Auto racing in Western Pennsylvania got under way on schedule but was stopped Easter weekend by weather. That isn't unusual for early April.

Lernerville Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park opened at the end of March as scheduled. Lernerville, which is in Sarver, Butler County, raised the curtain on its 40th season March 30 in unseasonably warm weather in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Mercer Raceway Park ushered in its 56th season with the Chiller Thriller minus the chill the next evening.

Lernerville tries again tonight for its second race night of 2007, and Motordrome Speedway in Smithton has its season opener planned for a 7:30 p.m. start.

Sharon Speedway has a test and tune session from 1:30-4 p.m. tomorrow, and PPMS has its opener scheduled for 7 p.m. Mercer Raceway Park returns to action at 6:15 p.m. with all divisions in action.

Lights, camera and action

The track lights tonight at Lernerville will look brighter thanks to the upgraded Musco lighting installed in time for Tuesday's Showdown in Sarvertown 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series event.

Gary Risch Jr., the speedway's general manager, says it is part of a program of improvements scheduled at the speedway.

"Lernerville has always been one of the top tracks around here as far as lighting goes," Risch said. "We are one of the top dirt tracks in Pennsylvania with our lighting as it is now. What this will do is make us one of the top dirt tracks in the country."

Tuesday's race will be taped for broadcast at 12:30 p.m. May 27 on Speed Channel.

360 OTC World of Outlaws

The World of Outlaws has a new sponsor for 2007 -- 360 OTC, which is a pain reliever that has signed on as the primary sponsor for the late models and an associate sponsor for the sprint cars.

There will be many new faces in the Late Model Series when it rolls into Lernerville for a $10,000-to-win 50-lap event Tuesday. The Showdown at Sarvertown will serve as a test session for the inaugural Firecracker 100 June 29-30. The first two-day late model event at Lernerville will be the highest-paying event for the division in Western Pennsylvania with the winner collecting $30,000 from a purse of more than $140,000.

Late model drivers from other major series have contacted the track, according to Risch, about racing in the event. Among the interested drivers are Billy Moyer, who finished fourth with the World of Outlaws last year and is leading the Lucas Oil Series this season; Donnie Moran, who won the Eldora Million in 2001; Shannon Babb, a previous Summer Nationals winner; and Earl Pearson Jr., the World 100 champion.

Lernerville winner Josh Richards, Chris Madden, Moyer and Person Jr. have WoO wins in 2007.

Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, a die-hard Steelers fan, will pilot a car from Punxsutawney owned by Daugherty Motorsports.

"I'd put Lernerville in a list of top five tracks in the country," said Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga. "It's one of the few tracks where it doesn't matter where you start. Even if something happens, you can start dead last and still win the race."

"I wish there were more Outlaw shows there." said Chub Frank, a tour regular from Bear Lake.

An autograph session starts at 5 p.m., time trials begin at 7:15 and racing at 8.

Springfest at Challenger

Late model fans can take advantage of the high car counts in the area Sunday at Challenger Raceway in Jackson, near Indiana, for a 50-lap, $5,000-to-win event.

2006 WoO Late Model champion Tim McCreadie won Springfest last year after starting 11th. Challenger doesn't use time trials for this event which requires the drivers to take chances and provides plenty of excitement.

Gates open at 2 p.m. with racing at 4:30.