Rick Rarer Photo
Sarver, PA (May 29, 2025) One of the most special events of the Fab4 Racing season takes place Friday night as Western PA Sprint Speedweek takes center stage at Lernerville Speedway. The Peoples Natural Gas Sprint Cars will be taking on some of the best pilots in the area and perhaps beyond as the Jean Lynch Classic rolls onto The Action Track and they'll also be joined by the Glassmere Fuel Service Late Models, Diehl Automotive Big Block Modifieds and the Millerstown Pic-A-Part Pro Stocks, making for an action packed Friday night of racing action! Thus far, the Peoples Sprint Cars have seen three different drivers make their way to Terry Bowser Excavating Victory Lane with The Steel City Outlaw aka Tim Shaffer, national touring driver Parker-Price Miller and regional heavy hitter Brandon Spithaler all posting wins thus far in 2025.
However, the Jean Lynch Classic, Friday night's portion of Western PA Sprint Speedweek tends to bring out any number of drivers from all over to compete. Drivers such as central Pennsylvania's Mark Smith, Ryan Smith and Dylan Norris as well as Canadian pilot Jordan Poirer, Ohio's Dave Blaney and Zane Devauilt plus others have been in the mix for wins and podium spots over the years since the Speedweek's reboot in 2021. At Lernerville, Ryan Smith took the 2021 victory while Flick has managed to make it three straight wins in the annual appearances from 2022 to 2024. The series brings many unique visitors as well as provides for plenty of lucrative contingency awards to add some spice to the area roster of cars. There will be $4,000-to-win on the line for the Peoples Natural Gas Sprint Car feature winner plus all the bragging rights, and a foot up in the week-long standings which are rewarded with a point fund for the top 10 cars throughout the week.
The Glassmere Fuel Service Late Models return for just their second appearance of the season following a week off last Friday night and having last competed on Friday, May 9. And what a night it was. Six time track champion Alex Ferree and Logan Zarin seemed to be locked into a duel for the feature win until untimely contact between Ferree and Michael Norris derailed Ferree's hopes. Zarin and Norris battled to the final set of turns but locked into each other with hard contact coming out of turn four turned out to take away their chances as former two-time champion Ken Schaltenbrand snuck by on the inside to pass both Zarin and Norris to collect the Opening Night victory. Schaltenbrand brings a two point lead into Friday night ahead of Zarin and a five point advantage over Jared Miley who is currently situated third in the standings.
The Diehl Automotive Big Block Modifieds have also completed three feature events in 2025 with Canadian sensation Mat Williamson taking two of the first three wins and Rex King Jr. taking the Opening Night win. King brings just a single point lead into Friday night over 2024 champion Garrett Krummert as the two drivers look to continue their nip and tuck battle to Championship Night in August. Veteran pilot Dave Murdick finds himself currently third, just three points off the lead in Fab4 racing action. Meanwhile, the Millerstown Pic-A-Part Pro Stocks have seen two features thus far with invader Curt J. Bish and Tyler Schneider each taking checkered flags this season. With defending champion Christian Schneider seemingly out of the mix for Pro Stock title contention, the door is wide open to crown perhaps another new champion in 2025. Cody Koteles brings a seven point lead with him with Tyler Schneider and Chris Schneider both within striking distance heading into action Friday night.
Pits will open at 4 PM on Friday with grandstands opening at 5 PM and racing scheduled to start at 7:30 PM. General admission will be $25 while children 10 and under will be admitted free as always. Friday night's racing action will also be available LIVE on our streaming network at Dirt.TV. Monthly subscriptions which allow access to a month's worth of Lernerville Speedway racing events and much more is just $24.99 and there's great savings to be had with our annual subscription ($149.99) which includes virtually all racing at Lernerville plus all other content and archive access. We look forward to seeing you Friday night
- Gary Heeman on May 30, 2025
- Article Date: 5/30/2025