Western PA drivers get early start in FL/GA

lernervilleFrom Lernerville Speedway

Sarver, PA — (February 17, 2013) — Earlier this month, the most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania claimed that spring was on the way.  And while we here in Western PA are still waiting for that proclamation to come true, several of our most successful drivers have left the cold weather and snow to bask in the warmth and sunshine of Florida and Georgia for the beginning of the 2013 season.

Former Lernerville Speedway Sprint Car Track Champions Tim Shaffer, Dale Blaney and Danny Holtgraver have already competed in All Star Circuit of Champions action at Bubba Raceway Park and are currently competing against the World of Outlaws at Volusia Speedway Park during the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals.  Second generation hot shoe Jack Sodeman Jr. also made the trip south for the All Star portion of Speedweeks at BRP in the Rudzik Excavating #94.

Last night’s World of Outlaws action saw Holtgraver turn the third quickest lap in time trials, while Tim Shaffer raced home to a fourth place finish in the “Greatest Show on Dirt!”  Shaffer and Blaney both scored top five finishes in All Star competition last weekend at Bubba Raceway Park, while Holtgraver finished just outside the top ten both nights.  Sodeman had one of those “just out of the transfer nights” on opening night, but came back to make the A-Main the following night; finishing 20th against a stout field of competition which included most of the Outlaws, PA Posse and NASCAR star Tony Stewart.

2010/2011 Lernerville Speedway Late Model Track Champion Dave Hess Jr. is once again doing “Double Duty” racing against the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and UMP Modifieds.  In his Late Model ventures, Hess is joined by fellow Western PA gas masher Gregg Satterlee.  Both drivers made Saturday Night’s World of Outlaws A-Main at Bubba Raceway Park.  Hess came from 23rd to finish 14th, while Satterlee came home 23rd after starting 16th.  Despite backsliding Saturday Night, Satterlee already has a WoO LMS top five to his credit after scoring a fourth place finish at the WoO LMS opener at Screven Motor Speedway in Georgia last weekend; he backed that up with an 11th place finish the following night.

Other regional stars in Late Model action on the Florida/George circuit include Sam Stile, former Track Champion Ron Davies and last year’s Firecracker Friday Night preliminary A-Main feature winner Dan Stone.  All three have qualified for A-Mains against some of the toughest competition they’ll face all season.  Action Track Fan Favorite Chub Frank remains a World of Outlaws regular and logged best finish of the young season last night at Bubba Raceway Park with an eighth place run.

Tonight’s World of Outlaws A-Main is the final round for the 410 winged warriors at the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park as the Late Models roll in tomorrow, Monday, February 18 for six nights of UMP/World of Outlaws sanctioned action.  The UMP Modifieds will give way to the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds midweek.

Follow all the action in Florida at www.DIRTcarNationals.com or on Twitter @DIRTcarNats, @WoOLMS or @worldofoutlaws.  You can also tune in to www.DIRTVision.com to listen (for free) or watch (for a daily or package price fee).

As the action is already red hot in Florida, the Lernerville Pre-Season is now less than a month away as the Annual Awards  Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, followed by the Clearview Mall and Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills Car Shows on Thursday-Saturday March 21-23 and March 28-30 respectively.

The Annual Awards Banquet will be held at the Willow Tree/Comfort Inn & Suites in RIDC Park along Route 28 South this season and tickets can be purchased by calling the speedway office during normal business hours at (724) 353-1511.  You can also call the same number to register for either or both car shows.  Fab Four drivers that enter their car(s) into the shows get complimentary Fab Four Racing tickets to share with their friends at families.

The Fab Four Racing Opening Night is scheduled for Friday, April 19, but will be preceded by our annual Test & Tune practice session on Saturday, April 13 and the rescheduled finale of last October’s Steel City Stampede features on Sunday, April 14.  To view the entire 2013 Lernerville Speedway schedule log on to www.Lernerville.com and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Lernerville  for news & race day updates.