The "Steel City Outlaw," Tim Shaffer, is living an incredible dream.

The 1993 Lernerville Sprint Champion recently won the "Crown Jewel" of dirt track auto racing, the 50th Annual Knoxville Nationals in Iowa — the first time that a Pennsylvania driver has earned the honors.

"I didn't even know what it paid," Shaffer said.

The winner's portions of the purse is $150,000.

"I experienced a roller coaster of emotions," Shaffer continued. "One minute I was laughing, and the next crying."

For those whodidn't make the trek to Iowa, Speed TV will carry the broadcast at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Janet Holbook and Aaron Call own the low budget winning No. 83 team.

"I felt like this was a David vs. Goliath thing," Holbrook said.

There were over 26,000 in attendance at the Knoxville Nationals and the 50-50 drawing was nearly $20,000 the last night.

Shaffer's protégé, Danny Holtgraver, finally knocked down the door to the Lernerville Sprint victory lane.Danny, as well as Sportsman driver Bob Lipinski, have a recorder strapped to the front of their racer. This enables them to see where to run and what line is working the best after racing.

Gregg Satterlee and his crew recently drove to Canada for a World of Outlaws Late Model Show where he placed fourth in the feature.What the crew found totally surprising was to have the races called in French and the people in the pits all spoke their native tongue.Pontine was a big seller in the pit concession stand. That is French fries smothered with cheese and gravy.

We are sad to announce the death of Jack Freeman. He was the former flagman at North Hills, Motordrome, Jennerstown, Schmuckers, and Lernerville Speedway.

Get well wishes are sent to Johnny Axe, who is recuperating from a heart attack in a Las Vegas Hospital.Axe won the first race run at Lernerville in a Modified, and most recently threw the green flag to start the races at Lernerville during Nostalgia Night.

Joe Kelley won his eighth Sportsman feature of the season, which clinched his seventh Lernerville points title.He is the only driver to garner this honor.

NASCAR driver Scott Riggs has replaced Dave Blaney in the Prism Motor Sports #66. We may see Blaney driving a Sprint car locally for special events.

Todd Bachman has parked his Late Model, citing two blown engines as the reason. Russ King, Michael Norris and Ken Schaltenbrand's engine also went sour last Friday.

A lot of new items have been added to the Mark Cassella auction. Check them out at 322variety.com/auction.htm.Be sure and add the htm. The auction is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Location is 322 Variety Store, a mile east of Clarion on 322.

Friday night is the last night for points at Lernerville Speedway. Mercer Raceway Park will have a Sprint special paying $3,000 to win.<B><I>Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle. </B></I>