HARTFORD, Ohio — Chris Schneider has won every major Pro Stock race in the region over his many years of dominance with the exception of the Steel Valley Nationals at Sharon Speedway, which eluded him in the first two years of existence.
On Saturday night, Schneider patiently made his way from the eighth starting spot, inherited the lead with 10 laps to go after leader Chris McGuire suffered a flat tire from hitting the fence, and led the remainder of the way for his biggest career win worth $10,000 for the Penn-Ohio Championship Series. Schneider became the third different winner in as many years.
“I guess the outside was there,” stated the 42-year-old racer when asked about McGuire. “I thought about running it (outside) but I figured I’d stay smooth, calm, and conservative. I probably would have done some donuts after the race, but I’m just way to calm for that right now. We’ve built a lot of cars, but I sold my new car. I really miss it; it was really smooth. I built this car in 2003. It’s been sitting around and it’s like an old friend. I always said I was going to win 10 grand with it jokingly, but hey I guess it happened.”
Andrew Gordon raced into the early lead at the start of the 75-lap event over 2019 event winner Curt J. Bish. Schneider was halfway to the front when he passed Rob Shook on lap seven for fourth and brought Alan Dellinger with him. Dellinger, who was aboard Rod Laskey’s #1R, was on the move as he passed both Schneider and Jason Johns to take over third on lap eight, while Schneider also got by Johns to maintain fourth.
Lapped traffic came into play on lap 12 as Gordon had a half-straightaway lead on Bish. Dellinger ran down Bish and drove around him for second on lap 13. Dellinger was all over Gordon over the next five laps trying to find a way by and finally got a good enough run off turn two to sneak by on lap 18. Dellinger’s lead was short-lived though as he pulled off one lap later handing the lead back to Gordon.
Dellinger’s misfortune moved Schneider to third and he then would grab runner-up on lap 31 getting by Bish. Schneider though found himself 4.3 seconds behind Gordon. As the laps ticked off caution-free, Schneider began to pick up the pace at the halfway mark and began to chew into Gordon’s lead. The deficit shrank to less than two seconds on lap 40.
Meanwhile, all eyes began to focus on seventh starting McGuire, who was powering around the fence. McGuire passed Johns for fourth on lap 44 then closed in on Schneider and Bish on lap 48. McGuire moved into third on lap 49 then drove around Schneider for second with a three-wide move in traffic on lap 51.
McGuire trailed Gordon by 1.5 seconds by the time he made his way to second. McGuire quickly ran down Gordon and made the pass for the lead off turn four on lap 54. McGuire then distanced himself from the field, while the battle was on for second.
Schneider made the important pass for the runner-up spot on lap 63 as he would inherit the lead three laps later after McGuire suffered a flat tire from hitting the fence one too many times too hard.
After 65 caution-free laps, three more cautions followed the caution for McGuire over the next four laps. When green-replaced yellow for the final time on lap 70, Schneider pulled away and took his 14th career Sharon win by 3.190 seconds in his SS Chassis & Supply/Total Landscaping/Butler Truck Parts-sponsored No. 55.
While Schneider checked out, a four-car battle ensued for second over the final six laps with Gordon taking the $3,000 runner-up honors. Bish was third for $1,500. Shook brought Jim Fosnaught’s No. 20J home in fourth for $1,000. Thirty-two-time Sharon winner, Steve D’Apolito, had a strong run in fifth from the 14th starting spot.
Angie Grzelak won the dwarf car feature.