Sarver, PA May 30, 2003

Lernerville Speedway did not totally escape the rain Friday evening! Ed Lynch Jr captured his fourth St. Barnabas Health System Sprint win. A very humble and exuberant Doug Eck collected a career first Friedman's Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods Late Model victory and Lonnie Riggs of Volant earned a season first in the Ferrante Motor Cars Modifieds. At this point, Mother Nature abbreviated the show and the Pure Stocks will run double features Friday, June 6th. The Demo Derby will be held Tuesday, June 10 along with the Bus Races.

Leading all the way in the 20 lap Friedman's Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods Late Model race, the modest Doug Eck captured a career first and is now among the greatest of local celebrities! He said, "This place is the Daytona of dirt!" "Oh man, this means the world to me," said Eck, who has raced Late Models for seven seasons, but only the past two at Lernerville. The Corry native was amazed in victory lane and said, "I've watched a lot of great drivers get out of their cars here. To have your named etched with guys like Bob Wearing Sr, Dick Barton, and Lynn Geisler tells you you're doing something right." Eck's American Race Tire/Tobber Racing/M&M Contracting/Bryan Emery #03 endured eight restarts and used the low line to ward off the hard charging veteran Lynn Geisler for the win. Gary Lyle ran a solid third and was followed by point leader Nick Jones, David Scott, Bob Wearing Jr, Bob Puz, Tom Kitchen, Tom Tuite, and John Flinner. Flinner, Lyle, and Jones picked up the preliminary wins and Dick Swartzlander won the B-Main.

With clear vision, the "Apollo Rocket" Ed Lynch Jr continued to make history by placing victory #60 in the 20-lap St Barnabas Health System Sprint record book. After leading for 8 laps, Lynch's brother-in-law, Chad Hill, looked like he would collect a career first win. His hopes were erased when Charlie Holben's lapped Sprint barrel-rolled across turn one collecting not only leader Hill but the second place car of Rod George in the process. Dan Shetler inherited the front position, drove a great race, guided the field until lap 17 and looked like he would get his career first. Using the engine, Geronimo and his car "Lucky," Lynch "jetted" from twelfth to the front and passed Shetler on lap 17 for the eventual win. Wearing his new "glasses, in seven 2003 starts, Lynch's Commercial Truck & Trailer/Indy Recycling/Red Devil Brakes #2L has a remarkable record of 4 first place finishes, 3 seconds, and tops the point list. Lynch said, "I see a lot more out there this year!" He further added these guys are starting to get the "hang" of this track and we have to just get faster and faster. With two laps to go runner-up Ralph Spithaler passed Shetler and had a season best finish, after having been plagued with bad luck since the beginning of the year. Eric Smith fourth place was his career best finish and he was followed by Jamie Smith, Gary Kriess, Rod George, Brent Matus, Arnie Kent, and Kevin Schaeffer. Hill, Shetler, and Spithaler won the heat races and Charlie Holben garnered the B-Main.

The "Tugboat" Lonnie Riggs had his Modified docked in the Ferrante Motor Cars victory lane after the completion of 14 laps when Mother Nature forced the race to be checkered prematurely. Coming from sixth place Riggs passed Jim Weller Jr on lap four and it was clear sailing after. Several restarts tightened the field but each time Riggs' Winner Circle Auto Machine/Millard Trucking #58 went full steam ahead leaving Brian Swartzlander and Gary Risch Jr respectively in his wake. Dave Murdick placed fourth and Jim Weller Jr was fifth. Six through ten went to Tom Winkle, Bob Wearing Jr, Carl Murdick, Mike Sutton, and JR McGinley. Davey Murdick and Risch Jr won the heat races.