By Eric Westendorf
Sarver, PA (May 8, 2013) It’s been a long time since a Former Track Champion hasn’t stood in Sheetz Victory Lane at the end of an All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint feature at the Lernerville Speedway. Danny Holtgraver joined Dale Blaney and Tim Shaffer in the recent string of dominance with a thrilling $5,000 win last September. Between the three of them, they have won four in a row and six of the past seven All Star races at the Action Track! All three headline Guy Webb’s travelling road show and will be prohibitive favorites to take the checkered flag on Diehl Automotive Night this Friday, May 10!
That said, Cap Henry had a strong weekend in Western PA last Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Lernerville, Mercer and Roaring Knob; scoring the win in a last lap pass over Holtgraver Friday Night, leading most of the race only for Holtgraver to reverse fortunes Saturday Night, then just missed the top five in a Central PA/All Star laden field at Roaring Knob and won his heat race all three nights! Henry would love to go back-to-back and revisit Sheetz Victory Lane to hoist the $5,000 winner’s check!
In addition to dominating the action at Lernerville, Dale Blaney and Tim Shaffer have dominated the All Star point standings, claiming the past five titles; Blaney in 2008 & 2012 and Shaffer 2009, 2010 & 2011. They also sit atop the 2013 All Star Points with Blaney leading Shaffer by 57 points, while Henry and Holtgraver enter the weekend third and fourth in points.
In addition to the All Star Sprints, the RUSH Dirt Late Model Series will make its Action Track debut this Friday night with a $700-to-win program. Spearheaded by Vicki Emig and Mike Leone, the RUSH Dirt Late Model Series was created this off-season after the two parted ways after a successful multiyear venture with the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Series. Former Pure Stock Track Champions Mike Pegher Jr. and Butch Lambert will be back on their home track for the event, along with Steel City Stampede “King of the Hill” winner Joe Martin.
Friday Night is the first of three races scheduled for the RUSH Dirt Late Models at Lernerville in 2013. The next event is a $1,200-to-win Touring Series race on Friday, July 5 along with the BOSS Wingless Sprints and they’ll take part in the season ending DIRTcar Round Up Steel City Stampede in October as well with a $2,000-to-win Touring Series race to crown their 2013 Champion.
Friday Night’s card with also include the Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar Sportsman as Defending Track Champion and Budweiser Points leader Corey McPherson looks to repeat last Friday’s feature win over a hard charging AJ Flick. Flick, along with 2012 Bud points runner-up Jim Fosnaught and an upstart Brett McDonald look to crack the code and end the night in Sheetz Victory Lane.
Pit and General Admission gates open at 5:00 and hot laps at set to hit the track at 6:50 with All Star Sprint Time Trials to follow. Adult General Admission is just $25 and as always, kids 10 & under are admitted FREE!