BUFFALO TWP— To sell or not to sell, that is the question.

Greg Beach doesn't have the answer just yet.

The Chicora driver of the No. 33X Pure Stock at Lernerville Speedway had a for sale sign on his car for a couple of weeks late in the 2007 season.

The sign suddenly disappeared, courtesy of his wife, Tricia.

"I don't want him to go out like this,"she said. "Greg has worked too hard at racing for too long. He can win a points championship. That's what he's always wanted to do."

Beach, 36, has been involved in racing since he began competing in go-karts at age 13. He's been one of the top Pure Stock drivers here for the past few years, posting five feature wins in 2006.

The 2007 season has been rough on him, however.

His uncle, Banker Beach, a former race driver who always worked on Beach's car and served as his mentor, moved to Florida a year ago.

Beach failed to win a feature this season despite picking up five heat race victories and six top-five finishes. He wound up fifth in points at 450, 48 behind champion Mike Pegher Jr.

"My biggest problem is finding time to work on the car,"Beach said. "Uncle Banker was retired and he always had time to come over and tinker with it.

"Since he's been gone, I've been on my own in the garage. I'm out there every night after working my job all day. ... It got to be pretty rough. That's when I figured I'd give it up."

Beach is an electrician, a job that often requires working overtime

His mind-set has gone from walking away from the sport to pondering a possible return.

He knows he can be competitive. He knows he can win. So does his 8-year-old son, Dawson.

On the last night of points racing, Beach's son ventured into the attic and found the first checkered flag his father won.

"He fished it out and brought it to the track,"Beach's wife said. "He figured it would bring his daddy luck."

It didn't. Beach finished ninth that night.

"It's just been that kind of year,"Beach said. "I've done well in the heats, yet the best starting pill I've drawn all year was sixth."

Beach does have a neighbor, 62-year-old Nick Landgraf, stop by and tinker with the car on occasion. His father, Gary Beach, has lent a hand as well.

But the consistent, nightly help in the garage isn't there.

"Some drivers have plenty of guys able and willing to help out, other drivers can't find anybody,"Beach said. "You're asking people to commit a lot of time with little reward. That type of dedication is hard to find."

Twice before, Beach has gone into the final week of the points season still in contention for a Lernerville track championship only to come up short. He has 16 wins here in his career.

"I know being responsible for the whole car now instead of just half of it gets to him,"Tricia Beach said. "But the only thing that stopped him this year was bad luck.

"Racing has become a huge part of our lives, and of Dawson's life. If Greg gives it up, he'll have more time to go fishing and do other things with his son ... But Dawson loves coming to watch Daddy race, too."

Final Points StandingsTop 15SprintsKevin Schaeffer 500, Rod George 492, Ed Lynch Jr. 473, Carl Bowser 398, Scott Priester 368, Dan Shetler 359, Charlie Holben 345, Mike Lutz 338, Brent Matus 322, Ralph Spithaler 284, Dan Kuriger 259, Dan Holtgraver 258, Scott Bonnell 230, Gary Rankin 214, Terry Bowser 202

Late ModelsAlex Ferree 593, Gary Lyle 428, Jared Miley 415, Lynn Geisler 413, Greg Satterlee 390, Mike Blose 351, Matt Lux 346, Ken Schaltenbrand 344, Sam Stile 310, Chuck Sarver 298, John Mollick 280, Dave Murdick 275, Dutch Davies 269, Dan Swartzlander 265, John Garvin 262

ModifiedsBrian Swartzlander 521, Del Rougeux Jr. 493, Dave Murdick 472, JRMcGinley 399, Tom Winkle 365, Kevin Bolland 351, Jim Weller Jr. 346, Mike Turner 331, Jeremiah Shingledecker 305, Carl Murdick 305, Phil Evans 276, Skip Moore 248, Steve Feder 241, Doug Fleeger 208, John Durci 207

Pure StocksMike Pegher Jr. 498, Jason Fosnaught 465, Bob Egley 462, Butch Lambert 459, Greg Beach 450, Bob Lipinski 449, Joe Kelley 423, Paul Schreckengost 406, Wayne Carbo 404, Terry Young 374, Jim Fosnaught 332, Jake Ayers 277, Pat Hanley 261, Shawn Thorn 259, Chuck Gebauer 232