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By Eric J. Westendorf
Sarver, PA (July 5, 2007) They say there’s no rest for the wicked, and Lernerville Speedway will prove that old axiom true with another Fast Friday of Fab Four Racing tomorrow night July 6 at the famed Sarver oval.
The Inaugural Firecracker 100 managed to exceed everyone’s expectations, proving once again that hard work pays off. The track prep, maintenance, food service and office staff worked countless hours for weeks building up to the single biggest weekend in the track’s 40 year history and it showed all weekend. On behalf of the entire Lernerville Speedway family, we would like to extend a sincere “Thank You” to all the drivers, crews and fans for a wonderful weekend of racing and all the positive feedback that followed.
But now it’s back to the business of Friday night racing chasing the Budweiser Points Fund. All Fab Four divisions will be back in action this week; Commercial Truck & Trailer Sprints, Friedman’s Freshmarkets Late Models, Ferrante Motor Cars Modifieds and Advance Auto Parts Pure Stocks.
While the local late model drivers were battling the best of the best at the Firecracker, Commercial Truck & Trailer Sprint Car legend Ed Lynch Jr. was out west beating the All Star Circuit of Champion drivers at Eldora for the final night of Ohio Sprint Speedweek. Lynch’s $10,000 payday was his first win at the famed speedway now owned by NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart and the 201st of his storied career. But “The Apollo Rocket” is not the only sprint car pilot racking up wins. The “Kittanning Comet” Rod George has also hit his stride ever since teaming up with longtime car owner Dr. John Crawford who now supplies George with all the horsepower he needs. George has been on a tear winning races at Lernerville, Mercer and Tri-City.
Alex Ferree will be looking to win lucky number seven in the Friedman’s Freshmarkets Late Models. But he’ll have to hold off a solid field of drivers who are as hungry as he is. Reigning Track Champion Lynn Geisler is long over due for a visit to Victory Lane and is just starting to get his car and setup where it needs to be. David Scott has reportedly parted ways with Rick Peterman and will be slinging around a brand new, family-owned Rocket Chassis in the near future. And you have to figure John Flinner will be back to show that he hasn’t forgotten how to get around the Action Track.
In the Ferrante Motor Cars Modifieds, Dave Murdick is coming off his first win in over a year, but Brian Swartzlander has been the dominant force all season. Swartzlander has five feature wins and three second place finishes. The big story from the last Fab Four show, (on June 22), was the incident between Kevin Bolland and Jeremiah Shingledecker, which also collected Del Rougeux Jr. Bolland was shown the black flag for rough driving. Shingledecker and Rougeux were unable to return to action. Bolland and Shingledecker have both won features this year and Rougeux has been a model of consistency with seven top fives. Before the incident Bolland and Shingledecker had the cars to beat, while Rougeux is long over due in Victory Lane!
While Lynch, Ferree and Swartzlander have dominated their divisions, the Advance Auto Parts Pure Stocks are always the wild card. With arguably the deepest field of competitors, a dozen cars are capable of winning on any given night. Six different drivers have been to victory lane so far, Reigning Track Champion Butch Lambert, Bud points leader Mike Pegher Jr., Joe Kelley and Paul Schreckengost have each done it twice. Greg Beach along with Jim and Jason Fosnaught will all be looking to become the seventh different driver to take the checkers.
One major change at the speedway this weekend is the debut of Cory Stivason as Track Photographer. Cory has been a free lance photographer the past few seasons, and has assumed the position previously held by Dan Fennell. Good luck to both Cory and Dan on their new endeavors.
In addition to the on-track action, this Friday night will be “Christmas in July” at Lernerville Speedway. Santa Claus will be on hand to pass out gifts to the feature winners in Victory Lane and to the fans in the stands. Before the races begin, National City Kid’s Club members will be decorating ornaments with Carol & Renee. Christmas will also come early for one lucky “Fan of the Week” applicant who will be drawn to receive two free tickets to the upcoming Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XVI on July 17.
Speaking of the Silver Cup, the second biggest event at Lernerville this season, the 16th annual event is now less than two weeks away. The 40-lap $30,000 to win World of Outlaws Sprint Car event will showcase the best sprint car drivers in the country including 20-time Outlaw Champion Steve Kinser, Reigning Outlaw Champion Donny Schatz, Former Outlaw Champion Danny “The Dude” Lasoski, pilot of the Tony Stewart owned #20 sprint car Paul McMahon and pilot of the Kasey Kahne owned #9 sprint car Joey Saldana. Not only will his car be racing, but Kasey Kahne himself will be in attendance July 17 filling the role of Grand Marshall for the event. As always, Ed Lynch Jr. will be in the hunt, trying to pick up his second Silver Cup. 2005 Silver Cup XIV winner and former Lernerville Track Champion Tim Shaffer will also be looking to put on a show for his “home track” fans and cash another $30,000 check. Dale Blaney, also a former Lernerville Track Champion and current All Star sprint car regular, will try once again to etch his name in Silver Cup history.
For the second time this season, Lernerville Speedway will be featured in a nationally broadcast hour-long television program. Earlier this spring, the April 17 World of Outlaws Late Model Series “Showdown in Sarvertown” was rebroadcast on SPEED. On July 22 from Noon - 1 p.m., the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XVI will be nationally broadcast, this time on ESPN2. Still the biggest single-day-show purse on the World of Outlaw Tour, the Silver Cup is one of the showcase events in the “Month of Money” series that will air weekly on ESPN2 Sunday mornings/afternoons.
Tickets are on sale now and with the announcement of Kasey Kahne as Grand Marshall, tickets are selling fast. Reserved seats are being sold for $32 for adults, general admission is $29 for adults, kids under 10 are FREE. Discounts are available for seniors and children on reserved and general admission tickets. Pit passes are $35 for DIRT Members or $40 for non-DIRT Members for all ages. To purchase your tickets in advance, call the track office at (724) 353-1511 or log on to www.lernerville.com for more details.
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