April 9, 2004
The "pool of cars" was deep and the action thrilling at Lernerville Speedway with 127 cars in the pits. Garland's David Scott kept the fans on the edge of their seat winning his second consecutive 20-lap Friedmans Supermarket's/Bi-Lo Late Models main, besting a field of 37 cars. . The "Masters" of the 20-lap Ferrante Motor Cars Modified mains were Brian Swartzlander, of Leechburg and Hubbard, Ohio's Jim Weller Jr (rained-out 3/26). The living legend Ed Lynch Jr continues to be the man to beat, rocketing to his second St. Barnabas Health System victory, and for the second year in-a-row, Rob Shook of Creighton checkered the first 15- lap Dingbats Restaurants Pure Stock race for the Budweiser Points Challenge.
Using the rim of the track, David Scott drove the wheels off his "Slow Ride" to earn victory #13 in the Friedmans Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods Late Models at the Sarver oval. In victory circle, standing on his roof, Scott wildly waved to the cheering crowd and said, "I almost let this one get away." Matt Lux was the early leader for four laps as Scott, who started sixth, accelerated and diced his way through the class. On lap five, Scott took command, leading the next two laps with Lux in second and Dave Hess Jr third. On turn one of lap 8, running the high side, Scott appeared to almost spin out, but recovered from what appeared to be the point of no return. The cars scrambled to avoid hitting the #3 of Scott and coming from ninth, John Flinner, found the line to take the post. After Scott's Mastersbilt/ American Racer #3 miraculously straightened his racer, losing only three spots, it became an exciting three-horse battle on lap 9 between leader Flinner, Ron Davies and Scott. As they charged around the track in wheel-to-wheel action, Scott passed Davies for second on lap 11. Later on lap 14, in an unprecedented move, Flinner went low on the track. Using the top groove, both Scott and Davies stormed by Flinner. Once in front again Scott was not to be denied, and drove a flawless race to narrowly edge out both Davies and Flinner. Dave Satterlee was fourth and was trailed by Matt Lux, Ken Schaltenbrand, Mike Blose, Doug Eck, Alan Dellinger, and Gary Lyle. Rod Maloy, Mike Blose, David Scott, and Matt Lux garnered the heat wins and Doug Eck claimed the B-Main.
Defending Ferrante Motor Cars Modified Champion Brian Swartzlander continued his winning way by starting the 2004 season with a victory. "Out of the box" and leading all the way in the McCutcheon Ent, Straub Beer, Precise Tool & Die #83, Swartzlander's superb driving skills marked his 43rd win in the Modified Record Book, placing him fourth on that list and 10th on the All-Division Record. On lap 8, looking like a possible threat, the strong running Tom Winkle moved into second behind Swartzlander. Misfortune struck when Winkle's tire suddenly "blew" and his car caromed off the front wall. When the race resumed Swartzlander guided the field the remainder of the race. Swartzlander said, "I very pleased with my new Bicknell chassis." Runner-up Jim Weller Jr kept Lonnie Riggs at bay. Fourth through ten went to JR McGinley, Kevin Bolland, Gary Risch Jr. Tommy Marshall, Rob Curtis, Eddie Brown, and Gary Risch Sr.
Jim Weller Jr recorded his 26th Ferrante Motor Cars Modified victory to defeat Brian Swartzlander, as the twosome reversed the order of the first feature, in the make-up March 26th event. Mark Flick was the early leader, with Swartzlander and Weller in rows three and four respectively. On lap five, Weller used the inside line of turn two to pass Flick with Davey Murdick 3rd and Swartzlander 4th. Flick's #2 began to fade and Davey Murdick claimed second with Swartzlander a close third. On lap 9 Swartzlander passed Murdick and set sail for Weller Jr's Liberty Steel #31. Weller Jr had the "pedal to the metal" and finished a straight-away in front of Swartzlander. Davey Murdick claimed third, ahead of Lonny Riggs, Tom Winkle, Del Rougeaux, Chanda Reitz, Mark Flick, Gary Risch Jr, and JR McGinley. Riggs, Winkle, and Swartzlander won the preliminary events.
The "Apollo Rocket" Ed Lynch Jr "smoked" the competition in the St. Barnabas Health System Sprints and is two for two in 2004. On lap three, Lynch came from seventh and inherited the lead from leader Ralph Spithaler, when he went to the pits with motor problems. Once in front Lynch's Indy Recycling/Commercial Truck & Trailer/Kistler Engines #2Lcruised to his 66th Sprint victory as smoke billowed from his engine in victory lane; the hose from the water pump came loose. Nick Chevrolet added $100 for the win. The Martha Dionese owned #15 driven by Arnie Kent continues to look like a top contender, claiming the runner-up spot, with Chad Hill third. Having started 22nd on the grid, Rod George drove a fantastic race to place fourth. Fifth through tenth went to Jack Sodeman Jr, Gary Rankin, Kevin Schaeffer, Dan Shetler, Scott Barris, and Brent Matus. Former track champion Jerry Matus, Brent's father, made his come-back to earn a 13th place finish. Sodeman Jr, Spithaler and Shetler were the heat winners.
Two years in-a-row, Rob Shook was the big winner of the Dingbats Restaurant Pure Stock feature on the initial night of the Budweiser Point Challenge. From the front row, Herman Bertolini took the helm in an action packed furious contest with Shook in second. Running the high line, Bertolini kept Shook's Don's Catering/Three Rivers Trucking #64 at bay for 13 laps. On lap 14, persistent Shook made the low groove work for him, edging out Bertolini. Following Shook, on the same lap, Lipinski and Jason Fosnaught also made the pass on Bertolini, who now dropped to fourth. Driving an outstanding race, Shook held his line to earn his second career win and a Bertolini trophy. Fifth through tenth went to Joe Kelley, Bob Egley, Gary Beach, Gary Norman, Mike Turner, and Chuck Kremer. Doug Iorio, Kelley, and Fosnaught, won the heat events. Nick Reges was the victor of the B-Main. Stover's Net-Connection Hard Charger Pure Stock Award went to Butch Lambert.