You have heard the story of David and Goliath and how young David defeated a nine-foot giant.

The biggest WoO Late Model show, the Firecracker 100, paying $30,000 to win is coming to Lernerville Speedway. Dan Angeliccio, 25, isn’t concerned about beating the best professional drivers in the world.

“My goal is just to make the show,” he said. Angeliccio entered the dirt Late Model class this season and has driven in six shows at Lernerville, finishing in the top 10 four times.

He also has experience in other classes. Angeliccio has been racing since he was six years old. He started in go-carts and raced for six years, and then took two years off. He entered the Four-Cylinder division at Motordrome’s asphalt track, then switched to chargers, and tried their Late Model division briefly.

When the Crate division arrived on dirt, Angeliccio made his move to that class. He has 17 Crate Late Model feature wins. He is currently running a Crate Late Model and competing for the FASTRAK Championship, but “testing the dirt” Fridays in a Super Late Model. He hopes to eventually run full time in this class.

Angeliccio has raced with some of the best at Lernerville and that experience will give him the opportunity to challenge for a spot in the WoO show June 27-29.

Krummert joins Murdick

There is a new Late Model driver in the Carl Murdick garage: Garrett Krummert. He often pitches in and helps the 76 year-old Modified grandfather.

Congratulations to Murdick’s granddaughter, Jo Rankin, who is sporting a diamond from Krummert.

Versatile Guidace

Congratulations to “Super” woman Makayla Guidace, who graduated from Mercer High School. She is the Lernerville trophy girl on Friday and Saturday at Mercer, she changes outfits and races in the 358 Modifieds, where she finished seventh in the feature this past week.

George wins again

Un-retired Rod George captured the Sprint main at Mercer Raceway Park last Saturday. The $3,000 victory was his second straight for car owner Jim Chappel. Rod George (Kyle Petty look alike) is considering axing his ponytail. He said “My wife said it is about time that it comes off!”

Future icons?

There are a quite a few candidates with the capability of being a future racing icon. Michael Norris, 21, blistered the competition at PA Motor Speedway to capture the Herb Scott Memorial Late Model race, winning $4,000. He may not have ever seen Herb Scott race but he dominated like Scott, who won over 500 feature events.

Norris said “I have to thank Gary Henry for this fine motor; he builds the best motor that money can buy.” It was reported he won on used tires.

John Garvin garnered his first Lernerville Late Model feature win and was virtually unchallenged to sit on top of the point challenge. Also winning first feature events at the Sarver oval recently were Late Model driver Mike Pegher, 25, and Rex King Jr, 22, in the Modifieds. Rob Blair won $7,000 at the McKean Count Raceway

Satterlee wins on tour

Local Late Model driver Gregg Satterlee was the Appalachian Late Model Series (ALMS) touring speed week point winner. Satterlee won the Roaring Knob race, Rick Eckert scored at both Port Royal and Lincoln, Vic Coffey at Potomac and Jason Covert at Hagerstown.

Ageless wonder

Johnny Beaber, at age 61, is leading the Boss Wingless Sprint Rookie Points standings. He is a former Sprint driver who has many track championships to his credit and has the second most Sprint wins at Lernerville with 55. Ed Lynch holds the title with 108.

Beaber’s son, Tony, is also a competitor with the Wingless Sprints, which will appear at Pennsylvania Motor Speedway Saturday.

This and that

Davey Johnson is racing with several fractured bones in his left hand that he sustained at Tyler County Speedway. Remarkably, he has not finished outside of the top five in three starts since then.

Michael Lake, 12-year-old grandson of Bobby Lake, won a career first Crate Late Model feature at Roaring Knob Saturday. In victory lane, he said, “It’s really cool to be the youngest to win a late model race in Pennsylvania.”

Not only did the Uniontown driver make PA history, he may be one of the youngest drivers ever to win a dirt Crate Late Model feature in the United States.

On the back of Jack Sodeman’s Sprint trailer is a long rubber line that is attached to the roof with a seat at the bottom. Sitting in the seat, having a great time bouncing is his little daughter, Samantha who puts on miles before the races.

Lernerville Speedway and Mercer will host Mid-Season Championships this week.

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle.