BUFFALO TWP — Forget about winning B-Mains and heat races.

Mike Turner been there, done that.

Turner, 34, of Butler has won one of each already this year in the Modified division. But that car is now parked.

He broke out a brand new No. 96 Modified last week at Lernerville Speedway, the first time in his 14-year racing career that he’s driven a car not previously owned by somebody else.

The goal is to win a feature — something Turner’s never done in seven years in Sportsman Stocks or in six seasons in the Modified division.

“It’s exciting, but I’m a little anxious at the same time,” Turner said of his new car in the pits before last Friday’s Fab Four show. “I haven’t even turned one lap on this car yet.

“You never know how it’s gonna go until you get ou there.”

Turner passed four cars in his heat race before finishing fifth in the eight-lap event last week. He started in the front row for the feature and wound up finishing a season-best eighth.

He’s finished second in Stock and Modified features in past years. His eyes have been fixed on victory lane for years.

“The goal is always to finish first. You don’t get into a new car without that goal,” Turner’s crew chief, Adam Schnur, said. “Sure, it may take some time to iron things out with the set-up.

“But there’s no reason why we can’t win one this year.”

Ruth Turner, Mike’s stepmother, owns the car.

“Without her support, we wouldn’t still be here on Friday nights,” Turner said.

His father, Dewayne Turner, had always been his crew chief. The elder Turner died of a heart attack at age 54 in 2011.

Dewayne Turner had worked with Carl Murdick’s Modified race team for 25 years, leaving only when his son began his own racing career.

Mike Turner was introduced to dirt track racing when he joined the Murdick race team at age 14.

“That’s why we got into the Modified division. That’s where Dad’s expertise was,” Turner said. “His death was rough on all of us, but I never wanted to quit racing. He wouldn’t have wanted me to quit.”

Three days before his father died, Turner wrecked his Modified, doing significant damage to the car. That week, Carl and Dave Murdick’s race crews joined Turner’s in getting the car ready to run that Friday at Lernerville.

Dewayne Turner’s funeral was on that Friday.

“We went from the funeral home straight to the track,” Turner recalled. “Dad would never have wanted us to miss a night of racing.

“I didn’t drive the car that night. Mark Flick raced it for me. But I raced the next night at Sharon.”

The Murdicks have always been helpful to Turner’s career.

“Dewayne’s father helped me with my car, then Dewayne took over,” Carl Murdick said. “We’ve always been close with that family.

“His dad helped us, we were going to help him. When you’re running for points, you don’t want to miss a night. No doubt in my mind, Dewayne wanted his son at the track that night.”

Now Turner wants his moment in victory lane.

“For my father, even more than for myself,” he said. “When we lost him, we lost a lot of knowledge.”

Besides Schnur, Turner’s crew consists of Matt Cooper, Billie Jo Bartley, Kevin Turner and Deb Speicher.

“Mike’s been coming along as a driver and now that he has a new car, who knows what might happen?,” Murdick said.

Lernerville Points Standings

(top 15 through May 17)

Sprints

Eric Williams 91, Brandon Spithaler 91, Jack Sodeman Jr. 90, Brian Ellenberger 78, Dan Kuriger 76, Brandon Matus 74, Brent Matus 66, Scott Priester 61, Carl Bowser 54, Dan Shetler 52, Daryl Stimeling 48, Gary Rankin 44, Bob McMillin 43, Cap Henry 40, Ed Lynch Jr. 40

Late Models

Dave Hess Jr. 111, Jared Miley 101, John Garvin Jr. 100, Michael Norris 89, Alex Ferree 85, Dan Angelicchio 71, Davey Johnson 66, Chuck Sarver 62, Russell King 62, Ken Schaltenbrand 55, Todd Bachman 54, John Mollick 45, Lynn Geisler/Mike Pegher 45, Garrett Krummert 44, Denton Boyer 42

Modifieds

Mat Williamson 112, Jeremiah Shingledecker 93, Jim Weller Jr. 92, Dave Murdick 92, Rex King Sr. 89, Brian Swartzlander 87, Brad Rapp 81, Steve Feder 72, Mike Turner 71, Rex King Jr. 67, Eric Gabany 66, Skip Moore 59, Erik Martin 57, Tom Winkle 52, Frank Guidace 47

Sportsman Stocks

Corey McPherson 117, Brett McDonald 92, A.J. Flick 91, Mark Sanders 90, Mike Miller 88, Joe Kelley 86, Bob Egley 76, Jim Fosnaught 75, Paul Schreckengost 72, Scott Byers 66, Joey Zambotti 61, Ryan Moyer 61, Wayne Carbo 56, Rob Shook 55, Terry Young 54