BUFFALO TWP — Just finishing the race would have been an accomplishment for Mike Blose.

But the veteran Late Model driver did much better than that at Lernerville Speedway Friday night.

On the ninth lap of the second heat race in preparation for Saturday's Firecracker 100 at the Sarver track, Blose ended up in the woods.

He had a slight lead on Jimmy Owens for third place on the back straightaway when the two cars bumped each other.

Blose lost control of his No. 5 car and skidded off the track, over a hill and out of sight.

"I didn't flip, but I was up on two (wheels)," said the New Bethlehem resident. "I saw dirt and said, 'This is going to hurt.'"

A caution flag went up and rescue vehicles raced to Blose's aid.

But before they could reach him, his car was seen inching its way back to the track.

"I was thinking about pitting, but figured I'd take it for a few laps and see what happens."

What happened was Blose placed third in the 15-lap race behind World of Outlaws drivers Steve Francis and Brandon Kinzer, locking up a spot in Saturday night's main event, which pays $40,000 to the winner.

Blose's son, A.J., is a member of his father's pit crew and saw the wreck from the grandstands.

"I was scared," he said. "All I could see was what everybody else saw from the stands. But he's wrecked worse than that. He's barrelrolled his car a few times."

The elder Blose, who has been racing at Lernerville for about 30 years, competed in the heat races before last year's Firecracker 100, but did not finish in the top three.

Blose did receive a provisional spot in the race and placed 27th.

He didn't think he'd get a chance to improve on that this time around, but he will.

"Before tonight's race, I looked at the guys who would be racing and I told my team that there was no way we were going to make it through," Blose said. "But it was a good race. The track was good and it was good for the fans."

With the top three in each of six heat races making the cut for Saturday night's event, Blose was one of three Lernerville drivers to move on.

The others included Colby Frye and Gregg Satterlee.

Frye, 23, placed second in the first heat race and will be making his first appearance in a World of Outlaws event.

"The rain from (Thursday night), I think that's why the track was rutting up," said Frye, whose car painted the wall on the front straightaway several times.

"I caught a rut, the mud was flying," he said. "But the guys out on the track like it that way."

Satterlee finished third in the No. 3 race.

Saturday night will mark the second Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway. Last year's winner, Scott Bloomquist of Tennessee, placed fifth in his heat race Friday.

Shannon Babb, of Illinois, had the night's fastest lap during time trials at 15.228 seconds. He then placed third in the first heat race.

Heat race winners included Shane Clanton (Georgia), Francis (Kentucky), Earl Pearson Jr. (Florida), Josh Richards (West Virginia), Darrell Lanigan (Kentucky) and Brian Birkhofer (Iowa).

Notable area performers included John Flinner (seventh in heat race), Alex Ferree (ninth), Tony Burke (sixth), Chuck Kennedy (sixth), Nick Reges (ninth), Lynn Geisler (10th) and Ken Schaltenbrand (10th).