One more time! Indeed, the time has come to see one final weekend of action before cold weather and snow dominate the landscape, leaving us with only our memories of the racing we were privileged to be a part of. And what a weekend it is at Lernerville Speedway. If you love it, they have it and then some as the annual Steel City Stampede takes center stage at the action track. This weekend has seen car counts in excess of 300 in an eight division bonanza featuring the complete services of the Fab Four (People's Natural Gas DIRTCar Sprints, Precise Racing Late Models, Diehl Automotive Big Block Modifieds and Millerstown Pic-A-Part Stocks), as well as the RUSH Crate Late Models and Sportsman Modifieds, UMP Modifieds and Four Cylinders all joining in the fun.
For many of the aforementioned divisions, it's a time to get one more chance to collect that elusive win that's escaped them all season, or perhaps to end the year with an exclamation point, or to put a positive end on a bad luck year. For others, it's a time to try something different, or test something they might like to drive in 2017, or to simply just see the racing family one more time and turn a few more laps. Regardless of reason, they gather together in an action packed weekend, highlighted by increased purses for the drivers, and one more weekend at the track.
So what can we expect to see this weekend? Here's a detailed look at what's in store.
First off, we like to take a moment to talk about our weekend's sponsor, Peoples Natural Gas. They do a tremendous job in supporting racing at Lernerville as customer relations specialist Bryan Colbert is very involved and supportive of the events that happen there. Peoples is just one of many businesses that help keep the racing and activities at Lernerville going on strong. And they have a very special message that they'd like to pass along.
Many of you have been reading about LIHEAP; The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This is a program in which grant money can go to help people where they sometimes need it most, keeping their residence heated in the harsh winter months. Peoples needs us to spread the message to the community so people that need assistance can find it before they spend one more night in a cold home. The grant can be used with energy bills or also to repair furnaces or other heating devices.
We most likely all know someone who could use this assistance, what People's is asking for here is not a donation, but just to make sure that we make people in the community aware of this resource. It's important to them, and to all of us who believing in helping people get on their feet in times of need.
Peoples support of the racing at Lernerville has been amazing and their partnership has meant improvements to the facility and commitment to helping keep it alive and thriving for years to come. Let's help them help those in need...
To learn more, simply click here for details on the program:
Thanks everyone!
Now then, let's get to some racing...
Event Schedule:
Thursday, October 13: Practice with rotating hot laps for all divisions
Friday, October 14: Time Trials for RUSH Late Models and heat races for all divisions
Saturday, October 15: Bmains and features for all divisions plus 100 lap Enduro
For a full, detailed schedule of events: Click Here
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| Pat Miller Photo |
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar Sprints: $3,000 To Win
When last we left off at the end of the Fab Four Season, Jack Sodeman Jr. had the hot hand in the area, taking is first Lernerville Championship in 2016, and also a Mercer title to boot. He should be there in action as well as former champion AJ Flick, Carl Bowser, Brandon Matus and also one Dan Shetler who has recently made the field in the middle of some tough competition at Williams Grove and at Fulton Speedway with the World of Outlaws. Shetler was unable to take a feature win in the regular season, but was close on several occasions and has some momentum heading into the weekend as does Matus who had a good run with the All Stars at Eldora last Saturday.
Also, be on the lookout for Sye Lynch who looked incredibly fast down the stretch and will be debuting a retro themed car, any guess what it might look like? There might be an Ohio or central Pennsylvania invader to watch out for that didn't feel like running at the Grove or Port Royal, we'll post on twitter if we find some.
Recent Past Champions:
2015: Brandon Matus
2014: Rod George
2013: Danny Holtgraver
2012: Dale Blaney
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| Pat Miller Photo |
Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models $3,000 to win
It was Russ King's world this year in Late Model action, everyone else was just living in it. The veteran pilot took home his first track championship during the regular season and should be on hand to attempt to cap off the season with a Stampede belt buckle this weekend. Also expected will be former track champions Alex Ferree and Jared Miley and last year's Stampede champion Matt Lux as well as regional hot shoe Mike Altobelli.
Throw in the rest of the competitive weekly field and maybe a couple of surprises invading this weekend that elected not to attend the festivities elsewhere, and there's the makings of another classic battle for the victory in a division where wild feature finishes have become the norm, and not the exception. Keep an eye on local sensation and feature winner Michael Norris, if he should decide to take in the weekend, he's been on fire lately with numerous feature wins down the stretch and a couple of impressive quick times in national late model competition in the past month or two.
