06/07/2026
JOE MARTIN WINS HIS 3RD STRAIGHT SHARON RUSH LATE MODEL TOUR EVENT PRESENTED BY KUHNLE MOTORSPORTS PARK; 1ST WIN FOR ERIC WILSON IN UMP MODS; JOHN MOLLICK & JEREMY DOUBLE CONTINUE TO RACK UP WINS IN RUSH SPRINTS & ECONO MODS; CROWN VICS TO COLETON LONGWELL
By Mike Leone
June 6, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Hartford, OH)...After losing the first five programs to begin the 97th anniversary season, Sharon Speedway was able to complete its second consecutive event on Saturday despite a 90% chance of thunderstorms. Celebrating in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Victory Lane for the "Steel Valley Thunder" event were Joe Martin (RUSH Late Model Touring Series presented by Kuhnle Motorsports Park), Eric Wilson (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Modifieds presented by A&MP Electric), John Mollick (Gibson Insurance Agency RUSH Sprint Cars), Jeremy Double (Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods), and Coleton Longwell (Gibson Insurance Agency Crown Vics). It was Holbrook Sewer & Excavating Night. The event was streamed live on DIRTVision.
Saturday night was a storybook ending for Joe Martin. The former RUSH Late Model regular made his first start of 2026 as he returned to one of his favorite tracks- Sharon Speedway. Martin had won the two previous Touring Series events contested at Sharon in 2021 and 2022. On Saturday night, Martin drove a flawless 30 laps as he kept Northeast legend, Dave Hess, Jr., at bay throughout the caution-free event to give car owner Jonathan Stockdale his first career Tour victory, worth $4,000. Even more meaningful was Saturday's event was presented by Kuhnle Motorsports Park, which is owned by the team's primary sponsor, Kuhnle Brothers Trucking, who were celebrating their 60th anniversary of operations. The non-stop race was timed in 9:45.529.
"I'm proud of this and can't thank Jonathan (Stockdale) enough for the opportunity," expressed the 41-year-old Punxsutawney, Pa. driver. "I have to thank the Kuhnles as I think they were responsible for getting us back here. Kim Kuhnle is here and they have a suite- I want to thank the family for putting this on and allowing me to race this car once in awhile."
"This place is awesome," added Martin. "It doesn't matter what division; you can race the top guardrail, around the tires, and anywhere in between. I love this place- I really do. It was getting dirty up top late. I think there were too many cars running down low and kicking the crumbs up. If I would have stuck with it and guys followed me we could have run up there the entire race. When you look up and see 44 (Hess) on the board and he didn't start right behind me, I figured I better get down. I started getting free at the end and tried to keep from spinning the tires. This car is so good. I show up at the last minute with my helmet and suit and jump in so I can't take much credit for it."
Following his dash win, Martin raced into the early lead at the start of the 30-lap feature, while Jeremy Wonderling passed Austin Allen for second. Hess started in fifth and was up to fourth on the opening lap. Hess then drove around Allen for third on lap three, while Martin began to distance himself from the field. Hess ran down Wonderling and drove around the five-time champion off turn four to nip him at the start-finish line for second on lap six.
Martin had a full straightaway advantage by the time Hess made his way to second. Lapped traffic came into play on lap 11 and it wasn't until lap 15 when Hess began to chew into Martin's lead cutting the deficit more than half. Martin had to negotiate heavy lapped traffic on lap 22, but continued to maintain his lead. On lap 24, both racers cleared lapped traffic giving Martin clean air for the first time since time since the first 1/3rd of the event. Hess would eat into Martin's lead in the ensuing laps, but Martin had just enough to keep Hess at bay by 0.555 seconds.
Martin's seventh career RUSH Tour victory came aboard the Jonathan Stockdale-owned, Kuhnle Brothers Trucking/Penske Shocks/Doc Howard's Distillery/E&S Towing/Slowride Transport/Interstate Towing/Sunnyside Farm Transit/Whitehill Garage/Dasly Supply-sponsored #31. It was also Martin's eighth career win on Sharon's 3/8-mile track.
