By Eric Westendorf
Sarver, PA (July 31, 2014) If July were March, it would be going out like a lamb, as the weather was been cool and wet, but the Dog Days of Summer lie ahead for the drivers of Fab Four Racing with the 2014 Budweiser Championships drawing to a close. With just four Fast Fridays of Fab Four Racing remaining, Carl Bowser, Alex Ferree, Rex King Jr. and Jim Fosnaught are all leading their respective divisions.
Carl Bowser was poised to roll into Sheetz Victory Lane for the fourth time this season, by Lee Jacobs thrilled the crowd with a wicked slider in turns one & two in the closing laps to score his second Lernerville win of the season. But despite the runner-up finish, last week was still an excellent points night for Bowser who rolls into August with a 24-point lead over his only Championship Contender in Brandon Matus. And while there are only two title contenders, you never know who will stop in on any given week to run with the Peoples TWP DIRTcar Sprints as along with Lee Jacobs, Ed Lynch Jr., Rod George and Danny Holtgraver have all made guest appearances this season.
Four-Time and Defending Track Champion Alex Ferree carries the biggest lead into August with a 51 point cushion over Russ King who tangled with a lapped car last week and wound up into the wall with a DNF to show for it. Mike Pegher and John Garvin are just 14 and 20 points behind King in Budweiser Points. King, Pegher and Jared Miley each have two feature wins, while Garvin is still seeking his first win of the season and All Time Great Modified driver Brian Swartzlander still seeks his first career win in the Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models.
Rex King Jr. won his third feature of 2014 last week in the Diehl Auto Group DIRTcar Modifieds and thus extended his almost season long lead in the Budweiser Points over his father Rex King Sr. and he just won the Lou Blaney Memorial at Sharon Speedway last night. King Sr. trails his son by 15 points and Dave Murdick is just 17 back with four races to go. Eight-Time and Defending Track Champion Brian Swartzlander is still in the hunt, but has just four races to make up more than a full night’s worth of points on King Jr.
Corey McPherson stole a win away from Rob Shook last week and simultaneously chipped away at Jim Fosnaught’s Budweiser Points lead in the Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar Sportsman. Both McPherson and Fosnaught have four feature wins and just 17 points separate the two as July expires. Rob Shook’s consistency has him still in the Championship Hunt, but really wants that first feature win of the season. Aaron Easler and Mike Miller, (with nothing to lose in the points), both have been knocking on the door to Sheetz Victory Lane as well; Easler for the first time in his career and Miller for his first win this season.
Our friends from the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club will be on hand this Friday, August 1 for their annual pilgrimage to the Sarver Speedplant. Next Friday, August 8 is our annual Nostalgia Night coordinated and hosted by local racing media icon Don Gamble. Jackie Matus and friends will also be hosting their now annual MRO Injured Driver Benefit Auction that night. August 15 is Turner Dairy Farms Night and August 22 is Championship Night. To review the rest of the remaining 2014 Lernerville Speedway schedule that includes the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Working Man 50, World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Commonwealth Clash and DIRTcar Round Up Steel City Stampede, click on Lernerville.com!