BUFFALO TWP — Money talks, so Shawn Fleeger walked — with cooperation from his father.

Fleeger, 18, a junior at Butler High School, is a rookie Modified driver at Lernerville Speedway this season. He replaced his father, Doug Fleeger, who had raced in the division for eight years.

The younger Fleeger finished second in points in the go-kart division at Shadetree Speedway last season and was successful in go-kart racing at various tracks for three years.

"It just made sense money-wise to give him a crack at this," Doug Fleeger said of the Modified. "You can put $1,000 a year into a go-kart motor and for what? You win $25 one week, $15 the next week ... It's chump change.

"Shawn made more money his first two nights racing a Modified than he would have all year running a kart."

Shawn Fleeger finished ninth in his first-ever Modified race on opening night, picking up $240. He finished 14th in hs next feature, earning more than $100.

The move to a Modified was just fine with Shawn.

"This is something I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember," he said. "I think I drove hot laps three times last year. That's all the experience I have in this division."

Shawn helped his father's race team in the pits every year they raced. He was even in the pits before that.

"There's a picture of me back here standing next to a car ... The rear wheel tire was bigger than I was," he said.

Doug Fleeger never finished higher than seventh in a Modified race. He said he had no problem relinquishing his spot behind the wheel "because I got tired of competing against those $30,000 motors."

The Fleegers bought a different car for this year, a 2001 with only five races on it from a driver at Mercer Raceway Park.

"We bought the car bare frame last July," Shawn Fleeger said. "We took all the parts from my dad's old car and put it in this one, including the engine."

The motor, built by Gary Henry of Butler, is two years old.

While Shawn's goals this year are to win the Modified Rookie of the Year award at Lernerville and land in the top 10 in points, he figures it may take him a couple of seasons to land in victory lane.

"I need seat time. I know that," he said.

"I keep telling him to stay in the back, stay patient and see what happens in front of you," his father said. "Shawn seems to have a knack for this. I'm glad he's having fun and staying out of trouble."

Bob Morgan of Beaver Falls, who used to help Chuck Sarver's No. 88 race team, is in his third year with the Fleegers. Albert Fleeger, Shawn's grandfather, helps out as well.

Shawn is studying to be an auto mechanic at Butler Vo-Tech. One of his teachers, Rich Curry, is a former Late Model driver at Lernerville.

"I hope to be doing this for a long time," Shawn said of racing.

His father's career may not be over yet, either. Doug Fleeger admits to having his eye on the Crate Late Model division.

"I like it because the engines are sealed and the division is so competitive," he said. "I'd be interested in getting into one of those at some point, depending on where our money's at. We're still on a tight budget."

Lernerville Points Standings(top 15 through May 8)SprintsEd Lynch Jr. 80, Rod George 75, Kevin Schaeffer 63, Danny Holtgraver 59, Scott Priester 55, Brent Matus 49, Charlie Holben 46, Ralph Spithaler 44, Jack Sodeman Jr. 44, Bob Felmlee 38, Carl Bowser 35, Pete Miller III 32, Lindsay Enscoe 32, Garrett Krummett 29, Craig Mintz 29

Late ModelsGreg Satterlee 74, Dave Murdick 59, Alex Ferree 54, John Garvin Jr. 53, Keith Barbara 50, Lynn Geisler 47, Jared Miley 45, Ken Schaltenbrand 43, Dave Hess Jr. 40, Todd Bachman 38, Gary Lyle 36, Doug Horton 35, John Britsky 34, John Flinner 32, Michael Norris 31

ModifiedsKevin Bolland 77, Brian Swartzlander 72, J.R. Shingledecker 67, Del Rougeux Jr. 62, Dave Murdick 56, Phil Evans Jr. 50, Mike Turner 48, Mike Miller 48, Tom Winkle 46, Steve Feder 46, Jim Weller Jr. 46, Carl Murdick 40, Shawn Fleeger 32, Rex King Jr. 31, Gene Kirilla 29

Sportsman StocksBob Lipinski 76, Wayne Carbo 57, Paul Schreckengost 56, Jim Fosnaught 56, Pat Hanley 55, Bob Egley 51, Joe Kelley 47, Kevin Haas 46, Corey McPherson 46, Terry Young 46, Dave Baker 39, Ryan Moyer 39, Shawn Thorn 35, Pasul Petrovich 35, Mark Sanders 32