HARTFORD, Ohio — After some early morning rain, the skies cleared and turned into a beautiful day at Sharon Speedway for the rescheduled 16th annual “Lou Blaney Memorial” on Saturday night. The event got underway on Aug. 17 until rain overspread the area after Sprint Car qualifying.
On that night, Ryan Blaney was on hand to remember his grandfather, raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association and celebrate his 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship. While Ryan was unable to return on Saturday, fans packed the grandstands for the largest crowd of the season outside of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car event. Sixty-nine race cars were on hand for the two-division show as Dave Blaney (“410” Sprint Cars) and Erick Rudolph (BRP Big-Block Modified Tour) celebrated in Victory Lane.
There’s no better way to go out in sports than doing it on top and on Saturday night Dave Blaney decided the time was right. The National Sprint Car Hall of Famer regained the lead back from Ryan Smith on lap eight then held off a last lap charge by central Pennsylvania standout Danny Dietrich to win the 30-lap “Lou Blaney Memorial” for the third time. In the 16-year history, Blaney is the only Sprint Car driver to win the event more than once and Saturday night’s sendoff in memory of his father was worth $12,000 for the 95-time World of Outlaws winner and 1995 champion, who began his career in 1981.
Blaney also won the event in 2014 and became the first repeat winner in 2018. “This is bi.