BUFFALOTWP — Carl Bowser and Danmy Holtgraver have a lot in common.

Both are teenagers. Both love racing. And both are trying to succeed in the Sprint car division in Western Pennsylvania against veteran legends the likes of Ed Lynch Jr. and Rod George.

They share something else. Both have heeded advice from Lynch and George.

"Those are two great guys and two great drivers," said Holtgraver, a sophomore at North Allegheny High School. "They've talked to me. They told me to take my time, get a feel for the track and for the car.

"The important thing right now for me is to keep the car in one piece."

Only 16, Holtgraver is driving the No. D4 Sprinter, a car his family bought from Jamie Smith during the off-season. Holtgraver's father, Dan Sr., is also his crew chief after spending nearly 15 years on the crew of five-time Lernerville Speedway Late Model champion John Flinner.

While Holtgraver is a rookie in the Sprint division, Bowser, 19, is a recent Freeport graduate and in his second year of racing a Sprint car.

"It's a learning process, but I already feel like I've improved a ton,"Bowser said. "You have to take it easy, take it slow at first. That's what Rod and Ed told me and that's what I told him (Holtgraver)."

Bowser won two heat races last year and finished among the top five in the first Sprint feature at Lernerville this season.

"My goal is to finish among the top five in points this year,"Bowser said. "That would show me I ran consistently well all season.

"Winning a heat race gives you a taste of what it's like to finish first. You always try to finish first. I want to get to victory lane this year."

Holtgraver is coming off three seasons of micro-sprint racing, winning about 14 features during that span.

He already owns two top-10 finishes at Mercer Raceway, placing ninth in the season's second race there and seventh just two weeks ago.

"Right now, I'm all about seat time,"Holtgraver said. "I know it's a progression and I know where I want to be."

Five years from now, Holtgraver wants to be good enough to compete at least on the All-Stars circuit, if not the World of Outlaws.

His father doesn't rule it out.

"Danny's learning,"his father said. "He's been a race fan for a long time. He's getting to know the car and we're getting good setups with it.

"Jamie sold us a good car. I wouldn't have let Danny get in a bad one."

Tye Geisler, who worked with Smith in Sprint car setups for 14 years, has been assisting Holtgraver's race team in that area so far this season.

Competing against Lynch and George and others like them isn't a problem in the elder Holtgraver's eyes.

"Those guys know how to get around younger drivers and won't screw them up,"He said. "It's the other inexperienced guys I worry about."

"I think Danny can be up there with Lynch in a few years. Yeah, quality equipment means a lot in this sport, but experience and seat time mean more and you can't buy that."

Bowser agrees. He's realized that theory first-hand.

"I had some bad luck on the track last year, but part of that was driver error,"Bowser said. "I'm already much better at avoiding trouble out there."

Like Holtgraver, Bowser has found early success this season at Mercer. He has two top-10 finishes and a top-five thus far.

"Just keep improving, slow and steady,"Bowser said.

Holtgraver is following the same plan.

"This is all new to me,"He said. "Getting comfortable in the car, figuring out how to read the track takes time."

And being ultra-successful in the Sprint division takes money.

"I'll never buy junk, but I don't have the financial budget an All-Star driver needs,"Mr. Holtgraver said. "Danny will need some financial backing if he's getting to that point."

Lernerville Speedway Points Leaders (top 15 through April 28)SprintsRod George 64, Ralph Spithaler Jr. 58, Ed Lynch Jr. 56, Cory Good 56, Skip Daugherty 54, Scott Bonnell 51, Arnie Kent 48, Kevin Schaeffer 48, Brent Matus 47, Carl Bowser 44, Mike Shearer 43, Terry Bowser 40, Brian Ellenberger 38, Gary Rankin 37, Joe Butera 32

Late ModelsLynn Geisler 70, Jared Miley 64, Ken Schaltenbrand 60, Dave Hess Jr. 58, Matt Lux 54, Mike Blose 53, Alex Ferree 46, Tony Burke 41, Josh Richards 40, Carl McKinney 34, Dutch Davies 34, Gary Lyle 33, Dave Satterlee 33, Chris Schneider 32, Greg Satterlee 30

ModifiedsKevin Bolland 72, Brian Swartzlander 71, Tom Winkle 65, Dave Murdick 64, Jim Weller Jr. 50, Carl Murdick 43, Tim Doran 42, Skip Moore 42, Dean Pearson, JRMcGinley 41, Mark Flick 38, Del Rougeux Jr. 37, Jim Weller III35, J. Shingledecker 28, Joe Crawford 28

Pure StocksMike Pegher Jr. 76, Butch Lambert 74, Wayne Carbo 67, Jason Fosnaught 57, Greg Beach 54, Jake Ayers 51, Paul Schrecengost 50, Pat Hanley 49, Bob Egley 48, Terry Young 41, Jim Fosnaught 38, Tony Iarrapino 37, Dave Baker 32, Martin Viale 29, Andy Buckley 28