By Eric Westendorf
August 31, 2011 (Sarver, PA) The All Star Circuit of Champion Sprints, featuring three former Lernerville Speedway Track Champions, roll into the Action Track this Friday, September 2 for a $5,000-to-win showdown with the Ti22 Performance DIRTcar Sprints. 1993 Track Champion Tim Shaffer carries the All Star flag as the defending Series Champion and current National and Ohio Region points leader. Dale Blaney (1991 Track Champion) is second in both point standings. Shaffer and Blaney split the Don Martin Memorial Silver Twins 30s in July and are favorites to roll into Sheetz Victory Lane Friday Night. 2010 Track Champion Danny Holtgraver is fourth in Ohio Region standings, while Pete Miller III is fifth in National points.
It is with heavy hearts that we head into one of the biggest nights of sprint car racing on the 2011 Lernerville schedule without one of the biggest fans of local sprint car racing. While based out of Central PA, Area Auto Racing News co-editor and writer Jerry Reigle was also a huge fan and supporter of Western PA and All Star Sprint car racing. Jerry lost his brave battle with cancer Tuesday morning, but will be watching from on high as the winged warriors tear up the Action Track Friday Night. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday.
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and to that end, below please find the “Final 50”, (Jerry’s signature column in Area Auto Racing News), about Friday Night’s All Star in tribute to my friend and colleague Jerry Reigle.
1. Former Lernerville Track Champion and Defending All Star Series Champion Tim Shaffer returns to the Action Track for the first time since winning his second Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup back in July.
2. Former Track and All Star Champion Dale Blaney also returns after winning $15,000 for claiming the first Twin 30 lap feature of the Silver Cup.
3. Local sensation turned All Star touring regular Pete Miller III is eager to show the hometown crowd what he’s learned on the road this summer!
4. After becoming the youngest driver to win a Sprint Car Track Championship in the 40+ year history of Lernerville Speedway in 2010, Danny Holtgraver has been following the All Star Ohio Region events, where he currently rides fourth in points.
5. 2006/2007 All Star Champion Greg Wilson is currently fifth in Ohio Region Points and finished fifth in last Friday’s Championship Night Ti22 Sprint Feature.
6. Wilson stopped into the Action Track last Friday Night for a tune-up, but failed to transfer out of his heat. As mentioned above, he finished fifth in the feature, but did so from 16th on the starting grid after winning the B-Main!
7. Jessica Zemken sits seventh in All Star National Points. Jessica intended to race in this year’s Silver Cup, but watched from the roof of the press box after her hauler broke down.
8. Her boyfriend Tony Stewart failed to make the A-Main of the Silver Cup!
9. Former Three-Time Track Champion Kevin Schaeffer had his best feature finish of the season on Championship Night.
10. Carl Bowser makes his debut as “Track Champion” this Friday Night after adding his name to the prestigious list of Sprint Car Track Champions at Lernerville Speedway.
11. Danny Smith is 11th in All Star National Points and sixth in Ohio Region points. Smith won a classic battle with Rod George in a 2007 All Star race at the Action Track and more recently the May 6 Ti22 Sprint feature.
12. Well, 12.339 actually; the Lernerville Speedway Track Record held by Kasey Kahne Racing/World of Outlaws star Joey Saldana. Per his Twitter account, Joey was cleared to start rehab on his broken arm yesterday. We wish Joey a full and speedy recovery as he enters the rehabilitation phase of his recovery.
13. Brandon “The Wheelman” Matus has made 2011 his coming out party! He started his first World of Outlaws A-Main in July and won his first Ti22 Sprint feature on August 5.
14. Kevin Schaeffer has 14 career Ti22 Sprint feature wins at Lernerville Speedway.
15. Opening Night Ti22 Sprint feature winner Cole Duncan is 15th in All Star Ohio Region points.
16. Rick Ferkel has 16 career feature wins at Lernerville Speedway. His iconic “Ferkel Circle” Sprint car was driven by 16 year old Chris Bell of Norman, OK last Friday Night.
17. While neither is scheduled to race Friday Night, both Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell have 17 career feature wins at the Action Track!
