BUFFALO TWP — Asked about a goal for the Zach Morrow race team this year, crew member Stefan Bleakney came up with an answer.

“Finish in the top 10 in points,” he said.

Is that realistic?

“Probably not,” Bleakney said, smiling. “But why not? We're there right now.”

Morrow, 25, of Mars is a rookie driver in the Sprint division this year at Lernerville Speedway. He had never raced at the Sarver oval before getting his No. 27 car on the track for a couple of races late last season.

Morrow raced go-karts for 10 years — winning approximately 20 features — at tracks in DuBois, Slippery Rock, Ohio and at Naugle Speedway. He's helped on the pit crew for Late Model driver Jeff Jones and more recently worked for Sprint driver Scott Priester over the years.

“We don't have a lot of experience and knowledge here, but what we do have, it's in Sprint cars,” Morrow said. “This is the division I want to be in.

“Myself, my crew ... We're going to learn this stuff and grow together.”

In the meantime, Morrow is adapting from going around a race track at 50 to 60 miles per hour in a go-kart to moving at 90 to 100 miles per hour in a Sprint car.

“It's a different world going around those corners now,” he said, laughing.

But he's making progress nonetheless.

Last week, Morrow picked up his first career top-10 finish (10th) and is ninth in points entering Fab Four action this Friday. He bought the car he's driving now from Brian Steinman.

But he's not fooling anybody — including himself.

“I've got a new car in the garage at home, but we won't break it out until we're ready for it,” Morrow said. “Right now, racing a new car would be of no benefit to me at all.

“This will be a season of adjustment and learning for all of us. When I'm ready to step up competitively, we'll get that car ready.”

Bleakney, also a Mars resident, said the Morrow race team just “sort of came together.”

“We're all friends who enioy racing,” he said. “We're learning together.”

They're also getting helpful advice from other Sprint race teams in the pits, including Brent and Brandon Matus, Carl Bowser and Priester.

“The more quality Sprint drivers we have here, the better the division becomes,” Morrow said. “Those guys are always willing to lend a hand to new drivers like myself. In terms of set-up, learning the lines on the track ... I'm picking up a lot from them.”

Morrow plans to race at Lernerville most Friday nights this season, along with making a couple of appearances at Mercer Raceway Park and Pittsburgh (Pa.) Motor Speedway.

“If we can keep the car together and race about 25 times total this year, I'll be happy,” Morrow said. “And I'll get better.”

Lernerville Points Standings

(top 15 through May 15)

Sprints

A.J. Flick 147, Brandon Spithaler 126, Brandon Matus 120, Ed Lynch Jr. 108, Brent Matus 108, Carl Bowser 98, Scott Priester 87, Ralph Spithaler Jr. 77, Zach Morrow 72, Davey Jones 68, Sye Lynch 67, Dan Kuriger 62, Eric Williams 52, Dan Shetler 51, Bill Kiley 42

Late Models

Jared Miley 144, Alex Ferree 139, Mike Pegher Jr. 129, Michael Norris 108, Russ King 105, Kenny Schaltenbrand 98, John Garvin Jr. 94, Gary Lyle 93, Dan Swartzlander 93, Brian Swartzlander 86, Todd Bachman 78, Clayton Kennedy 65, Chuck Sarver 60, Doug Eck 52, Andrew Gordon 42

Modifieds

Mat Williamson 147, Brian Swartzlander 145, Rex King Jr. 129, Dave Murdick 109, Garrett Krummert 108, Jeremiah Shingledecker 100, Rex King 100, Steve Feder 94, Mike Turner 90, Shawn Fleeger 87, Rick Regalski 72, Carl Murdick 65, Tom Winkle 62, Tom Glenn 61, Jeff Miller 41

Sportsman Stocks

Corey McPherson 171, Brett McDonald 152, Jim Fosnaught 151, Terry Young 51, Joe Kelley 144, Mike Miller 139, Wayne Carbo 131, Bob Egley 122, Joey Zambotti 117, Paul Schreckengost 115, Aaron Easler 110, Jeff Miller 101, Scott Byers 89, Colin Burke 81, Noah Brunell 67