BUFFALO TWP — Racing is an addiction. Just ask the Jones family.

Nick Jones, a Pittsburgh resident and the 2000 Late Model points champion at Lernerville Speedway, raced for 27 years before getting out of the sport three years ago for financial reasons.

His younger brother, Jeff, missed the 2009 and 2010 seasons after an eight-year career as he and wife Michelle had their log home built in Zelienople.

“That's been our dream home for years,” Jeff Jones said. “We talked about getting it built for years. My dad died a few years ago and that was a wake-up call for me to quit talking about it and go get it done.”

So the Late Model racing was put on hold until the house was completed.

But the process was taking longer than anticipated.

“I was getting antsy to return to racing,” Jones admitted. “Our original plan was to return to racing once our garage was finished at home.

“When it became appartent the garage wouldn't be ready in time for this season, we decided to go racing anyway. I was missing it terribly.”

So Jones and his crew work on the No. 27 car outside, meaning they are at the mercy of the weather and nightfall.

“It's tough, downright miserable at times with the heat, the bugs and everything,” Jones confessed. “After all of this, no one should question how badly I want to race.”

While one of his brother's former crew members, Jeff Mortimer, is now part of Jeff's race team and Jeff uses Nick's former trailer to haul his car to and from the track, Nick Jones is not part of the team.

“I can't go anywhere near a race track,” Nick Jones said. “I'd probably break down and start crying if I tried to watch a race.”

Nick Jones won more than 20 features during his race career. Jeff Jones has yet to win, sporting a career-high second-place finish at Latrobe four years ago.

Jeff broke into racing by coming to Lernerville to watch his brother. He did some work on Nick's car for a while.

“Working on my car is where he really learned about racing and developed a passion for it,” Nick said.

Jeff Jones turns 49 later this month and is anxious to reach victory lane — especially at Lernerville.

“I feel like I grew up here,” he said. “Winning a race at this place eventually is very important to me.”

Mars resident Zach Morrow serves as Jones' crew chief and believes he's capable of winning.

“Jeff's had good heat races and some good laps here and there. It's just a matter of putting an entire race together,” Morrow said. “A good pill draw helps, hitting the set-up with the tires, all of that stuff.

“If everything comes together, it can happen.”

Jones is driving a 2008 Rocket with a new engine.

“I still haven't figured this game out yet,” Jones said, smiling. “All I know is that I love it. The Firecracker 100 experience was awesome. It was like pro football players coming to town to play the local kids. They bring everybody's driving up another level.”

Nick Jones described trying to win at Lernerville as “a tough road to hoe.”

“Most drivers and spectators can't afford to go to more than one track a weekend anymore,” he said. “There's so many big shows at Lernerville that they attract a lot of great teams that want to get experience running the track there.

“As long as you're enjoying the race, learning and being patient, it's all fine. I think Jeff is doing that.”

Lernerville Points Standings(top 15 through July 2)SprintsBrian Ellenberger 217, Carl Bowser 213, Rod George 200, Brandon Matus 172, Kevin Schaeffer 169, Brent Matus 153, Jack Sodeman Jr. 135, Danny Holtgraver 133, Gary Rankin 125, Brian Steinman 120, Sheila Rankin 107, Brandon Spithaler 88, Pete Landram 85, Dan Kuriger 82, Bobbi Rankin 79

Late ModelsDave Hess Jr. 241, Gregg Satterlee 198, John Garvin Jr. 176, Boom Briggs 168, Doug Eck 162, Jared Miley 162, Ken Schaltenbrand 158, Dave Murdick 141, Lynn Geisler/Mike Pegher 134, Jim Detman/Brian Swartzlander 117, Gary Lyle 114, Bryan Force 112, Tommy Beck 108, Chub Frank 106, Garrett Krummert 104

ModifiedsJeremiah Shingledecker 225, Kevin Bolland 210, Dave Murdick 203, Brian Swartzlander 179, Dean Pearson 163, Phil Evans Jr. 146, Mike Turner 135, Carl Murdick 132, Steve Feder 131, Brad Rapp 113, Mark Frankhouser 112, Shawn Fleeger 100, Jim Weller 91, Don Brown 83, Dave Reges 72

Sportsman StocksMike Miller 208, Corey McPherson 198, Rob Shook 196, Joe Kelley 191, A.J. Flick 188, Paul Schreckengost 171, Jim Fosnaught 166, Wayne Carbo 164, Brett McDonald 164, Bob Egley 153, Mark Sanders 118, Terry Young 114, Randy Hanovick 109, Troy Jeuther 106, Mike Gilliland 83