BUFFALO TWP - On the final night for points Friday at Lernerville Speedway, the rain held off long enough - and Pure Stocks driver Butch Lambert held off Greg Beach just enough.

Not to be outdone, John Flinner of Zelienople placed second in the Late Models race behind Dave Satterlee, but Flinner earned enough points to capture his fifth consecutive title, a feat never before accomplished at the Sarver track.

In the Pure Stocks division, Lambert placed first and Beach finished second in the first heat to give both drivers 324 points on the season, setting up a thrilling feature race.

Beach started seventh and Lambert was up front, but Beach climbed back to second place. Lambert, however, held off the fast-charging Beach on the 15th and final lap for the victory.

"He was way out there," said Beach of Chicora. "Then I just closed it in, closed it in, closed it in, but these races are not as long.

"If it was a 20-lap race, I might have got it. I'm happy for Butch. If it wasn't me, then I'm glad it was him. He and I have been friends for a long time. There are no hard feelings," Beach added.

Lambert entered the race one point behind Beach and knew it would be a long, tough night.

"I kind of anticipated we'd all be in the (same) heat race," said Lambert, who also had Mike Pegher Jr. of Wexford, who was third in points, just six behind Beach, to contend with as well.

Lambert led from start to finish and all Beach could do was to work his way back up slowly.

"The (seeding) pretty much screwed me over," said Beach of Chicora. "That's just luck … Sometimes it's on you side and sometimes it's not on your side."

Another victim of a bad spot was Lynn Geisler of Cranberry Township, who trailed Flinner by two points entering the heat races.

Flinner placed third in his heat and Geisler was sixth in his, opening up a five-point lead entering the Late Model feature.

Flinner was placed a bit closer to the front than Geisler, and Geisler could never fully recover.

"We drew in the back again," said Geisler. "Then, we got up to fourth and got in a cushion. We had the opportunity.

"We got up to fourth, but getting by John, I don't know, but we knew we would race," Geisler added.

Flinner tried not to think about the possibility of a fifth championship as the season wore on.

"It's really cool - but I didn't want to jinx myself," said Flinner.

Flinner was gunning for the win, moving up through the field - and staying ahead of Geisler - but he couldn't quite catch up to Satterlee.

"Dave called me (Friday) and he asked if I thought he should come," said Flinner laughing. "I'm glad to see him win."

Ken Schaltenbrand of Sarver led the first 14 laps before Satterlee came on to grab the final six.

Flinner won his previous two titles by default after rain washed out the final points nights to secure the crowns.

By winning it outright on the final night to remove all doubt, Flinner said he feels that will calm some of his detractors.

"That's what my goal's always been," said Flinner on winning titles. "I didn't want to win that way. I wanted to get away from being the idiot."

Now, Flinner's name will be along some of the other legends at Lernerville.

"Twenty years from now, when my grandkids come, they'll see that Pappy's raced here."

In the Sprint feature, Kevin Schaeffer won from start to finish, holding off points champion Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo and Ralph Spithaler of Evans City, who finished third.

"It was nice to start at the front," said Schaeffer, who finished the season third in points. "I knew I had to race as hard as possible."

In the Modified feature, Kevin Bolland of New Brighton overtook Jim Weller Jr. on the 14th lap to come away with the win.

Weller suffered a flat tire, which dropped him to 22nd place. Tom Marshall III placed second, Del Rougeux was third and points champion Dave Murdick of Slippery Rock was fourth.

Notes:

There were 108 cars in the pits. … There will be no racing next Friday. On Sept. 10 the Back to School Bus races, Powder Puff races and PCTC Senior Series is on the docket.