Hess earned $2,000 for his runner-up finish. Wonderling was third to keep him atop the $20,000 to-win points in search of an unprecedented sixth Series title. Christian Schneider started eighth and finished fourth after getting by Kyle Zimmerman on lap 20. Zimmerman, who was aboard a second Jonathan Stockdale/Kuhnle Brothers Trucking entry, was fifth. RUSH Tour rookie, Kurt Stebbins, went 10th to 6th to maintain his RoY points lead. Demetrios Drellos was seventh in his first ever visit to Sharon. Daryl Charlier was eighth. Allen backpedalled to ninth after starting on the outside pole. Jason Knowles completed the top 10.
Wonderling set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 17.577 over the 27-car field, which was hampered by the poor forecast. Approximately a dozen teams that posted they were coming failed to make the trip due to the weather. Wonderling, Zimmerman, and Martin won the heat races, while Cory Sines won the last chance B main.
Eric Wilson has won in the RUSH Late Models and Econo Mods in the past at Sharon. On Saturday night, Wilson led all 20 caution-free laps of the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply feature presented by A&MP Electric along with support from Holbrook Sewer & Excavating and Wedge Motorsports. Wilson had to hold off eighth starting Ty Rhoades for the $1,000 payday. The event was timed in 7:15.532.
"I have to dedicate this win to Tubby Tessean (passed away January 19 at the age of 85)," expressed the 29-year-old Vienna, Ohio resident. "When Tubby approached me several years back about driving for him, it was the biggest honor of my life. I grew up hearing about the stories on Tubby and all the great drivers that he had, and I'm glad to add my name to the list with those guys. I have to thank the flagman; he was giving the move over flag to guys. I didn’t know we were racing for a million dollars- they didn't make it easy on me, but I'm glad we were able to get it done."
Wilson took off in the lead, while Coleton Longwell passed Dennis Lunger, Jr. for second. Rhoades was already up five spots to third on lap three. By lap six, the top three of Wilson, Longwell, and Rhoades distanced themselves from the field. As Wilson continued to lead, Longwell and Rhoades ran side-by-side lap after lap with Longwell on the fence and Rhoades on the bottom. Rhoades edged ahead at the start-finish line on lap 10, but the two continued to race side-by-side until Rhoades broke free.
Lapped traffic came into play on lap 15 as Wilson continued to hold on, but as the laps ticked off, Rhoades drew closer and was right on the leader on lap 19. At the checkered flag, it was Wilson over Rhoades by 0.811 seconds in the George Tessean, Jr.-owned, Tub's Automotive/Cornerstone Nurses Practitioners of Ohio/Foundation Health Solutions/Ocala Restaurant Supply/Big Ed's Tire Service/Kromer Kraft Headers/Hover Racing Products/Cizmar Racing Supply-sponsored #10.
Rhoades received the $100 Summit Racing Equipment gift card for being the event's hard charger after advancing six spots to runner-up. Longwell was just a little over one-tenth of a second back of Rhoades in third. Vinnie DePizzo was a distant fourth over 10th starting Dustin DeMattia. Lunger dropped to sixth as Jeremy Holbrook, Joel Watson, Zac Etzel and Mason Canter completed the top 10. Heat winners were Watson and Longwell.
It might be a new season, but John Mollick's domination of the RUSH Sprint Cars at Sharon continued in the Gibson Insurance Agency-sponsored division's 2026 debut. Mollick started third and slipped under leader Zach Morrow on lap two and never looked back. Mollick won all five of his 2025 appearances and has now won 9 of his last 10 starts at Sharon dating back to 2024 after never winning at the track in the class in more than five years of trying!
"I was just rolling around trying to be conservative with it and hit my marks," explained the 55-year-old Toronto, Ohio veteran. "I have to thank the crowd for coming out. I know it was 50-50 with the weather and am just glad to see the crowd as good it was tonight. Scott Clever owns the car and I'm just the lucky guy to drive it."
After the event's only caution for Bill Cunningham with four laps scored, Mollick set sail over the final 16 laps and took the checkered flag first by a commanding 5.672 seconds in 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 . It was Mollick's 32nd career RUSH Sprint Car win overall.
