The 2023 racing season at Lernerville Speedway is over.

A member of the Sarver oval’s extended racing family is now looking to shine in the national spotlight, however.

Ryan Blaney, 29, whose grandfather, father and uncle are racing legends at Lernerville, is vying for the NASCAR championship on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

Blaney is up against William Byron — who is also his brother-in-law — Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell for the championship. He now has two wins in his last five races.

And he’s trying to win his first NASCAR crown.

Such a triumph would add to the racing legend of the Blaney family name. Lou Blaney, Ryan’s grandfather, won a combined nine points championships in Sprints and Modifieds at Lernerville. His uncle, Dale Blaney, won the Sprint points crown there in 1991.

His father, Dave Blaney, won the World of Outlaws Sprint car championship in 1995.

There have been other names synonymous with racing at Lernerville — Lynch, Swartzlander, Murdick, Geisler, etc. — and the Blaney name is as well known at that track as any other. But no racing name from Lernerville has gone on to such glory as a NASCAR driver.

Dirt vs. asphalt.

Racing fans have argued for or against either for years. Now one family may soon rise to the top of the mountain in both.

So, can the Lernerville racing community take a little bit of credit for this?

Absolutely.

With his older family members racing at Lernerville, Ryan Blaney grew up around dirt track racing. Undoubtedly, he spent time there watching his father, uncle and grandfather race.

It’s also a pretty safe bet his passion for the sport came from his family.

After all, In terms of racing, like so many other aspects of life, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Ryan Blaney is seeking the checkered flag of his lifetime in Phoenix.

Here’s hoping it happens for him.

R.I.P. Jay Hewitt

Longtime Butler Eagle outdoor columnist Jay Hewitt passed away on Wednesday, He had an elk hunting trip scheduled in Colorado that week. He was 68.

Hewitt, a Boyers resident, wrote an outdoors column for the weekend edition of this paper for nearly 30 years. He submitted his column by email and I never met the man personally. But his affinity and love of the outdoors was obvious.

He wrote about his numerous huntiong adventures, his hunting buddy Beaver Boy, gave advice on fishing, gave tips on bird feeders and the like, and how to discourage unwanted wildlife from invading your property.

He ended each column with the phrase: “Until we meet again.”

Jay’s loyal readership will miss him and his departure leaves a void in our weekend sports package that will be nearly impossible to fill.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle