CAREER 1ST SHARON WIN FOR DYLAN NORRIS IN “410” SPRINTS; JOHN MOLLICK 2-FOR-2 IN RUSH SPRINTS; FATHER-SON DUO OF JASON & COLETON LONGWELL BOTH VICTORIOUS IN CROWN VICS & UMP MODS
By Mike Leone

July 25, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Hartford, OH)…Mother Nature finally gave Sharon Speedway a reprieve with a beautiful Saturday night after battling rain throughout much of the 97th anniversary season. The Bala Management “Super Series” program on Alcon Mechanical & Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Night saw the following drivers celebrate in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Victory Lane: Dylan Norris (Hovis “410” Sprint Cars), Coleton Longwell (Hovis UMP Modifieds presented by A&MP Electric), John Mollick (Gibson Insurance Agency RUSH Sprint Cars), and Jason Longwell (Gibson Insurance Agency Crown Vics). It was the first of three Menards Giveaway Nights where three lucky fans won a $500 Menards gift card, a Charbroil gas grill, and a Shark Flexbreeze portable fan.

With Lincoln Speedway off on Saturday night, Dylan Norris made the near five-hour tow from South Central Pennsylvania pay off as he put on an impressive performance in the 30-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply “410” Sprint Car feature. Norris started seventh, passed Jeremy Weaver on lap 10 for the lead, and then fended off Weaver and finally Brandon Spithaler for the $4,000 victory to become the season’s fourth different winner in as many races.

“This was a last minute deal to come here when I saw you were racing,” revealed the 22-year-old Hanover, Pa. racer. “We’re not really equipped to go to Port Royal (Speedway) for their big shows so I figured why not come here. I got a really good start and that made my life a lot easier We’ve struggled so bad this year and have tried some different stuff the last two weeks to change our program completely. I don’t think I’ve ever finished in the top 10 here so it feels great to get one.”

Norris gained three spots on the opening to move into fourth before advancing one spots each of the following two laps. Norris would then deny Weaver his first career Sharon win when he made what would be the winning move on the 10th circuit. A great three-car battle ensued for the lead between Norris, Weaver, and Spithaler. Spithaler would finally get by Weaver for good on lap 21 for the runner-up spot.

Norris though would hold serve in the final laps crossing the finish line first by 1.042 seconds in his father Shawn Norris’ #17 sponsored by Dynatech Controls and SCC Trucking. Norris became the third driver of the season to win his first career Sharon “410” Sprint Car feature and the 179th all-time at the track.

“I knew they were coming when I got to traffic,” explained Norris. “One guy raced me really hard and I knew my pace was slowing. Sometimes when you’re the leader it hurts you. I saw guys in front of me cleaning off the top and I haven’t raced here enough to know when to move. I stayed where I was comfortable and once the #5 (Weaver) slid by me, I knew I had to get going. Then after that I settled in and I knew what I had to do.”

Weaver was third. After going 22nd to 5th on June 27, central Pa. racer, Derek Hauck, was one spot better in fourth on Saturday night. Brandon Matus moved up three positions to finish fifth. Leyton Wagner was sixth. Greg Wilson went 14th to 7th as Carl Bowser, A.J. Flick, and Billy Dietrich completed the top 10.

Norris set fast time overall against the 31-car field in qualifying with a lap of 13.289. Heat race winners were Hauck, Matus, Michael Bauer, and Dietrich, while Nash Ely won the last chance B main. Seven drivers made their way from central Pa. to Sharon Speedway to compete in the final tune-up before next Saturday’s “Lou Blaney Memorial”.

Coleton Longwell entered the night as a seven-time winner at Sharon Speedway across three different divisions On Saturday night, Longwell added yet another division to his winning resume as he scored his first career UMP Modified victory at the track. Longwell passed Dustin DeMattia albeit with contact on lap 15 for the $1,000 victory in the 20-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply feature presented by A&MP Electric along with support from Holbrook Sewer & Excavating and Wedge Motorsports.

“That’s really not how I wanted to get my first win in the division,” acknowledged the 25-year-old Kinsman, Ohio racer. “There’s a little bit of character (in the track). I drove in on the bottom, had a good run going, and hooked my right rear in the hole, and pushed. When I pushed my right front clipped his (DeMattia) left front and it was a disaster. I woah’ed up because I thought there was going to be a caution. I feel terrible for him, but all I can do is apologize and move on.”

DeMattia, who has five career wins at Sharon between the UMP and Econo Mod divisions, led the first 14 circuits before fourth starting Longwell took over. Once in front, Longwell pulled away from DeMattia over the final six laps and garnered the victory by a comfortable margin of 4.022 seconds in his Bala Management/DBRE/YeagerBaum’s Bar & Grill/Yeager’s Port Silver-sponsored #7.

Like the “410” Sprint Car division, Longwell became the fourth different winner in as many races this season and the third driver to win his first career in the division at the track! Longwell also became the 67th different winner in the division’s history. Joel Watson went sixth to third for his best finish of the season. Jeremy Holbrook was fourth over opening night winner, Eric Wilson. Nate Young was sixth. Jeremy Double, who has won both Econo Mod races this season, was seventh as Dennis Lunger, Jr. and Vinnie DePizzo completed the top 10. Watson, Young, and Longwell won the heat races over the 21-car field.

John Mollick’s dominance in the RUSH Sprint Car division at Sharon continued on Saturday night. Mollick went fifth to first on the opening lap of the 20-lap Gibson Insurance Agency feature and never looked back for his eighth straight victory and 10th in the last 11 races dating back to the 2024 season.

“We’ve been good here and the car has been rotating ,” explained the 55-year-old Toronto, Ohio standout. “We’ve been struggling the last couple races. We haven’t put a whole night together and have been a little off, but it’s good to come here and pull one off. We just went back to our notebook and here we go.”

Mollick was unchallenged throughout the event aboard the Scott Clever-owned, Rae Lynn Enterprise/Spring Church Car Wash/Willy’s RS Wash & Shine/JET Racing Engines/RV Coleman Trucking/Niki’s Quick Six/McFadden Machine-sponsored #4J for his 34th career win overall in the division. Mollick also received a $100 Summit Racing Equipment gift card for being the event’s hard charger.

Fourteen-year-old second generation racer, Brayden Blackshear, turned in his career best finish in a full-size race car in second. One night after winning his first career feature at Lernerville, Trent Marshall went sixth to third. Wyatt Long was fourth over veteran Arnie Kent. Sixth through 10th were Lucas Roessner, Kevin Kaserman, Grayson Bayle, Devon Deeter, and Bill Cunningham. Marshall and Mollick won the heat races.

Jason Longwell, who has competed in numerous divisions over the years, finally captured his first career victory on a night when his son, Coleton, won in his fourth different division! The elder Longwell passed Branden Porter on the final lap to win the 12-lap Gibson Insurance Agency Crown Vic feature, which was worth $400 thanks to a $200 bonus from Alcon Mechanical.

“That was a lot of fun,” expressed the 51-year-old Burghill, Ohio driver. “These things are a blast to drive. My kid Colton helped me out of lot telling me what to do because I’m getting old. I appreciate everyone coming out and staying. It was a good race. This isn’t even my car. I borrowed it and it’s actually sold; a guy is taking it tonight and will be racing it soon. We have quite a bit of these cars around the shop and are trying to get more people into it.”

Longwell started sixth and led for three different junctures in the event; laps 4-7, lap 10, and most importantly the 12th and final circuit as he crossed the finish line first by a mere 0.059 seconds in the After Hours Bail Bonds-sponsored #14. Ray Gregory, who has also competed in several divisions as well, was third. New York’s David Dropsho was fourth in his first ever appearance. Bill Fuchs completed the top five. Thanks to BCT Construction, an additional $200 was split amongst positions 2-10. Heat winners were Gregory and Jacob Moon.

