Carl Murdick has done it all.

The 71-year-old driver piloted a Sprint last Friday at Lernerville Speedway for the first time. Having competed in every other division in his 49 years of racing, his family told him he had to try a Sprint.

So, it was "musical cars" last Friday. Son-in-law Gary Rankin was asked to drive the 8K of Walt Tutak and finished eighth, Carl's daughter, Sheila Rankin, drove her husband Gary's Sprint, which left her racer vacated for her father's debut.

Carl chose to start at the rear of the field to make his first appearance.

Though he did not qualify for the feature, the smiling Murdick patriarch said, "I enjoyed it. The Sprint has quicker steering, is lighter with more horsepower."

What drivers do you most admire?Late Model driver Ray Krull enjoyed watching Richard Petty and Bob Wearing Sr. Late Model driver Gary Lyle's favorite also was Wearing.Doug Wolfgang is Sprint pilot Dan Shetler's preferred driver. Jared Miley admired his uncle, Ben Miley, as he grew up watching him from the stands. Now, Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch are the guys he would like to emulate.

This week, Penske Racing announced that Cranberry Township native Travis Geisler will replace Chris Carrier as the crew chief of the No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge, driven by Sam Hornish Jr.As a mechanical engineering graduate from Vanderbilt, Geisler, 27, had been the race engineer for the No. 12 Dodge and was an integral part of that team's 2008 Daytona 500 victory with Ryan Newman. Geisler will take control this weekend at Bristol.Newman officially announced that he will team up with Tony Stewart in 2009. No replacement has been announced for him at Penske to date. However, Sports Illustrated reported that David Stremme has the inside line.

It was good to see ASA driver Jimmy Weller III back in a Modified at Lernerville. He said, "Dad is going to let me play with his Modified tonight!" He finished ninth.

Looking for a great deal? Mercer Raceway Park has free general admission for all Butler County residents Saturday evening.Promoter Vicki Emig's recent drive for American Cancer Society netted more than $8,500."I hope to get other tracks to join me next season," Emig said. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have $30,000 or $40,000 to donate to research?"The Bill Emig Modified Memorial race is rescheduled for Sept. 5.

Lernerville Speedway will host the All-Star Sprints and the Mid-Atlantic Champions Series next Friday. Get-well wishes are sent to MACS director Jeff Geesey, who was hospitalized with blood clots.

Congratulations to the 2008 Tri-City Speedway Points Champions, Kevin Bolland (DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Max Blair (FASTRAK Late Models) and Carl McKinney (E-Mods).Davey Johnson and Steve Baker picked up the Late Model wins at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway last week. Mike Pegher Jr scored in the Crate Late Models and Kevin Miller won the E-Mod feature.<B><I>Carol Gamble is the racing columnist for the Butler Eagle.</I></B>