Chad Brachmann Earns $2,000 For BRP Modified Tour Win At Sharon Speedway

Story By: MIKE LEONE / SHARON SPEEDWAY – HARTFORD, OH – Eleventh starting Chad Brachmann went fourth to first on a lap 20 restart and then went unchallenged to the 35-lap BRP Tour victory for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds, worth $2,000 at the Sharon Speedway.

Brachmann became the 11th different “Lou Blaney Memorial” winner in 13 years. Brachmann gave New York racers their third event win in the last four years and fourth all-time joining Jack Johnson, Mike Maresca, and Erick Rudolph.

“The breaks fell my way tonight but my car was really good,” stated the 46-year-old Sanborn, New York racer. “I have to tip my hat to my dad, brother, Andrew and Mike. I’ve been kind of rough on them lately. We’ve been struggling. We finally got the car right tonight and I did my part. I’ll tell you what, this place is awesome when it’s smooth. I’ve been here when it’s been rough and choppy. This was great tonight. I’d rather have it like this any day of the week. This is my first win at Sharon and we’ve come here a bunch of times so this is pretty cool. It’s an honor to be here in the same category as all of the other guys that have won this race- especially for a great man.”

RUSH Sportsman Modified standout Chas Wolbert led the opening lap driving Ryan Riffe’s #1x “358” Small-Block Modified for the first time, but his lead lasted only a lap as New York’s Kyle Inman slipped under Wolbert to lead lap two. Inman began to pull away on lap four and by the time he caught traffic on lap 14 his lead stretched out to a 2.5-second advantage over Wolbert.

On lap 20, Wolbert and New York racer Greg Martin made contact with Wolbert spinning and Martin suffering a flat tire as he had to yield second place. With Wolbert and Martin out of the mix, Brachmann lined up fourth on the double file restart and would power around the outside past Rex King, Jr., Kevin Hoffman, and Inman for the winning move. Three cautions were all that slowed Brachmann’s run to the finish in his Sunflowers of Sanborn/Niagara Lawn & Garden Equipment-sponsored #3 as he took the checkered flag first by a margin 3.814 seconds.

Inman, who was making his first Sharon start since running an E-Mod at the track 10 years ago, was a solid second as he fended off 27-time track winner, Rex King, Jr., for second. Jeremiah Shingledecker charged from 13th to finish fourth as he was right on Inman and King, Jr. at the finish. Rex King made his way from 17th to finish fifth.

Sixth through 10th were Brad Rapp, Kyle Fink, Brian Swartzlander, Garrett Krummert, and Martin, who came from the tail after his flat tire. Heat winners over the 34-car field were Wolbert, Krummert, King, Jr., and Dave Murdick. The last chance B main was won by Rick Regalski, Jr.

BRP Modified Tour for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds (35 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. CHAD BRACHMANN (3) 2. Kyle Inman (20K) 3. Rex King, Jr. (165) 4. Jeremiah Shingledecker (37MD) 5. Rex King (65) 6. Brad Rapp (11R) 7. Kyle Fink (6F) 8. Brian Swartzlander (83) 9. Garrett Krummert (29) 10. Greg Martin (4) 11. Dave Murdick (61) 12. Jim Rasey (32) 13. Eric Gabany (Ryder 189) 14. Mike Dougherty (18J) 15. Paul Kot (Stine 7s) 16. Rick Regalski, Jr. (13) 17. Ray Bliss, Jr. (27z) 18. Chas Wolbert (Riffe 1x) 19. J.R. McGinley (Ryder 18) 20. Steve Slater (35) 21. Mark Frankhouser (03) 22. Kevin Hoffman (00) 23. Chris Rudolph (32R) 24. John Mollick (4J) 25. Colton Walters (18) 26. Todd English (711).

DNQ for the feature: Dillon Barr (15B), Shawn Fleeger (88), Greg Porter (25), Rodney Beltz (64), Nathen McDowell (11G), Steve Barr (25B), Rob Kristyak (00), Shawn Kozar (3K).