John Flinner is a winner, a champion and, sometimes, a little hot under his helmet. He is one of the most successful racers and colorful characters competing in Western Pennsylvania, and he certainly is not afraid to rub fenders or speak his mind. For all of that, he has developed a large following among dirt late model fans, some who offer cheers and others who rain down jeers.

But no matter what you think of Flinner as a driver or as a person, know this one thing about him: More than anything, he wants to win the Pittsburgher.

You hear it when he talks. You see a glint in his eyes when the subject is raised. You can almost feel his heartache as he describes how time and again he came so close to winning Western Pennsylvania's most prestigious annual dirt late model race that concludes the season at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.

When Flinner speaks of his Pittsburgher debut in 1993, when he followed Scott Bloomquist through the field only to blow a motor as he was trying to figure out how to make a pass for the lead, you can't help but feel for the guy.

When he speaks of the 2003 event, when he wound up second to Matt Urban after mounting a furious charge alongside Chub Frank in the closing laps, you can tell by his sly smile that all the talk about him retiring is just that -- talk.

Flinner, who won his fourth consecutive late model championship this season at Lernerville Speedway, isn't climbing out of his car for good. No, Flinner is the most determined he has been to win this event, especially if it means beating Bloomquist and the rest of the drivers in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, which is sanctioning the Pittsburgher weekend.

A break from tradition this year will give Flinner and the other local racers, including PPMS champion Dave Wade, two chances to beat the Outlaws, although reaction to the new format is mixed. Rather than a 100-lap feature run during daylight, this weekend will feature a 40-lap race tomorrow night worth $5,000 to the winner and a 60-lap race Saturday night worth $12,000 to the winner. Time trials at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow and 5:30 p.m. Saturday will kick off both nights of racing, and there will be a practice from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. today.

"I don't like that. It's dumb," said Flinner, of Zelienople. "They're like, 'You can win $17,000, Flinner.' I'm like, 'I got to make the shows, too.' That's two separate shows, and with the caliber of cars ... I'm not saying I wouldn't be capable, but I could see a Bloomer or a Chub doing it. It would hard to see me do both nights, but I know it could be done."

Despite the hundreds of victories Lynn Geisler has accumulated in his career, he hasn't been to victory lane in a Pittsburgher, either. Like Flinner, Geisler was sorry to see the long format give way to two separate events.

"I'm not 100 percent sold on it," said Geisler, a six-time late model champion at PPMS. "I guess I'm an old guy, I still like running 100 laps. Those were always the big races at the end of the year. We'll see how it turns out. It might be good for the fans."

For Steve Baker, who finished third in points at PPMS, the new format, especially with features under the lights on what could be a tacky half-mile track, is better than the 100-lap races of the past.

"You're going to see a lot better race than we've ever had here, being that it's at night," Baker said. "If the track is like that when Scott Bloomquist and [Outlaws star] Dale McDowell get here, they'll school everybody on some fine racing. Those guys are the best there is and we're just hoping to compete."

But simply competing isn't enough anymore for Flinner. Despite the front he often displays, Flinner was thrilled to win his fourth championship this season at Lernerville. But he admitted that had he beaten the Outlaws when they raced in August at the Sarver oval, a race he could have won had his car not failed, he would have parked it for the season, saying that would have been his championship.

Instead, he returns to the Pittsburgher once again, still hoping to catch the elusive Bloomquist.

"It's fun racing with that dude," Flinner said. "You learn a lot racing with him. You don't see him out there bulldozing and shoving guys. If that line don't work, the next lap he's down on this line. Back in 1993 I didn't know how to pass him and then I blew the motor up. That's like beating an icon like Dale Earnhardt. I'd be happy to finish second to the dude."

But an appearance in victory lane would be the highlight of his career.