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Sunday, April 14, 2002

By Chris Dolack, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

What were you doing when you were 16 years old? There was school during the week, but what about the weekends? Movies, going the mall, just hanging out with friends?

Not for Brian Woodhall of Upper Burrell.

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By the time he finished his rookie season behind the wheel of a sprint car, Woodhall was seventh in points at Mercer Raceway Park and 16th at Lernerville Speedway. He also won his first feature July 28 at Mercer.

For his efforts, Woodhall was named the Western Pennsylvania Rookie of the Year.

"It was a huge honor," Woodhall said. "There were so many people who could have got that award. We weren't really out for that last year, we were just out for some seat time to get used to the car and ended up doing a lot better than expected."

Friday night at Lernerville, Woodhall, now 17 and a junior at Burrell High School, began his sophomore season with a 14th-place finish in the feature.

One reason for his success this early in his career has been the guidance of veteran drivers, especially defending Lernerville sprint champion Jimmy Hawley.

"He talks to us during the week on setups, getting into the corner, using the brakes ... whatever you need, he'll tell you," Woodhall said. "He's probably been the biggest help out of everybody here. You can call him at 3 in the morning when you're putting the car together and he'll help us. It's unexplainable how much he's helped us."

Hawley is beginning anew himself. He left the CIII car last month and is filling in for injured Eric Smith before driving a Billy Shearer-owned car in some of the bigger races around the region this summer. He went out of the feature with a tire problem.

"Half of it almost sees myself in him 25 years ago," Hawley, 36, said of Woodhall. "That's something I've always dreamt of, and any guy my age who started late or didn't have the funds to do it with always dreams about.

"The kid's got enormous talent. He's got the equipment underneath him, and I think the kid will go far. I'll try to help him out anyway I can."

Lynch closes on record

In the sprint feature at Lernerville Speedway Friday night, Ed Lynch Jr. edged closer to the track record for victories in his class. After cruising around the half-mile oval behind Kevin Schaeffer and Ralph Spithaler, Lynch shot past both and into the lead on lap 17 and held on for the victory, his 50th in a sprint car at Lernerville. He trails Johnny Beaber by five.

"It really is one of my goals this year," Lynch said of breaking the record. "I know it'll be tough."

Other winners on Lernerville's opening night included Dick Barton in late models and Kevin Bolland in modifieds. The pure stock feature was canceled when it began to rain shortly after midnight.

Wiltrout wins at Motordrome

Gary Wiltrout won his first late model feature at Motordrome Speedway Friday night, taking the lead on lap 17 and holding off Doug Bacchiochi, who won his first late model race in the finale last season at the Smithton oval. Defending late model champion Mark Cottone finished sixth.

Mark Bakalon won the modified race, Marion Reno Jr. won the truck feature, and Adam Kostelnik captured the street stock event.

Sharon opener delayed

The Blaneys have been busy during the winter improving Sharon Speedway, but inclement weather the past few weeks has forced them to delay opening night to April 27. Among the development at the 3/8-mile dirt track is a new scoreboard above the electronic message board over the billboard wall in turns three and four.

"We'd rather be completely ready for opening day than to have the drivers and race fans contend with the mud that we've been dealing with here for weeks," Dale Blaney said.

"We just want it to be the best it can be when we open those gates for the first time."

Chris Dolack can be reached at cdolack@post-gazette.com.