Pure Stock 50 kicks off Sharon Speedway’s ’08 season

County Night promotions have been added.

HARTFORD — Sharon Speedway will kick off the 2008 racing season Saturday with a new tradition, “The Rick Glass Pure Stock 50.” The Pure Stock-only racing program will be a 50-lap feature event paying $1,200 to win.

Grandstand admission for the season opener is $7.

“Fantastic Five” racing action featuring the Warren Harley-Davidson 410 Sprints, the Gibson-Governor Insurance V-8 Modifieds, the Tom’s Sewer and Drain E-Mods, Tight Seal Glass Block Pure Stocks and the Limited Sprints, will begin May 3. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Celebrations, a Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular and Christmas in July are some of the special events in the Speedway’s 2008 racing schedule.

“County Nights” with a reduced adult admission of $5 have also been added for the upcoming season.

The dates for the County Nights are May 17 (Ashtabula and Mercer); June 28 (Mahoning and Crawford), July 19 (Columbiana and Butler) and Aug. 23 (Trumbull and Lawrence).

Two NASCAR Nights are featured on the 2008 schedule. The Ollie’s 360 Challenge, featuring speedway owner Dave Blaney and NASCAR stars Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart, will make its debut June 17. Each A-Main feature event in the three race series pays $6,000 to win. In addition to the Sharon Speedway the series also will make stops at the Eldora and Williams Grove Speedways. The second NASCAR Night is scheduled for Aug. 12.

The World of Outlaw Sprint Cars will return Sept. 20 as the Speedway celebrates “The Apple Festival Nationals.” The American 360 Sprint Car Series will also be in action that evening. The season will conclude Sept. 21 with the second day of “The Apple Festival Nationals,” featuring the American 360 Sprint Car Series, Limited Sprints and Pure Stocks.

The IRS Late Model Speedweek Finale will take place May 31, the MACS Late Model Series, featuring former Sharon Speedway Big Block Modified competitor Russell King, will compete June 21, and the World of Outlaw Late Model Series, starring drivers such as Chub Frank and Rick Eckert, will be in action July 26.

Tickets for the Sharon Speedway events may be purchased by calling the ticket office at (330) 772-1186 Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m to noon. Tickets also may be purchased online at sharonspeedway.com.

Sharon Speedway is located 10 miles north of Interstate 80 in Hartford. The speedway is owned by Dave Blaney, Jim Weller Sr., Ron Kirila and the late Bill Kirila and operated by their families.