Freeport graduate and Sarver resident John Garvin Jr. recently picked up his first Late Model feature win in nine years at Lernerville Speedway. John Enrietto/Butler Eagle6/17/22

BUFFALO TWP — A few months ago, John Garvin Jr. figured his racing career was over.

The Freeport graduate, whose father of the same name is a former Lernerville Speedway track champion, sold off all of his racing gear at the end of last season. He had run a Late Model and a Sprint car during his career.

“I was getting out of it,” Garvin, 40, said of racing. “It’s an expensive sport and I just thought it was time.”

Mark Flinner thought otherwise.

The father and crew chief of Late Model driver Colton Flinner wanted to work two Late Models this year. He needed a second driver — and Garvin was his man.

“I know the family well. We’ve all been friends for a long time,” Flinner said. “I know what kind of driver Johnny is. I called him to see if he’d be interested and he was. It’s working out great so far.”

Garvin enters this Firecracker 100 weekend second in Late Model points at Lernerville with 154, trailing only Saxonburg resident Alex Ferree’s 160. Colton Flinner, of Allison Park, is third with 143 points.

"Mark called, explained the situation and I was all for it,“ Garvin said. ”We have two cars pitted down here together with the same crew working on both. John Johnson owns the cars and we can definitely win with them.“

Garvin proved that two weeks ago — ironically at Colton Flinner’s expense.

Flinner was seemingly headed for victory lane and his would-be first Late Model feature win at Lernerville when the back end of his No. 48 car broke. A tire came off as a result and Flinner was out of the race. Garvin sped by him and secured his first feature win at the Sarver oval since 2013.

Garvin has five feature wins in his career.

“It always feels good when you win, but I felt badly for Colton,” Garvin said. “It’s been a long time (since Garvin’s last win), but you never forget that feeling.”

Mark Flinner said the back end of the No. 48 car was cracked from a previous race “and we never thought to check on that possibility. But as disappointed as I was for Colton, I was that happy for John.

“We wouldn’t even be out here if it wasn’t for John Johnson. These are his cars. We have all of the equipment we need. It’s up to is to put everything together and make it work.”

The race team has six cars, each with its own name: Stroker Ace, Black Betty, Dream Machine, Brewster, Drama and Fireball.

Garvin mentioned Casey Collins as a key part of his race team as well, saying he stops by the shop three or four days a week to help out.

While he’s no longer racing his own car or using his own equipment, Garvin has not changed his own approach on the track.

“I treat this car as if it’s my own,” he said. “You never want to bust up somebody else’s stuff.”

Flinner said both his son and Garvin are capable of having a strong Firecracker 100 weekend.

“That’s the way we’re set up,” he said.

The 25-lap Lucas Oil Series features Thursday and Friday pay $6,000 to win. Saturday night’s Firecracker 100 pays $50,000 to the winner.

The Bill Emig Memorial, a RUSH Late Model feature paying $20,000 to win, will also take place Saturday, along with the Uncle Sam 30 non-qualifiers race.

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