HARTFORD, Ohio — Beautiful weather graced Sharon Speedway on Saturday night for the inaugural Bill Gabrielson Memorial presented by EZ’s Orangeville Tavern and A&MP Electric.
Three drivers celebrated their first wins of the season in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane including Dave Hess, Jr. in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modifieds, Blaze Myers in Terry Bowser Excavating RUSH Sprint Cars and Garrett Calvert in the Whelen Econo Mods.
While Ben Easler became the top winner in the HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. A season-high 101 cars filled the pit area for the four-division program on Integra Excavating Night.
After finishing second to Chad Ruhlman in three of the four RUSH Sprint Car races at Sharon this year, Myers finally put it to the standout racer. Myers charged from eighth to make a last-lap pass of Ruhlman in his heat race to earn the outside pole then fended off Ruhlman in the 20-lap Terry Bowser Excavating feature for his first victory of the season at Sharon; however, it was his third straight on the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH circuit in Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series action.Â
“I have all due respect for Chad (Ruhlman) but damn it’s hard to beat him,” expressed the 19-year-old Franklin, Pa. resident. “This is unbelievable. I know I haven’t raced for all the years that Chad has but this is my first three in a row so I’m pretty happy right now. At the beginning, I didn’t think I had enough when I saw Ryan (Fraley) down on the bottom digging away then he disappeared. I have to thank my entire family, my amazing girlfriend Riley, everyone that comes to support me, and most importantly everyone that’s on this car as I couldn’t do it without them- they are amazing people, amazing companies.”Â
Fourth starting Ryan Fraley and Myers raced side-by-side for the first four laps trading the lead several times before Myers broke free on lap five. Ruhlman meanwhile started fifth and was up to fourth on lap four. Ruhlman had the outside working as he drove around Brandon Blackshear in turn two on lap six for third then did the same to Fraley two laps later for second.Â
Myers had a near two-second advantage built up when Ruhlman made his way to second. Ruhlman began to close in on Myers on lap 12, but Myers changed his line slightly and began to pull back away on lap 14. Myers crossed the finish first by 2.386 seconds in his J.I. McCall Construction/John Pleger Roofing/Billy’s Garage/Linda Lou’s Restaurant/Lowry Auto Body/DiFrischia Recycling/McDaniel & Assoc. Tax Prep/J.I.’s Place/Jolley Roofing & Construction/Bodien’s Hot Dog Stand-sponsored No. 43JR.
It was Myers’ second career win in the division and third overall at Sharon as he also has a RUSH Sportsman Modified victory.   Â