Brian Swartzlander is “King” of the Lernerville Speedway Modifieds, garnering his eighth championship, the only driver in any division to achieve this feat.

Blackie Watt had five Modified crowns. Pro Stock driver Joe Kelley has seven titles.

Swartzlander said: “It is really exciting and I am so proud of our team for accomplishing this. You have to be consistent and finish races! Our team has been together for a long time.”

His crew consists of his brother Keith, son BJ, Scotty Durick, nephew Justin Swartzlander, Scott Covert, and Calvin and Julie McCutcheon. His wife Mariann and daughter Tami, along with his 12 year-old granddaughter Brianna, have been long supporters of his racing, also. There are three young “grands” that are official mud scrapers!

Competition in this division is keen. ”On any given night, anyone in the top ten could win the feature race,” added Swartzlander. “The thing is you can't have DNF's (did not finish); it changes the points. We had a few mishaps like a flat tire, and the points tightened.

“It is so hard when you have so many good cars; it makes it difficult to win championships.”

Swartzlander is the Lernerville all-time Modified winner with 97 victories.

Swartzlander ran three races in 1979 in a Pure Stock, and then decided to concentrate on raising his family. In 1989, he drove a Modified for Tom Forester for three years and then decided to get his own car.

He is an employee of Curtis Wright in Cheswick that supplies pumps and generators for nuclear power plants and also the Navy. Swartzlander works 3:30 to 11:30 p.m and therefore takes a half-day vacation on Fridays to race. He often misses fast laps.

He won two races this season. His dad Mel raced Modifieds.

Swartzlander said: “I loved watching him race.”

His second cousin is racing icon Dick Swartzlander.

On the last point night, Jack Sodeman Jr. was able to secure a fourth-place finish to seal his second career track championship.Sodeman Jr said: “Luck was going my way. My first championship in 2016 was more solid. This went right down to the wire.”He further added, “It is hard to believe that at four years old, I was playing with matchbox cars at Lernerville. Later in life I went from winning my first race to a championship.”In 2008, Sodeman and Mark Kubic combined their teams because they couldn't afford to race separately. They merged and have been going strong since.“Consistency is the name of the game from going over the car to checking that every bolt is tightened,” Sodeman said.Sodeman looks at his impressive young competitors as having youth and exuberance.“I have a lot of experience and try not to make mistakes, he said. “I have raced with many of their fathers and watched their grandfathers compete!”He has raced for 25 years and is 42 years old.Sodeman is a consultant for the automotive industry.“There are so many people that have helped me along my journey,” he said.He appreciates the help and guidance of his father Jack and the support of his wife Katherine and daughter Samantha, 7, and son Jack, 5.“I understand the sacrifices that is made to help me live my dream. Racing is like an addiction that is legal,” Sodeman said. “I am grateful for the fans who buy tickets to sit in the stands so that I can sit in the stock car. There was a time in 2011 when I got hurt in racing and couldn't work.“Without the fans I wouldn't have a house.”He doesn't go to many of the out of town, high-paying races.“I am not afraid of competition at these big events but my priorities have shifted,” Sodeman said. “I like going to my kids games and places like Chuck E Cheese. I want to be a father, not a visitor.”

An exuberant Kenny Schaltenbrand stood in victory lane after garnering his first Late Model title. He has been behind the wheel of the No. 29 race car for 23 years.Ironically, the week that he won the championship was also the anniversary of his late father's death, who 25 years ago had a fatal crash at Challenger Speedway.“The first night of racing this season, I had a DNF and figured that my chance of winning a championship was done,” Schaltenbrand said.“I would just race for wins.”The interesting fact is that Schaltenbrand only has one race car and one motor. His crew consists of Matt Hughs, Shawn Kramer, Josh Powell, Tyler Green, Dave Fredley, and Mike Phillipi.“There are a lot of others that also come to help when they can,” he said. He also appreciates the support of his family, mother Loretta, sister Tami Yetter, daughter Ava, girlfriend Kayla and all his Sponsors

Tyler Dietz won his first Lernerville Pro Stock Championship after capturing a thrilling season- ending feature win over six-time champion Corey McPherson.It was his fourth 2019 track feature win. In victory lane, co-owner Chuck Neely said: “This is a heck of a night and the way you want to win a championship with the feature win.“My grandfather always said the cream rises to the top. You need some luck, a great driver, a great crew, and a great car, and secure owners. All makes for the result of a championship.“Thanks to our sponsors and all the hard work weekly. It was well worth it. Thanks to all! We have a great driver who takes care of the equipment and wins. Thank you Tyler Dietz!,” he added.The winning crew consists of co-owner Bob Lambert, Mike Wetzel, Todd Yerkins, Jeremy Bowser, and Thomas Schmedley.Dietz said: “Last year I focused on points because I wanted to win the championship and this year I had a DNF in the middle of the year and just concentrated on winning the main events. The pressure is off me now!”He won the 2018 Rush Pro Stock Championship. He has his own fabricating business in Cabot.Dietz also drives a Late Model owned by Dan Houston of Natrona Heights and is having a banner year with this new venture!Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle