Ed Lynch Jr. picked up his sixth win of the year Friday at Lernerville while shaking down a new car in preparation for the 47th Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa.

Lynch kept his slim four-point lead over Kevin Schaeffer while getting his primary car ready for the richest sprint car race in the world.

"We're trying to shake down our Knoxville car because you only get two green flag laps on fast laps and then you time trail so everything has to be right when you hit the track," Lynch said. "We're trying to make everything as right as we can."

For Lynch, missing the points that go with this week's racing at Lernerville is the price he pays for going after sprint car racing's Holy Grail which are the Nationals.

"It's going to rain out on Friday [at Lernerville]," Lynch said with a laugh.

"Of course, I am going to be biased on this, but there's only one Knoxville and only one Nationals."

Lynch has paid that price before. Last year, he left for Knoxville with the points lead. Schaeffer won the race Lynch missed, took the lead and then held off Lynch the two remaining races to claim his first Lernerville track championship. Lynch has four.

"We're going to race the Knoxville Nationals, doesn't matter if they do double points that night [at Lernerville]. Doesn't matter," Lynch said.

This week it's about the Knoxville Nationals, a race Lynch hasn't won. But again, the rest doesn't matter.

The Nationals can be seen at 9 p.m. tomorrow on Speed Channel.

Nextel Cup drivers here

The NASCAR Duel at Sharon Speedway featuring Nextel Cup drivers Tony Stewart, Clint Boyer, Kevin Harvick and Sharon Speedway co-owner Dave Blaney is Tuesday.

The drivers will compete in e-mods against local racers in a $1,000 to-win feature.

The card also includes a $5,000 to-win, 50-lap event for the sprint cars. Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Stewart and Kenny Schrader bring their own dirt late models to Lernerville to compete in a $3,000 to-win feature against some of the best late model drivers in the tri-state area.

World of Outlaws late model driver Josh Richards acts as Stewart's crew chief on the NASCAR star's Rocket Monte Carlo late model.

Don't think for a minute that Stewart and Schrader aren't serious about racing on the dirt.

At a recent WoO Late Model Series event at Eldora Speedway, Stewart made a move on race leader Chub Frank that didn't work. Stewart's bold move slowed Frank but Stewart wound up putting himself out of the event.

Alex Ferree leads the points at Lernerville but hopes to talk his father, Ed Ferree -- an accomplished competitor -- into racing the car against Stewart, Schrader and the other Lernerville regulars.

"If dad doesn't want to, I guess I'll get in the car. It should be fun," Alex Ferree said.

"Tony [Stewart] can wheel anything he wants."

The younger Ferree believes that Stewart is like any other driver.

"He puts on his underwear like I do, hopefully," Ferree said. "If not there's something wrong.

Lugnuts

Tonight at Motordrome Speedway it is the NAPA 100 for the Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Racing Alliance (MAARA) Late Models. Will Thomas of Sharpsville, Pa., leads Rick Miller by five points in the MAARA title chase. Motordrome's other divisions will race feature events only at 7:30 p.m. ... At Lernerville, it's Nostalgia Night with more than 40 former drivers's from past years invited to sign autographs and meet fans. ... Tomorrow night at PPMS, the late models compete in the Garin Memorial named after former promoters Nick and Emma Garin. ... Mercer Raceway Park takes the wings off the sprint cars tomorrow night along with $10 family night and bike races. ... Tri-City Speedway is back in action Sunday night. ... Supercharged Outlaws, the 200 mph door slammers, invade Pittsburgh Raceway Park in New Alexandria at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.