Drivers will hit track Fri.
BUFFALO TWP — The 44th full season of dirt track racing at Lernerville Speedway is scheduled to begin Friday night with a Fab Four race card.
Fab Four points racing begins April 1.
“We're expecting a great car count,” said Lernerville general manager Gary Risch Jr. “There were a lot of people out here Saturday and they're ready to go.”
Lernerville held its Test and Tune Day for drivers Saturday under sunny skies.
“We had a rough winter and the base of the track was a little soft, but it held up very well,” Risch said. “We don't put down a whole bunch of clay each winter like a lot of tracks do.
“We add clay as we go now, whenever it's needed. We've developed a good, firm base that way.”
Risch said work was done on Lernerville's sound system and more room is being created in the pit area.
“During special shows, we were running out of places to put cars,” he admitted. “We're trying to alleviate that problem.”
Defending track champions are Danny Holtgraver in the Sprint division, Dave Hess Jr. in Late Models, Kevin Bolland in Modifieds and Joe Kelley in Sportsman Stocks.
Six-time Lernerville track champion Brian Swartzlander will begin the 2011 season tied with the late Lou Blaney for career Modified wins at the Sarver track with 69.
Ed Lynch Jr. won four features at Lernerville last season, hiking his career track record to 105.
“When records get broken here, we love it because it takes great drivers to do it,” Risch said.
Former Lernerville Sprint points champion Gary Lyle might return to race full time at the track this year.
“You're never sure who might show up around here, but that's something we've heard,” Risch said.
<B>March 25: </B>Fab Four season opener<B>April 1: </B>Fab Four points begin<B>April 29: </B>All-Star Late Model Sprints<B>May 30: </B>USAC wingless sprints and FASTRAK Late Models<B>June 10: </B>Fan Appreciation Night<B>June 23-25: </B>Firecracker 100<B>July 19: </B>Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XX<B>Aug. 26: </B>Fab Four racing ends<B>Sept. 2: </B>All-Star Sprints<B>Sept. 24: </B>World of Outlaws Sprint Commonwealth Clash<B></B>
