The Lou Blaney memorial is slated to take place Tuesday at Sharon Speedway.
The tribute to a racing legend, who won more than 600 feature races in five decades. Among friends and racers who will be there are NASCAR stars Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and son Dave Blaney.
These guys are not just making a appearance or signing autographs. They will be racing - wheeling the powerful open wheel sprint cars. Is there any other sport where major league stars will be competing against local and regional competition?
Tony Stewart won his first winged 410 sprint car race in 2009 in the inaugural event. Kasey Kahne finished seventh last year and can't wait to get back. What could make Dave Blaney more happy than to win the race named after his father? Brother Dale, one of the nations top sprint car drivers, will be aiming for the top spot, not to mention that any number of drivers would love to lay claim to beating a NASCAR champion.
The Big Block Modifieds will also be on hand a division that Lou Blaney has 121 victories in at Sharon alone. A strong field of regional drivers is expected. Gates open at 5 p.m.
In this high-tech computer age, some things are for the better and some for the worst. Racing newspapers are going away.
For years I subscribed to Mid America Auto Racing News. Now, it's gone. National Speed Sport Auto Racing News, the most respected racing news for decades, printed their final edition. I always looked so forward to reading about up coming events and results of past races. I could read who was winning in what car and where and who the hot shoe was in Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, or wherever. There were also featured columns by informed writers about racers and racing issues. But now it's all gone and should not be so.
Sprint car driver Jack Sodeman Jr. of North Jackson was injured at an All Star Sprint car race in Canada this past weekend. Reports say broken shin bruised lung bad bump on the head and swollen eye. The accident happened at the Autodrome in Grandy. The race was won by Daryn Pittman and Dale Blaney was second.
Speaking of Dale Blaney, he currently is leading the All Star Circuit of Champions National points and the Ohio Region points.
Youngster Adam Kekich of Hermitage, Pa., is turning heads at Mercer Speedway. In his first year in a 410 Sprint car, he finished third last weekend and has shown steady improvement and confidence. Currently sitting fourth in points behind some seasoned veterans. His father is former Sharon Speedway champ Mike Kekich and currently on the mend - not being able to drive a racecar so far this season.