BUFFALO TWP— If the rain stays away, the drivers won't.

Lernerville Speedway expects to have a healthy car count when it opens its 40th dirt track racing season Friday night.

"It's always hard to gauge that first week, but, by all indications, we should be close to the usual 100-car field or so,"said Lernerville general manager Gary Risch Jr.

Expected to join the familiar names at the track are Andy Priest in the Modified division and Bob Felmlee in the Sprint car division. Longtime Sprint driver Rod George, the track champion in 2002, is not retiring as was rumored, and veteran Sprinter Ralph Spithaler will compete at times.

"I don't know if they'll be here all the time, but they'll be here,"Risch said of George and Spithaler. "Our Sprint division will get back up to around 24 cars or so."

Returning to defend their respective track championships are Kevin Schaeffer in the Sprints, Lynn Geisler in the Late Models, Kevin Bolland in the Modifieds and Butch Lambert in the Pure Stocks.

Geisler, of Cranberry Township, enters the season with 106 career Late Model wins at Lernerville, 11 behind the track's all-time leader in that category, Bob Wearing Sr.

He does not expect to catch Wearing anytime soon, however. Eleven different Late Model drivers won features at Lernerville last season.

"Nobody won more than two,"Geisler said at the track's recent banquet. "The competition has become incredible."

Lambert, of Mars, claimed four Lernerville features in 2006 in winning his third Pure Stocks title in five years.

As for the track itself, race director Albert "Ouch"Roenigk installed 1,300 tons of red clay in October.

"The clay has had plenty of time to work itself in, and I know Ouch is very pleased with the track right now,"Risch said. "It's going to be very fast."

Lernerville office manager and veteran scorer Linda Fennell agreed.

"Lernerville is always fast,"she said. "Now it's going to be even faster."

The track soon will look brighter as well. New lights will be up and operating in time for the World of Outlaws Late Model show scheduled for April 17.

A new fence was installed along the front straightaway. Plans are also under way for a fan-friendly victory lane in an area behind the grandstands, though that will not be ready by opening night.

Risch also anticipates the speedway having a liquor license within a month or so. For now, fans are still permitted to bring their own beverages to the facility.

Despite six special shows scheduled during the regular racing season, only one will take place during on Friday night. The rest will be held Tuesdays.

Lernerville has started a Fan of the Week promotion this year. From more than 200 applicants, 6-year-old Derek Kern of Sarver was selected as the opening night winner. He receives two free tickets to opening night, a Lernerville hat or T-shirt, meal voucher, tour of the press box and a trip to victory lane to join the first feature winner of 2007.

Racing begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The grandstands and pit gates open at 5.

Points racing begins April 6.

Here are Lernerville Speedway's all-time victory leaders entering the track's 40th year of racing:<B>SprintsDriver..........................................Wins</B>Ed Lynch Jr. .........................................82Johnny Beaber .........................................55Lou Blaney .........................................49Ralph Quarterson .........................................47Craig Rankin .........................................31<B>Late ModelsDriver..........................................Wins</B>Bob Wearing Sr. .........................................117Lynn Geisler .........................................106John Flinner .........................................38Ben Miley .........................................34Blackie Watt .........................................23<B>ModifiedsDriver..........................................Wins</B>Lou Blaney .........................................69Bob Wearing Sr. .........................................62Blackie Watt .........................................61Brian Swartzlander .........................................48Ed Lynch Sr. .........................................39<B>OverallDriver..........................................Wins</B>Bob Wearing Sr. .........................................179Lou Blaney .........................................118Lynn Geisler .........................................106Lou Gentile .........................................89Blackie Watt .........................................84Ed Lynch Jr. .........................................83Ralph Quarterson .........................................61Johnny Beaber .........................................55Brian Swartzlander .........................................48Ed Lynch Sr. .........................................47