BUFFALO TWP — The streak is over for John Flinner.

Don't feel badly for him, though. The five-time defending Lernerville Speedway Late Models points champion was never in a mood to make it six.

"I was hoping that streak would be done,"Flinner said. "If I had won another title, people would have said: 'There goes Flinner, racing for points again.'

"It'll make them happy, having somebody else win it."

That somebody else will likely be Cranberrry Township's Lynn Geisler, who has a 36-point lead over Sam Stile with just three nights of points racing remaining.

Flinner, 43, a Zelienople resident, is sitting in eighth place, 100 points behind, sporting two wins but only three top-five finishes at the Sarver track in 2006.

"We haven't gotten out to race too much this year,"Flinner said. "Other than Lernerville, we've raced a couple of times at Pittsburgh (Pa. Motor Speedway) and we ran an Outlaws race at Sharon. That's been about it.

"The problem these days is finding the help. We've done our homework and had the car ready a few times, but couldn't find enough people to get to the track."

Flinner lost two key crew members from last year in Chase Richards and Craig Hoover. Richards is taking time off from racing and Hoover is attending school in Erie.

Flinner's father, John Sr., and Mark Mazurek have been part of the No. 48 car crew for the past six years. Flinner began driving for car owner John Johnson in 2000 and began his run of Late Model titles a year later.

"John was 15 years old when I put him in a Pure Stock at North Hills Speedway in 1977,"Flinner's father said. "We won the championship that year in a 1967 Ford.

"Ifigured I was done with racing when John told me in 2000 I had to get off the couch, that John Johnson had this deal all worked out. It's been a good one for us."

Only this has been the most inactive racing season for Flinner in years. He's had the car out only 12 times. After winning a heat race on opening night here April 14, he failed to win another until July 28.

During the World of Outlaws Late Models show last Friday at Lernerville, Flinner failed to qualify for the 50-lap feature.

"You get off your game when you're not running a lot of races,"Flinner said. "I know we need to get out more often, but the season's not over. We're hoping to hit a few more of these Outlaw races.

"People talk about money being the big issue in local racing today, but finding dedicated people to work on the car is just as important.

"I don't fault those guys (Richards and Hoover) for leaving. They're young and want to do other things. I'm envious in a way. Sometimes I think I've spent too much time in racing. My girls are all grown now and I missed a lot,"he added.

But he hasn't missed winning. Flinner is one of eight Late Model drivers to find victory lane at Lernerville this season and one of three to win here twice, joining Geisler and Stile.

Yet Flinner still hears a throng of boos each time he takes a checkered flag.

"I don't know why people boo him,"Flinner Sr. said. "Everybody hates a winner, I know, but some fans don't realize how much work, time and effort goes into being a good dirt-track driver.

"Besides working, John doesn't do anything else. He doesn't drink. He doesn't smoke. He's a racing guy and you see his work everywhere."

Flinner makes his living painting decals and signs on race cars.

Always uncertain of his racing future elsewhere, he plans on continuing to race at Lernerville on a regular basis in coming years.

"This is a great track and it's 40 minutes from my house," he said. "I'm sure I'll be here. I'd like to do more, but it's tough ... Guys like me, Ed Lynch, we have to work for a living."

Lernerville Speedway Points Standings(top 15 through July 28)SprintsEd Lynch Jr. 340, Kevin Schaeffer 315, Ralph Spithaler 258, Carl Bowser 255, Rod George 250, Arnie Kent 241, Scott Bonnell 233, Brent Matus 223, Gary Rankin 214, Scott Priester 212, Mike Shearer 173, Dan Holtgraver 155, Terry Bowser 153, Charlie Holben 145, Cory Good 136

Late ModelsLynn Geisler 307, Sam Stile 271, Gary Lyle 246, Alex Ferree 236, Matt Lux 222, Ken Schaltenbrand 220, Mike Blose 212, John Flinner 207, Bob Wearing Jr. 203, Tony Burke 179, Chuck Kennedy 175, Dutch Davies 168, John Britsky 161, Jared Miley 159, Chris Schneider 158

ModifiedsKevin Bolland 331, Brian Swartzlander 281, Tom Winkle 265, Dave Murdick 265, Jim Weller Jr. 256, J.R. McGinley 228, Del Rougeux Jr. 214, Mark Flick 201, Joe Crawford 180, Carl Murdick 163, Chanda Reitz 145, Tom Mattocks 137, Keith Swartzlander 136, Mike Turner 126, Jim Weller III106

Pure StocksButch Lambert 372, Greg Beach 319, Wayne Carbo 281, Jason Fosnaught 266, Paul Schreckengost 254, Bob Egley 240, Terry Young 219, Jake Ayers 218, Nick Reges 205, Bop Lipinski 197, Pat Hanley 194, Jim Fosnaught 192, Dave Baker 178, Mike Gilliland 138, Mike Pegher Jr. 134