Gary Lyle is a veteran Late Model driver at Lernerville whose career spans over three decades.

He recently received the Lernerville “Milestone” award.

“I raced my first full year in 1987 in a Limited Late that had a Howe Chassis,” Lyle said.

After five years, he met former owners of J &N Video, John and Nancy Bolkevac and 'they bought me a C J Rayburn Chassis and convinced me to run Late Models. Sponsors are very important and that couple proved to make a pivotal juncture in my life.”

Lyle was the 1998 Lernerville track Champion. As the Bolkevac's children reached racing age, they left the Lyle team to sponsor their own.

In 2008, Lyle bought a $20 raffle ticket and won the Racer's for Tots Rocket Chassis. However, in 2011, two of his motors broke and he ran out of money. Joe Corrado bought that car and all the spare parts and hired Alex Ferree to drive it.

Then Corrado sold the car to Mike Norris.

“I kept my eye on it and watched where it was going and after a couple of years, I was able to regroup myself and buy it back,” Lyle said. “First time I paid $20 for it, but this time a little more.”

In 2018 Lyle bought a XR-1 Chassis. This year, he has joined forces with Doug Sprankle, who has three grocery stores. Currently he is fourth in the point standings.

The traveling WoO Late Model drivers have advanced equipment and motors, but Lyle was able to have a respectable showing in the recent Lernervillle “Firecracker” events!

His crew consists of his girlfriend Carla Koleny, his 92-year-old dad Walley, Dan Mainhart, Roger and Rachael McKelvey, Nate Hauser, Jason and Tim Gagen and Roger Ament.

When Lyle originally bought his first car, the number was #0. Before he came to the track in 1986, he lettered the car #01. The speedway already had that number registered, so Lyle moved the one digit to the other side and is #10.

He is employed at Allegheny Technical Institute (ATI). Over the years, the Late Model driver he most admired was Bob Wearing Sr.

His two most memorable racing moments were first winning the championship and second racing in Alaska! Gary's mom, Marilyn, and her friend Eleanor Larson Mason were teachers. In the summer they would fly to Northway, Alaska to work in Eleanor's brother, Ludd's town.

Ludd, formerly from Allegheny Township, was a proprietor of most places there that included a hotel and restaurant. In the summer, Ludd would fly to what he called the “lower 48” and gather a trailer full of things people might need in Alaska.

Once when he was in Sarver, he went to the races and really enjoyed them. So he sponsored the quarter panels on Lyle's car.

Driving through Wisconsin on his return trip, Ludd saw a fifth design Howe race car for sale and bought it. He called Lyle and asked him to fly up to Alaska and drive it.

Since ATI was on strike, Lyle made his first and only trip there. He was quite familiar with this chassis since it was similar to the chassis he drove in 1987. The duo bought tools at Costco and worked on the car in a Wasilla airplane hangar. On the weekend, they went to an Anchorage racetrack and Lyle won the feature event!

Lyle said: “I want to thank the Bolkevacs for convincing me to run Late Models and all the other sponsors and loyal people that have helped me along the way. They have become family to me!”

Modified Driver Chris Rudolph has arranged a “STAR” event at Lernerville Speedway.It is the Ride for Kids — Western Pennsylvania Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation event this Friday. These extraordinary “kids” will be at the speedway for a meet and greet with fans before racing starts and are slated to have a night of fun!The track will be having a silent auction fundraiser.Drivers have donated body panels and Rudolph's crew will be accepting a variety of baskets, driver shirts and other racing paraphernalia.Since 1991, PBTF has provided strategic leadership and funding to accelerate the number of targeted therapies and research for children battling brain tumors, while equipping families with the patient family education, financial relief, and emotional support they may need to navigate their child's journey.

Congratulations to the racing twosome that recently got engaged! The happy couple is Chelsie Kriegisch, who is in the seventh season of racing her #10 Rush Modified, and Darin Gallagher, driver Sprint car #12!

Tires remain an issue as racing season enters the halfway point.Several USA events have been cancelled, tire sales rationed and some dirt surfaces softened for less wear. Post-COVID, Hoosier and American racer, the two big race tire manufacturers, seem to have some difficulties.Despite their best efforts, a high demand for tires, lack of materials and employees in manufacturing, plus shipping logistics are triggering decreased supplies across the country.<i>Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle</i>