3. 26-Bradley Shaffer[5]; 4. 99L-Mark Lawrence[2]; 5. 309-Jacob Moon[8]; 6. 30-Brandon Albert[1]; 7. 10J-Bill Fuchs[6]; 8. 23-Aiden Laney[10]; 9. 57-Steve Burkett[12]; 10. 30T-Tony Tatgenhorst[11]; 11. 83-Dave Hanshaw Jr[4]; 12. 82R-Ray Gregory[9].
Sharon Speedway is owned by the Dave Blaney, Ryan Blaney, and Will Thomas III and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) @sharonspdwy.
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