Rain, rain, go away!

Lernerville Speedway would like to open the 2019 racing season Friday with Tony Stewart’s “All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series!”

This professional group of drivers is one of the oldest traveling sprint car organizations and a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing. Stewart has built on the All Star Series’ impressive legacy by taking it to a new level of success.

Last Saturday, Stewart garnered his third victory of the season, leading all 30 circuits at I-75 Raceway.

Fifteen drivers are slated to follow the entire tour. Currently in the Point Challenge, Dan Dietrich-292 leads Aaron Ruetzel-282 by 11 digits. Dale Blaney-260, is in sixth place. Blaney will be back running the entire tour with his new mount, the Sam McGhee No.11. He has captured six titles and will aiming for seven.

Tim Shaffer-238, 11th place, has already won three main events in the Demyan-Rudzig No. 49X. Dave Blaney-224, is 14th and will run his own designed Sprint. and George Hobaugh Jr -214 is 16th.

Hobaugh Jr will start his third season in the Sprints running full time this year with the touring group. His first feature win in this class was last August at Sharon. Hobaugh Jr. is extremely successful in whatever class he has chosen, having championships in the both Microprints and 305 Sprints.

Brent Matus, Brandon Matus, John Garvin and Brandon Spithaler will not follow the entire tour this season. Instead, they will attend tri-state area All Star shows, other specials with a higher payoff and some local events.

Garvin said, “I will give myself a 3-4 hour window to travel for most of the year.” It has been difficult for these teams to juggle racing with their work schedules.

Danny Holtgraver has called it quits! He and his family have sold their Sprint cars and equipment.

Since 2015, four different drivers have scored a victory at Lernerville; 2015-Dale Blaney; 2016- Sheldon Haudenschild; 2017-Logan Wagner; 2018-Aaron Reutzel. They have had an average of 38 cars with 78 different drivers entering the races at various times. Dale Blaney is the only driver to set quick time on multiple occasions. Tim Shaffer has won the most heat races at the Sarver oval.

Sympathetic thoughts

Our sincere sympathy goes out to family of Skip Bertges. “Skipper” passed away peacefully Tuesday. He was both a Late Model owner and driver.

Venturing east

While weather woes have plagued Western PA tracks, many drivers have ventured east to test their new racers.

Winning Late feature events at Port Royal have been Alex Ferree, Mike Norris and Colton Flinner in the John Johnson #48.

91 and still going

Louie Caltagarone owns the record for the oldest hands-on promoter still owning and operating a racetrack in 2019.

Caltagarone will be 91 this year and he and his family enjoy managing Hummingbird Speedway in Reynoldsville. He comes from a racing family and drove a car himself.

He said, “My racing experience was the catalyst that led me to open the race track for the first time in 1964.”

The track closed in 1976 but Caltagarone reopened it in 2000. He loves to watch people enjoy the races!

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle