By:  Mike Leone

Dave Murdick came out on top of a wild night of DIRTcarBig-Block Modified racing for his third straight win on the circuit.  LikeSodeman, Murdick became the fifth different "Lou Blaney Memorial"winner in as many Modified events and pocketed $2,000 in the 30-lap BRPTour-sanctioned, Governor Insurance Agency feature.  Murdick's win adds tosome $3,700 won

last weekend at Lernerville Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park!

"I was running the bottom, but I wanted to be on top but couldn't get thechance to get up there," explained the 50-year-old Butler, Pa.native when asked about missing the big accident.  "Low and behold itturned out to be the right spot.  Racing with Lou (Blaney) was quite anhonor and when you beat him you knew you beat the best, but that wasn't veryoften.  I have to thank my entire crew- without them none of this would bepossible."

Rob Curtis overtook Max Smoker on the start and quickly pulled away on lap twoas Steve Feder moved into second.  Rex King, Jr. started sixth, but washalfway to the front in three laps when he passed Smoker. "Cooter's" father, King, Sr., followed two laps later taking fourthfrom Smoker.

After a pair of cautions with five laps scored, both Kings raced past Feder forsecond and third on laps six and seven respectively.  Five more laps werecompleted before the race was slowed when Jeff Schaffer couldn't make it offthe speedway.  All hell broke loose on the ensuing restart. The elder Kingdove by his son "Cooter" and tried to get by leader Curtis enteringthree.  The two made contact and resulted in at least a 15-carpile-up.  King, Sr. got the worst of it taking a series of flips for thesecond straight BRP Tour event.  All drivers were okay.

When the carnage was cleared, Brad Rapp inherited the lead over Jimmy Holden,Murdick, and Kevin Hoffman.  Back under green flag racing, the ninthstarting Murdick passed Holden for second on the restart with Hoffman followingin third.  Rapp's lead would only last a lap as Murdick took over on lap12 for what would be the winning move.

Rapp remained within striking distance over the next 17 laps until a cautionfor Dillion Barr with 29 laps scored.  BRP Tour point leader, ChadBrachmann, was involved in the big accident and worked his way back forwardgetting past Rapp for second when racing resumed on lap 30;

however, the event's final caution was displayed when Barr and Carl Murdickmade contact setting up a five-lap shootout to the finish.

New Yorkracers Jimmy Phelps and Justin Wright passed Rapp on laps 31 and 32 for thirdand fourth respectively.  Murdick now had three Empire Stateracers that were all caught up in the big accident on his heels, but he hadenough to hold off the trio in his Steve's Auto Body-sponsored, Dunk'sCompetition Engines-powered #61.  It was Murdick's second Sharon win of

the season and eighth of his career, but first since May 18.

Brachmann was second in his first appearance of the season.  Phelps wasthird in his first ever Sharonvisit with 17th starting Wright and Rapp completing the top five.  Sixththrough 10th were Rob Kristyak, Steve Barr, Eric Gabany, Bob Warren, and MikeTurner.  Heat victors were

Brachmann, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Curtis, and Feder.  Wright and JoeKubiniec won the last chance B mains.

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BRP Tour Big-Block Modifieds (35 laps,$2,000 to-win): 1. DAVE MURDICK(61)  2. ChadBrachmann (3)  3. JimmyPhelps (Heinke/Baldwin 98H)  4. Justin Wright(19W)  5. Brad Rapp (11R) 6. Rob Kristyak (00)  7. Steve Barr(25B)  8. Eric Gabany (3E)  9. Bob Warren (96B)  10. Mike Turner(96)  11. Kevin Hoffman (17H)  12. Dave Reges (27R)  13. RandyChrysler (21K)  14. Carl Murdick (6)  15. Dillion Barr (15B) 16. Rex King, Jr. (165)  17. Jeremiah Shingledecker (37MD) 18. JoeKubiniec (19)  19. Max Smoker (5)  20. Erik Martin (29E)  21.

Jimmy Holden (28H)  22. Rob Curtis (McElhaney 6 7/8)  23. Rex King(65) 24. Steve Feder (45)  25. Jeff Schaffer (4)  26. Tom Mattocks(69).  DNQ:Don Brown (71B), Rick Ryder (Snider 189), Tommy Marshall III(Hinkle 77),Mark Frankhouser (03), Ken Moy, Jr. (34), Jim McGowen (McElhaney7), Brian Swartzlander (83), Scott Rodgers (55), Ron Cartwright, Jr. (2B),Jimmy Weller III (31), Jim Rasey (32), Kevin Green (74), Ricky Richner (26).