New era begins at Lernerville Friday night

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

March 23, 2004 Last Updated: August 01, 2005 04:25 PM Amateur

A new era is scheduled to dawn at Lernerville Speedway Friday night.

The 37th season of dirt racing at the Sarver track will be the first without a member of the Martin family at the helm.

Helen Martin retired at the end of last season and is leasing the facility to co-directors Tom Roenigk and Barb Bartley this year.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30 in Friday's season opener, weather-permitting.

Bartley is the daughter of the late Earl Bauman - one of Lernerville's original owners - and sister of the late Dave Bauman, a former co-promoter of the speedway.

Roenigk is the son of Lernerville promoter Albert "Ouch" Roenigk and has been a track manager the past 10 years.

"Right now, I'd say our chances are 50-50," Roenigk said of starting the season this Friday. "There was still some snow on the track (Monday). But we're working hard to give it a go."

Bartley said running vehicles circled the track for three hours Monday, patting down the surface.

Rain is in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

"We'll wait until Friday before we make a decision," Bartley said. "We'll hold out as long as we can."

"The track is pretty messy out here," Roenigk said. "But as long as we don't get a heavy downpour, we should be able to get it ready."

Lernerville's points season does not begin until April 2, but the new co-directors are eager to stage a race show of any kind.

"I'm excited," Roenigk said. "The phone calls are over. We've been setting things in place all winter. It's time to get started."

"Excited and nervous at the same time. … We just want to get things going," Bartley said.

Among the things they've set in place are the debut of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Lernerville. An April 23 Outlaws Late Model show has been added to the Aug. 13 show.

This first-year series has 12 nationally-known drivers under contract to appear at each show - Scott Bloomquist, Mike Balzano, Darrel Lanigan, Billy Moyer, Chub Frank, Dan Schlieper, Steve Francis, Dale McDowell, Rick Eckert, Rick Aukland, Bart Hartman and Wendell Wallace.

Top local Late Model drivers include two-time defending Lernerville points champion John Flinner, Lynn Geisler, David Scott and Bob Wearing Jr.

"Our local guys will give those 12 plenty of competition," Bauman said. "I told the Outlaws promoter when we scheduled this event to not be surprised if his guys finished toward the back."

New clay was put on the track last fall. No other additions were made to the facility during the off-season.

Price of admission for a Fab Four Night - Sprint, Late Model, Modified and Pure Stock - remains at $10.

A child age 12 or younger can buy a season pass for $20, with part of the proceeds benefiting the March of Dimes.

Flinner, Ed Lynch Jr. (Sprint), Brian Swartzlander (Modified) and Joe Kelley (Pure Stock) are the returning track points champions.

Last year's Opening Night winners were Lynch, Scott, Swartzlander and Paul Schreckengost.

A few weeks into the season, Victory Lane might be moved to an area closer to the pits - yet still accessible to all fans - so that victory presentations and pictures can be done while the race show continues.

"We want to speed up the program a little bit and that's one way," Bartley said. "But we want to get things under way first. We'll probably get through the first Outlaws Late Model show before we make that type of change."

Other Opening Night notes:

Lynch begins the season as Lernerville's career Sprint feature wins leader with 64.

Scott Bochek's next Pure Stock feature win at Lernerville will be his 28th and would move him in front of Bruce Milbert for first place all-time.

The Rankin race team has changed its Sprint car colors from red to green.

Ralph Spithaler has changed the color of his Sprint car from blue to scarlet red.

Jim Weller III is switching from a Modified to a Sprint car this year.

Lernerville Speedway 2004 special events

April 2 -

Beginning of Fab Four points season

April 23 -

World of Outlaws Late Model Series

May 7 -