Recent Past Champions:
2015: Matt Lux
2014: Russ King
2013: Alex Ferree
2012: Dave Hess Jr.
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| Pat Miller Photo |
Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds: $3,000 to win
2016 champion Mat Williamson will most likely be in the house, and look for a couple more Niagara frontier invaders too this weekend to try to take the $3,000 winner's share back home. But trying to keep the money in the area will be Rex King Jr. and Brian Swartzlander, the most recent winners of the event. Swartzlander came on strong at the end of the season and nearly missed some feature wins running second to Williamson. Former champion Jeremiah Shingledecker will look to snag his second win of the season here and Dave Murdick will look to take home the checkers for the first time in 2016. As far as invaders go, any of the following might be a good bet depending on circumstances among Erick Rudolph, Rick Richner, Chad Brachmann, and possibly a few more from upstate NY looking for a tune up in advance of the World Finals. With delightful weather in the forecast, the travelling bug might effect a few teams on the fringe.
Also, be on the lookout for Brad Rapp's return to Lernerville this weekend too, the BRP and Sharon driver has spent the past couple of seasons away from the action track but will be in action still in search of his first Lernerville victory.
Recent Past Champions:
2015: Rex King Jr.
2014: Brian Swartzlander
2013: Brian Swartzlander
2012: Chad Brachmann
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| Pat Miller Photo |
Millerstown Pic-A-Part Open Stocks: Open $1000 to win
The competition for the belt buckle here will be fairly open, as well the engines. The normal RUSH crate sportsman stocks will be there for sure, and track champion Corey McPherson should be as well. McPherson may have a crate motor currently in use, but still manages to be a great bet here to take the win. In the mix will be Wayne Carbo, the recent Autumn motive fest champion will be looking to make it two in a row at Lernerville. With $1000 at stake and open rules, expect cars from all over the geography in the mix for this one, as well as Lernerville standouts, Joe Kelley, Terry Young, Tyler Dietz, Joey Zambotti, Jim Fosnaught and others.
Recent Past Champions:
2015: Corey McPherson
2014: Chris Schneider
2013: Chris Schneider
2012: Alan Dellinger
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It's a touring show for the RUSH Late Models, and the best of the best should be on hand as Ryan Montgomery, Bryce Davis, and John Waters should all be in action. Coming into the weekend, Davis leads Waters by a mere seven points.
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| Pat Miller Photo |
The season championship will be on the line as this is the final touring show of the season. A strong local contingent awaits the touring invaders though as John Mollick has been on a tear recently, winning the Hendron Memorial at PPMS this past Saturday. He'll be joined by Daryl Charlier, Jeremy Double, Justin Lamb and a host of others who'll be looking to keep the belt buckle in the area when all is said and done!
Recent Past Champions:
2015: Jacob Hawkins
2014: Chad Ruhlman
2013: Dennis Lunger Jr.
2012: Max Blair
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| Pat Miller Photo |
UMP Modifieds: $1,000 to win
Probably the biggest question mark with regard to attendance lies with the UMP Modifieds this weekend as the sole touring sanction in the area is at another location. This leaves the field wide open come feature time on Saturday night Veteran late model and stock pilot Butch Lambert will be making his Emod debut this weekend, and local standout Carl McKinney will be in the house and looks to be the odds on favorite. Expect cars from West Virginia, Ohio and perhaps beyond here this weekend as it looks like we'll a have a first time champion.
Recent Past Champions:
2015: Dave Hess Jr.
2014: Kyle Strickler
2013: Steve Dixon
2012: Jonathan Taylor
RUSH Sportsman Modifieds: $800 to win
Greg Martin won the first edition of the RUSH Modified portion of the Steel City Stampede two years ago, and may possibly be in the house this weekend. Martin, coming off an exceptional run at Oswego during Super DIRT Week action, would appear to be the class of the field should he chose to run. But even if he does, this is not the same group of cars and drivers he was used to dealing with. They're simply much better now and have a confidence and skill level that has grown tremendously these last two seasons.
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| Pat Miller Photo |
Leading the pack and the touring points coming in to the festivities is Chas Wolbert who won the last feature event at Lernerville in September. He'll have to contend with Nick Ritchey, Brian Ritchey, Brian Shaffer and Kole Holden to win the touring championship this season as this is the final stop for them in 2016.
Recent Past Champions:
2015: Nick Ritchey
2014: Greg Martin
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