Ryan Blaney, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, has officially become co-owner of Sharon Speedway alongside his father, Dave Blaney, marking a significant new chapter for the storied dirt track in Ohio. The announcement, made on May 3 as Sharon Speedway embarks on its 96th season, highlights the Blaney family’s deepening roots at the 0.375-mile oval, one of the country’s oldest continuously operated family-owned dirt tracks. Blaney’s partnership becomes effective on Saturday, May 10, as local businessman and longtime racer Will Thomas III also joins the ownership group.
Sharon Speedway has played a pivotal role in motorsports history since its opening in 1929, hosting renowned series like the World of Outlaws and the All-Star Circuit of Champions. Remarkably, it even welcomed a NASCAR Grand National Series event in 1954. The track transitioned to Blaney stewardship in 2002 when Dave Blaney, together with Jim Weller Sr., Bill, and Ron Kirila, purchased it. This year, following the passing of Weller Sr. and Ron Kirila, Ryan Blaney was added as a partner, ensuring the family’s stewardship moves forward.
The Blaney connection with Sharon Speedway runs deep—Ryan Blaney’s grandfather, Lou Blaney, was a local legend, amassing more than 600 victories, including 121 Modified and 11 Sprint Car wins during his fabled 47-year career. Dave Blaney, himself a World of Outlaws and USAC champion, made history at Sharon in 2021 by becoming the oldest driver to score a World of Outlaws win at age 58.
Ryan Blaney emphasized his personal ties to the speedway during a recent SiriusXM NASCAR Radio interview, recalling early days selling brochures at just eight years old. He expressed enthusiasm about
“joining my dad and continuing our family’s deep roots at the track,”
reflecting on the lasting legacy they hope to build.
With Ryan Blaney as co-owner, Sharon Speedway is set to launch its new era with a special 410 Sprint Cars event on May 10. A full schedule follows, featuring World of Outlaws visits in May, July, and September, the Super DIRTcar Series in August, and the venerable Lou Blaney Memorial race on August 3—a tribute to the family patriarch who ran the speedway until his passing in 2009.
For Ohio’s racing community and fans nationwide, Ryan Blaney’s involvement as co-owner represents not only a heartfelt continuation of family tradition but also a promising future for Sharon Speedway. As the 2025 season unfolds, expectations are high that the track will maintain its standing at the heart of American dirt racing, blending history with new energy and further strengthening the Blaney family’s remarkable legacy.