After dropping to third, Morrow drove around Grayson Bayle on lap 13 to secure the runner-up spot. Luke Mulichak went seventh to third over veteran Arnie Kent. Wyatt Long edged out Bill Cunningham, who came from the tail after his spin, by just 0.049 seconds for fifth. Bayle dropped to seventh after running in the top three for the first 14 laps. Charlie Utsinger, Ashton Riggs, and Trent Marshall completed the top 10. Long and Mollick won the heat races.
Jeremy Doubled entered the 2024 season tied with Brandon Blackshear atop the all-time win list for the Econo Mods; however, it took until August 24 of that season to break the tie and achieve sole possession of first place. Double however was shutout of victory lane in 2025, but on Saturday night kicked off 2026 in fine fashion back in victory lane. Double started seventh and took the lead on a restart on lap eight and led the rest of the way in 20-lap Alcon Mechanical feature. Double earned $600 for the victory thanks to 27 cars on hand.
"We did something a little different this year and it worked out pretty well," revealed the 30-year-old Bristolville, Ohio native. "The car is a lot more comfortable and I'm a lot happier with it. A big thanks to the guys at MasterSbilt for getting us a really good piece and working with us. I have to thank Tom and Regina Sok for giving me the opportunity to drive this car and all of the people on board."
Gary Sullivan took charge early on, while Jacob Eucker passed Gary Robinson II for second on the opening lap. Double quickly became a contender reaching third already by lap three. The top three of Sullivan, Eucker, and Double pulled away from the pack by lap five. On lap six, Double drove around Eucker in turn four to take over a second. Double's winning move came two laps later following a caution with seven laps scored. Eucker regained second when he passed Sullivan on lap nine.
Once in front, Double never looked back and took the checkered flag first for his 23rd career win by a big margin over Eucker of 4.924 seconds in the Tom Sok-owned, Bala Management/Capital C Machine Tool Services/Close Racing Supply/All Star Performance/Glunt Industries/C&R Tire/Malone Diesel & Automotive-sponsored #83. Brian Toto was third. Clay Ruffo went eighth to fourth. Sullivan dropped to fifth. Longwell, Derek Tessean, Jonathan Davis, Shayne Meadows, and Buzz Seitz completed the top 10. Heat winners were Bryan Wagner, Ruffo, and Double.
Coleton Longwell won the Crown Vic debut at Sharon in 2025. On Saturday night, Longwell was doing triple duty also competing the UMP and Econo Mod divisions. In the Crown Vics, Longwell started 10th and took the lead for good on lap 11 then held off Branden Porter for the win in the 15-lap Gibson Insurance Agency feature.
"It was a long night," acknowledged the 25-year-old Kinsman, Ohio resident. "We fought issues all night. We had distributor and carburetor go in one car and broke a brake floater in another car. We struggled all night and part of that is me trying to beat the wall down. This however was fun and honestly was the most racey I felt all night; any little slip up and you could capitalize. These cars are the best learning class there is because they race three and four-wide and almost everyone is about equal. I'm probably done after this. I wanted to try this car and make sure it was good. Now we're probably just going to throw random people in to give them an opportunity to race."
Like Wilson in the UMP Mods, it was also Longwell's sixth career victory at Sharon coming in three different divisions. Longwell's second in the Crown Vics came in his #7. Porter, who has run several other divisions at Sharon as well, was a career best second. Brandon Albert, a former RUSH Sportsman Modified racer, was third over Brian Krepps and Dave Hanshaw, Jr. Albert won the lone heat race.
Coming next Saturday (June 13) will see Ohio Sprint Speedweek make a stop at Sharon in a $7,500 to-win event for the All Star Circuit of Champions. The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Mods will also be on the card. It’ll be A&MP Electric Night.
