Western Pennsylvania is unique in the racing world because of the competitive variety of its racing divisions, especially on dirt tracks.

Ohio is known for sprint cars, New York is home to modified racing, and late models are king in states just south of the Mason-Dixon line. Western Pennsylvania -- and Lernerville Speedway, in particular -- serves as a sort of racing melting pot where all three classes have their places.

Each year it seems as if one division draws more interest from fans than the others. This year, the late models are in the spotlight because of tight racing, a new series and the attention-grabbing personalities. There have been several touring circuits for late models, but when Boundless Motorsports created the World of Outlaws Late Model Series earlier this year and signed 12 of the top drivers in the country, late-model racing in general seemed to gain respect.

"They've really picked up a whole lot, and the cars are really drivable and racy, so you're seeing a lot more side-by-side racing," said Ed Lynch Jr., the region's top sprint car racer. "I think that's why you're seeing it jump ahead of modifieds. It has a big following, but I feel that it's a totally different group of people. If you go out East, they have a late-model race that draws a bigger crowd than sprints. Here, it seems like it could be either way."

Through no fault of his own, Lynch's dominance in the sprint class could be one of the reasons for the rising interest in late models. There have been 11 regular sprint features at Lernerville this season, not including two World of Outlaws Sprint Series shows and an All Star Circuit of Champions race. Lynch has won seven times, Chad Hill twice, and Kevin Schaeffer and Rod George each have a victory. Lynch also won the All Star event.

In contrast, there have been 10 regular late-model features, not including Outlaws Late Model and Mid-Atlantic Championship Series events, with seven different winners. No single driver has won more than three times.

"I think everybody's seen the late models are putting on some real good shows, but for me the sprints are the only thing there is," said George, a former sprint champion at Lernerville who has one victory this year. "I do watch the late model races, too."

John Flinner, a three-time defending late model champion at Lernerville, believes one of the reasons for the increased popularity of his division is higher car counts than those at sprint shows.

"You pay us $500, we'll travel 10 hours to get there," said Flinner, who has two victories this year at Lernerville and is leading the standings with only four more nights of points racing left this season. "The late models just attract more guys."

That attraction is beginning to spread out of Western Pennsylvania and into regions that have been strongholds for other types of racing.

"You'd be surprised in a lot of places. It's starting to get that way, especially with that Outlaw deal," said Chub Frank, one of the Outlaws' regulars who won twice this season at Lernerville. "We've been traveling all over the country and the crowds have been awesome, even up in New York in modified country."

Thunder in the 'Burgh

Drag racing moves onto the North Shore this weekend with "Thunder in the Burgh" coordinated by Pittsburgh Raceway Park officials on a 330-foot section of General Robinson Blvd. starting at Heinz Field. The event will feature heads-up racing open to street bikes, drag bikes, street cars and modified cars with full timing, Christmas tree and time slips. Gates will open at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday with racing from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

Lugnuts

Apollo native Ryan Hemphill will be aiming for his sixth ARCA victory Saturday at Pocono Raceway. ... Cranberry native Travis Geisler will race in the NASCAR Busch Series event Saturday at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado. ... Lernerville, Motordrome and Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway will have regular shows on their normal nights. ... The Winged Sprints on Asphalt circuit will race Saturday at Jennerstown Speedway in addition to two 50-lap features for super late models.