BUFFALO TWP — Something strange happened to Shawn Kozar last Friday at Lernerville Speedway.

He finished among the top 10.

Kozar, 38, of Renfrew, has been racing his No. 3K Modified off and on at the Sarver oval for 10 years. This is the first season in four years that he’s been on the track, patiently waiting to build up enough funds to put his car on the track.

“I grew up in the stands off Turn 1 every Friday at this place,” Kozar said. “Driving a race car on this track ... It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

He’s never won a race. He’s never come close. Before last weekend, he had never cracked the top 10.

Kozar finished ninth last week despite being a lap down. Six other cars in the 15-car feature field bowed out of the race earlier.

“I’m a last-place car. I know it. But we’re still here trying our best with what we have,” Kozar said. “I’m here to have fun. This is my hobby.

“Some people fish. Some people play golf. I drive a race car.”

Kozar’s car sat idle for a few years while he got his excavating business up and running. His race team consists of his brother Aaron, close friend Sean Maust, Don Bartell and his 9-year-old son Brian, and Kozar’s 10-year-old daughter, Kenzie.

His wife works nights as a nursing aide and Kozar is busy seven days a week with his business. So Friday nights also serve as father-daughter time.

“I wanted to introduce Kenzie to the sport I grew up with. Now she loves it, too,” Kozar said.

Kenzie is active in the pits, scraping mud off the car and cleaning her father’s helmet and visor before each race.

When it’s time for Dad to hit the track, daughter makes sure she has a front row seat somewhere.

“I scream for him, urge him on, yell for him to ‘Go, go go!,’” Kenzie said. “I’m always hoping he hears me somehow.”

Kozar has Brian and Kenzie’s hand prints on the back of his car “to give me a push,” he said.

Asked if she would rather be someplace else on a Friday night, Kenzie shakes her head emphatically from side to side.

“No way. This is too much fun. I love helping my dad and rooting him on,” she said.

“She’s a girly girl ... but she’s got some tomboy in her, too,” Kozar said, laughing. “She works hard back here.”

For now, every race is pretty much the same for Kozar. Where he finishes on the track is dependent on how many cars break or how large the field of cars is to begin with.

It may not always be that way.

“I’d like to get more competitive, sure, and that may become a gradual thing,” Kozar said. “The reality is I’m running against guys who have been doing this their entire lives.

“I try to respect them, get my car around the track, stay out of the way and get my laps in.

“I’m happy to be here. These times are precious ones for my daughter and me. Neither one of us will ever forget our Friday nights at Lernerville,” he added.

Lernerville Points Leaders

(top 15 through July 25)

Sprints

Carl Bowser 343, Brandon Matus 319, Jack Sodeman Jr. 291, Mike Lutz 268, Dan Shetler 233, Brent Matus 219, Brandon Spithaler 208, AJ Flick 195, Scott Priester 191, Billy Dietrich 189, Eric Williams 172, Cory Good 149, Jared Zimbardi 123, Dan Kuriger 120, Pete Landrum 91

Late Models

Alex Ferree 363, Russ King 312, Mike Pegher Jr. 298, John Garvin Jr. 292, Brian Swartzlander 240, Ken Schaltenbrand 235, Chuck Sarver 216, Jared Miley 213, Michael Norris 208, Gary Lyle 207, Garrett Krummert 194, Dave Murdick 178, Tommy Beck 147, Dan Swartzlander 133, Brandon Wearing 127

Modifieds

Rex King Jr. 345, Rex King 330, Dave Murdick 328, Brian Swartzlander 299, Jeremiah Shingledecker 280, Tom Winkle 257, Mat Williamson 230, Steve Feder 203, Brad Rapp 203, Rodney Beltz 194, Rick Regalski 193, Bob Warren 187, Carl Murdick 159, Mike Turner 157, Jeff Miller 128

Sportsman Stocks

Jim Fosnaught 387, Corey McPherson 370, Rob Shook 350, Mark Sanders 321, Terry Young 317, Aaron Easler 293, Joe Kelley 276, Pat Hanley 266, Mike Miller 252, Joey Zambotti 237, Brett McDonald 230, Paul Schrecengost 191, Jeff Miller 174, Scott Byers 169, Brian Stivenson 167