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Sunday, June 15, 2003

By Chris Dolack, Special to the Post-Gazette

Whether it's in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series or in the pure stock division at Lernerville Speedway, rivalries keep fans paying attention on race nights, and online message boards stay active all week. Some of these battles are friendly, but with small purses and high costs most are fierce.

With that in mind, an informal survey in the pits across the region revealed which are the best rivalries in recent years, although there were several votes for the Herb Scott vs. Joe Mihalic clashes at razed Heidelberg Speedway.

In sprint cars, there is plenty of respect between Ed Lynch Jr. and Jimmy Hawley, but as two of the top drivers in the region, the race to the checkered is a fight. Unfortunately, it was never better than when Hawley was behind the wheel of the CIII car.

In dirt late models, John Flinner has won the past two titles at Lernerville. A few years ago, Lynn Geisler might have been considered Flinner's top foe, but Flinner lately has stirred the ire of most drivers in the pits, and any number of them are looking to knock him off each week.

On asphalt, the late model division has had plenty of drivers banging heads -- and sheet metal -- in recent years. While many might consider the races with Richard Mitchell and Mark Cottone as intense, the real battles were those between Cottone and Jeff Dunmyer. They were as good off the track as on it.

The big-block modified division is usually one of the more competitive classes in Western Pennsylvania, but with Kevin Bolland finding quite a bit of success in the past couple of seasons, the races against perennial front-runner Brian Swartzlander have become more fun to watch.

In the e-mods, Larry Kugel dominated at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway but managed to find a rival in Wayne Tessean. With Kugel banished, Tessean was the 2002 champion and sits second in points this year.

The top pure stock battle on dirt continues to evolve between Butch Lambert and Joe Kelley. Lambert won the 2002 championship, which ended Kelley's championship streak at four.

Lights, camera, action

The television cameras that have been roaming through the pits recently at local racetracks are there for a reason. Regional tracks are about to get a boost in awareness with programming on Fox Sports Net and WNPA-TV (UPN) Channel 19.

Although "We're Going Racing" will be taped in front of an audience on Tuesday nights, the half-hour show will air at 9:30 a.m. Sundays on Fox Sports Net. Lernerville Speedway track announcer and KDKA-AM personality Ed Schaefer and sprint car racer Deana Barbara will serve as hosts of the show, with Don Gamble lending pit reports and discussion. Beginning 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, the show, produced by RaceVision.TV, will be taped at The Rhythm House Cafe in Bridgeville.

In addition, "Chase to the Checkered" on UPN already is airing at 8:30 a.m. Saturdays. Produced by Romesburg Media of Somerset, "Chase to the Checkered" showcases racing action at Jennerstown Speedway.

Gridiron partner

In a unique alliance for a local racetrack, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, has become a marketing partner with Mercer Raceway Park for the rest of this season. Each facility will help promote the other. Beginning last night and including July 19 and Aug. 16, fans can win admission tickets to the Hall of Fame or Mercer Raceway Park.

"This says a lot about Mercer Raceway Park that a first-class, worldly known facility such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame would want to get involved with Mercer Raceway Park," owner Vicki Emig said. "We're really looking forward to this cross-promotional venture that will give attendees at each of our facilities chances to win ticket giveaways."

Mercer Raceway Park, a Saturday night dirt track that features sprints and modifieds, is just off Route 19 on Fairground Road in Mercer, Pa.

Chris Dolack is the senior writer for Auto Racing Digest magazine. He can be contacted at cdolack@chrisdolack.com.