Rex King Jr. Strikes In Thriller At Lernerville Speedway Friday

Story By: GARY HEEMAN / LERNERVILLE SPEEDWAY – SARVER, PA – Fans were treated to a racy surface and night of racing beneath dry skies for the second week in a row on Friday night. They were also treated to some great performances in main event action that saw some familiar faces wind up in victory lane.

Michael Norris was tested by a hard charging Colton Flinner and pressed at times by a strong performance from Tommy Beck who led early on, en route to his first appearance in victory lane at The Action Track. The defending champion took the lead on a lap three pass in turn four and gave it up to Flinner with 11 laps left, but made his way back around and cruised to the win in the Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Model main event.

Meanwhile, Rex King Jr. put the field behind him with authority from the pole in Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Big Block Modified action but would be challenged by an oncoming Dave Murdick in the second half of the race. Murdick looked to be on the verge of making a pass for the lead on several occasions and had good looks on the bottom of the speedway. However, King Jr. was too strong on the top side to be overtaken and pegged a lap 23 restart that saw Brian Swartzlander overtake Murdick for the runner up spot.

In Peoples Gas DIRTcar Sprint action, Sye Lynch took early command from the pole and fought off challenges from AJ Flick and Jack Sodeman Jr to earn his second career victory at The Action Track. Flick and Brandon Spithaler tangled in turn four early on, eliminating both from contention with six laps in the books, leaving Sodeman with a clear opportunity to hunt the leader in clean air. However, he came up short in his pursuit as Lynch was extremely fast on the top side and never looked back once firmly in the lead.

Joey Zambotti’s week one performance in Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar/RUSH Pro Stock action was impressive indeed as he came from the tail of the field to the second spot and nearly challenging for the win. His performance on Friday night was just as if not more so impressive. Zambotti made his way through the field and ran down a strong running Tyler Dietz out front while Ryan Moyer and Corey McPherson joined the front of the pack. Dietz was able to inch closer after Zambotti made the pass for the win but ran out of laps as he took his first Lernerville feature victory of the season, prompting a familiar fence climbing celebration before victory lane.

Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint Feature: (25 Laps)
1. (42) Sye Lynch
2. (23Jr) Jack Sodeman Jr.
3. (56) Ralph Spithaler
4. (4N) Jimmy Morris
5. (4K) Bill Kiley
6. (46) Michael Bauer
7. (91) Sadie Siegel
8. (6) Todd Burgard
9. (92) Chad Hill
10. (2) AJ Flick
11. (22) Brandon Spithaler

Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models Feature: (25 Laps)
1. (72) Michael Norris
2. (91) Tommy Beck
3. (15) Kelvin Kohan
4. (81) Mike Miller
5. (14R) Clay Ruffo
6. (23) Tony Burke
7. (77) Tyler Dietz
8. (92) Jayme Beck
9. (48) Colton Flinner
10. (10) Jared Miley
11. (29) Ken Schaltenbrand

Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Northeast Big Block Modified Feature: (25 Laps)
1. (165) Rex King Jr.
2. (83) Brian Swartzlander
3. (61) Dave Murdick
4. (29) Garrett Krummert
5. (65) Rex King Sr.
6. (13) Rick Regalski
7. (45) Steve Feder
8. (4J) John Mollick
9. (75) Jeff Miller
10. (25) Chris Rudolph
11. (12W) Travis Walsh
12. (18) Colton Walters
13. (22) Kevin Long
14. (27R) Dave Reges
15. (A51) Bill Barr
16. (37MD) Jeremiah Shingledecker (Did Not Start)

Millerstown Pic-A-Part RUSH/DIRTcar Pro Stocks Feature: (20 Laps)
1. (948) Joey Zambotti
2. (27) Tyler Dietz
3. (13X) Ryan Moyer
4. (C33) Corey McPherson
5. (32) Mark Sanders
6. (66) Joe Kelley
7. (26) Mike Bordt
8. (10) John Hartman
9. (310) Dale Tuche
10. (25) Brett McDonald
11. (22jr) Chase Lambert
12. (35B) Jake Dietz

Glassmere Fuel Serivice Heat 1 for Peoples Gas Sprints:
1. (4N) Jimmy Morris
2. (56) Ralph Spithaler
3. (2) AJ Flick
4. (91) Sadie Siegel
5. (4K) Bill Kiley
6. (6) Todd Burgard

Dlubak Powder Coating Heat 2 for Peoples Gas Sprints:
1. (23) Jack Sodeman Jr.
2. (42) Sye Lynch
3. (22) Brandon Spithaler
4. (92) Chad Hill
5. (46) Michael Bauer

Hotel Saxonburg Heat 1 for Precise Late Models:
1. (72) Michael Norris
2. (48) Colton Flinner
3. (91) Tommy Beck
4. (23) Tony Burke
5. (15) Kelvin Kohan
6. (92) Jayme Beck

Lojack’s Cycle Shop Heat 2 for Precise Late Models:
1. (10) Jared Miley
2. (81) Mike Miller
3. (29) Ken Schaltenbrand
4. (14R) Clay Ruffo
5. (27) Tyler Dietz

McCutcheon Enterprises Heat 1 for Diehl Modifieds:
1. (4J) John Mollick
2. (61) Dave Murdick
3. (65) Rex King Sr.
4. (45) Steve Feder
5. (13) Rich Regalski
6. (12) Travis Walsh
7. (22) Kevin Long
8. (18) Colton Walters

Thermo Twin Windows Heat 2 for Diehl Modifieds:
1. (165) Rex King Sr.
2. (61) Dave Murdick
3. (83) Brian Swartzlander
4. (29) Garrett Krummert
5. (25) Chris Rudolph
6. (27R) Dave Reges
7. (A51) Bill Barr
8. (37MD) Jeremiah Shingledecker

Thoma Meat Market Heat 1 for Pic-A-Part Pro Stocks:
1. (13) Ryan Moyer
2. (948) Joey Zambotti
3. (66) Joe Kelley
4. (32) Mark Sanders
5. (310) Dale Tuche
6. (10) John Hartman
7. (35B) Jake Dietz

Hovis Auto and Truck Supply Heat 2 for Pic-A-Part Pro Stocks:
1. (25) Brett McDonald
2. (C33) Corey McPherson
3. (27) Tyler Dietz
4. (22JR) Chase Lambert
5. (26) Mike Bordt

Car Count Total: 51
Peoples Natural Gas Sprints: 11
Precise Late Models: 11
Diehl Modifieds: 16
Pic-A-Part Sportsman: 13