BUFFALO TWP — Anybody can be fast on a dirt track these days — if they're willing to pay the price.

Old-time drivers shared that viewpoint during Nostalgia Night last Friday at Lernerville Speedway.

“Speed costs money. How fast do you wanna go?,” said William “Blackie” Watt, who ranks sixth all-time with 84 feature wins at Lernerville.

Watt, 80, raced from 1951 through 2007. He won four Modified and two Late Model points titles at the Sarver oval and raced on more than 80 different tracks in 15 states.

“I consider my career — and others back then — more of an achievement because you did everything yourself,” Watt said. “We didn't have the technology they have today.

“I remember one race at Blanket Hill ... The first car to pass every other car on the track won. I started in the back and won the race in one lap.”

Dick Swartzlander, 83, of Sarver, raced from 1954 through 2005, won Late Model points titles at Lernerville in 1969 and 1970, and compiled 476 career feature wins.

He said dirt track racing has been “steadily going downhill” and cited money as the reason.

“It used to cost $2.50 to race at Heidelberg, you could put a car together for $3,000 and there were payouts for every race,” Swartzlander said. “Now you're looking at $40,000 or $50,000 to get a car on the track and the only payouts are for features.

“There are talented drivers on the track today and they'd be good in any era. But when guys had to build their own cars and parts, the competition ran a lot deeper.”

Dick Bailey, 91, of Grove City won more than 400 features during a race career that spanned from 1950 through 1979. He raced 30 cars on 55 different tracks.

His career ended when a horrific Sprint car accident resulted in a broken arm and hand.

“Driver ability used to weigh much heavier in the sport,” Bailey said. “I won the first feature I ever raced, at Butler Speedway in 1950. That could never happen now.”

Bailey had the distinction of competing in the final race on sand at Daytona in 1958 and in the first race run on the new Daytona International Speedway.

“I qualified eighth and was running fourth on the sand when fan belt trouble ended my race,” he recalled.

Bailey drove a 1938 Chevy Coupe in the first race at the new Daytona. He started 23rd among the 52 cars in the 200-mile race in 1959 and finished 12th.

Richard “Deek” Scott, 64, of Wexford, son of the late legendary driver Herb Scott, raced for 20 years himself. He won the Modified points title at Lernerville in 1979.

His father won 520 features in a 35-year career that resulted in induction into six different Halls of Fame.

“When my dad drove, it was all about the driver,” Scott said. “And when you won a feature one week, you started last the following week.

“He won many races starting from the 24th position.”

Deek Scott spends a lot of time restoring old race cars. He's restoring one vintage car built in 1969 that he will run around Indianapolis Motor Speedway at a vintage car event next June.

“I've always wanted to race at Indy and this is the closest I'll ever get to doing that,” he said, laughing.

Scott admitted he rarely frequents Lernerville or tracks like it these days.

“I miss it too much,” he said. “You always want to drive and that's what I would want to do if I came to watch.

“No matter how many years it's been, no matter your age ... In your mind, you always believe you can still do it.”

Lernerville Speedway Points Standings

(top 15 through Aug. 8)

Sprints

Carl Bowser 418, Brandon Matus 378, Mike Lutz 327, Jack Sodeman Jr. 291, Dan Shetler 280, Brent Matus 272, AJ Flick 259, Billy Dietrich 241, Brandon Spithaler 238, Scott Priester 225, Cory Good 209, Eric Williams 208, Dan Kuriger 156, Jared Zimbardi 123, Gale Ruth Jr. 104

Late Models

Alex Ferree 434, Russ King 365, John Garvin Jr. 350, Mike Pegher Jr. 343, Brian Swartzlander 286, Jared Miley 285, Ken Schaltenbrand 277, Michael Norris 254, Chuck Sarver 253, Gary Lyle 237, Dave Murdick 233, Garrett Krummert 222, Tommy Beck 177, Dan Swartzlander 157, Brandon Wearing 153

Modifieds

Rex King Jr. 423, Rex King 395, Brian Swartzlander 375, Dave Murdick 371, Tom Winkle 317, Jeremiah Shingledecker 301, Steve Feder 262, Bob Warren 237, Rodney Beltz 235, Rick Regalski 235, Mat Williamson 230, Brad Rapp 203, Carl Murdick 201, Jerff Miller 178, Mike Turner 178

Sportsman Stocks

Jim Fosnaught 445, Rob Shook 417, Corey McPherson 398, Terry Young 383, Mark Sanders 367, Aaron Easler 361, Joe Kelley 329, Pat Hanley 324, Mike Miller 317, Joey Zambotti 281, Brett McDonald 281, Paul Schreckengost 239, Brian Stivenson 202, Scott Byers 201, Jeff Miller 194