"The Apollo Rocket" Ed Lynch Jr. leads the DIRTcar CSS Point Standings - Stivason Photos

DIRTcar Challenge Sprint Series Rounds 4 & 5 this weekend at Lernerville Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park

Sarver, PA (July 26, 2010) The best sprint car drivers in Western PA have their sights set on Lernerville Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park this weekend as the DIRTcar Challenge Sprint Series rolls into Sarver on Friday Night, then northwest to Mercer Saturday Night for a pair of $2,000-to-win shows.  Ed Lynch Jr., hot off his third Lernerville Feature win of the season, heads to his home track with a two point lead over fellow veteran driver Bob Felmlee in the DIRTcar Challenge Sprint Series Point Standings.   

Rod George won Race #1 at Lernerville Speedway - Stivason Photos

Rod George won the first event at Lernerville Speedway on Friday, April 23 over Ti22 Performance Aces; Dale Blaney and Brian Ellenberger.  George, Blaney and Lynch won National Guard Heat Races that night, and come feature time, all three were in the mix for the win along with Jack Sodeman Jr. and Brian Ellenberger.  Sodeman started on the pole and led the first 15 laps, but pulled up lame on the lap 16 restart, bequeathing the lead to Rod George.  George had a proverbial rearview mirror full of Ti22 sprint cars as Blaney and Ellenberger battled for second.  Their battle allowed George to cruise to the first win of the newly created series and the 41^st of his legendary career at Lernerville Speedway.

NASCAR star Dave Blaney won Race #2 at Tri-City Speedway - Gary Thayer

Round Two of the DIRTcar Challenger Sprint Series was slated for Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, PA on Sunday, May 2, but Mother Nature was not a race fan that evening and Round Two would have to wait more than two months. 

Fast forward to the Fourth of July at Tri-City Speedway when Western PA Sprint Fans got a blast from the past as NASCAR star Dave Blaney returned to his roots and piloted a 410 sprint car around the Oil Region Speedplant to win the second race of the series.   Racing the J&M Motorsports/Mertz & Associates Century 21 Maxim No. 55 owned by Central Pennsylvania car owners Gene Jenkins and Scott Mertz, Blaney rocketed outside four to five cars to vault into third before the end of the first lap. Felmlee, Lynch and Blaney raced fast and furious at the front. On the seventh circuit, Felmlee drove around Lynch with Blaney in tow. Without any other cautions to slow the action, Blaney setup Felmlee amidst lapped traffic. On the 16th circuit, Blaney dove under Felmlee off turn two. They drag raced into turn three and Blaney rocketed away from Felmlee. Once out front, Blaney raced into the distance and checkered his first race on dirt for many years.

Mike Lutz dominate Race #3 at the Lou Blaney Memorial Classic - Another Hein Bros. Action Photo

Three days later, the DIRTcar CSS had the privilege of being included in the Lou Blaney Memorial Classic at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH.  The added prestige of the event was magnified by an even bigger purse highlighted by $3,500 to the winner and the presence of NASCAR stars Dave Blaney, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.  There were also multiple drivers from the World of Outlaws, All Stars and FAST in competition, but it was local driver Mike Lutz that stole the show!  Lutz won his heat, then dominated the feature while local stars Ed Lynch Jr., Rod George, Bob Felmlee and Danny Holtgraver battled Blaney, Stewart and Kahne, as well as Dale Blaney, Tim Shaffer and Brian Ellenberger.

As mentioned above, Ed Lynch Jr. heads into the DIRTcar CSS doubleheader weekend with a two point lead over Bob Felmlee.  Felmlee enjoys a two point cushion over Rod George, while rising star Danny Holtgraver sits just 10 points back in fourth.  With both Ti22 Performance DIRTcar Sprints and DIRTcar CSS Points on the line, Friday Night should be a whale of a show at the Action Track!  Saturday Night also promises to be a big night at Mercer Raceway Park!  Don’t miss the DIRTcar Challenge Sprint Series this weekend at Lernerville Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park!

Contact: Lernerville Speedway                

Eric J. Westendorf, Public Relations Director