BUFFALOTWP — The chance to win his first race at Lernerville Speedway was laid right in front of Jared Miley on Friday. He just didn't know if anyone was coming from behind to try to take it away.

Miley, 20, led from the opening lap of the Late Model feature and had Matt Lux breathing down his neck until Lux had to leave the track after 16 laps with car trouble.

Not knowing Lux was in the pits, no driver was within proximity of Miley as he cruised to the checkered flag.

"I had no idea (he was gone)," said Miley, nephew of Ben Miley, who has the fourth-most victories in the Late Model division at the track. "I had seen him on the outside of me. I just had to get smoother."

The drivers were thrown for a loop early when several cars, which included those of David Scott, Dan Schwartzlander, Neil Brown, Tom Kitchen, Chuck Kennedy and Chris Schneider, were involved in an accident after the fourth lap was completed.

Scott appeared to get the worst of it as he emerged from the car and laid on the track for several minutes. He wound up with whiplash and a sore ankle and had an ice pack on the back of his neck in the pits following the race.

A collision between five-time defending champion John Flinner of Zelienople and Carl McKinney one lap later resulted in Flinner leaving with a broken drive shaft.

"I got run over and had to shut her down," said Flinner.

Miley, of South Park, continued his lead and saw it increase tremendously when Lux drove off the track.

He did ride the outer edge of the back straightaway a couple of times in the closing laps.

"That was more driver error," said Miley. "I just kept telling myself not to mess up."

Lynn Geisler of Cranberry Township and Ken Schaltenbrand of Sarver finished second and third, respectively.

Miley knew the car was running well on the first lap. "It just felt awesome. The car was running pretty good."

That also summed up his feelings about being another family member to reach the winner's circle.

"It feels really good, knowing what he did the way he did," said Miley on his uncle. "This is the first time we've ever won the opener."

Miley, who admitted Lernerville has always been his favorite track, knows this win can only help him down the road.

"This will help a ton," said Miley, a sophomore at California (Pa.) University. "Usually in the heat races, I feel confident. Features, I hate starting at the pole."

n In the Pure Stock, Wayne Carbo grabbed his second career feature win at Lernerville when he zoomed past Jason Fosnaught, who led for the first six laps, and Butch Lambert, who was second in that span, after a restart.

"I just saw them both running a little squirrelly and that left things wide open," said Carbo.

Carbo, of Saxonburg, stormed to the lead and held off Mike Pegher Jr. of Wexford and Lambert of Mars for the win. Fosnaught ended up placing fifth overall.

n Apollo's Ed Lynch Jr., who has won three consecutive Sprint car titles at Lernerville, started the season with a bang, rolling to a win over Rod George of Kittanning.

Cory Good had the lead for the first 12 laps, but a hard-charging Lynch battled back and took the lead, which he continued to build for the remainder of the race.

The victory marked the sixth consecutive year Lynch has won the opener at Lernerville.

Carl Bowser of Sarver and Ralph Spithaler of Evans City grabbed the next two places.

n Kevin Bolland finished the 2005 season on a hot streak and saw that continue Friday. Bolland, of New Brighton, won his final three Modified races last year, then led from start to finish in picking up another win, holding off Brian Swartzlander of Leechburg.

Bolland dedicated the win to his mother, who has been ill since last season.

Notes: There were 98 cars in the pits, with the Late Model feature running three heats plus a B-Main. ... The Late Model, Sprint and Modified features were 25 laps each; the Pure Stock was 15 ... The World of Outlaws Late Models return Tuesday with time trials at 7:15 p.m. and racing at 8. Fab Four Racing returns on Friday.