Sarver, Pa July 25, 2003
At Lernerville Speedway, Friday evening, the stars were in alignment for Apollo's Ed Lynch Jr who garnered his seventh 2003 St Barnabas Health System Sprint win; John Flinner of Zelienople captured his fifth Friedman's Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods Late Model main; Butler's Dave Murdick captured his first Ferrante Motor Cars Modified Main since 2001; and it was Chris Schneider of Tarentum claiming his third Dingbat Restaurants Pure Stock feature.
It was St. Barnabas Health Systems Night at the Speedway.
The "Apollo Rocket" Ed Lynch Jr continues to raise the bar in the Sprint Car History Records mastering his 63rd St. Barnabas Health Systems win at Lernerville, his 17th 2003 overall victory at all tracks. From the pole position, Eric Smith took command, while Lynch started his ascent from 14th. With the assistance of two early caution events and some excellent driving skills, Lynch moved into 4th place by lap five. On lap nine Lynch's CTT/Indy Recycling/Red Devil Brakes #2L passed Scott Bonnell for third and the next lap he overtook Kevin Schaeffer for second. On lap 13, Lynch used the inside line of turn four to pass Smith for the front spot. Hearing a vibration in his back wheels, Smith pulled to the infield and the race was yellow flagged. He found mud packed in his wheels and returned to the rear of the field and now Bonnell was second. Once in front Lynch's 3-year-old car named "Every Day" had a holiday and increased its lead to about 10 lengths at the checker. In victory lane the modest Lynch said, "We just race the race track and keep going. It doesn't last forever but while its here, we're going to keep attacking it! To date Lynch has 12 top five finishes in 2003. Lynch's 434 points gives him a comfortable margin in his quest for the championship, leading Rod George with 336, and Chad Hill-335. Runner-up Bonnell held off Hill, Rod George, Schaeffer, Ralph Spithaler, Brian Woodhal, Gary Kriess Jr, Dr. Bob Altmeyer, and Arnie Kent. Qualifying events were taken by George, Eric Smith and Bonnell.
"Pushing the cushion" and all "clamped up" John Flinner, "the Weekend Warrior" carved out his fifth 20-lap Friedman's Supermarket's Bi-Lo Foods Late Model victory. Flinner said "I've learned to finesse the throttle a little but I think it is all luck." With back-to-back wins, Flinner started twelfth as Gary Lyle paced the field. Flinner moved into third on lap eight behind Lyle and Ken Schaltenbrand. On lap 11 the racers of Jeff Henry and George Kowatic collided bringing out the caution flag. On the restart as Lyle was warding off Schaltenbrand on the inside of turn two, Flinner's John Johnson Racing/John's Towing/Flinner Signs/Brian Equipment #48 took them "both to school." Like a ball of fire Flinner used the cushion to whiz passed the twosome. Once in front Flinner was not to be denied and went on to win his 30th Late Model feature padding his point lead to 357. Nick Jones and runner-up Ken Schaltenbrand are tied for second place with 326. Gary Lyle's third place gives him 319 points in the close point race. Spanky Daugherty's fourth place was his best showing of the season. Fifth though tenth place went to Chuck Kennedy, Bob Wearing Jr, Matt Lux, Ben Miley and Tony Lombardi. Flinner and Wearing Jr won the prelims.
Sometimes the "brakes" go your way in life and tonight a very happy Dave Murdick won his first 20-lap Ferrante Motor Cars Modified race since July of 2001. Despite losing his brakes with five laps to go, Murdick drove an impeccable race to narrowly defeat the hard charging Brian Swartzlander at the checker. "We needed this really bad. I can't believe that we're here!" Leading all the way, Murdick drove a beautiful race. On lap seven Kevin Bolland, who was running second, lost fuel pressure and exited to the pits. On the restart, Swartzlander assumed the second position. He pulled along side Murdick's Armstrong Cable Internet/ Murdick's Auto Parts #61 and continuously pressured him from a lap 7 to the checker without success. Murdick said, "I know for sure without my Dad and his partner Bob, I could have never been here. They taught me everything I know about racing." Swartzlander tops the point chart with 343 points. Gary Risch has 309 and Jim Weller Jr 301. Tom Winkle drove a solid third and was followed by Bob Wearing Jr, Jim Weller III, Mike Sutton, Carl Murdick, Gary Risch Jr, Carl Weatherby, and John Durci. Risch Jr and Winkle checkered the heat events.
Using both "brain power" and "horse power", Chris Schneider shined in the 15-lap Dingbat Restaurant Pure Stock feature. With an impressive last lap pass, Schneider's Three Rivers/Benke Motors/Oaks Auto Truck Service #55 "boxed in" the talented driver Scott Bochek's racer behind lapped cars in turn four and raced to the checker for win number three. Schneider said, "I didn't think we were going to make it here anymore this year. That #75 car (Bochek's) is a really strong runner!" He further said, "I knew the #75 car was putting the heat on me and I had to be smart and try to take him out of his line. The only thing I could do is hope!" Schneider leads Joe Kelley by five digits in the quest for the Pure Stock title. Directly behind runner-up Bochek was Joe Kelley, Robert McCall, Greg Beach, Paul Schreckengost, Herman Bertolini, Jim Swezey, Butch Lambert, and Rob Shook. Bochek, Beach, and McCall won the prelims and Rob Shook was the B-Main victor.
Jeff Tolusciak won the Demo and Ray Seibert the runner-up.