Run-Down on the Show-down in Sarvertown - By:Geoff Kinder

Posted Jody Shannon on April 17th, 2008 | Filed under Articles

The weather finally co-operated and Lernerville Speedway was set for their long awaited first race of the season. The sun was shining all day long. Despite some cold winds later in the evening, Mother Nature provided a perfect scene for some late model racing. Tuesday’s race was not only opening night at the Sarver, Pa track, but it also marked the first PA WoO race of the year. The pits were packed with all the big-rigs, the touring ten, and the local hot shoes.

In time trials it was Francis setting fast time by a tenth of a second over Alan Dillinger driving the #5 of Lernerville regular Mike Blose. Rounding out the top-ten was the young talent on the rise and former Eriez champ, Mike Knight who also competed with the Outlaws in February at Volusia Speedway Park.

The heats were packed full of action and it was obvious right from the start. Mr. Smooth, Billy Moyer made a last lap pass over the Kentucky Colonel to win the first heat also making the show the easy way were the 29 of Darrel Lannigan and the 3s of Brian Shirley. Heat two saw Dillinger on the pole only to have the position taken over by Matt Lux on the third lap. Heat two also saw Joe Isabel on his roof after flipping coming into turn three. There was no looking back for Lux who held 1^st over Outlaw regulars like Rick Eckert and Chub Frank. Shannon Babb and Shane Clanton battled it out in the third heat with the win going to Clanton. Doug Horton squeezed in the second spot over Tim Fuller and Babb. In the fourth and final heat Vic Coffey, driving the 39 of teammate Tim McCredie, fought it out with Kid Rocket who settled for second and a redraw spot. The E1 of Mike Balzano and 55 of Jeep Van Wormer also made the show through the fourth heat.

The first B-Main was action packed and you could tell these guys wanted in the Showdown. Cat-daddy, Clint Smith started on the pole and held it until a late race charge from the Wild-Child, Dave Hess Jr who passed him for the lead with three laps to go. After a caution it was still Hess out front, Cat-daddy in second and a fierce battle that had been going on all race between the 9k of Mike Knight and the A-train, Alex Ferree. Knight got the final transfer spot which suited Ferree since he received the track provisional and made the show anyway. The second B-Main went to John Blankenship in the Bloomquist Chassis #23 with Davey Johnson and Billy Decker close by in 2^nd and 3^rd.

After the redraw it was Shane Clanton and Vic Coffey in the front row with Moyer and Francis making up the second row. Once the green flag flew it didn’t take long for Francis to work his way to the front row to challenge Clanton for the lead. At the first caution it was Clanton leading Francis and Moyer, Doug Horton and Scrub rounding out the top 5. The field would go green for another 20 laps as Mr. Smooth put his #21 out front by a nose piece over Clanton, who kept the heat on the whole race. Chub Frank let his presence be known as he powered from tenth up to fourth in a dominating fashion. His charge was cut short by a caution for Tim Fuller who caught the back of Hess Jr. after Alex Ferree slowed nearly to a stop on the back stretch. The night wasn’t over for Hess who after going over the hill charged his way from last back to 13^th and held it until the checkered. Up front it was still Moyer as Clanton couldn’t find it in his machine to get around the 21. Chubzilla finished in third, and Francis and Eckert rounded out the top five.

Lernerville Speedway is appropriately tagged the action track and the Outlaws brought the action for the rare Tuesday night show billed the Showdown in Sarvertown. The boys came out with guns blazin and Moyer was the last outlaw left standing after gunnin’ through the field to the $10,000 payday for his efforts.