9:15 AM
Sprint Car and Modified racing legend Lou Blaney, father of NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dave Blaney, died on Jan. 25. He was 69.
Blaney, of Harford, Ohio, piled up more than 600 wins and more championships than he could count in Sprint Cars and Modifieds during a career that ultimately earned him a Hall of Fame induction in 2000.
His feats at Lernerville Speedway are matched only by the elite drivers in the track's 41-year history. He is second to only Bob Wearing Sr. in career feature wins (118) and track championships (seven). In one incredible stretch from 1972-1975, Blaney captured 49 wins and four consecutive track titles in Sprint Cars. He then moved into the Modified class and reeled off championships in 1980, 1991 and 1996, along with a division-leading 69 feature wins. He also drove a Modified to a career-best second-place finish in 1981 at the New York State Fairgrounds during Super DIRT Week events.
In recent years the Blaney family, including Lou's wife, Kate, has owned and operated Sharon Speedway in Burghill, Ohio, site of several World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws Late Model Series events.
