BUFFALO TWP - Mike Pegher Jr. was driving a race car before he had a driver's license.

Not to worry - the 2004 Seneca Valley graduate already had plenty of experience behind the wheel and plenty of qualified instructors.

"I grew up on this game," Pegher said. "You can start racing at 5 years old if you're good enough. I've wanted to do it since I was about that old."

The Pegher name is a familiar one in local racing circles. Mike Pegher Sr. raced a Pure Stock. Mike Pegher Jr.'s uncle, Joe Pegher, raced go-karts with him at Naugle Speedway in Aliquippa.

Dave Pegher, the younger Pegher's grandfather, won 20 features in the Semi-Late Model division at Lernerville Speedway from 1971-77. He was track champion in that division here from 1974-76, winning 14 features during that stretch.

"I've learned a lot from all those guys," Mike Pegher Jr. said. "My dad and grandfather come down here (in the pits) by the car all the time."

Pegher was 14 when he raced go-karts for his first and only season at Naugle Speedway. He won five features and the track championship.

The following year, he was in a Pure Stock, using the No. 09 - the same number on his grandfather's car.

Still only 19, Pegher owns a feature win at Sportsman's Speedway, a feature win at Mercer Raceway Park and two feature triumphs at Lernerville.

Pegher won his first Lernerville feature Aug. 13, 2004, during a World of Outlaws Late Model program. He won the first Pure Stock points feature of this season and is showing early signs of being a contender for the points championship.

"I'd like to win a few features and finish among the top five in points," Pegher said. "That's a realistic goal for us.

"Challenging for the points title? … I don't know. There are a lot of good cars here."

Pegher already has two heat wins to his credit this season and has finished among the top three in two features. Rob Shook is the only other Pure Stock driver with a pair of top-three finishes at Lernerville so far this year.

Brian McKinney of Ambridge, who has been a pit crew member of Pegher race drivers most of his life, envisions big things for the family's third-generation driver.

"He's so good in the car. You could see it right away," McKinney said. "He used to have an old car that was badly out of date - and he was winning heat races with it."

Pegher's current Pure Stock is two years old.

"If we don't miss weeks because of unforeseen problems with the car, he's a top-five points driver here," McKinney said. "There's no doubt about that.

"Mike is fearless. That's his best attribute as a race driver. He's not afraid of anything out there."

That's been proven by the fact Pegher visit's McKinney's driveway next to a junkyard, fixes up old cars that have been tossed away, gets behind the wheel and smashes them.

"If we're able to get the car running, Mike plays demolition derby with it," McKinney said.

And he doesn't wear a helmet.

"I just bang 'em around," Pegher said, smiling. "I'm pretty careful with it."

Other members of Pegher's pit crew include Jeff Kerns, Jake Hupbenthal and Jason Wilfong. All have known the Pegher family for years.

McKinney's grandmother, in fact, was a midwife who delivered some of the Peghers.

"I want to become as successful as I can in this sport," Pegher said. "Eventually, I hope to get into a Late Model and if possible, do dirt racing for a living.

"I have a family name to uphold."

Lernerville Points Standings

Top 15 through May 6

Sprints

Rod George 77, Ed Lynch Jr. 67, Kevin Schaeffer 66, Charlie Holben 52, Gary Rankin 52, Scott Bonnell 50, Brent Matus 49, Arnie Kent 49, Carl Bowser 43, Dan Shetler 39, Jack Sodeman Jr. 39, Cory Good 37, Mike Shearer 35, Davey Jones 34, Mike Dehner 29

Late Models

Bob Wearing Jr. 74, John Flinner 66, Ken Schaltenbrand 55, Mike Blose 54, Chuck Kennedy 50, Mike Johnson 49, Nick Jones 47, Lynn Geisler 39, Tom Tuite 38, Dave Johnson 37, Alan Dellinger 34, Jim Kurpakus 34, David Scott 32, Jared Miley 26, Gary Lyle 24

Modifieds

Jim Weller Jr. 70, Dave Murdick 69, Kevin Bolland 66, Del Rougeux Jr. 64, Tom Winkle 57, Brian Swartzlander 52, Mark Flick 52, Gary Risch Jr. 47, Chanda Reitz 41, George Hobaugh 41, JR McGinley 39, Pete Simpson 36, Mike Turner 29, Joe Crawford 28, Bob Dorman 27

Pure Stocks

Bobby Whitling 69, Greg Beach 62, Mike Turner 59, Bob Lipinski 59, Butch Lambert 5, Mike Pegher Jr. 54, Rob Shook 53, Herman Bertolini 44, Pat Hanley 44, Jake Ayers 41, Wayne Carbo 41, Paul Schreckengost 41, Dave Spangler 37, Bob Egley 37, Jason Fosnaught 31