Eight-time Lernerville Sprint champion A.J. Flick recently crossed off a long-standing goal on his racing bucket list: competing at the legendary Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Known as one of the most iconic dirt tracks in the country, Eldora was originally owned by the late Earl Baltes and is now operated by NASCAR great Tony Stewart. Flick’s chance to race there came during the prestigious Ohio Speedweek.

“OK, people — I am excited about it,” A.J. said before the race.

While he’d previously visited Eldora as a spectator to watch his father Mark race Big Block Modifieds, this time it was his name on the roster.

“We know it won't be easy,” Flick said. “The goal is to make the race. We expect tough competition, but what a great experience. Always fun to try new tracks.”

When race day arrived, Flick found himself up against some of the best in the business. He made the show through the B-Main but faced unexpected adversity in the feature.

“We did our best to come from last, but we didn’t catch the breaks we needed. A rock smoked our left front brake line on Lap 6, and we lost all brakes,” Flick said. “We had no cautions, but brought the car home in one piece. Maybe we should have stayed home — but I wanted to race, and I’m glad we got a few laps, even if it was just the feature.”

Despite the challenges, Flick was thrilled to finally hit the track at Eldora.

“It was exciting,” he said. “The track felt a little smaller, and the banking wasn’t quite what I expected.”

When asked about the possibility of racing at more tracks or for a Sprint car owner, Flick was candid.

“It comes down to money — for equipment and for travel. Not having a trailer with sleeping quarters is a big disadvantage,” he said. “To combine forces with an owner is not easy. Most want you to bring money, motors or knowledge, not just talent. Unfortunately, there’s little chance of getting a ride on talent alone these days.”

Still, Flick remains hopeful.

“I’d love to find a team with equipment or sponsors so I could race more often. But if that doesn’t happen, I’ll keep living my life and enjoying the sport with my dad and mom, Lura,” he said. “They’ve been there, done that. I’m always looking for partnerships — if anyone wants to join us, we’d love to have you.”

After a 14-month wait, Late Model driver Todd Bachman finally has a motor back in the car. And he’s teasing something special.

“I may put a surprise driver in the car to run the Lernerville Hillbilly 100 Lucas Oil Race in August,” he said with a grin.

Mike Norris continues to climb the Lernerville record books. His latest feature win has landed him third on the all-time win list with 48 victories, trailing only Bob Wearing Sr. (117) and Lynn Geisler (109).

A familiar racing name returned to the Lernerville track in a new generation. Noah Wirginis made his debut in the 410 Big Block Modified division, driving his own car. Racing runs deep in his family — he’s the grandson of late Butler County Sports Hall of Fame driver Dick Swartzlander, who had success across multiple divisions. Wirginis has many feature victories in the 600 Micro Sprints.

The dirt track community is mourning the loss of three beloved figures this past week.

Bert Emick, former head of the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series, died June 26 in Daytona, Fla., at 84 following a brief illness. Emick was admired for his dedication to grassroots racing and his efforts to support low-budget, traveling Sprint car teams. He often credited his wife, Brigitte, for the series’ success, acknowledging her hard work behind the scenes with finances, sponsorships and operations.

Bert received the National Sprint Car Poll’s inaugural Outstanding Contribution to the Sport Award in 1985 and was consistently ranked among the sport’s most influential leaders. He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2000. He was deeply respected by drivers, promoters and fans.

The racing world also said goodbye to Jack McKain, who died at age 93. Known throughout Butler for his grocery store and later for his work at Butler County Ford, McKain was a fixture at Lernerville Speedway every Friday night.

He loved Mopar muscle cars and had a special way of celebrating racers: each week, he awarded a 3-foot hoagie to a randomly selected division winner in victory lane. The tradition became a fan and crew favorite.

The racing community is also grieving another tragedy following a fatal plane crash last weekend in Howland, Ohio, that claimed the lives of Jim Weller Jr., his wife Veronica, their son John, John's wife Maria and two pilots. The plane had just taken off from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport when it went down.

Jim Weller Jr. was a beloved and legendary figure in automobile racing, especially known for his success in the Big Block Modified division. Over his storied career, Weller amassed more than 85 feature wins, including 35 at Lernerville Speedway, where he was a fan favorite and fierce competitor. He earned the Lernerville track championship twice — in 1997 and 1999 — and was admired as much for his humility and sportsmanship as for his skill behind the wheel.

His legacy continued through his son Jim Weller III, who shared his father's passion for racing and the close-knit community that surrounds it. The Wellers' contributions to the sport, and the relationships they built over decades, will never be forgotten.

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle