By Rob Malsom
Herald Sports Writer
Blue skies and plenty of sun greeted dirt-track fans from all over western Pa. and eastern Ohio on Tuesday as they poured into Sharon Speedway for the inaugural Lou Blaney Memorial Classic.
NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Dave Blaney, Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart, along with All-Star Circuit of Champions driver Dale Blaney and New York Modified legend “Jumpin” Jack Johnson kicked up some dirt to honor a racing legend.
Stewart is currently leading the Sprint Cup points race this season and captured the championship in 2002 and 2005, Kahne is 12th in the points chase, and Blaney drives the No. 66 car for PRISM Motorsports. He was the 1984 USAC champion and the World of Outlaws champ in 1995.
Dale is a 3-time and defending champ in the All-Star Circuit of Champions, and Johnson has won over 420 races in 11 states and Canada since starting his racing career in 1966.
Lou Blaney, who won over 200 feature races in the Super Sprints from 1961-80, and took the checkered flag over 600 times during his career and won numerous championships, died at age 69 on Jan. 25.
The night featured a pair of 30-lap races, with the Sprints and Big-Block Modifieds in action.
Stewart captured the Sprint race, while Johnson took the checkered flag in the Mods. Dale and Dave Blaney finished 5th and 6th, respectively, in the Sprints, while Kahne was 9th.
Stewart, who was coming off of a victory at Daytona on Saturday night, and West Virginia youngster Cale Conley brought the 24-car Sprint field to the green. Conley led the first 11 laps before Stewart took the lead for good.
Johnson of Duanesburg, N.Y., competed against Lou Blaney many times throughout his storied career and the wily veteran dominated the Modified race as he led the entire 30-lap distance.
Other highlights included 30 drivers who competed with Lou over his 40-year racing career signing autographs, exhibitions by the VARC vintage race car club, and the night was capped off by an aerial fireworks display.
I talked with Dale and Dave Blaney before the race.
Dale
Q: How does it feel to race against the NASCAR drivers?
A: I raced against them a couple times last year. It’s always special to race them. I ran against Tony and Kasey a couple times a year. It’s cool to be on the same track with them.
Q: These NASCAR guys love racing on dirt, but don’t get an opportunity to do it too often.
A: Kasey ran down at Lernerville about a month ago, so he races Sprint cars more than Tony and Dave. Dave races maybe once or twice a year and Tony a few times a year, so their not real keen right off the bat. I mean it takes a little time to get the rust off, but they know what they’re doing. They’ve done these things a long time, so it really doesn’t take them long. It’s like riding a bike.
Q: You must be very happy with the turnout for this inaugural event.
A: It (was) real nice. The weather — you couldn’t ask for a better day. So usually when there’s good weather, there’s a good crowd. Being that the race is in my dad’s name, it’s a good turnout because he had a lot of fans.
Dave
Q: Thoughts on today’s event?
A: I just hope everybody had fun with it. I just appreciate all the support from the racers and the fans.
Q: The local fans really appreciate you bringing in some of your NASCAR competitors to race in this event, as you have done yearly.
A: It’s very nice for Tony and Kasey to do it. We go and run at each other’s tracks and we all love running dirt. They were up for supporting this night. I owe them a great deal.
Q: What are your thoughts on your Sprint Car season this year?
A: It’s been a struggle. You don’t want to be in a position where you just start and park, but that’s the spot we’re in right now. We’ll keep trying to attract some sponsorship, and we hope another opportunity comes along. I felt like I had to stay out there and stay in the cars. The other option is sitting at home, and I don’t think that’s a better option.
