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Sarver, PA...April 16, 2004




There were lights, cameras and plenty of action at Lernerville Speedway Friday evening as Apollo's Ed Lynch Jr checkered the 20-lap St. Barnabas Health System "Spring Sprint Spectacular," his 67th career win at the track. Leading all the way, former 1990 Late Model Track Champion Ron Davies of Warren, drove an intense race to win the 20-lap Friedmans Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods feature. Closing in on the 100 mark, Leechburg's Brian Swartzlander has now checkered two of three Ferrante Motor Cars Modified events posting 97 career victories. Driving the race of their lives, it was career firsts for both Bob Lipinski of Pittsburgh and New Castle's Gary Norman in the Dingbats Restaurants Pure Stocks. The pits were bursting at the seams with 130 cars in the "Fab Four" divisions.

Veteran driver Brian Swartzlander may reach a career century mark win this season with his second 20-lap Ferrante Motor Cars Modified victory, Lernerville 43rd. Surviving eight caution events, Swartzlander's bold and daring moves on lap eight, to pass leader Del Rougeux twice for the helm, was an exhibition of precision driving skills. On a lap eight single file restart, using the inside line of the second turn, Swartzlander passed Rougeux. Looking like he would earn a Lernerville first, Rougeux regained the top spot by diving to the low side of turn three. But, the two cars crissed-crossed in turn four, with Swartzlander first using the low side and then winning the drag to the flag stand for point position. Swartzlander said, "It was a good race, Del (Rougeux) raced me clean." Coming from ninth, Kevin Bolland passed Rougeux the next lap and "turned up the wick" to challenge Swartzlander's McCutcheon Ent., Precise Racing Products #83. The twosome drove side-by-side lap after lap with Swartzlander using the cushion to stay slightly ahead by a nose. The 2003 defending champion and current point leader relegated Bolland to a second place finish. Bolland later said, "Whenever Brian (Swartzlander) starts on the front row and Jimmy (Weller Jr) and I start in the back, we have our work cut out for us" Swartzlander said, "I have to thank my crew who do an excellent job!" Dave Murdick was third, Jim Weller Jr fourth, and Lonny Riggs fifth. Sixth through tenth place went to Gary Risch Jr, Tommy Marshall III, Joe Crawford, Carl Weatherby, and JR McGinley. Rougeux was involved in a lap 5 caution event and eventually finished 12th. Budweiser Point leader Swartzlander and Tom Winkle claimed the heat events.

It was all about Ron Davies in the 20 lap Friedman's Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods Late Models as he bested a stellar field of 38 Late Models. Although, Davies last track victory was in May of 1992, the1991 Lernerville track champ drove like a man on a mission Friday evening! Davies' Erie Texas Road House/ Northern Tier Water Hauling #71 warded off all competition and survived 2 late caution events that tightened the pack. Leading all the way, no one could not intimidate the strong running Davies. Davies said, "I didn't like the cautions that came. The track is real smooth and they do a good prep job and I'm happy to be. In victory lane." In the battle for second, Alan Dellinger was the winner over Ken Schaltenbrand, John Flinner, and Gary Lyle, who came from 22nd. Sixth through tenth place went to Matt Lux, Nick Jones, Brett Rhebergen Scott Gurdak and Dave Norton. John Britsky, Gurdak, Schaltenbrand, and Bill Cunningham won the prelims and Lyle checkered the B-Main.

Ed Lynch Jr made it three-in-a row to win the Spring Sprint Spectacular 20-lap St. Barnabas Health System Sprints collecting $1,400 for his 67th career win. Driving an impeccable race, once Lynch Jr passed his brother-in-law Chad Hill on lap 8, it was clear sailing for the Lynch's Indy Recycling/Commercial Truck & Trailer #2L Sprint. The "Pizza Man" runner-up Hill finished ahead of Rod George, Scott Priester, Kevin Schaeffer, Gary Rankin, Arnie Kent, Scott Bonnell, Jim Weller III, and Dan Shetler. Budweiser Point leader Lynch, George, Kent, and Weller III garnered the heat events.

After ten years of racing, a very happy Bob Lipinski drove the finest race of his career to win his first 20-lap Dingbats Restaurant feature, by driving a car that was nine years old. Committed to the bottom of the track, Lipiniski was pressured the distance in a race that recorded a finish of runner-up Greg Beach, Joe Kelley, and Butch Lambert respectively, all of whom were dicing for the lead the entire race. Lipinski said, "I am just happy to be here!" Finishing fifth through tenth was Bob Egley, Nick Reges, Stover-Net Connection Hard Charger Rob Shook, and Dave Spangler. Beach, Lambert, Kelley, and Lipinski were the heat victors and Martin Viale checkered the B-Main.

The talented Gary Norman was in the right place at the right time to collect a career first in the 15-lap Dingbats Restaurant Pure Stock main. It was another exciting wheel-to-wheel action event as Herman Bertolini passed Sid Haas for the lead on lap one with Norman's Air National Guard 171st Refueling/TNT Towing #9N third. Andy Buckley moved into second the next lap and shadowed Bertolini. On lap 12, Buckley passed Bertolini for the lead and Norman was watching the action in third. On the last lap Bertolini and Buckley's racer came together. Buckley dropped to fourth and Bertolini crossed under the checkered flag first with Norman in second and Buckley third. At this point the flagman brought out the black flag and disqualified Bertolini for over aggressive driving, and awarded the (March 26th rained-out) win to Norman. Norman said, "I want to thank Dingbats Restaurant, Rich and my wife for the help." Mike Turner moved into second with Buckley third and the twosome were trailed by Butch Lambert, Paul Schreckengost, Bob Egley, Nick Reges, Rob Shook, Sid Haas, and Rick Yanssens.