|
When Lernerville Speedway threw open the gates to its 40th season Friday night, as is tradition a handful of non-regular competitors used the early season racing as a tune up of sorts, getting ready for regular competition at their speedway of choice. Friday, March 30 was no exception as a few notable names were signed in to the pits. Sprint winner Bob Felmlee, Late Model pilot Mark Banal and Pure Stock standout Bobby Whitling were just a few who used Lernerville’s early opener as a shakedown night.
The two most notable of the visitors however had to be “Kid Rocket” Josh Richards who was taking a night off from the rigors of the World of Outlaws 360 OTC Late Models and Chad Brachmann of Sanborn New York , a regular in New York ’s ultra competitive Modified country.
While Richards came a close second to Lernerville regular Alex Feree, it was all Brachmann in the Ferrante Motorcars V-8 Modified feature.
After his heat win, Brachmann started the 25 lap feature in the fifth by virtue of the re-draw. With his only real competition on this opening night being Joe Crawford and past track champion Brian Swartzlander, Brachmann took the lead for good on lap four. In typical opening night jitters, the caution flag was displayed early and often during the entire night and the V-8 Modified feature was no exception. With each restart though, Brachmann took control and stretched his lead immediately. By mid race, he led second place finisher Swartzlander by a straightaway, at times leading by nearly a half lap.
Brachmann took his Original Pizza Logs Bicknell under the checkers first with Swartzlander, Jim Weller Jr., Tom Winkle and Jeremiah Shingledecker rounding out the top five. In victory lane, Brachmann who towed 3 ½ hours to race at Lernerville agreed that it was a worthwhile drive, “Oh absolutely! I’ll tell you what, we’ve been here before in the past and always liked coming here and this is a great time for me to come down here and shake it down. We’ve got a whole new motor program this year and it works good so far!”
He had high praises for Lernerville’s track crew as well, “The track was in really good shape. Considering this time of year, I’ve got to take my hat off to Gary Risch and his whole crew. They put a fantastic job toward this whole effort tonight.”
Back at the trailer after the victory lane celebrations, Brachmann spoke about the win, “Yeah, I’ll tell you what, the setup, we were right on tonight. We made a couple of changes to adjust for the slick track. I got a little bit of a different motor combination this year and I’ll tell you it feels really good so far.”
In response to the suggestion that he outclassed the Lernerville regulars, Brachmann took a far more modest approach, “I don’t think I took any of these guys to school. I mean they’re all top runners; Brian Swartzlander, Kevin Bolland and all the other guys that run here. I just think that we just hit the setup a little better than they did. It was a good night for us that’s for sure.”
The Lernerville regulars might do well to hit the setup better themselves for next week as Brachmann was hinting that he might be inclined to make the tow again. “With my job, I have off for Good Friday next Friday; it’s a good possibility we’ll be back.”
Besides Brachmann, Lernerville’s other “Fab Four” division winners were: Alex Feree, Friedman’s Late Models; Bob Felmlee, Commercial Truck and Trailer Sprints and Mike Pegher, Advance Auto Parts Pure Stocks.
Lernerville Speedway’s racing season continues this Friday, April 6, 2007 at 7:30. |
|
