BUFFALO TWP - Matt Kriess couldn't beat his brother, so he decided to join him.

Kriess, 22, of Evans City, raced micro-sprints with older brother Gary seven years ago, but gave it up before too long.

"I kept finishing second or third," the younger Kriess said. "He kept finishing first."

Gary Kriess got so good at micro-sprints, in fact - he won 15 of 18 races during his final season - that he switched to driving a Sprint car five years ago.

And Matt gave up racing on his own to turn wrenches for his brother in the pits.

"Our family can't afford two cars in this division," said Butch Kriess, the brothers' father. "Matt gave it up to give Gary a chance to compete in the Sprint division.

"Matt sacrificed a lot so Gary could race. He sold everything and waited three years before he got a chance to race again."

Gary Kriess has done well, claiming 16 Sprint feature wins in five years behind the wheel. That was before he flipped the No. 55J in a violent crash a few weeks ago at Lernerville.

While Kriess was repairing his car, his younger brother was considering taking his back-up car racing.

"I would have done it earlier, but we only have the one motor and I couldn't afford to but a motor for that other car," the younger Kriess said. "So Gary let me use his."

In the meantime, the older Kriess won a feature two weeks ago at Knox, using Troy Preston's motor in his car.

Preston has back problems and has been unable to drive his car. The older Kreiss may drive it for him next season.

If so, both Kriess brothers may be on the track at Lernerville come Friday nights.

"I don't know what's going to happen there," Gary Kriess said. "Either way, I told Matt he can race here next year. If I'm not driving Troy's car, I'll help him.

"He deserves the opportunity. Matt's been helping me for a long time. Now it's his turn. He needs to get seat time."

Matt Kriess finished 22nd in last week's Sprint feature. The week before, he lost control of the car on the first turn of the first lap and was involved in a multi-car accident.

The No. 12M had to be towed to the pits.

"I hit the brakes as I approached the turn and the car jammed," Kriess said. "My first time out, I wrecked in the heat race.

"It's not the kind of start I was hoping for, but it's going to take some time to get used to being behind the wheel again."

Matt Kriess does know Sprint cars, however.

"I can do anything that's needed done," he said. "I've helped Dad make the motors at home, I can change the gears, whatever.

"In the long run, knowing the make-up of the car will make me a better driver."

Butch Kriess raced Modifieds and Late Models in the 1960's and 70's at the Butler Fairgrounds and Mercer.

He won a few races, but never any point championships.

"Matt knows the sport and he has the patience to learn on the track," Butch Kriess said. "He's not as aggressive a driver as Gary, but if he stays with it, he'll be fine."

The Kriess racing team has been comprised of the same pit crew - Rich McCollough, Bob Kriess, Dave Stephenson, Todd Hutchison and Jeff Blank - for most of the years it's run Sprints.

"It's a good group that works well together," Butch Kriess said.

No matter which Kriess brother is behind the wheel.

"It's such a competitive division," Matt Kriess said. "I just want to learn, stay out of trouble and keep the car in one piece.

"With a little luck, I can become a competitive driver and maybe win a race someday. That's a long way off, but the fun is trying to get there."

Lernerville Points Standings (top 15 through Aug. 6)

Sprints

Ed Lynch Jr. 410, Rod George 362, Kevin Schaeffer 347, Chad Hill 343, Arnie Kent 309, Dan Shetler 271, Gary Rankin 269, Charlie Holben 239, Mike Shearer 224, Brent Matus 212, Gary Kriess Jr. 198, Jimmy Weller III 191, Davey Jones 172, Jerry Matus 165, Cory Good 135

Late Models

John Flinner 365, Gary Lyle 332, Chuck Kennedy 313, Nick Jones 307, Lynn Geisler 293, Doug Eck 274, Bob Wearing Jr. 264, Rob Kosecki 229, Tom Kitchen 225, David Scott 209, Ken Schaltenbrand 199, Jeff Henry 173, Keith Zimmerman 169, Chris Schneider 166, Mike Johnson 166

Modifieds

Dave Murdick 404, Jim Weller Jr. 382, Kevin Bolland 372, Brian Swartzlander 340, Tom Winkle 285, Tommy Marshall 284, Gary Risch Jr. 262, Carl Murdick 250, J.R. McGinley 185, Del Rougeux Jr. 163, George Hobaugh 158, Mike Sutton 158, Lonny Riggs 155, Gary Risch Sr. 151, John Durci 150

Pure Stocks

Joe Kelley 403, Rob Shook 388, Greg Beach 383, Butch Lambert 368, Paul Schreckengost 317, Dave Spangler 285, Mike Turner 258, Scott Bochek 250, Nick Reges 247, Jeff Bastin n223, Jason Fosnaught 221, Doug Graham 220, Bob Egley 218, Mike Pegher Jr. 193, Jake Ayers 184