Zoom Zoom, bride and groom!

Speedways are for racing, but have also been a place where many people have met their mates! Last fall John Garvin and Liz Matus were married. They met at the Lernerville Fall-Fest a few years ago

Ironically, Liz’s mom Jackie was a past Lernerville trophy queen and met Liz’s dad Brent at this track also. Garvin was very successful In the Late Models, but the Matus family, including grandfather Jerry, father Brent and brother Brandon all drive Sprints.

“I guess you might say they influenced me to change to the Sprint division,” Garvin said.

It is Garvin’s second year in a sprint car. In February, Garvin went with the Matus family to Speed Weeks in Florida where the World of Outlaws and All Star Sprints compete. He said “it was hard running with those guys; they don’t make mistakes but they make you better.”

Garvin further added, “Consistency is the key, getting more seat time and minimizing my mistakes will help.”

Sprint pilot Brandon Spithaler met Nikita Burke, whose dad Tony is a Late Model driver, at the races. Now the twosome are an item. Tony met his wife Dana at the speedway. Recently at Attica Raceway, Nikita was on a quad motoring through the pits when Danny Smith’s Sprint car hit her quad. Nikita was thrown through the air. She was hospitalized and went through a battery of tests. The results indicated that there weren’t any fractures, but she had a concussion and lacerations on the right side of her body, some of which required stitches. Nikita was bruised and scraped from head to toe.

Combining forces

Charlie Neeley and Bob Lambert have combined forces to field Pro Stock number 27. Behind the wheel of this racer is Brandon Wearing.

Brandon’s dad Bob Wearing, who is the all-time Lernerville win leader, is recuperating from heart surgery.

Making a move

Sadie Siegel has moved from the Stock division to the Sprints. She is the only local female Sprint driver.

On opening night, Siegel wore a Nostalgia sweatshirt that a friend gave her. It was the same shirt her dad wore his first night out in the Modifieds when he started racing as a 16-year-old.

When asked what the biggest difference was changing divisions, she replied, “I can take the Sprint through the corners without using the gas and brake.”

A friend of hers, Nevan O’Donnell, saw her Sprint in the garage and said, “I like that; I want one of those.” So O’Donnell went out, purchased a Sprint, and now is a “rookie “driving No. 331.

New series director

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Models Series has announced that Chris Dolack is the new series director effective May 1.

Previously Dolack served as Vice President of Media and Public Relations with the WoO for 10 years. Living in Charlotte, N.C., he left the organization in 2015 to spend more time with his family and worked at SPEED SPORT News.

Reunion upcoming

The fourth annual “Rappin’ on Racing” Racer’s Reunion will take placeMay 13 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Golden Corral in Robinson Town Center.

Attendees can take a look back at racing history by viewing hundreds of racing photos from the 50’s to the 90’s. This is a chance to stroll down memory lane with many of the great people who have participated in the sport.

Admission is the cost of the meal as you enter. To RSVP, send a $5 check to Speedway Productions, 1451 Main Street, Natrona Heights, PA 15065-1247. In the memo, mark Camp Corral. Last year the money collected totaled $340 and was donated to Camp Corral.

New race promoter

Butler’s Mike Lysakowski has been named the new Jennerstown Speedway Promoter. Lysakowski, a veteran motorsports Marketing/Public Relations consultant and race broadcaster, joined the staff in April.

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle