Trending
CBS Sports and the SRX racing series are coming to Sharon Speedway Saturday July 23rd. The six race series concludes its tour at the Hartford dirt oval. A celebration of racing with a host of racing superstars will be broadcasted live at 8 p.m. on CBS local channel WKBN 27.
Tony Stewart, who is the creator of the series while also being a three-time NASCAR champion, Indy Racing League champion and IROC Champ, will be racing against such drivers as 2020 NASCAR champion Chase Elliott, who was also voted most popular driver 2018-2021. Another former NASCAR champion and two time Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth will be on hand. Bobby Labonte, former NASCAR champion Busch and IROC champion, will represent NASCAR along with two time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip.
Ryan Newman, another Daytona 500 winner who also has won at the Brickyard and is a USAC Silver Bullet champ will be in attendance as well. Greg Biffle will complete the NASCAR lineup with two championships, one each in the truck and Busch series.
Indy car drivers such as third generation racer Marco Andretti, who has already won a SRX race at Slinger. Ryan Hunter-Raey has won the Indy 500 and the series championship along with six WKA National karting national championships. The Brazilian Tony Kanaan. who won the Indy 500 in the fastest and most competitive 500 ever will race as well.
Canadian Paul Tracy has won the Indy 500 and a former Indy series title champion also with an American Racing Series title will do battle with the Indy drivers.
Defending the home turf will be Dave Blaney. His titles include being a World of Outlaws champion, USAC Silver Crown champ, Knoxville Nationals and Gold Cup winner. He returned to the World of Outlaws and beat the best in a 2021 race at Sharon.
Third generation racer Ryan Blaney, grandson of Lou, and son of Dave, is a 7-time NASCAR winner and the 2022 All Star winner. He also has four wins in the truck series and will join his Dad in defending the home turf.
Four NASCAR championships, four Indy car championships, three Indy 500 wins, and five Daytona 500 wins, will result in a lot of talent on the racetrack this Saturday but there is very little dirt racing experience except for Stewart and Dave Blaney.
Not since the first race was held at Sharon Speedway in 1929 has a race of this magnitude taken place. Only six tracks in the country have the honor of hosting this series this year. Race fans and non-race fans will have the opportunity to see our local race track showcased on a national level broadcast.
Spectator gates open at 12:30 p.m. admission gates open at 2 p.m. with practice from 4-6 p.m. Racing starts at 8 p.m.. There will be two 10-minute heat races. The first by a pill draw, the second will be a complete inversion of the finish of the first. Then track and car prep followed by what I have been told is a 75-lap main event.
All this takes place a short drive up State Rt. 7 to Hartford. Camping has been completely sold out for weeks. There will be reserved and general admission seating. If you can't make it, be sure to tune in.