Alex Ferree has enjoyed having his father, Ed, assist him in the Late Models racing division the past two years.

In the not-too-distant future, Alex Ferree can return the favor.

After nearly a two-year layoff, the elder Ferree will return to the track, although not likely on the same night his son races.

"I'll race some weeks and (Alex) will race some weeks," said Ed, 52, of Valencia. "It's too hard to try and run two cars.

"I'm going to get a car running here in a few weeks," he added.

The elder Ferree had spent the better part of two years rebuilding their house, which was lost to a fire in September 2002.

It took more than a dozen fire companies from Butler and Allegheny counties to douse the blaze.

"I took time off to rebuild," said Ed Ferree. "We're living in it now, but we're still fixing it up."

He had 21 Late Model wins at Lernerville, with his last coming back in the late 1990s, by his recollection.

"I'm anxious to get back in there. You miss two years and I'm sure some of it will come back and some of it won't," he added.

In the meantime, Ferree's been assisting Alex, 22, also of Valencia who pulled off his first win of the season at Lernerville last Friday.

The younger Ferree took the lead on lap 13 and held on for the win.

"It ran awesome. It was great," said Alex Ferree, who started the race in 10th place. "I loved it."

The win marked his second win at Lernerville, with the first coming last June in the Mid-Atlantic Championships Series. He picked up a $4,000 check for winning that 40-lap event.

"This has been a rough year," said Alex. "We haven't done a lot. We had a ton of top 10 finishes last year."

Alex Ferree doesn't run Lernerville every Friday, but alternates with other area tracks.

"Usually I race one night a week," he said.

While Alex Ferree gives his father credit for his success and assistance, the elder Ferree didn't have that luxury.

"I did it all on my own," said Ed Ferree. "I wanted to start racing here, but my dad wouldn't let me. He was nervous about safety and wouldn't let me.

"I raced four-wheel drive for 12 years. Then, after I was married for a few years, I got into the Late Models," he added.

Ed Ferree won his first race in 1982 at Lernerville, the final race of the year.

"We had sold the race car and the points race was over," said Ed. "I sold the car but kept the engine. I bought another car and put the motor in. I started in the front and went on to win."

Alex Ferree started in go-kart and began racing cars in 1997 in Pittsburgh.

He ran in Limited Late Models for two years before jumping to Late Models on and off until the past couple of years.

Points Standings

Top 15 (through June 18)

Late Models

John Flinner 191, Gary Lyle 171, Lynn Geisler 154, Nick Jones 153, Doug Eck 150, Chuck Kennedy 150, Ken Schaltenbrand 142, David Scott 121, Rob Kosecki 111, Spanky Dougherty 107, Tom Kitchen 106, Jeff Henry 99, Chris Schneider 91, Bob Wearing Jr., Ron Davies 76

Modifieds

Dave Murdick 215, Jim Weller Jr. 207, Brian Swartzlander 202, Kevin Bolland 167, Lonny Riggs 155, Tommy Marshall 147, Gary Risch Jr. 145, Tom Winkle 141, Carl Murdick 125, J.R. McGinley 117, Eddie Brown 98, Justin Broerman 79, Gary Risch Sr. 75, Carl Weatherby 71, John Durci 71

Pure Stocks

Joe Kelley 201, Rob Shook 199, Greg Beach 197, Butch Lambert 178, Paul Schreckengost 157, Bob Lipinski 135, Scott Bochek 131, Bob Egley 128, Jason Fosnaught 127, Mike Turner 125, Dave Spangler 113, Nick Reges 105, Herman Bertolini 101, Jeff Bastin 94, Doug Graham 94

Sprints

Chad Hill 207, Ed Lynch Jr. 191, Rod George 175, Kevin Schaeffer 168, Gary Rankin 159, Dan Shetler 152, Arnie Kent 149, Scott Bonnell 121, Gary Kriess Jr. 114, Mike Shearer 104, Charlie Holben 97, Jerry Matus 97, Brent Matus, Mike Dehner 90, William Kiley 87