Fan Notes from the Lou Blaney Memorial at Sharon

Danny Holtgraver (Tom Myers) 7/9/2016 -  The 2016 edition of the Lou Blaney Memorial race featured a $10,000 to win carrot and an All Star Circuit of Champions sanction. The 39 cars on hand consisted of the All Star racers including Dale Blaney, some western PA guys, a few Fremont - Attica regulars, another few random travelers and of course, Dave Blaney.    

The weather was nice for the festivities. The temperature was warm but not too hot and the skies were clear. The gates opened at 1:00 for the fans to get in and take part in some extra activities. There was an auction behind the grandstands that started not long after I arrived at the track, which was a little after 4.   

I found a seat under the main grandstand and after noticing the TV camera lifts on turn 1 and turn 4, I then watched the track crew work the surface. A lady sitting close to me said that they have had some rain the past couple of days..... so I was hoping for a tackier surface than what we had on the last visit during speed week. I then gathered my camera and headed to the pits.  

I first noticed Bryan Sebetto's ride, which was closest to the pit entrance, and next to him were Dan Kuriger, Lance Moss, Josh Baughman and tucked way back in the corner, next to Baughman was All Star points leader Chad Kemenah. The next row of cars consisted of just two haulers.  Andrew Paulker, who has been having on-going engine problems of late, and Cory Crabtree. Then I headed to the main row of haulers that are always behind turns 1 and 2. They consisted of Dean Jacobs, Dave Blaney, Carl Bowser, Travis Philo, Sheldon Haudenschild, Danny Holtgraver, Dale Blaney, Kraig Kinser, Cap Henry, Tim Shaffer, T J Michaels, Bradley Howard, Caleb Helms and Lee Jacobs. Also on hand were Caleb Griffith and Chris Andrews.  

While in the pits, I noticed Brad Doty talking with Danny Holtgraver and his crew. Brad is really friendly and is always talking with folks at the races. I admire him and always rooted for him, but I have never spoken with him. I don't normally talk with too many drivers or personalities simply because, well, everyone else talks with them and I am not an "insider". I never raced, owned, worked on, hauled or even applied a sticker to a sprint car in my entire life. I remember I had some tire cuttings I picked up off the ground when I was a kid.....left over when Danny Smith grooved his Firestone Drag 500 tires at PA's Tri-City Speedway years and years ago. That's about it. So I wouldn't normally have anything to say to anyone in the sport.......anything that any other fan hasn't already repeated time and time again.  BUT, today was different!  Earlier in the day, I had taken my son to the local music store for his trombone and bass guitar lessons. Over time, I have become familiar with the music teachers at the store. One of the guitar teachers there is a nice young man who plays classical guitar and recently I learned that his last name was Doty. When dropping off my son for lessons today, I saw this young Doty entering the store and, even though our music store is in another town and county fairly distant from Wooster, I thought to ask him about his relatives. So I flagged him down and said, "Are you related to any of the Doty folks in Wooster?" He replied, "Yes, anyone around here with the Doty last name I am probably related to. "  I then asked, "Are you related to the racer from Wooster? " He replied, "He's my Dad." So I told him how cool that was and that I was a fan of his father and he related to me how he has been around racing his whole life.  Then I realized I had something to talk with Brad about someday. So when I saw Brad in the pits tonight, I approached him and relayed the story. Brad commented that it really was a small world and then told me a few things about his son's musical career and then thanked me for the nice comments about his son. It was then that a young fan of Brad's approached holding a color photo that he wanted Brad to sign. Brad signed it and I was off to get back to my seat in time for hot laps.

Sheldon Haudenschild When I got seated, they had just finished running in the track.....and then they applied another generous amount of water to it. I was so glad to see that. It was also nice to see a good crowd. And just like the speed week race, I met some newer fans who were on hand to check it out. It's great to see the same folks at every event, but it's good news for racing when there are new folks coming. Let's hope that continues. 

Dale sets quick time with Dean Jacobs second quick. The track is very tacky and is developing a ridge in the turn 1 entrance and two ridges at the turn 4 exit. 