18. Brad Doty was inducted into the Lernerville Speedway Hall of Fame in February.
19. Speaking of Hall of Fame drivers, former pilot of the R19 on the World of Outlaws tour Jac Haudenschild is planning on racing with the All Stars at the Action Track Friday Night!
20. Brian Ellenberger, a veteran of both the Lernerville Speedway and the All Stars, has three feature wins at the Action Track in 2011.
21. David Gravel set quick time at Mercer Raceway Park last Saturday Night and finished second to feature winner Tim Shaffer.
22. Brandon Spithaler won his National Guard heat race last Friday Night.
23. Jack Sodeman Jr. was seen at Mercer Raceway Park driving his personal vehicle. We’re all looking forward to seeing him back behind the wheel of his race vehicle!
24. “Cowboy” Brian Steinman has taken a major step forward in 2011; almost winning his first career feature at the Action Track this summer.
25. Australian Marty Perovich won his heat race and scored a top ten in his Lernerville debut last week.
26. Fellow Australian Luke Bowey also has a heat race win and a top ten finish at the Action Track this season.
27. Daryn Pittman won the May 20 Ti22 Sprint feature, then won the next night at Mercer Raceway Park.
28. Championship Night Ti22 Sprint feature winner Andy McKisson is 28th in Ohio Region Points.
29. Our dearly departed friend Jerry Reigle was the 2009 Bill Steinbach Media Award winner.
30. Bob Felmlee, a semi-regular traveler with the All Stars over his career, has 30 career feature wins at the Action Track; tied with fellow semi-regular All Star Traveler Jimmy Hawley
31. Just above Felmlee and Hawley on the All Time Wins list is the PR Director’s childhood hero Craig Rankin!
32. 32 Sprint Car races have been contested at the Action Track since Rod George’s last feature win on May 14, 2010. That just means that he is due!
33. Brandon Matus watched his son win his first career feature on August 5, then looked like he might win his first feature in years the following week.
34. Cap Henry is fourth in All Star National Points. Cap made a pair of appearances at the Action Track at the end of May/early June, including a top five finish on June 3.
35. The 305 Sprint Warriors make their Lernerville Speedway debut this Friday Night along with the All Star Sprints.
36. The 305s call Mercer Raceway Park home each and every Saturday Night!
37. 305 Sprint Warriors Steve Lucas and Adam Anderson competed against the 410 Sprints last Friday Night, both running the heats and B-Main.
38. Dennis Wagner won the 305 Sprint feature last Saturday at Mercer on the All Star undercard. Wagner competed against Lernerville’s 410 Sprints on Friday, July 1.
39. Hall of Famer Doug Wolfgang has 39 career All Star Sprint wins.
40. Our buddy Jeff Sheppard, still recovering from injuries sustained in a wreck a few years ago, has 40 wins with the All Stars!
41. The All Stars wins list is a “Who’s Who” of Sprint Car legends! Bobby Allen, a.k.a. “Scruffy,” has 41 career wins.
42. “The Kittanning Comet” Rod George is fifth on Lernerville’s All Time Wins for the Ti22 Sprints with 42. He also has two wins in All Star competition.
43. Free for King Richard!
44. Joe Kelley has 44 career wins in the Sportsman/Stock division at Lernerville, which will also be on the All Star undercard Friday Night.
45. Rob Chaney drives the #45 and is seventh in All Stars Ohio region points.
46. The All Star Circuit of Champions A-Main feature winner will take home $5,000!
47. Hall of Famer Ralph Quarterson is fourth on Lernerville’s All Time Sprint wins list with 47.
48. General Admission is just $20 Gates open at 5:00, Time Trials begin at 7:15 and Racing starts at 8:00!
49. Hall of Famer Lou Blaney, father of Dale Blaney, is third on the All Time Sprint Wins list with 49. He also has had 69 wins in the Diehl Modifieds.
50. Ed Lynch Jr. is the All Time Wins in the Ti22 Sprints with 105! His anticipated return for Friday Night’s All Star race could be win #106!