BUFFALO TWP — Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

John Garvin Jr. of Sarver might wear that tag in the Late Model division for now, but he could be exchanging it for a checkered flag soon.

Garvin, 28, is only in his third full season of racing in the Late Model division at Lernerville Speedway, but he already has two second-place finishes.

"I've led a few features. I just haven't been able to bring one home yet," Garvin said. "We're right there. It's going to come. I like where we're at right now."

A 2000 Freeport graduate, Garvin was a running back-linebacker and a two-year starter for the Yellowjackets. He gained 900 yards rushing his senior year.

At one point, he wasn't expected to be the starting tailback.

"That's how competitive John is," said his father, John Garvin Sr. "When he joined the Freeport football team, the coaches told him they already had a tailback and suggested he switch to fullback.

"John told me he was determined to be the starting tailback. He kept working at it until he beat the other kid out.

"That's why he'll find victory lane here. He won't quit until he gets there," the elder Garvin said.

John Garvin Sr. knows all about victory lane. He got there about 30 times himself during a Late Model racing career that lasted from 1976 to 1994.

He won five features one year at Lernerville, losing a narrow points race to Barry Peters.

Money forced John Garvin Sr. from the racing game before he turned 40.

"It just got too expensive," he said. "I couldn't keep up with it."

His son couldn't wait to start it.

At age 16, John Garvin Jr. brought his father's car to Lernerville to give it try. He flipped it between Turns 3 and 4.

And he was hooked.

"It wasn't because of the flip," Garvin said, laughing. "It was being out on the track, behind the wheel in a race. I couldn't wait to do it again."

The John Garvin Jr. race team of himself, Chad Deale and Huck Livingston was eventually formed. Livingston worked on the car of Garvin's father for a number of years as well.

"They are two totally different drivers," Livingston said. "John Sr. used to go easier around the turns and basically drag-race down the straightaways. That's how racing was done on this track back in those days.

"John Jr. is all over the place — high, low, he knows to maneuver the track."

The younger Garvin bought his first Late Model car from veteran driver Lynn Geisler of Cranberry Township.

Garvin enters this weekend's action sixth in Late Model points at Lernerville, three points out of fifth. He tied for fourth ihere last season.

"Johnny's come a long way in a very short time," Livingston said. "(All-Star drivers) Boom Briggs and Chub Frank have been extremely helpful to him."

Garvin never thought about playing football in college — or even going to college. He works in the family's scrapyard business.

"This is my game now," he said. "I've always wanted to race."

And he still wants to win.

"If you don't believe you can win, you probably shouldn't be here," Garvin said.

His father is among those who believe that first win is just around the corner.

"John was the fastest qualifier among local drivers at the All-Star race here (April 23)," John Garvin Sr. said. "It's just a matter of time."