BUFFALO TWP— His chassis is 16 years old, he can race only twice a month and he is only in his second season behind the wheel.

One might say the odds are stacked against Robbie Bartchy.

But the Saxonburg driver of the No. 29 Sprint car doesn't care. He even showed up for the World of Outlaws Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup last Tuesday.

"If it falls on a night when I can be here ... I'm here,"Bartchy said.

Bartchy makes his living driving a tanker truck, delivering fuel to gas stations. At times, his shift runs from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., which prevents him from racing.

Now 30, Bartchy has been involved in Sprint car racing since he was 16. He worked on Bill Kiley's No. 4 Kcar for 13 years before finally getting a car of his own.

Bartchy bought a car from Davey Jones last year. He parks it next to Kiley's on nights he can get to Lernerville and shares pit crews with the Cabot driver.

"Bill let me drive his car during hot laps a few times,"Bartchy said. "Since I was a little kid, I've been coming here. I've wanted to race one of these things for as long as I can remember.

"I know my car is old and my parts are used. I come out here for the fun of it."

Before rain washed out the remainder of time trials at the Outlaws race Tuesday night, Bartchy had the slowest qualifying time of 16.119 seconds. He was unable to return for the rescheduled event the following night.

"My goal was to hit 100 mph during qualifying — and I fell short," he said, smiling.

Bartchy has a 15th-place finish in a feature. He's never finished higher. But he's always learning, as is crew member John McFarland, his neighbor.

McFarland works on automobiles for a hobby and one day noticed Bartchy working on his Sprint car in the garage next door.

"I came over, started talking to him and offered to give him a hand,"McFarland said. "I never worked on a race car before, but I've been working on his car ever since.

"I've been coming to this track since I was born. Getting a chance to work back here in the pits has been a thrill."

Bartchy is not about winning — at least, not yet. He is about keeping the car together.

"This is a money sport, but it's a fun sport for me,"he said. "Just find a way to keep the car running."

Lernerville Points StandingsTop 15 entering Friday nightSprintsKevin Schaeffer 307, Ed Lynch Jr. 294, Rod George 285, Dan Shetler 255, Carl Bowser 247, Scott Priester 213, Brent Matus 194, Charlie Holben 191, Gary Rankin 183, Ralph Spithaler 173, Scott Bonnell 168, Mike Lutz 167, Dan Holtgraver 163, Mike Shearer 141, Dan Kuriger 125

Late ModelsAlex Ferree 364, Mike Blose 240, Gary Lyle 256, Matt Lux 230, Lynn Geisler 227, Greg Satterlee 204, Jared Miley 202, Nick Jones 201, Ken Schaltenbrand 190, John Mollick 189, Sam Stile 189, Dutch Davies 184, Chuck Sarver 155, Dan Swartzlander 150, John Garvin 137

ModifiedsBrian Swartzlander 318, Del Rougeux Jr. 300, Dave Murdick 269, Kevin Bolland 250, JRMcGinley 237, Tom Winkle 225, Mike Turner 207, Jim Weller Jr. 189, Carl Murdick 186, Jeremiah Shingledecker 178, Steve Feder 154, Skip Moore 142, Phil Evans 139, Mike Miller 119, Andy Priest 112

Pure StocksMike Pegher Jr. 341, Butch Lambert 300, Greg Beach 294, Jason Fosnaught 294, Bob Egley 289, Joe Kelley 278, Paul Schrecengost 277, Bob Lipinski 257, Terry Young 221, Wayne Carbo 213, Jim Fosnaught 198, Chuck Gebauer 166, Pat Hanley 164, Jake Ayers 158, Nick Reges 151