BUFFALO TWP - Mike McNeish has seen the checkered flag before. He just can't get to it.

The Butler resident started fourth and held the lead for eight laps in the 15-lap Bluebird School Bus Feature Tuesday night at Lernerville Speedway.

Bob Egley of Kittanning passed him in lap traffic on the ninth lap, however, and held the lead for the victory.

Egley, also a regular Pure Stock driver at Lernerville, won his 10th career bus feature. McNeish is still looking for his first.

"I've finished second four times now," McNeish said. "I think three of those were behind Bob. If lap traffic would have opened up before he caught up to me, I'd have won easily."

Both drivers are employed by A.J. Meyers Bus Company. McNeish is head mechanic of the company's Mars garage and Egley is the business's body man.

"I've been racing buses since they first started having them here in 1991," Egley said. "One thing led to another and I got into a Pure Stock two and a half years ago."

Egley's bus-racing success has yet to rub off on his Pure Stock. His highest feature finish on Friday nights here is fourth place.

"Driving the Pure Stock has helped my bus racing, though," he said. "I know this track. Seat time in any division is always helpful."

McNeish has been racing his school bus for four years. He bought it for $400. Egley's bus was given to him.

Blackie Watt of New Alexandria - fifth all-time in total feature wins at Lernerville with 84 - was running in the top five of the bus feature before being forced to the pits.

Watt came into contact with another bus on the first turn of the 14th lap and had a tire knocked off his bus.

Watt is third with 61 Late Model wins at Lernerville.

"I've been racing buses now for about four years, Watt said. "In 40 races or so, I've won four or five features. I do it for fun."

Watt, 70, said he has never officially retired from dirt track racing. He raced a Late Model last Sunday at Latrobe Speedway.

Brian Woodhall of Apollo started 11th in the 20-lap Modified Lites feature, was third by the third lap, grabbed the lead on the fifth lap and cruised to victory.

Modified Lites look like a miniaturized big block Modified.

Woodhall, a recent Lernerville Rookie of the Year in the Sprint division, should know the cars. He builds them for his father's business, Eliminator Race Cars.

"We built about 12 (out of 18) cars that were in this feature," Woodhall said. "I love driving a Sprint car, but it's hard finding the time to do that now."

Woodhall won the Modified Lites race here late last season as well. Like the buses, the Modified Lites generally run during special shows at various tracks.

"We've been traveling a lot," Woodhall said. "We've raced in Florida and South Carolina already. Dad's only been in business for a year and we've already sold 14 cars."

Gail Dolan of Guys Mills won the Powder Puff 15-lap bus feature, taking the lead from Rose Spithaler of Evans City on a restart with two laps to go. Missy Gardenia of Sarver was third.

Notes:

There were 18 buses and 18 Modified Lites in the pits. … Bus races will return to Lernerville Sept. 11. … Lynn Knepper of Somerset rolled his No. 10 Modified Lite several times on the ninth lap of the feature, bringing out the red light. He was unhurt. … Fab Four racing, featuring the BRP Modified Tour, returns to Lernerville Friday night.