Before the heat races started, they recited the Pledge of Allegiance, in addition to the National Anthem and an opening prayer. This is the second track that I have been at this year where they recited the pledge...with the kids....good job. From what I hear, schools are not saying the Pledge of Allegiance in the mornings anymore, and I think that is crazy!  Kate Blaney then took the microphone and talked about Lou a bit. She asked everyone who had seen Lou race to raise their hands. There were a lot of hands going up!  She then commented that "Lou was a really good racer!" And the crowd cheered. She then went on to explain that Lou did it his way...the way he wanted. And the track then proceeded to play the song "My Way" with Frank Sinatra singing. Kate said that when she hears this song, she always is reminded of Lou. 

In the heats, the track widened out a little, providing 3 grooves for the racers. The track would get better as the night wore on, but the ridges would become ruts that the drivers would wrestle with. 

Heat 1 finish was Baughman, who checked out on the field, Bowser, Dave and Dale Blaney and Bauer in the last transfer spot.  Heat 2 finish was Griffith, who also ran away from the pack, Holtgraver, Dean Jacobs, Helms, and Philo.  Henry and Lee Jacobs miss the transfer and will go to the B. Heat 3 started with Andrews and TJ Michaels getting together. Andrews restarted, Michaels went pit side. The finish was Sheldon Haudenschild, who passed a few guys using the high line to forge to the front. He was followed by Sodeman, Kinser, Shaffer and Andrews. Heat 4 finish was Sebetto, Kemenah, Kubiniec, Morris and Kuriger.  The dash got us Baughman checking out again, followed by Holtgraver, Dale Blaney, Caleb Griffith, Dean Jacobs, Sodeman, Sheldon and Kemenah. And that is how your feature will start up front.

Dean Jacobs After some track work and the big block modified heats, and two delays for a few brief, very light showers, we got the B main in. The track was still tacky with 3 grooves. The finish was Lee Jacobs, TJ Michael, Paulker, and Henry. Taking a provisional to start the feature were Crabtree and Howard.  

Ok, so we get the A main started and Baughman leads into turn 1 with Holtgraver in tow. Before the lap was completed, Sodeman gets up against the back stretch fence with a RR flat tire. As he creeps along the back stretch, I keep waiting for a yellow. Finally, after a few guys barely missed him, the yellow flies. As I was watching Sodeman and the flagman, Holtgraver must have passed Baughman in 3 and 4 for the lead. They counted 1 lap completed and restarted the race. On the next lap after the restart, they flew the yellow again, but I don't know what it was for. I saw Baughman slowing down in turn 3 and I thought that was because of the yellow. It was then someone, maybe Dale Blaney, clipped Baughman in the tail and turned him around. With a crooked front wing,

Baughman went to the work area and then returned to start at the back. We then got the race going and Holtgraver sped out to a lead as 3rd running Caleb Griffith fell back a few spots. Dean Jacobs was now in second, up from 5th, and pursuing Holtgraver as they entered traffic on lap 6. There was a good battle for positions 3 through 6 as Griffith surged back into 3rd after falling back to fifth, and then Sheldon came up to pass Dale Blaney for 4th.  Kemenah was now up to 5th with Dave Blaney in 6th. This was the running order at the next yellow on lap 18. On lap 25, Griffith came to a stop in turn 4 ending his good run. Kemenah has now gotten by Dale Blaney for 4th with Tim Shaffer up to 6th. Dean Jacobs still sits in 2nd, but his nose wing is now crooked and looks to be coming off.  On the restart, Holtgraver hits the ruts in the turn 4 exit and gets the car upset, so much that he almost hits the front straight wall. The wagon train behind him had to check up to not pass him before the cone.  Wow, that was hairy. As Holtgraver gets it straight, Sheldon passes Dean Jacobs for second....and that is how it finishes. Holtgraver, Sheldon, Dean Jacobs, Kemenah, Dale Blaney and Kraig Kinser takes 6th from Shaffer at the end. No one could catch Danny Holtgraver tonight. 

Evidently, they call Danny "Downtown" Danny Holtgraver. Where did he get that nickname? What does that stand for?  Who nicknamed him that? Did Danny call himself that? Does Danny spend the weeknights in the big city and only leaves "downtown"  to race on the weekends? Ha Ha. I mean, tonight I would have called him "Dollars" Danny Holtgraver for taking the big check!   Good job Danny! Thank you Sharon Speedway and thank you All Stars.