BUFFALO TWP — Longtime race driver Chuck Sarver had a win in the books long before the Fab Four season began last week at Lernerville Speedway.

Sarver, 56, of West Sunbury won the Best in Show Award among the 30 cars on display in March at the Clearview Mall.

His No. 88 Late Model car should look good. It’s brand new.

And Sarver hopes to park it in victory lane here this season.

“I’m sure going to try,” he said. “But it’s a challenge here every night in this division.”

Sarver has been behind the wheel of a race car for 35 years, including the last 15 in a Late Model. He posted his first and only career win in Late Models at Lernerville last season.

“My car was 11 years old,” he said. “I’ve never owned a new race car in my life.”

Until now.

Sprint car driver Andy Priest won a new Late Model during a drawing at the World Finals — a late-season dirt racing extravaganza — in Charlotte, N.C., last year.

“He had no use for it and was looking to sell it,” said Bonnie Sarver, Chuck’s wife. “We had put some money away to buy a newer car anyway and he gave us a good deal on it.”

Sarver’s four-year-old motor is in the car. Besides that, everything is new.

“This is different for me,” Sarver admitted. “We’re still getting used to it. I’m hoping to get better forward bite on the dry, slick racing surface withthis car.

“Win another feature, finish among the top five in points ... Those are the goals.”

Sarver finished fifth in his heat race and 13th in the Late Model feature last week. He took sixth in the Late Model portion of the Steel City Stampede two weeks ago.

His son, Chuck, 36, is his crew chief. Justin Koebler and Chad Segner serve as crew members as well.

“This car handles a lot better than what we had before,” Koebler said. “Definitely, we can be competitive with what we’ve got.”

Sarver admitted that his motor “isn’t what some of the other guys have, but it’s good.

“I won one with it last year.”

Because of a limited budget, Friday nights at Lernerville is the only time Sarver has his car on the track.

“It’s always been a family thing with us,” Sarver said. “Racing is something we’ve always liked to do together.

“Some families buy a camper, a boat, whatever ... We do this.”

Lernerville Points Standings

(top 15 through April 26)

Sprints

Jack Sodeman Jr. 40, Eric Williams 37, Brandon Spithaler 35, Dan Shetler 30, Brent Matus 29, Dan Kuriger 29, Dennis Wagner 26, Skip Daugherty 24, Jim Shuster 22, Bob McMillin 22, Chris Best 21, Todd Hoddick 21, Bill Kiley 19, Sheila Rankin 18, Jim McMillin 18

Late Models

Dave Hess Jr. 39, Jared Miley 38, John Garvin Jr. 33, Michael Norris 32, Ron Davies 29, Alex Ferree 27, Davey Johnson 27, Dan Angelicchio 25, Bryan Force 24, Todd Bachman 22, Mike Blose 20, Chuck Sarver 19, Brian Swartzlander 18, Chris Rhodes, Jason Rider and Greg Beach 17

Modifieds

Matt Williamson 40, Dave Murdick 36, Rex King 35, Jim Weller Jr. 32, Jeremiah Shingledecker 32, Eric Gabany 28, Rex King Jr. 28, Brad Rapp 27, Steve Feder 24, J.R. McGinley 22, Mike Turner 20, Frank Guidace 20, Skip Moore, Erik Martin, Tom Winkle and Dave Reges 17

Sportsman Stocks

Corey McPherson 37, Bob Egley 36, Paul Schreckengost 35, A.J. Flick 34, Joe Kelley 32, Brett McDonald 28, Mark Sanders 26, Terry Young 24, Joe Anthony/Jake Simmons 23, Wayne Carbo 23, Joey Zambotti 22, Ryan Moyer 22, Scott Byers 20, Bob McCann 19, Mike Miller 18