Steve Mellon, Post-Gazette Sammy Swindell of Cordova, TN, competes in a World of Outlaws race at Lernerville Speeedway in the summer of 2000. Click photo for larger image.

Lernerville Speedway is the premier dirt racing facility in the region.

After being family owned and operated for 37 years, the track was sold Sunday to DIRT Motorsports, Inc., a publicly held company based in Oklahoma that recently changed its name from Boundless Motor Sports Racing, Inc.

DIRT Motorsports completed deals to purchase the World of Outlaws Sprint Series and the DIRT Big Block Modified Series earlier this year. It also created the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and has several racing programs broadcast on The Outdoor Channel and the Internet.

Lernerville Speedway is the only facility in the country that runs a weekly program featuring top-level sprints, late models and big-block modifieds, making it a perfect fit for DIRT. The World of Outlaws Sprint Series, which features drivers such as Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski, has competed at the 0.4-mile track in Sarver since 1979.

Bobby Hartslief, DIRT's chief operating officer, cited stock exchange rules for why he was unable to reveal specifics of the sale last night, but said DIRT Motorsports does not have a record of making careless changes with its properties.

"Let's look at the history of DIRT Motorsports and it's acquisitions. Let's look at the track record," said Hartslief, who legally will be allowed to reveal more about the sale today. "We've been involved now for a year and we don't have a habit of changing. We don't go into things and just change things unless there's a very good reason to do so. If you look at the [World of Outlaws] sprint car schedule and the racing, we haven't gone in just to make changes for the sake of making changes.

Gabor Degre, Post-Gazette Cars on display at Lernerville Spedway in 2001. Click photo for larger image.

"We're trying to bring stability to the sport, not instability."

After longtime track owner Don Martin died in 1993, Helen Martin, his wife who turns 80 this month, and Patty Martin Roenigk, his daughter, took over ownership. The papers to complete the deal were signed before the World of Outlaws Sprint Series banquet Sunday in Las Vegas. The sale was announced during the festivities, stunning many associated with the speedway.

Two of those who were most surprised were the track's 2004 co-directors, Barbara Bauman Bartley, the daughter of track co-founder Earl Bauman, and Tom Roenigk, who has been track manager for the past 11 years.

"We're kind of stunned," Bartley said. "I really don't know what to say." Roenigk, who has worked at the facility for 22 years, was hoping to build on a highly successful season as he and Bartley intended to lease the speedway for 2005.

"We knew something was up, but that was about it," Roenigk said. "I saw it on the Internet, that's how I found out about it."

The two still hope to run a weekly program next season, but that decision is up to Hartslief and DIRT officials.

"If we can, if that's a workable situation," Bartley said about running a weekly program. "That's not a problem. We just have to adjust."

Lynn Geisler, one of the top late model drivers in Western Pennsylvania who earned his 100th career victory in July at Lernerville, believed a deal was only a matter of time after ownership decided to lease the facility last season.

"I kind of figured it was coming," Geisler said. "Boundless has been mentioned numerous times. With the place having been leased last year, I figured they would entertain offers a whole lot more actively than they had in the past.

"I think [DIRT] is looking to make this be their showcase. They can run all three series there, and I think that's a big benefit to the fan. All three of their venues can compete there and compete with local cars and exposure and all of that. It's not like moving into an area where the cars and competitors have never been before."

One of the biggest fears with the purchase of the track is that it will become a facility for only special events, eliminating what has become one of the top weekly programs in the country.

"If they don't have that weekly show, that could kill a lot of the community deal over there," said John Flinner, a four-time late model champion who said he is aiming at the Lernerville and PPMS titles in 2005. "There are a lot of the local people who depend on Lernerville Speedway."

Geisler believes DIRT needs to keep Lernerville active on a weekly basis for not only the local racer, but also to continue improving as a sanctioning body.

"Their weekly show is second to none," he said. "I'm sure there are some other places that do some weekly stuff, but in the tri-state area there isn't anybody that does a better job than Lernerville. I just can't imagine them doing away with their weekly stuff. Somehow they're going to look to retain that because it's a strong venue and they can use their weekly stuff to support their big shows when they do them. It's the perfect fit for what they want to do. And they'll need someone to run the place. They need the weekly shows to practice for the big shows. They're no different than the competitor."

Although Hartslief was unable last night to comment directly on the future plans, he indicated there would be plenty of racing at Lernerville next season.

"It's a great track," he said. "It really is a great track. If you have a facility, you'll use it."

Lernerville was built in 1967 on the site of an amusement park. Don Martin owned a trucking company and provided financial support to Earl Bauman, Dale Hafer and Bucky Fleming to have the facility created. The track was host to two events in 1967 before fully opening in 1968. After early ticket sales were unsuccessful, Martin bought out Hafer and Fleming. In 1981, Martin purchased Bauman's interests to become the sole owner of the track, which has seating for nearly 12,000. After his death in 1993, the facility remained in the Martin family until Sunday.