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Local Auto Racing: Fall fest comes to Lernerville
Friday, September 12, 2008

The Super DIRTcar Series visits Lernerville Speedway at 7:30 p.m. today for the North-South 100, a $6,000-to-win 100-lap feature for the Big Block Modifieds.

As part of the two-day Autumn-Motive Fest, the North-South 100 will feature the best modified drivers in the country. Unlike sprint cars and late models, the current breed of modifieds is indigenous to the Northeast.

Billy Decker has a 150-point lead over Dale Planck going into tonight's action. Decker won the last time the series ran a 100-lap feature at the Sarver oval.

Lernerville's own modified contingent is led by Brian Swartzlander with six wins. Other top runners include Kevin Bolland, Jeremiah Shingledecker and Del Rougeux Jr.

Autumn-Motive Fest continues tomorrow night with Street Stock Pandemonium, a 30-lap, $2,000-to-win race for the UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks. Also on tomorrow's schedule is a 100-lap Enduro race with $1,000 going to the winner.

Garlits and PID Reunion

Pittsburgh Raceway Park will be host tomorrow to the second Nostalgia Day in New Alexandria. "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, holder of 17 world championships in Top Fuel, will sign autographs. On display will be Garlits' famed Swamp Rat 12-B, which debuted in 1968 and recently was fitted with a new 392 cubic inch crate Hemi engine.

Nostalgia Day is open to 1980 model year and older machines featured in a car cruise, a car show and 8-mile racing. The Great Lakes Nostalgia Funny Cars also will be on hand along with the Kings of the Sport, two nostalgia top-fuel dragsters.

The Pittsburgh International Dragway Reunion will run in conjunction with the event. Former PID track announcer Jim Senkewitz will attend.

Lugnuts

Dan Shetler, the Sharon Speedway 2008 Sprint Car Champion, was released this week by owners Tom and Fran Chiapelli. Shetler drove the No. 98 to seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 12 point races. Shetler took over the point lead from Bob Felmlee after Felmlee was injured when his car caught fire at Lernerville. ... For the second year in a row, Jared Miley of South Park has captured the Late Model Championship at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Miley has four wins this season at the Monster Half-Mile near Imperial. In the Unified Force Race Championship points battle, Miley is tied with back-to-back Lernerville Late Model Champion Alex Ferree going into to the Pittsburgher 100 weekend, September 18-20 at PPMS. ... Mercer Raceway Park will have the 20th Western Pa. Sprint Car Championship at 7 p.m. tomorrow. The 30-lap $2,000-to-win feature for the sprint cars highlights a season of competitive action.

DJ Johnson can be reached at DJ1360rpm@aol.com.
First published on September 12, 2008 at 12:00 am