It was a surreal moment for 15-year-old Freeport High School student Levi Yetter as he stood in front of the Lernerville flagman's stand, surrounded by family and friends to accept the 2020 Western Pa. Rookie of the Year Award.

Due to COVID-19, the presentation was delayed from the usual March Lernerville banquet to August. That night, it was the 26th anniversary of his grandfather Ken Schaltenbrand Sr.'s accident at Challenger Raceway that took his life.

Behind Yetter, his parked Super Late Model race car was repainted to represent a “throw-back” of his grandfather's paint scheme and design.

He said: “It is an honor and a privilege to receive the Western Pennsylvania Rookie of the Year Award. This is a proud moment for me, especially with the other racers that have received this award in the past.

“I have been supported by other drivers in the racing community that have been helping me throughout the whole season.”

He added, “I want to thank the Lernerville management for presenting this award on the night we are honoring my grandfather. Also, it was also an honor to get the 2020 Lernerville Rookie of the Year Award. I have always dreamed of racing with my childhood idols.”

Levi's father, Shawn ,and Matt Hughs are his main crew members and together they finished 11th in points his rookie year. This season they are eighth on the point list in this super charged, competitive field, having several top five and ten finishes.

Levi's uncle, Ken Schaltenbrand Jr., is a two-time Lernerville Super Late Model Champion who has been instrumental in his racing career.

His mother, Tammy Schaltenbrand Yetter, grandmother Loretta Schaltenbrand, and sister Brooke are at the track every week supporting him, too.

Butler racing historian Walt Wimer created the Western Pa. Rookie Award 52 years ago.

“It was the first year I was writing and Lernerville ran weekly. I made the selection of the award winner for the first two years and then in 1970, started having a media panel make the choice.

“Kenny Hemphill was the first winner. After that, the next six winners were all Lernerville Speedway regulars: Dick Hesselgesser, Bud Kunkel, Harley Chuba, Gus Scholich, Jim Kelly, and Johnny Lewis. Yetter is the first winner from the top three classes going on 20 years, since Jimmy Weller III won the award in 2002!”

Wimer added that “due to the high cost of racing today, most drivers start out in a less expensive entry division. So, the award is seldom won by a top three (Sprint, Late Model, Modified) class driver division nowadays.”

Past well-known drivers who have won the award include Dave and Dale Blaney, Ed Lynch Jr., Bob Felmlee, Kevin Bolland, Dave Murdick and Jared Miley.

Sye Lynch scored a big win with Peluso Roofing Lernerville Sprint Spectacular last week!He collected a whopping $4,000 by defeating Carl Bowser, Jack Sodeman Jr, Bob Felmlee and Brandon Spithaler.

There is only a few Lernerville Fab Four nights left before the 2021 division champions are crowned.Brandon Matus has a 21- point lead over four-time champion AJ Flick, in his quest for a first track championship. He has already secured the Tri-City Sprint title.Colton Flinner is pursuing his career-first Late Model championship. He has a slim 15-digit lead over Jared Miley. Jared recently passed his Uncle Ben Miley on the Lernerville All-Time Win List, placing fourth with 35 victories.Jeremiah Shingledecker seeks his third Lernerville title, but only holds a narrow 3-point edge over defending track champion Garrett Krummert. Shingledecker is the Tri-City 2021 points champ.Corey McPherson is looking to garner his seventh track Pro Stock championship over Joey Zambotti. Currently he has a 55-digit lead. This would tie Joe Kelly's division mark of seven crowns.McPherson also has a total of 50 feature wins and is closing in on Kelley's 52.

Shaun and Deanna Hooks developed the Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series.Their goal was to standardize the Pro Stock rules for local tracks and develop several races with increased purses.Greg Wheeling is the Series Director. Friday at Lernerville, in addition to the regular show, the prestigious PennOhio Pro Stock PSX race will be held, paying a whopping $3,500 to win.Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle