The man, the myth, the legend Lou Blaney will be honored Saturday at his home track Sharon Speedway for the Lou Blaney Memorial on their 96th year of operation.

Lou Blaney won over 600 feature races. First competing in a Sprint car, he won eight track championships at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., where he won a combined 118 Sprint car and Modified wins. He also won additional championships at Tri-City in Franklin, Pa., and Jennerstown, Pa. He picked up over 200 wins in a Sprint car from 1961-81.

Switching to Modifieds in 1978, he picked up five more track championships at Sharon Speedway with 121 Modified wins and 11 Sprint car wins. At Lernerville Speedway, he won the track championship for Sprint cars every year from 1972-78, except in 1976 when he lost to Ted Wise. Then he became the Mod champion there three times.

He became a member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2013, Eastern Motorsport Press Association Hall of Fame 2010, the Northeast Modified Hall of Fame in 2000, Pittsburg Circle Track Hall of Fame in 1997 and Twin State Auto Racing Fan Club Hall of Fame in2010.

He raced clean, never having to bump somebody to win. His style was exciting rim riding on the top. I saw him win many races on the last lap at the last corner, leaving me wondering if he could have done that earlier and was putting on a show for the fans?

We’ll never know, but we know he was a special talent, fast and a fan favorite. Blaney retired from racing in 2005. We lost Mr. Blaney in January 2009; he has been honored with this special race since then.

Tony Stewart won the first Blaney memorial in 2009. This area has had so many great drivers and cars but I don’t think anyone has won as often as Blaney.

Come out and honor a great man and driver, and see a great night of dirt track racing.

His son, Dave Blaney, has won his father’s race three times, including last year’s race before promptly retiring from racing. Meanwhile, brother Dale Blaney has won it once and should be on hand Saturday while driving Dave’s car.

The winner gets $12,000, and the first 300 kids through the general admission gate will receive a Ryan Blaney 1/64 die cast car.

The BRP Tour Big Block Modifides will also be a part of the program, with $2,500 to win.

Gates open at 4 p.m., with racing at 7:30 p.m.