Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway is usually the land of late models, but all that changes May 23, when the BRP Modified Tour makes its first appearance at DIRT's Monster Half Mile.

The Big Block Modifieds race weekly at Lernerville and Tri-City Speedway, along with splitting time with the sprint cars at Sharon Speedway, but it has been 19 years since the Big Blocks have raced around the fast five-eights of a mile dirt track near Imperial.

Replacing the Sportsman or Semi-Dirt Late Models in June 1987, the modifieds remained on the schedule through '88.

Miley Motorsports took over the track after that season and the Big Blocks would return for one race May 5, 1990, which was won by Scott Gurdack.

Bob Wearing Sr. won 13 of the 31Big Block Modified races at PPMS since 1987.

History will be made July 3 at the asphalt oval in Smithton when the MSA Supermodifieds become the first open wheel cars to compete at Motordrome Speedway.

While Motordrome has seen many fast cars, with more than 800 horsepower, a tall wing and an offset motor, the north-central Ohio based series should easily establish a track record on the pavement.

The 30-lap event will feature three divisions along with fireworks.

Kittanning's Rod George is off a great start in 2009, winning two of the first three Sprint Car features of the season.

Besting the field of 31 Sprint Cars, George picked up his 20th career win at Mercer Raceway Park, with his first win there coming on Sept. 7, 2002.

Mercer will be in action at 7 p.m. tomorrow with Economic Stimulus Night.

Fans with open unemployment claims will be admitted free. Claims and valid identification are required.

After winning the All-Star Late Model feature at Lernerville, Boom Briggs picked up his second All-Star win at K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio. David Scott, who competed most recently in the Dirt Late Models, won the caution filled Crate Late Model feature at Lernerville over Mike Pegher. ... PPMS opened Saturday, with Tommy Beck picking up his first career Dirt Late Model win at PPMS. Other winners were Kyle Lukon, Andre Layfield, Nick Kocuba, Gary Koteles and Ricky Stiegerwald. ... Motordrome Speedway opened the 2009 NASCAR season, with former Super Late Model champion Bobby Henry capturing the 50-lap event. Defending Modified champion Adam Kostelnik was victorious along with Dink Colarusso, Denny Keller and Matt Sever. ... Dog Hollow Speedway in North Cambria has its season opener at 7:30 p.m. today. ... Diesel Dawgs and Bob Motz's Jet Semi Truck compete on Pittsburgh Raceway Park's quarter-mile drag strip in New Alexandria at noon tomorrow.