A thirst for first
BUFFALO TWP — Unfinished business has brought Greg Beach back to Lernerville Speedway — with a bit of a nudge from Tom Stotish.
Beach, 35, of Chicora, was an annual contender for the Sportsman Stock points championship at the Sarver track before leaving racing after the 2008 season.
“I kept a couple of motors, sold everything else,” Beach said.
Stotish, a Butler resident, builds motors and has known the Beach family for 11 years. He had interest in teaming up with Beach at Lernerville.
But the former driver of the No. 33X car wanted no part of it.
“I called him every year since he got out of it,” Stotish said. “I finally broke through toward the end of last year.”
Beach had not even gone to watch races over the past few years.
“Getting totally away from it was important to me at the time,” he said. “I was going through a divorce, had some financial issues and was dealing with some changes in my life.
“I got into building some old cars ... a different form of staying involved with autos, I guess.
“Last year, mentally, I was ready to come back. I called Tom back and said: ‘So ... you want to do this?’ And we went to work.”
The two became co-owners of a Sportsman Stock and raced the car four times at the end of last season, picking up a pair of top 10 finishes at Lernerville.
This year, the goal is much higher.
“We’re shooting for a championship,” Stotish said. “We’re fourth in points right now. We’ve got the car and the driver to get it done.
“This is unfinished business for Greg. He’s come so close to points titles here. He deserves to get one.”
Beach finished two points behind Mars resident Butch Lambert in the 2005 Sportsman Stock points race at Lernerville. The two were deadlocked in points going into the final feature of that season. Lambert finished first, Beach second in that race.
Beach won five of the final six features at Lernerville in 2006, finishing second in points. He failed to win a feature in 2007, but was consistenrt enough to finish just 48 points off the pace.
“Part of the reason I’m coming back is because I’ve come so close,” Beach admitted. “I was a little rusty behind the wheel at first, but it’s coming together now.
“We’ll run here every Friday and see what happens. If we’re fast enough, everything else will take care of itself.”
Beach owns a second car which he plans on running at Mercer and Marion Center.
“I got things sorted out, money’s back in my pocket ... I guess I’ve got the bug again,” Beach said.
Lernerville Points Standings(top 15 through May 20)SprintsRod George 164, Kevin Schaeffer 161, Brandon Matus 149, Brian Ellenberger 148, Eric Williams 136, Carl Bowser 130, Brian Steinman 115, Pete Miller III 108, Brandon Spithaler 97, Brent Matus 96, Jack Sodeman Jr. 73, Dan Kuriger 71, Danny Holtgraver 71, Pete Landram 63, Gary Rankin 59Late ModelsJared Miley 172, John Garvin Jr. 132, Doug Eck 119, Chub Frank 114, Mike Johnson 114, Boom Briggs 105, Garrett Krummert 102, Alex Ferree 101, Lynn Geisler 97, Ken Schaltenbrand 95, Chuck Sarver 92, Jeff Jones 89, Bump Hedman 81, Dan Swartzlander 76, Herman Bertolini 68ModifiedsDave Murdick 141, Kevin Bolland 135, Brian Swartzlander 121, Jeremiah Shingledecker 111, Phil Evans Jr. 89, Mark Frankhouser 88, Carl Murdick 85, Steve Feder 83, Mike Turner 82, Eric Gabany 82, Frank Guidace 73, Erik Martin 68, Shawn Fleeger 66, Bob Warren 64, Dean Pearson 60Sportsman StocksCorey McPherson 173, Jim Fosnaught 168, Joe Kelley 137, Greg Beach 136, Mike Miller 136, Ryan Moyer 133, Wayne Carbo 118, Scott Byers 117, Rob Shook 110, A.J. Flick 105, Brett McDonald 98, Terry Young 94, Mark Sanders 92, Jeff Miller 82, Randy Hanovick 81