Next Saturday night (August 1) is the 18th annual “Lou Blaney Memorial” featuring the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply “410” Sprint Cars for $12,000 to-win/$1,200 to-start and the BRP Modified Tour for $2,500 to-win on Ryan Blaney Family Foundation and Bala Management Night.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply “410” Sprint Cars (30 laps, $4,000 to-win): 1. 17-DYLAN NORRIS[7]; 2. 22-Brandon Spithaler[1]; 3. 5-Jeremy Weaver[2]; 4. 12J-Derek Hauck[3]; 5. 13-Brandon Matus[8]; 6. 38-Leyton Wagner[6]; 7. W20-Greg Wilson[14]; 8. 11-Carl Bowser[10]; 9. 2-AJ Flick[17]; 10. 8D-Billy Dietrich[9]; 11. 32B-Jeremy Kornbau[15]; 12. 20B-Cody Bova[12]; 13. 5K-Adam Kekich[5]; 14. 11J-David Kalb[13]; 15. 22E-Nash Ely[21]; 16. 47L-Dusty Larson[23]; 17. 19-Tyler Esh[20]; 18. 3-John Jerich[24]; 19. 46-Michael Bauer[4]; 20. 08-Danny Kuriger[16]; 21. 88J-Joseph Amantea[11]; 22. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr[22]; 23. 16-Jim Morris[19]; 24. 3V-Chris Verda[18].

DNQ for the feature: Bryan Salisbury (21), Adam Herb (05), Zach Morrow (27), Louie Mattes IV (m4), Joel Mellon (3J), Michael Smith (76), Brent Matus (33).

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Mods presented by A&MP Electric (20 laps, $1,000 to-win): 1. 7-COLETON LONGWELL[4]; 2. 77D-Dustin DeMattia[2]; 3. 14-Joel Watson[6]; 4. 151-Jeremy Holbrook[1]; 5. 10-Eric Wilson[7]; 6. 42-Nate Young[5]; 7. 83-Jeremy Double[8]; 8. 71L-Dennis Lunger Jr[9]; 9. 14R-Clay Ruffo[10]; 10. 1-Vinnie DePizzo[13]; 11. 12-Mitchell Lam[12]; 12. 9T-Mason Canter[16]; 13. 89-Junior Mechling[18]; 14. 17X-Alex Siekkinen[20]; 15. 344R-Bobby Robinson[14]; 16. 16C-Amelia Clay[15]; 17. 68-Andrew Hammond[3]; 18. 71C-Chris Basich[11]; 19. 31-Seth Brenot[17]; 20. 12R-Ty Rhoades[21]; 21. 02C-Brian Carothers[19].

Gibson Insurance Agency RUSH Sprint Cars (20 laps): 1. 4J-JOHN MOLLICK[5]; 2. 10-Brayden Blackshear[1]; 3. 17-Trent Marshall[6]; 4. 63L-Wyatt Long[3]; 5. 9-Arnie Kent[4]; 6. 213-Lucas Roessner[8]; 7. 13K-Kevin Kaserman[2]; 8. 21-Grayson Bayle[10]; 9. 54-Devon Deeter[12]; 10. 44C-Bill Cunningham[7]; 11. 48T-TJ Rosario[9]; 12. 7-Cooper Macormac[11].

Gibson Insurance Agency Crown Vics (12 laps, $400 to-win): 1. 14-JASON LONGWELL[6]; 2. 16-Branden Porter[4]; 3. 82R-Ray Gregory[1]; 4. 99-David Dropsho[10]; 5. 10J-Bill Fuchs[5]; 6. 83-Dave Hanshaw Jr[7]; 7. 87-Mike Barr[9]; 8. 30-Brandon Albert[3]; 9. 309-Jacob Moon[2]; 10. 7-Tristan Thompson[11]. DNS: 4-Brian Krepps

Sharon Speedway is owned by Dave Blaney, Ryan Blaney, and Will Thomas III and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road in Hartford, Ohio near the intersection of Routes 7 & 305. For more information, check out the website at http://www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @sharonspdwy.

#