Forget about retirement!

Former 1994 Lernerville 410 Modified Champion Mark Flick is back racing a Mod-Lite at Blanket Hill Speedway.

What brought this about?

Flick said, “Oh a little scratch and itch! It's not hard to race it and easy to haul to the track. It doesn't take up a lot of room, close to home, and doesn't cost a lot to race.”

To put it simply, he is having fun! Is there much of a transition between the two Modifieds?

“A race car is a race car, it doesn't matter which one you are driving. They are actually fun to drive because the horse power to the weight ratio is pretty good. They run strong motorcycle-engines and they aren't very heavy,” Flick said.

Flick races when he feels like he needs to go and his wife Lura supports him all the way. He wouldn't turn down a big block ride if offered, though.

Tom's Auto Center and Stanford Glass Service have backed him all the way. He painted the car like his 1994 Championship racer #2.

Racing genes run in the family. Flick's father, Pee Wee, was the 1973 Late Model Champion and Mark's son A.J. is a four-time (2015, 2017,2018, and 2020 Lernerville Sprint champion.

The only years A.J. didn't win, veteran Jack Sodeman Jr was the champion. To date this year, A.J. has won two features at Tri-City Speedway.

Mark said, “A lot of odd luck has occurred this year. It is one of those seasons you have to work through it and not get too frustrated and things will turn around.

“We have good runs, but maybe with better pill draws and better luck the yellows (flags) will fall your way, but sometime they don't. Things just don't always go the way you want it!”

In the family, A.J. has won the most money racing in the family, which is one of the reasons he chose this division.

His garage is not air conditioned or heated, so with the recent humid days, he has become a night owl.

“It is just me by myself with a little bit of music at 2 a.m. It wreaks a little havoc on the job sometimes,” A.J. Flick said.

Sprint driver Fred Rahmer once told him that things will begin to click in the eighth year of racing.

“This is my eighth year and I know things will work out,” the younger Flick said.

Sprint driver Jack Sodeman Jr. has had both highs and lows this season. Although he has won a few main events and leads Tri-City Raceway points over Brandon Matus by 23, he has had two wicked crashes this season.He reports: “One more crash will end this season for me. I have used up my stock pile of spare parts!”His former pit crew member, Darin Gallagher is his mentee. Gallagher Is doing a superb job in the Sprints this season and could qualify as one of the most improved drivers in 2021. Gallagher finished 17 in 2020 and is currently eighthth in points at Lernerville.

Jason Shank is the new Media Director at Lernerville Speedway.With the ongoing expansion of social media, “The Action Track Podcast,” and LernervilleTV, the demands of the public relations department required the addition of another staff member. Shank brings a wealth of experience as both a race official and media member.

Rain has abbreviated or eliminated races this season and at the mid-point of the year, Sye Lynch is first in the Lernerville Sprint points with an 11-point lead over four-time champ, A.J. Flick.Brandon Matus is third, Michael Bauer fourth and Carl Bowser, fifth. Late Model driver Colton Flinner tops the chart over Jared Miley by 10, followed by two-time champion Ken Schaltenbrand, Gary Lyle and Alex Ferree.Jeremiah Shingledecker leads the Modified list over Garrett Krummert by five digits, followed by Rex King Jr, Dave Murdick, and Rex King Sr. Having a banner year, Shingledecker also tops Kevin Hoffman by 36 digits at Tri- City Raceway.Five-time Pro-Stock titlist Corey McPherson is the frontrunner over Joey Zambotti by 11 points, ensued by Mike Bordt, Mike Miller and Brett McDonald.

NASCAR driver Alex Bowman, a member of the Hendrick Motorsports team, will be driving a purple 410 Sprint car the next two weeks at Tri-City Raceway Park in Venango County.Bowman will race the No. 55 Sprint car while NASCAR has an extended vacation for the Summer Olympics.

Last weekend, “Sunshine” Tyler Courtney was perched on his throne with a $175,000 check at Eldora Speedway.He was crowned the 38th Kings Royal Champion. It was his first entry into the event and his first WoO win. Local Sprint driver Sye Lynch finished 12th in a field of 60 of the best cars in the country!Later, one of the most talented drivers in America, Kyle Larson, won the postponed 37th Kings Royal, also garnering $175,000. Lynch finished fourth in this preliminary heat race, that had only three drivers transferring and didn't qualify through other last chance opportunities.Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle