Sarver, PA... May 9, 2003 - Mother's Day weekend
Three new faces graced Don Martin's Lernerville Speedway's victory lane Friday evening. Early torrential rains at the track subsided enabling Nick Jones (Pittsburgh) to end his three-year draught in the Friedman's Supermarket's Bi-Lo Foods Late Models Main. Jim Weller (Hubbard, Ohio) garnered his season first in the Ferrante Oldsmobile Modifieds as did Greg Beach (Chicora) in the Dingbats Restaurant Pure Stocks. Ed Lynch Jr (Apollo) was the first repeat victor in the St. Barnabas Health System Sprints. Shook Racing Team provided the trophies for the evening.
Rewriting the Lernerville history books, Ed Lynch Jr raised the bar to 59 All-Time Sprint Wins in a stellar field of 30 in the 20-lap St. Barnabas Health System Sprints. Lynch's Commercial Truck & Trailer/Indy Recycling/ Red Devil Brakes#2L defeated his brother-in-law Chad Hill, who is still seeking a career first. Lynch quickly guided the field from his fourth place berth, led all the laps despite seven enduring caution events that closed the field and became the first repeat winner in the Sprint division. In victory lane Lynch said, "Congratulations to "Ouch" and his crew for the commendable job of getting this track prepared this evening!" Tim Hunter was third and was followed by Kevin Schaeffer, Roger Bennett, Arnie Kent, Jimmy Hawley, Brian Woodhall, Rod George, and Jarod Larson. Ricky Ferkel, Lynch Jr, and Hill won the prelims and Dan Shetler conquered the B-Main. On lap six, Ferkel's #0 Sprint violently rolled over the back straight. He was not injured but his car was extensively damaged. Lynch Jr leads Bennett by 26 in the Budweiser Point's Chase.
Nick Jones ended a three-year winless streak in the 20-lap Friedman's Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods Late Models by driving a superb race to defeat an excellent field of 25 cars. A crew member joked, "There's a dead "monkey" out here if anybody wants to see it." "It's not on my back anymore," Jones chanted. "The weight has been lifted off my shoulders." On lap six, Jones' Irvine Tire Alignment/Slade Landscaping/Rutledge Concrete #15 took the lead from Dave Hoffman and held it the rest of the way to win the 20 lap feature, which was slowed by five caution events. David Scott began to tailgate Jones on lap 13 to the checker, but Jones kept him at bay. Jones smiled and said, "I'm glad it was only 20, and not 25 laps!" John Flinner came from the 24th position to place third and Dave Hoffman settled for fourth. Rounding out the top ten were Gary Lyle, Ken Schaltenbrand, Spanky Daugherty, Jeff Henry, Bobby Bertges and Chuck Kennedy. Lyle and Schaltenbrand won the prelims. Jones is ahead of Flinner by 9 digits in the Budweiser Point chase. "Now that we have the Point lead, we hope to hold it," Jones said.
After a slow start to his season, Jim Weller in the Liberty Steel #31 is back in winning form, collecting his first 20 lap Ferrante Oldsmobile Modified race of 2003. Weller, the former 97 & 99 track champion and Brian Swartzlander both passed early leader Tom Winkle on a tenth lap restart. Swartzlander pursued the hard charging Weller the remaining laps but came up short at the checker. Lonnie Riggs was third and was trailed by Gary Risch Jr, Tom Winkle, Jimmy Weller III, Mike Sutton, and Bob Dorman. Our 1994 Point Champ Mark Flick made his return to the dirt with a ninth place finish and Carl Murdick was tenth. Winkle and Weller Jr won the heat events. Swartzlander leads Gary Risch Jr by 19 in the Budweiser Point race.
A jubiliant Greg Beach was victorious, collecting his first 2003 Dingbat's Restaurant Pure Stock feature for a career second at the track. After a season hiatus, Scott Bochek returned this year and leading from lap one it looked like he would collect his first of the year until "Lady Luck" dealt him a bad hand. He exited the race on lap eight with a flat tire. Greg Beach's Wellington Power/Fazio Mechanical/WESCO #33X assumed the lead. From that point, it was a hard fought battle with Chris Schneider as he tried everything to pass Beach but to no avail. On lap 13, coming from 18th Jeff Walters entered the mix and passed Rob Shook for the third spot. Five through tenth place went to Paul Schreckengost, Butch Lambert, Joe Kelley, Jason Fosnaught, Robert McCall, and Jeff Bastin. Schneider, Shook and Bochek won the prelims. In the Budweiser Point Race, it is Schneider-143, Kelley-139 and Lambert-131.