Beaver County native Kevin Bolland was preparing for the 2010 DIRTcar Modified season when the call came to join the likes of Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, Joe Namath and childhood friend Terry Francona in the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame.

"I was surprised when I got a phone call on a Sunday night about three months ago," Bolland said. "It was quite a surprise. I wasn't ready. I didn't even know that I was one of the nominees."

Bolland, 50, of New Brighton will become the first auto racing driver to be inducted Sunday into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame.

After a brief professional career racing motorcycles, Bolland turned to the dirt tracks, driving a family owned Big Block Modified in 1982 with good results. In his first year, Bolland won seven features at Lernerville and Sharon Speedways along with a track championship at Mercer Raceway Park.

Since that breakout year, Bolland has collected eight track titles, a few regional championships and 107 feature wins. His biggest win came in 2003 at the Super DIRTcar Series event at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

Bolland plans to continue competing with the Modified locally and with the Super DIRTcar Series when the opportunity presents itself.

Ironically, Kevin isn't the first member of the Bolland family utilizing wheels to be inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame. Jan Bolland-Tanner, Kevin's sister, was inducted in 2003 after a long road-racing cycling career representing the United States Cycling Team, winning gold and bronze medals at the World and Pan-Am Games.

Motordrome Speedway in Smithton will attempt to kick off the season again tonight after losing last Friday to inclement weather. ... Lerner-ville Speedway will try again to get its second night of Fab-Four racing in tonight along with Ladies Night. All females are admitted free until 7 p.m. to the grandstands. ... Pittsburgh Raceway Park in New Alexandria will race Saturday and Sunday, with the Diesel classes getting their day on Saturday. The Motocross track at Pittsburgh Raceway Park is scheduled to open April 24. ... Wexford's Mike Pegher Jr., came from 17th starting position to pick up his second win in a row last Saturday at Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway in the FASTRAK Late Models. Carl McKinney of Mars registered his first victory at Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway in the UMP Modified feature. Mike Johnson of Imperial won in the Late Models for the first time since 2006 at Pa. Motor Speedway, which will be in action with seven divisions at 7 p.m. Saturday. ... The board of directors of the Modified Tour has reinstated Kevin Bolland for the tour in 2010.

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