BUFFALO TWP — Make no mistake. John Flinner is ready to return to the winner's circle.

The Zelienople driver of the No. 48 Late Model has been a fixture at Lernerville Speedway for years and is the only driver in the track's 43-year history to win five consecutive points championships.

Flinner won those titles from 2001 through 2005.

He's been in a different world since.

Flinner was in a bad crash in the fall of 2006 at Challenger Raceway and was flown to a hospital. He endured the tragic loss of 16-year-old daughter Tanya in 2009 and has had difficulty racing regularly over the past few years.

“It's tough finding the help sometimes,” Flinner said. “People are busy. Trying to run a business and maintain three race cars with limited help is pretty hard.”

Flinner turns 50 this year. He runs a signs and graphics business and does design work on numerous race cars.

Now he wants back in the game himself. Flinner stands third on Lernerville's career Late Model win list with 40, well behind Bob Wearing Sr. (117) and Lynn Geisler (108).

“There's been a number of Friday nights over the past couple of years I was planning on racing, but couldn't find any help,” he said. “We still don't have a lot, but we have enough to get here.”

Flinner's car owner is John Johnson and his crew chief is Don Dabulis Jr., a welder based in the South Hills. His father helps out as well.

“I met John through racing back in 1989 and have been working with (his race team) for the past three years,” Dabulis said. “I'm planning on staying with him all season.

“I love the guy's dedication. He's all heart out there. The car could only have three wheels and he'd still be trying to win the race. He's a competitor.”

Flinner has the reputation in some fans' eyes of being too much of a competitor, being overly aggressive behind the wheel and causing mishaps on the track.

He scoffs at such a notion.

“I've never understood that perception,” he said. “Sure, I'm gonna try to win, but if I'm plowing into somebody else's car, I'm doing damage to mine as well.

“Repairing a race car isn't cheap.”

Flinner plans to race for points at Lernerville and Pittsburgh (Pa.) Motor Speedway this season. The team doesn't have the budget to do much traveling.

He finished second to Ron Davies at PPMS two weeks ago — Flinner's first race of the year — then won his heat race and finished sixth at Lernerville a week ago.

“Davies has been racing since February. He had a little more motor than I did. He just plain beat me,” Flinner said.

“I've got a new chassis and I'm going with the old set-up that made me successful. I'm looking for a big year.”

Years ago, Flinner figured he'd be out of the racing game by age 35.

“Fifteen years later, I'm still doing this,” he said. “But what else am I gonna do? I don't hunt, fish, play golf ... I don't like that stuff.

“It's either come to the track or sit in my backyard and watch the cars go by on 79. I'd rather come out here, face the competition and see where I stack up.”

Lernerville Points Standings(top 15 through April 15)SprintsDale Blaney 38, Cole Duncan 38, Carl Bowser 34, Danny Holtgraver 30, Kevin Schaeffer 29, Bob Felmlee 28, Brian Ellenberger 28, Rod George 25, Brandon Matus 24, Lynton Jeffrey 24, Brandon Spithaler 22, Brent Matus 17, Gary Rankin 17, Pete Landrum 17, Sheila Rankin 15

Late ModelsGregg Satterlee 35, Boom Briggs 34, Dave Hess Jr. 33, John Flinner 30, Jared Miley 30, Chad Valone 27, Jared Hawkins 27, Doug Eck 26, Mike Johnson 25, Matt Lux 23, Dave Murdick 22, Mike Pegher Jr. 21, John Garvin Jr. 21, Mason Zeigler 20, Denton Boyer 20

ModifiedsJeremiah Shingledecker 38, Kevin Bolland 36, Dave Murdick 34, Brad Rapp 31, Brian Swartzlander 30, Brian Weaver 27, Jim Weller Jr. 26, Phil Evans Jr. 25, Dean Pearson 24, Mark Frankhouser 23, Carl Murdick 20, Mike Turner 19, Kevin Hoffman 18, Kevin Green 17, Steve Feder 17

Sportsman StocksMike Miller 40, Rob Shook 37, Jim Fosnaught 33, Corey McPherson 30, Paul Schreckengost 30, Drew Koteles 30, A.J. Flick 26, Wayne Carbo 22, Troy Jeuther 22, Terry Young 21, Mike Gilliland 20, Brian Lochhard 19, Randy Hanovick 17, Jeff Miller 16, Mark Sanders 15