By: Mike Leone

Last season Jim Weller, Jr. won five features including the "Russ King Memorial" and "Johnny Zdelar Memorial" events. Weller certainly didn't pick up where he left off in 2014 as the start of the 2015 season hasn't been what the veteran racer had hoped for. Maybe though it took another special event for Weller to get back on track, as on Saturday night Weller charged from the eighth starting spot to pass point leader and three-time winner, Rex King, Jr., for the 35-lap, $2,000 Modified Tour feature win- his first of the season.

"That was a tough race," acknowledged the Hubbard, Ohio great. "Cooter (King, Jr.) got behind some lapped cars and if he didn't, I don't know if I would have got by him- he's good. That was my fault on the last restart, I pushed up a little and Cooter was there. I take the blame, I screwed that one up. The tires heated up a bit and it was fun. It's been a tough year so far. The first car I bought was a Tobias from Lou Blaney."

Tom Glenn led the opening lap before Jeremiah Shingledecker took over on lap two. King, Jr. started sixth and made his way to second on lap 10 taking the spot from New York invader Erick Rudolph. King, Jr. caught Shingledecker on lap 13. Then on lap 14, Shingledecker had to negotiate the lapped car of Shawn Fleeger, while King, Jr. made it three-wide for the lead racing off turn two. King prematurely took the lead, but meanwhile in turn three, Justin Rasey lost the handle and spun. Shingledecker was running the top and couldn't get slowed down enough to avoid Rasey as he brushed the fence and came to a rest with a flat tire.

King, Jr. was now the new leader on lap 14. Dave Murdick was running third, but broke and couldn't clear the track forcing another caution with 15 laps in the record books. This moved Weller to third for the restart, but it took until lap 26 for him to work by Rudolph for second. Weller had a half-straightaway to make up on King, Jr. Weller began to cut into the lead and really closed in on lap 28. The two were side-by-side for the lead on lap 30 with Weller making the outside work in turn four in lapped traffic to take over, while King passed Rudolph for third.

A caution for Shawn Kozar slowed action for the final time and set up a four-lap shootout to the finish. Weller chose the bottom for the restart and made heavy contact with King, Jr., who looked like he might have a shot at regaining the lead, entering turn one. Everyone kept going and no one lost any positions. Weller went on for his 32nd career Big-Block Modified win and 38th overall at Sharon by 1.360 seconds in the Zip Motorsports owned, Liberty Steel Products-sponsored #31. Weller joins Jack Johnson, Rasey, Kristyak, Kevin Bolland, Murdick, and King, Jr. as winners of the prestigious "Lou Blaney Memorial" Modified portion.

King, Jr. beat his father across the finish line for second. Rudolph dropped to fourth over fellow New York racer Ricky Richner, who started ninth. Garrett Krummert, 14th starting Brad Rapp, 18th starting Jim Rasey, Justin Wright, and Rob Kristyak completed the top 10. Heat winners were Weller, Richner, Rick Regalski, Jr., and King over the season high 34-car field. Brian Swartzlander won the B main.

Big-Block Modified Tour (35 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. JIM WELLER, JR. (31) 2. Rex King, Jr. (165) 3. Rex King (65) 4. Erick Rudolph (Chrysler 21R) 5. Ricky Richner (26) 6. Garrett Krummert (29) 7. Brad Rapp (11R) 8. Jim Rasey (32) 9. Justin Wright (19W) 10. Rob Kristyak (00) 11. Kevin Bolland (777) 12. Brian Swartzlander (83) 13. Jimmy Weller III (23) 14. Rick Regalski, Jr. (13) 15. Eric Gabany (3E) 16. Steve Feder (45) 17. Steve Barr (25B) 18. Carl Murdick (6) 19. Tom Glenn (83T) 20. Mark Frankhouser (03) 21. Shawn Fleeger (88) 22. Shawn Kozar (3K) 23. Dave Murdick (61) 24. Justin Rasey (21) 25. Jeremiah Shingledecker (37MD) 26. Kevin Hoffman (00).

DNQ from the B main: Dillon Barr (25), Max Smoker (5), Randy Chronister (71), Tiffany Williams (58), Rodney Beltz (64), Tom Mattocks (69), Randy Chrysler (21K), Dave Reges (27R).