Alex Ferree and Joe Corredo’s race team is hotter than a firecracker!

Ferree, of Saxonburg, has won five Late Model races thus far this year. The only other driver close to this feat is Russ King with four victories.

Ferree leads King in the Lernerville point standings by 17 digits and also tops the chart at Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.

Sixteen years ago, Alex began his career racing for his dad, the famed Ed Ferree. He had won many races plus three track championships (2007-2009) at Lernerville. Announcer Dow Carnahan nicknamed Alex, “the A-Train,” because he comes through the pack like a freight train on a race night.

In the early 1990’s, Corredo was teamed up with Bob Wearing Jr. Together they scored many victories, but never a championship. Corredo decided to stop racing in 1992.

However, you can take the man out of racing but you can’t take the racing out of the man. It still remained in his blood.

Fast forward 20 years ... One day Corredo was shopping in a department store and saw Ed and Gail Ferree and shared the fact that he would like to get back into racing.

Ed said, “Why don’t we form a race team?” That is how their team began. It was a good omen when they won the very first race of the season at Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.

Corredo said, “There was so much new technology, changes in suspension, shocks and rear steer.”

Ferree said that Corredo “studied hard, learning everything he could to catch up on 20 years of racing knowledge.”

Last year, Ferree won championships at Lernerville and PA Motor Speedway.

Corredo is a hands-on owner. It is a total team effort. His crew chief, Todd Sabish, was formerly with the Steve Frances Race team. Together, they put in eight-hour days working on the racer.

Corredo says, “It is important to be consistent and finish every race.” They check every bolt to see if it is tightened and look for any cracks that may have occurred.

The Ferree family provides the garage for the crew to work and Corredo is most appreciative to use the facility. Durham Racing Engines builds the power plant for their Rocket Chassis.

Andy Durham was formerly the head engineer for Raush-Yates and now has his own business. Other crew members are Mike Morgan, Rich Stroup, and Barry.

Corredo sees himself changed as an owner.

“Before I made all the decisions, but now Alex, Todd and I sit down and discuss issues and come to a solution,” he said. “We all work well together.”

Firecracker 100The eighth annual Lernerville Firecracker 100 will take place June 26-27-28, paying $30,000 to win. Defending track champion Ferree has made five of the seven previous A-Mains.World of Outlaws 2009 “Rookie of the Year” Russ King, who has had more success in the Uncle Sam 30 with a win and second place finish in the past three seasons, made the A-Main field in 2010 and 2009.Among other locals, Jared Miley has had the most success with an eighth place finish in 2012, his fourth straight A-Main appearance. A trio of “Juniors” have also represented the local contingent well as John Garvin Jr., Mike Pegher Jr. and Dave Hess Jr. have all made the 100-lap A-main in recent seasons.

Wedding bells ringWedding bells are in the ringing for a few local drivers.After winning four out of for four races this season, (two Crate Lates and two Super Late Models), Dan Angeliccio married his long time sweetheart, Amy Booley, last week. Sportsman driver, Joey Zambotti also tied the knot that weekend.In victory lane after winning the Lernervlle Sportsman feature, Corey McPherson took a ring off the chain around his neck and proposed to his long time girlfriend Jennifer Walborn. She said “yes!” Sprint driver Erik “Turkey” Williams is set to marry later this month.

Making his moveColton Flinner moved from the Crate Late Models to the Super Lates this season. He is a very talented driver with a bright future. Colton is John Flinner’s nephew.

Big night for BowsersRecently, Carl Bowser won the Sprint feature at Lernerville and his sister Michaela graduated from Freeport High School that same evening. She was a basketball and track star.In the fall, Michaela will be attending Butler Community College where she will be majoring in Business.

A woman’s touchA triumphant Jamie Beck became the first female driver to ever win a Late Model race at Jennerstown.A few years ago, she performed the same fete at Motordrome. She plans to run on both asphalt and dirt this season. Beck’s car is an Autism Awareness racer. Her son is autistic and she is an advocate for awareness of the disorder.“I wanted to do this for my son,” said Beck. “The car has the Autism Awareness ribbon on the hood and broken up puzzle pieces all over the car.”Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle