The season-ending Pittsburgher weekend at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway began last night with an open practice for all divisions. Tonight, the super late models will compete in a 25-lap feature and the crate late models and e-mods will have qualifying heat races and features for tomorrow night's Pittsburgher 30-lap, $1,000-to-win features. The pure stocks, amateur stocks and Young Guns will compete tonight only.

The World of Outlaws Dirt Late Model series will return to PPMS tomorrow night for a $10,000-to-win 50-lap event.

Last year's Pittsburgher was a two-day event in September, but weather forced the final day of racing into October. Shane Clanton from Locust Grove, Ga., won the 100-lap race and $18,000.

Besides the reduction in the number of laps in the feature, the most noticeable impact will be the absence of Red Miley, the likable president of Miley Motor Sports, who greeted fans and racers before each Pittsburgher. Miley, 53, died in May.

World of Outlaws driver Rick Eckert favors the current format. "It's a one-day event now, which is a little nicer for the racer -- and the fans," he said. "You get in there and the fans get to see everything in one night."

While some like the format, Josh Richards of Rocket Chassis fame simply enjoys PPMS.

"I ran the third race of my career there [in 2004]. I just love the place," he said. "Anywhere that's real wide, where you can roll down into the corner, are the tracks I like the best."

Probably the most popular WoO driver in these parts is "Chubzilla," Chub Frank. People relate to Frank and he lives in Bear Lake, Pa., a few hours away.

Frank plans on running the special "Chubzilla" paint scheme he introduced at the World 100 at Eldora Speedway. Frank is looking to improve on his second-place finish at the Red Miley 53.

"In July when we ran there, it was a good racetrack," Frank said. "It was a little choppy, but that made it fast and racy all over. The 'Pittsburgher' will be a good race if the track's like that."

More than just a race

Late model racer Brian Birkhofer is coming from Muscatine, Iowa, to race in the Pittsburgher. He likes the new one-day format for a different reason: He is a Steelers season-ticket holder.

"I share four seats with a friend. We make about four [games] a year," Birkhofer said.

Both schedules couldn't have worked out better.

"I'm coming out there to race, but there is more of me that is looking forward to the [49ers] game Sunday," Birkhofer said.

Asked which WoO driver reminds him most of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, Birkhofer said quickly:

"Chub Frank. Pretty quiet outside of the race car and wide open on the inside."

Growing up in Iowa and watching the Steelers since the early 1970s, Birkhofer said the team reminded him of Iowa: tough and hard working.

"Pittsburgh is a cool town, "and I love the Steelers."