By Eric Westendorf
August 18, 2011 (Sarver, PA) The 2011 Budweiser Track Champions will officially be crowned next Friday, August 26, but two of the titles could be decided this Friday, August 19 on Flynn Tire & Scout Night at Lernerville Speedway!
Last week’s Ti22 Sprint feature winner Carl Bowser could lock up the title over future Hall of Famer Rod George. Bowser will need to rack up points in National Guard heat race action, as he’ll have to come from twelfth on the starting grid come feature time!
While Bowser could clinch, Defending Precise Late Model Track Champion Dave Hess Jr. will clinch, needing just six points to secure his second straight title. All Hess needs to do Friday night is start both his heat and feature; which will result in a combined seven points and the 2011 Budweiser Track Championship.
The water is much muddier in the Diehl Mods and Pic-P-Part Sportsman divisions where a handful of drivers are still in the mix in both divisions!
In the Diehl Mods, 2009 Track Champion Jeremiah Shingledecker leads the way, but division wins leader Dave Murdick and Defending Track Champion Kevin Bolland are within 13 points of the lead! All Time divisions wins leader Brian Swartzlander has not yet been mathematically eliminated but, (70 points behind Shingledecker), does not have a realistic shot at this year’s Track Championship.
As is the case on most Friday nights, the tightest race is in the Pic-A-Part Sportsman division where Defending Track Champion Joe Kelley assumed the points lead two weeks ago and enters Friday Night’s competition with a scant one point lead over Mike Miller. Close behind them are young guns Corey McPherson and AJ Flick, as well as Comeback Driver of the Year candidate Rob Shook! There are less than 20 points between Kelley in first and Shook in fifth; with two nights remaining, anything can happen and any of these five drivers could walk away from Sheetz Victory Lane on August 26 with an invitation to the head table for the Lernerville Awards Banquet!
There is some good news to report in the horrible traffic accident involving the Lynch family last weekend, in which Jean Lynch and her grandsons were injured and taken to a Fort Wayne, IN hospital Trauma Unit. Both Jean and Zane had surgery Monday to repair compound fractures, (Jean to her lower leg, Zane to his femur and arm), but are now home recovering. Ed Lynch Jr.’s sons Eddie III and Sye were released within 24 hours of the accident with severe bruising, but no broken bones.
To help offset their medical, travel and other associated expenses resulting from this shocking ordeal, Lernerville Speedway will be hosting a Chinese auction Friday Night. Fab Four Racing drivers have been asked to donate used/autographed wing, body and nose panels, driver t-shirts and other memorabilia. There will also be assorted baskets, including multiple ticket packages. Items will be displayed behind the grandstands with tickets being sold at 3 for $1 and $5 for an arm’s length.
Fans are being asked to break out and wear their Ed Lynch Jr. #2L t-shirts, new or old to support the cause! Every fan wearing an Ed Lynch Jr. #2L t-shirt will receive a FREE Chinese auction ticket!
Get well cards and wishes will also be accepted and delivered to Jean, Eddie, Sye and Zane.
More good news on the recovery front as Ti22 Sprint car star Jack Sodeman Jr. took his first steps this week after a horrific on-track accident in Canada earlier in the summer! Jack has a long recovery ahead, but he’s headed towards the checkered flag!