BUFFALO TWP - It might have been delayed 25 years, but Terry Bowser's racing career is finally under way.

Bowser, 45, of Sarver planned to a Modified at Lernerville Speedway when he was 20, but didn't have enough money to put the car on the track.

"I couldn't finish it, so I got rid of it," Bowser said. "Then, I quit going to the track.

"I'm not one to watch somebody else do something. I have to do it myself," he added.

Bowser's excavating business was approached about sponsoring Ralph Spithaler's No. 56 Sprint car six years ago and Bowser has been supporting the Evans City driver's race team ever since.

Little did he know that he'd become part of it.

Four years ago, Bowser was invited by friend Bill Altman to watch the races at Lernerville.

"I've gone to NASCAR races with Bill. … He's like a father to me," Bowser said. "I went with him to Lernerville, and as soon as I saw those Sprint cars come on the track, I knew I had to be in one."

So Bowser began preparing. He studied the Sprint racing division closely for two years. He drove Dave Blaney's Sprint car on the track alone as a fan twice - at Lernerville and Sharon Speedway.

"I got about 80 laps in with that car. That was the extent of my (Sprint) driving experience," Bowser said.

During this past off-season, Bowser was able to buy a new Sprint car. Spithaler's crew chief, Ralph Baker, put it together.

Baker now serves as crew chief for Bowser and Spithaler. Bowser's No. 59 pits next to Spithaler's car every Friday.

"It doesn't bother me at all," Spithaler said of sharing his crew chief. "We're all friends. That's what makes it fun. This is about spending time together with friends as much as it is about racing."

Bowser has never raced any division at any track before this season.

"A Sprint car is what I want to run and I didn't see where racing in another division was gonna help me," Bowser said.

Baker sees no problem with Bowser debuting in the Sprint division.

"You gotta start somewhere," he said.

Bowser is a realist, of course. He has no visions of winning this year or maybe even next.

But he does plan on being in a Sprint car for a while.

"I just want to get laps in this year, get comfortable with the car and work myself up to speed," Bowser said. "I want to stay out of trouble, keep myself from getting injured and not cause anyone else to get injured.

"I'm planning on mimicking the guys I'm following on the track. I'm hoping to race a Sprint car for 10 years or so," Bowser added.

That means he might be pitting alongside his son, Carl, a junior at Freeport High School and a successful driver in the Micro-Sprints who won eight features at Blanket Hill last year.

"We're hoping to put him in a Sprint car here next year," Bowser said of his son. "I think he'll be ready."

Notes:

Steady rain forced the cancellation of Lernerville's race show Friday night. Only the Late Model heat races beat the weather. … There were 100 cars in the pits. … Next Friday's show includes the makeup of last year's postponed All-Star Dave and Earl Bauman Memorial Sprint feature. The Sarver oval has added a non-qualifier's race to the card to ensure a full starting field for the feature.

Lernerville Speedway Points Standings

(top 15 through April 29)

Sprints

Ed Lynch Jr. 78, Chad Hill 70, Arnie Kent 66, Rod George 66, Kevin Schaeffer 58, Gary Rankin 55, Dan Shetler 52, Scott Barris 48, Davey Jones 42, Mike Dehner 33, Bob Altmeyer 33, Jack Sodeman Jr. 32, Scott Priester 31, Scott Bonnell 29, William Kiley 28

Late Models

Ron Davies 76, John Flinner 67, Ken Schaltenbrand 65, Matt Lux 61, Jim Dandy 59, Gary Lyle 51, Dave Satterlee 48, Scott Gurdak 45, Doug Eck 44, David Scott 40, Mike Blose 40, Rob Kosecki 39, Chuck Kennedy 36, Lynn Geisler 35, Dave Norton 32

Modifieds

Brian Swartzlander 78, Jim Weller Jr. 71, Dave Murdick 65, Lonny Riggs 65, Tom Winkle 48, Del Rougeux Jr. 47, Gary Risch Jr. 46, Tommy Marshall 45, Pete Simpson 39, J.R. McGinley 38, Joe Crawford 38, Carl Murdick 37, Kevin Bolland 35, Carl Weatherby 31, Chanda Reitz 28

Pure Stocks

Bob Lipinski 76, Joe Kelley 68, Greg Beach 65, Rob Shook 63, Herman Bertolini 60, Bob Egley 57, Gary Norman 53, Jason Fosnaught 47, Mike Turner 47, Butch Lambert 45, Dave Spangler 44, Doug Graham 39, Nick Reges 37, Paul Schreckengost 36, Lenny Wright 30