BUFFALO TWP — The three-day Firecracker 100 weekend got started with a bang — literally — Thursday night at Lernerville Speedway.

Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., took the checkered flag in the 25-lap World of Outlaws Late Model feature after clipping Brandon Sheppard coming around Turn 3 of the final lap.

Blair was trying to get around the two-time defending series champion Sheppard as the two were coming around the final turns toward the finish line. He inadvertently got underneath Sheppard and sent him spinning.

“I hate that that happened,” Blair said after the race. “I got bottled up behind those lapped cars and didn't know where to go. I should've never got under him. I knew better than that.

“I know I definitely got into him and I feel terrible about it.”

Local driver Mike Norris of Sarver started the feature in the front row, but finished 10th. Alex Ferree of Saxonburg was 13th.

There were 84 cars in the pits, including 48 WoO Late Models and 36 RUSH Late Models.

A second 25-lap feature was scheduled Friday night at Lernerville. Both 25-lap events pay $6,000 to win. The Firecracker 100, paying $30,000 to the winner, is Saturday night.

Thursday results

(top 10)

WoO Late Model Feature

1. Max Blair, 2. Cade Dillard, 3. Ricky Thornton Jr., 4. Scott Bloomquist, 5. Chase Junghans, 6. Chub Frank, 7. Ashton Winger, 8. Jason Covert, 9. Mason Zeigler, 10. Mike Norris

Heat Winners

Max Blair, Mike Norris, Brandon Sheppard, Scott Bloomquist, Cade Dillard, Chris Madden

Time Trials (top 5)

1. Max Blair 15.125, 2. Mike Norris 15.178, 3. Brandon Sheppard 15.204, 4. Jared Miley 15.237, 5. Ashton Winger 15.244