RUSH Late Model Touring Series presented by Kuhnle Motorsports Park (30 laps, $4,000 to-win): 1. JOE MARTIN (Stockdale 31) 2. Dave Hess, Jr. (Anderson 44) 3. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 4. Christian Schneider (Daugherty 56) 5. Kyle Zimmerman (Stockdale 101) 6. Kurt Stebbins (26) 7. Demetrios Drellos (111) 8. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42) 9. Austin Allen (Mullen 32) 10. Jason Knowles (4) 11. Ben Easler (02) 12. Logan Zarin (Beach 33x) 13. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8s) 14. Breyton Santee (9) 15. Cory Sines (25s) 16. Bill Holmes III (8) 17. Zach Gunn (17G) 18. Ashton Briggs (11a) 19. Marino Angelicchio (55) 20. Brodie Oravetz (91B) 21. Chuck Medved (2M) 22. Ryan Hare (29) 23. Cale Schwartzmiller (28s) 24. Cody Dawson (36). DNQ: Albert Bull (19), Jake Gunn (14G) & Jeff Watson (1*).
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply UMP Mods presented by A&MP Electric (20 laps, $1,000 to-win): 1. 10-ERIC WILSON[1]; 2. 12R-Ty Rhoades[8]; 3. 7-Coleton Longwell[3]; 4. 1-Vinnie DePizzo[6]; 5. 77D-Dustin DeMattia[10]; 6. 71L-Dennis Lunger Jr[2]; 7. 151-Jeremy Holbrook[12]; 8. 92-Joel Watson[4]; 9. 52-Zac Etzel[5]; 10. 9T-Mason Canter[14]; 11. 12-Mitchell Lam[7]; 12. 4J-Jim Plance[9]; 13. 29J-Dennis Dellinger[13]; 14. 27-Nathaniel Arp[11]. DNS: 71C-Chris Basich.
Gibson Insurance Agency RUSH Sprint Cars (20 laps): 1. 4J-JOHN MOLLICK[3]; 2. 68-Zach Morrow[1]; 3. 55-Luke Mulichak[7]; 4. 9-Arnie Kent[4]; 5. 63L-Wyatt Long[5]; 6. 44C-Bill Cunningham[10]; 7. 21-Grayson Bayle[2]; 8. 23-Charlie Utsinger[11]; 9. 82-Ashton Riggle[8]; 10. 17-Trent Marshall[12]; 11. 10-Brayden Blackshear[6]; 12. 13K-Kevin Kaserman[13]; 13. 48T-TJ Rosario[14]; 14. 24-Gale Ruth Jr[9].
Alcon Mechanical Econo Mods (20 laps, $600 to-win): 1. 83-JEREMY DOUBLE[7]; 2. 64-Jacob Eucker[3]; 3. 8B-Brian Toto[5]; 4. 14R-Clay Ruffo[8]; 5. 47S-Gary Sullivan[2]; 6. 7-Coleton Longwell[14]; 7. 10-Derek Tessean[4]; 8. 8-Jonathan Davis[6]; 9. 224-Shayne Meadows[10]; 10. 4RJ-Robert Simmons[11]; 11. B1-Buzz Seitz[17]; 12. 9T-Mason Canter[15]; 13. 9G-Arianna Samuelson[16]; 14. 344R-Gary Robinson II[1]; 15. 31-Seth Brenot[13]; 16. 24R-Derrick Randolph[12]; 17. 71A-Don Watson[21]; 18. 35-Rick Wilson Jr[19]; 19. 44-Lucas McEwen[20]; 20. 89-Junior Mechling[23]; 21. 56-Bryan Wagner[9]; 22. T4-Travis Lueckert[22]; 23. 89C-Travis Carothers[18]. DNS: 17-Dennis Dellinger, 11J-Ryan Johnston, 00-Jason Longwell, 79-John Shetler.
Gibson Insurance Agency Crown Vics (15 laps): 1. 7-COLETON LONGWELL[10]; 2. 16-Branden Porter[6]; 3. 30-Brandon Albert[4]; 4. 4-Brian Krepps[5]; 5. 83-Dave Hanshaw Jr[7]; 6. 309-Jacob Moon[1]; 7. 10J-Bill Fuchs[9]; 8. 82R-Ray Gregory[3]; 9. 37-Adam Burns[8]; 10. 26-Bradley Shaffer[2].
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 www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonspeedway and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) .
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