After countless cancellations over the past two months, Mother Nature finally released her stranglehold on the local racing scene this past weekend with fans and racers greeted by blue skies and sun at area race tracks to everyone’s delight.
(Photo: Matt Lux opened the season at Thunder Mountain Speedway with his first win of 2019. Photo by Rick Rarer)
Brookville’s Thunder Mountain Speedway was finally able to get their season underway Friday, and Franklin’s Matt Lux got his first late model win of 2019 out of the way with a last lap pass of Bob Dorman.
Other opening night winners at Thunder Mountain included; Ray Hickok (street stocks), Tim Steis (pure stocks), Jeremy Ohl (semi late), and Jeff Huber in the 4-cylinder class.
This Friday at Thunder Mountain it will be Memorial Day-Armed Forces Night featuring a regular five-division show. Any veteran or current military personnel with proof of service will get free general admission.
Lernerville Speedway completed their second racing program of the season Friday night which saw familiar faces in victory lane. Rex King Jr. continued his winning ways with another big block modified win while Sye Lynch led the distance for his second career sprint car win at the Sarver oval. Defending late model champion Michael Norris picked up where he left off last year with another convincing win while Joey Zambotti won the stock car nightcap.
This Friday will be another Fab 4 racing program at Lernerville with racing at 7:30 p.m. sharp. It will also be Police, Fire and EMS Night with all first responders with proper ID receiving free general admission for the evening.
At Michael’s Mercer Raceway Saturday it was Garrett Krummert stealing the show as he pulled off the daily double by winning both the big block and limited modified features. Krummert ended Rex King Jr.’s win streak in the big block modifieds and held of Rex King Sr. for the win.
“Anytime you beat the Kings here you beat the best,” Krummert stated in victory lane.
Also visiting victory lane at Mercer were Greg Dobrosky (limited sprints), Chris Robinson (mod lites), and Shane Shook (mini stocks).
There will be no racing at Mercer Raceway over Memorial Day weekend as the trucks and tractors of the Northwest PA Pullers Association and Power Pull Productions take center stage this Saturday.
At Sharon Speedway Lernerville sprint champion AJ Flick finally got the monkey off his back by scoring his first win at the Hartford, Ohio oval. The win made Flick the 10th different winner in the last 10 races in sprint car competition.
The race of the night was between the “Seneca Slider” Bobby Whitling and Jackson Humanic as the two battled for nearly all twenty laps of the twenty lap stock car feature.
The Seneca Slider Bobby Whitling got his first win of the season Saturday at Sharon Speedway. Photo by Rick Rarer
When the checkers flew it was Whitling crossing the line first for his first win of the season. The victory was his third career stock car win at Sharon and first win at the track in seven years.
This Saturday the big block modifieds will return to Sharon and it will also be Twin-State Auto Racing Club Night. RUSH Sprint Cars, Stock Cars, RUSH Sportsman Mods, Econo Mods & Junior Sprints will also be in action this Saturday.
Hummingbird Speedway swung back to action this past Saturday where Michael Lake returned to victory lane in late model competition. Other winners Saturday included Bruce Hartzfeld (street stock), Nick Erskine (semi late), Tim Steis (pure stock), and Jeff Huber was the winner in four-cylinder action.
Hummingbird will be back in action this Saturday with another five-division show and will also offer free general admission to all veterans and current military personnel with proof of service.
The World of Outlaws spent the weekend in central Pennsylvania where Lance Dewease scored a pair of wins for the home team at Lincoln and Williams Grove Speedways, while Outlaw regular David Gravel scored one win at Williams Grove.
The All-Star Circuit of Champions will return to Ohio this weekend for three nights of racing. After10 consecutive rainouts the series will hope for better weather this weekend as they compete at Attica Raceway Park on Friday, Wayne County Speedway Saturday, and Fremont Speedway Sunday.
Rick’s Racing Roundup is brought to you by:
Bauer Truck Repair
Red Bandana Winery
Zacherl Motors
Allegheny Grille
Kerle Tire Company
Redbank Chevrolet
About Rick
Rick Rarer, a Franklin resident, is the owner of Racestud.com and SprintCarNews.com. He has been covering racing for 19 years, taking racing photos for 14 years, and has covered races at over 100 tracks in 15 states. Most recently, Rick won the Bill Steinbach Media Award at the Lernerville Speedway Annual Awards Banquet.
Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.
