The cliché "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" definitely is true in racing. There are many new racers whose families have deep roots in the sport.

Mike Bertolini was baptized into Sprint racing at Lernerville Speedway Friday. On his maiden voyage, he rolled his car in a heat race.

Mike had tried his hand at Pure Stocks and Micro Sprints, before his grandfather, Herman Bertolini Sr., bought a Sprint car from Eric Smith for him to drive this season.

The elder Bertolini's son, Herman, drives Late Models and will be at the track in a few weeks.

Mike, a Deer Lakes graduate, is taking courses at Butler County Community College and hopes to enter the State Police Academy.

"The family is looking forward to having fun together at the races," Mike said.

Bobbi Rankin, 16, a junior at Butler High, plans to run full-time in the Sprint division this season. Bobbi's grandfather, Carl, begins his 51st year of racing in a red, white and blue Modified. Her mother, Sheila, and father, Gary, both are Sprint drivers.

Bobbi hopes to attend Slippery Rock University and to become a chiropractor.

Darrin Gallagher, 20, has been coming to the races with his dad, Donnie, who is the present Lernerville flagman, since he was 4.

Several years ago, he watched his dad race lawn tractors at Shadtree Speedway. It was only natural that he and his dad built a go-cart for Darrin and he started his career in the sport.

After spending a few years on Dave Murdick's Modified crew, Darrin will drive in the Mod-lite Division.

After a recent practice, the excited Darrin said, "This is way more fun than go-cart racing. It is fast!"

It's back!The guys from FantasyDirtRacing.com are currently taking registrations for season two of Lernerville's Fab Four Fantasy Racing Division.The format remains the same. Each team will consist of four core drivers from each Fab Four Racing division plus a wild card that can be chosen from any division. The wild card can be changed periodically, but not the four core drivers.The scoring is simple: Each feature core driver receives 10 points for a victory while the wild card earns 20 points for his feature win.In a new twist for 2010, double points will be awarded for the winners of the midseason championships.Lernerville prizes will be awarded, and entries must be in before April 16.In other racing news:• Former Lernerville owner Helen Martin is recovering from her second back surgery. She could use some get-well wishes to speed up her recovery. Cards can be sent to Concordia Lutheran Ministries, 134 Marwood Road, Room 242, Cabot, PA 16023.• Dave Kittey has sold RPM Racing Newspaper, located in Latrobe, to New Jersey based Area Auto Racing News. Writers Walt Wimer, Don Gamble, Chuck Bollinger, Dave Dragovich and Jim Carmichael will remain on the staff.• Lernerville Late Model champ Alex Ferree won't run the entire UFO Late Model Series.• Ferree's father, Ed Ferree, might come out of retirement to compete in the Late Model division in 2010Carol Gamble is the racing columnist for the Butler Eagle.