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By Eric J. Westendorf
Sarver, PA (June 18, 2007) Well, that cat is out of the bag! As announced at the speedway last Friday night, the latest driver to register for the Inaugural Firecracker 100 on June 29 & 30 is a name very familiar to Lernerville Speedway patrons and Western Pennsylvania Late Model fans. John Flinner, winner of five consecutive track championships between 2001 and 2005, has confirmed with General Manager Gary Risch Jr. that he will indeed join other local racers in attempting to defend his home turf against the greatest Late Model drivers in the United States.
Always exciting, but sometimes controversial, John Flinner’s #48, (owned by John Johnson), was the car to beat for most of the first half of this decade. Whether he started up front, mid-pack, or at the tail of the field, Flinner would always make his way to the front and put on a show in the process. John Flinner’s name alone stokes passion in every fan that has seen him race. Like many successful drivers, he has a solid core of die-hard fans, as well as a solid core of boo-birds that follow him to the track. But whether you cheer or boo the man, you simply cannot deny that John Flinner puts the “Action” in the Action Track. For love or for spite, people come to the track to see him race, to see what he will do next. What he’s doing next is coming out of “retirement” to challenge for the $30,000 winner’s share of the six-figure Firecracker 100 purse.
His addition to the already impressive Firecracker 100 Entry List is just the latest name of Championship caliber talent that pops headlines and makes the Firecracker the “Must See” event of the 2007 season. Flinner joins reigning World of Outlaws Champion Tim McCreadie, former Outlaw Champions Billy Moyer and Scott Bloomquist, Two-time UMP DIRTCar Racing Summernationals Champion Shannon Babb, Two-time Southern All Stars Series Champion Chris Madden, Two-time Lucas Oil Late Model Series Champion Earl Pearson Jr., MACS and World 100 Champion Jason Covert, and former champions Chub Frank, Rick Eckert, Steve Francis, Clint Smith and Mike Balzano. Throw in “Big Ticket Race” winners Shane Clanton, Jimmy Mars, Bart Hartman and Lernerville Track Record holder Darrell Lanigan and the result is the deepest, most impressive list of Late Model racers ever assembled in the Northeast. Then when you add in Western Pennsylvania Champions Lynn Geisler, David Scott, Nick Jones, Gary Lyle, Mike Blose, Rob Blair and young hot shoes like current Lernerville/Budweiser points leader Ed Ferree, Jared Miley, Matt Lux, Jared Hawkins, and Dutch Davies, you have the recipe for what is being billed as “The Biggest Stock Car Race in Western Pennsylvania History.” Despite this lofty billing, some say it is far too modest, suggesting that it might be the biggest Dirt Late Model race the Northeast has ever seen.
For more details and/or to see the complete driver entry list, log on to www.lernerville.com. To call and purchase your advance Two-Day tickets and reserved camping spot, call the track office at (724) 353-1511.
Firecracker 100 Lap Sponsors
Lernerville Speedway is still seeking lap sponsors for the Inaugural Firecracker 100 A-Main feature event. Put your name, your business, or memoriam in the history books and some extra money in drivers’ pockets for a minimal $25 fee. Lap Sponsors will be posted at the speedway, announced over the PA system, and proudly displayed on our website. Sign up sheets are available at the speedway from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. this Friday, or contact the track office @ (724) 353-1511 for more details.
Firecracker 100 & Silver Cup XVI Tickets on Sale NOW!
Ticket sales continue to exceed all expectations for both the Inaugural Firecracker 100 and Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XVI. Firecracker 100 tickets are being sold for just $42 for 2-day reserve seats. The advance 2-day ticket purchase also entitles the buyer to a free pit pass upgrade for Friday Night’s qualifying action and exclusive access to Saturday afternoon’s driver autograph session.
Silver Cup XVI tickets are also picking up momentum with the announcement that former Lernerville Speedway All Star Sprint feature winner and Nascar Superstar Kasey Kahne will be the Grand Marshall for the event. Silver Cup XVI reserved seats can be purchased for just $32. Log on to www.lernerville.com for more details and ticket prices.
Blood Drive this Friday June 22
As mentioned in previous releases, Lernerville Speedway has once again teamed up with the Central Blood Bank for a blood donation drive this Friday June 22. Unfortunately, this blood drive will be held In Memory of Rosalie Bolland and Sandra Winkle as both have passed since last year’s drive. The Central Blood Bank Mobile Unit will be on hand @ 3:00 and will be accepting donations until the racing program begins @ 7:30. Donors will once again be given meal vouchers as a small token of our appreciation for their life-saving donation!
Budweiser Points current June 15, 2007
After another night of action-packed racing at Lernerville Speedway, there was not a whole lot of movement among the Budweiser Point Standings Leader Board.
In the Commercial Truck & Trailer Sprints, Ed Lynch Jr. remains atop Reigning Track Champion Kevin Schaeffer, but third placeholder Rod George gained ground with an impressive feature win. Carl Bowser and Danny Shetler remain fourth and fifth.
Alex Ferree had a “disappointing” third place finish, and maintains a large cushion over second place Mike Blose. Gary Lyle remains in third. Dutch Davies leaps into fourth over Reigning Track Champion Lynn Geisler and Jared Miley who are tied for fifth in the Friedman’s Supermarkets Late Models.
Brian Swartzlander continues to dominate the Ferrante Motor Cars Modifieds, coming off a fourth straight feature win. Despite his recent success, Del Rougeux Jr. and Kevin Bolland are a close second and third. Dave Murdick remains fourth, while J.R. McGinley bumps Jim Weller Jr. out of fifth place.
Mike Pegher Jr. extended his points lead in the Advance Auto Parts Pure Stocks with his second feature win of the season and seventh heat race win, (more than any driver in any division this season). Bob Egley and Joe Kelley switch second and fourth place positions, with Egley now in second, Kelley now in fourth. Jason Fosnaught stays between them in third and Greg Beach holds on to fifth place.
Friedman's Supermarket Night "Fab Four" Racing
The Lernerville Speedway is proud to welcome Late Model title sponsor Friedman’s Supermarkets for their annual Friedman's Supermarket Night this Friday June 22. It will also mark the annual Twin State Auto Racing Club Night. All Fab Four divisions will be in action. There are expected to be an extraordinary amount of Late Models on hand for a final tune up before the much-hyped, long-awaited Inaugural Firecracker 100 and Uncle Sam 30 the following Friday/Saturday June 29/30.
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