Long before "Lightening McQueen," Prospect resident Dwight Boice was obsessed with cars.

"I love to buy, build, repair, sell or race them," he said.

Ever since he was a youngster, he just liked to be around cars. His dad took him to a race track where he got great pleasure from watching Bob Wearing Sr. and his cousin Dunk Pakdozi's race team.

Eventually, he built a car to race in the 1990's. As the years have gone by, Boice raced at Mercer or Lernerville whenever his work schedule permitted.

Sometimes he just helps other guys in the pits when he doesn't drive. Currently he owns the DIRTcar Sportsman 582 and pilots it at Lernerville.

What makes him unique is that he rarely has anyone to help him at the track and he is one of two DIRTcar Sportsman pilots that use a Crate Motor. The power plant can be purchased for about $3,000.

Joe McConnell and Bill Heinl help him at the garage, but on Friday he is usually the lone ranger.

"That doesn't matter," said Boice, "I find it so relaxing to be racing around the track and just being in the pits."

Incidentally, Chris Schneider won the feature with a Crate motor last week at Lernerville.

Colton's coming

Sixteen-year-old Colton Walters came to the track last week. He decided to give Boice a hand in his pit.

He is the grandson of Larry Walters, who has won seven track championships and over 200 features driving in the old Coupes, Late Models or E-Mods. Colton's father, Jeff, has also won many races.

As soon as he can get enough money together, there will be another Walters racing.

He said: "The best advice that my grandfather gave me is to race the track and not the cars."

Sodeman spectating

Jack Sodeman Jr was in his car watching the action at Mercer and Lernerville Speedway last week. He will probably spend the rest of the 2011 season recuperating from his recent Sprint accident in Canada at the beginning of July.

When asked if he will return to racing, he replied, "If I could get into a car tonight I would race."

Was it a coincidence that in the 1990's his dad fractured vertebrae at Lernerville on the Fourth of July weekend, also driving a sprint?

The great fans at Mercer collected approximately $2,500 for Sodeman and the wonderful people at Lernerville gave $2,700.

Month of Money

July is the "Month of Money" for Sprints, starting with the Kings Royal at Eldora. Everything was going Sammy Swindell's way on Saturday night in the $50,000-to-win Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway ... until the final corner.

Swindell had the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event locked up when suddenly his right rear tire went down as he exited Turn 4 en route to the checkered flag. The huge crowd was stunned as it watched Tyler Walker shoot past a helpless Swindell to win.

If you recall, Walker is the guy that does the back flip in victory lane, then kisses his dog.

Saldana on the mend

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship contender Joey Saldana had surgery on his right forearm Sunday in Indianapolis.

The arm was broken in a multi-car crash early in the Kings Royal A-main. Local driver Ed Lynch Jr. and Tim Shaffer's cars were collected in this accident and unable to finish.

Luck turned ugly

After his recent victory at Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Late Model driver Lynn Geisler was not so fortunate this week. While racing in the main event, he got hit by a big clump of dirt below the right eye.

Geisler has a big goose egg bump below the multicolored eye.

Nostalgia Night

Over 50 drivers are expected to be at Lernerville Friday evening for Nostalgia Night.

In addition to that, several of their vintage cars will be displayed. It is always interesting to see what was considered to be a safe car decades ago.

It will also be the Joe Pitkavish Memorial race for Modifieds. There will be two nights of action at Mercer Raceway Park this weekend. On Friday evening, trucks and tractors of all shapes and sizes will produce pulling pit events. Saturday will be regular racing.

Back in the saddle

Bill Eash was back in the saddle again last Friday after a 17-year hiatus from Sprint car racing. He returned to Lernerville and said "I got a car last year and just had to come out of retirement."

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle