Sarver, PA...July 11, 2003
A rainbow appeared over Lernerville Speedway at race time Friday evening and finding that "pot of gold" later was the following: Bob Wearing Jr, Renfrew-Friedman's Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods Late Models; Ed Lynch Jr, Apollo-St. Barnabas Health System Sprints; Jim Weller Jr, Hubbard, Ohio- Ferrante Oldsmobile Modifieds, and Scott Bochek, Cheswick-Dingbat Restaurants Pure Stocks. It was Save-A-Lot Bike Race Night. Herman Bertolini Excavating provided the top three in all divisions a trophy. Kelly Chevrolet gave away two electric Freedom scooters.
The "luck of the Irish" was with Bob Wearing Jr who drove the Kelly Chevrolet #11 to his second 20-lap Friedman's Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods Late Model feature win. From the pole position, Flinner took charge of the race and Wearing Jr moved from fourth to second. Wearing Jr tried to reel in Flinner but could not muster enough horses to catch the #48 of Flinner. Suddenly on lap 17, Flinner's good fortune turned sour, when his car got a flat tire. Wearing Jr's CAD Hyaundi/API Auto Body Product's #11W capitalized on this misfortune and grabbed the lead on the restart. He was at the point until lap 20 when Chuck Kennedy's car developed mechanical problems, bringing out the yellow flag. With two laps added Kenny Schaltenbrand got the advantage when the race resumed and was the leader on lap 21. With awesome driving skills, the twosome had the crowd on the edge of their seat on the last lap. Rounding turn four, Schaltenbrand dove to the inside of the track and Wearing Jr went to the cushion and used it to win the drag to the finish line. Wearing Jr. said, "I thank Kenny (Schaltenbrand) for driving a clean race." With this victory, Wearing Jr has passed Ed Ferree with 22 Late Models wins and is the sole owner of sixth position in the All-Time Late Model Win list. He is 13th on the All Divisional Win Chart. Nick Jones' third place puts him on top of the point chart over Flinner by 11 digits. Doug Eck was fourth and was trailed by Jeff Henry, Dave Hoffman, Spanky Dougherty, Dan Swartzlander, Gary Lyle, and Chuck Kennedy. Kennedy, Tom Tuite and Alex Ferree garnered the heat races. On the first lap of the feature, Ferree's car flipped on the front straight and landed on Lynn Geisler's #1. Neither driver was injured but both cars had to exit the event.
Lynch doubled Friday evening at the Sarver oval. Ed Lynch Jr raised the bar in the St. Barnabas Health System Sprints to 63 wins and his son Si Lynch added another bike race trophy to his credit. This 2L was the sister car to the Sprint that won the WoO Silver Cup in 2002. Scott Bonnell directed the race for six circuits. Bonnell's #3 and Rod George's #4 came together in turn four bringing out the caution flag. Bonnell's mount was damaged and had to pit but George's Sprint did not stop. When the race restarted, George was at the point until lap 14. Lynch's CTT/Indy Recycling/Red Devil Brakes #2L had found a "sweet spot" on the low side of the track and used it to pass George. Once in front Lynch's "new mount" notched a victory for its maiden voyage, the sixth win for the team. Lynch said, "That was one of those deals where being second was better in lapped traffic." George's second place finish moved him into second place on the point chart behind Lynch Jr. Kevin Shaffer had a good run to place third and was followed by Roger Bennett, Dan Shetler, Arnie Kent, Mike Shearer, Eric Smith, Chad Hill and Ralph Spithaler. Brian Woodhall, Bennett and Shearer claimed the heat races.
Jim Weller Jr steered his Liberty Steel Products #31 to victory in the 20-lap Ferrante Motor Cars main event. Starting on the outside of the front row, with authority, Weller Jr immediately took command at the green. He dominated the distance checking into a different "zip code" for his third victory at the track this year. Weller is seventh on the Modified All-Time Win list with 25. John Braymer and Josh Skarzenski, (subbing for Lonnie Riggs in the #58) battled continuously for the second spot with a very happy Skarzenski coming up the winner. Bob Wearing Jr was fourth and Mike Sutton fifth. Sixth through ten went to point leader Brian Swartzlander, Gary Risch Jr, Dave Murdick, Carl Murdick and Jim Weller III. Braymer and Tom Winkle claimed the qualifying events.
Scott Bochek "bamboozled" the competition in his quest to be the Dingbat Restaurants All-Time winner. Bochek needs two more victories to tie Bruce Milbert's record of 27. Robert McCall guided the field for 11 laps and appeared to be on his way to victory when his luck went "South" and he was forced to exit with engine woes. Bochek came from twelfth and was in second at the time. On the restart, Bochek and Herman Bertolini dueled for the front spot with Bochek winning the battle, leading the last four laps. Bertolini kept Paul Schreckengost at bay for third and was followed by Joe Kelley, Jeff Walters, point leader Chris Schneider, Butch Lambert, Rob Shook, Chuck Gebauer and Jason Fosnaught. Bochek, Greg Beach, and Jeff Walters won the prelims and the "hard charger' award winner Rob Shook checkered the B-Main.