Dave Murdick Finds Magic To Win Modified Main Event Friday At Lernerville

Story By: GARY HEEMAN / LERNERVILLE SPEEDWAY – SARVER, PA – Dominant performances, surprise endings and a first time champion being crowned topped the story lines at The Action Track on Friday night as the Fab4 Revved up with Marburger graced the clay amidst the backdrop of chamber of commerce type weather.

In Peoples Natural Gas Sprint car action, AJ Flick was in his own world after he made his way around Sye Lynch coming out of turn four with seven laps down. Flick never looked back as he lapped up to the sixth position and was flawless in lapped traffic in capturing his third feature victory of the 2019 campaign. Meanwhile, Carl Bowser made steady progress from his seventh starting spot to find his way to a runner up finish while points leader Jack Sodeman Jr. managed to work from 10th to the final podium spot at the end of 25 laps to keep a firm grip on his points lead heading into the final Friday night program of the season.

Jared Miley moved forward from his 13th starting spot to the lead with authority in the Precise Racing Products Late Model main event. The former two time track champion made his way past race leader Ken Schaltenbrand on a restart with seven laps remaining en route to his second feature win of the season. However, though he lost Friday night’s battle, Schaltenbrand won the 2019 points war as he clinched his first career Lernerville championship by virtue of his second place finish.

Brian Swartzlander looked to be well on his way to yet another feature win in the Diehl Automotive Big Block Modifieds and an important one at that. The DIRTcar Hall of Famer came into the evening six markers ahead of Rex King Jr. in the point standings and was looking to pad that lead. However, a shredded tire and some contact on the front stretch wall for the leader reset the stage and Dave Murdick took full advantage of it. Murdick took the lead from a fast running John Mollick in the final stages and made his way to Terry Bowser Excavating Victory Lane for the first time since 2014. Meanwhile, Swartzlander was able to rejoin the field and advance to the sixth spot to salvage what points he could. Swartzlander and King Jr. find themselves tied for the points lead going into next Friday night following King’s third place finish.

And in the Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar/RUSH Pro Stock feature, Tyler Dietz, who came into the night just two points behind leader Corey McPherson managed to take the lead away from Joe Kelley early in the running. However, ninth starting Joey Zambotti showed a tremendous amount of speed throughout the 20 lap main event and was able to make his way around Dietz with just three laps remaining for his third feature win of 2019 at Lernerville. Dietz crossed the line in the runner up spot, putting himself in the driver’s seat on top of the point standings following a fifth place finish by McPherson.

Peoples Natural GasDIRTcar 410 Sprint Feature: (25 Laps)

(2) AJ Flick
(11) Carl Bowser
(23jr) Jack Sodeman Jr.
(42) Sye Lynch
(22) Brandon Spithaler
(08) Dan Kuriger
(56) Ralph Spithaler
(4N) Jimmy Morris
(J4) John Garvin Jr.
(C1) Clay Riney
(21N) Frankie Nervo
(14) Jeremy Hill
(250) Jared McFarland
(27) Zach Morrow
(34M) Mike Marano II
(12) Darin Gallagher
(91) Sadie Siegel
(23s) Russ Sansosti
(76) Davey Jones
(1R) Gale Ruth Sr.

Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models Feature: (25 Laps)

(10) Jared Miley
(29) Ken Schaltenbrand
(84) Andrew Wylie
(81) Mike Miller
(77) Tyler Dietz
(55) Chris Schneider
(23) Tony Burke
(9) Clayton Kennedy
(77H) Heath Close
(12) John Myers
(91T) Tommy Beck
(48) Colton Flinner
(92) Jayme Beck
(B1) Brandon Wearing
(15*) Kelvin Kohan

Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Northeast Big Block Modified Feature: (25 Laps)

(61) Dave Murdick
(4J) John Mollick
(165) Rex King Jr.
(65) Rex King Sr.
(29) Garrett Krummert
(83) Brian Swartzlander
(9) Will Thomas
(13) Rick Regalski
(45) Steve Feder
(25) Chris Rudolph
(75) Jeff Miller
(03) Mark Frankhouser
(A51) Bill Barr
(22) Kevin Long
(18) Colton Walters
(37MD) Jeremiah Shingledecker

Millerstown Pic-A-Part RUSH/DIRTcarPro Stocks Feature: (20 Laps)

(948) Joey Zambotti
(27) Tyler Dietz
(13X) Ryan Moyer
(66) Joe Kelley
(C33) Corey McPherson
(310) Dale Tuche
(10) Butch Lambert
(25) Brett McDonald
(35b) Jake Dietz
(17) Sam Eichelberger
(26) Mike Bordt
(28Y) Terry Young
(29B) Scott Byers
(22jr) Chase Lambert

Ferguson Heating and Air Conditioning B-Main for Peoples Gas Sprints:

(21N) Frankie Nervo
(76) Davey Jones
(1R) Gale Ruth Sr.
(12) Darin Gallagher
(91) Sadie Siegel
(44) Pete Landrum
(4K) Kip Edwards
(154) Shamus O’Donnell
(6) Todd Burgard.

Glassmere Fuel Serivice Heat 1 for Peoples Gas Sprints:

(11) Carl Bowser
(42) Sye Lynch
(34M) Mike Marano II
(4N) Jimmy Morris
(27) Zach Morrow
(21N) Frankie Nervo
(91) Sadie Siegel
(154) Shamus O’Donnell
(4K) Kip Edwards

Dlubak Powder Coating Heat 2 for Peoples Gas Sprints:

(2) AJ Flick
(22) Brandon Spithaler
(C1) Clay Riney
(J4) John Garvin Jr.
(14) Jeremy Hill
(12) Darrin Gallagher
(44) Pete Landrum
(6) Todd Burgard

Gellners Sales and Service Heat 3 for Peoples Gas Sprints

(23jr) Jack Sodeman Jr.
(56) Ralph Spithaler
(08) Dan Kuriger
(250) Jared McFarland
(23s) Russ Sansosti
(76) Davey Jones
(1R) Gale Ruth SR.
(331) Shamus O’Donnell (Did Not Start)

Hotel Saxonburg Heat 1 for Precise Late Models:

(84) Andrew Wylie
(29) Ken Schaltenbrand
(91T) Tommy Beck
(81) Mike Miller
(9) Clayton Kennedy
(B1) Brandon Wearing
(15*) Kelvin Kohan
(77H) Heath Close

Lojack’s Cycle Shop Heat 2 for Precise Late Models:

(77) Tyler Dietz
(48) Colton Flinner
(55) Chris Schneider
(92) Jayme Beck
(12 John Myers
(23) Tony Burke
(10 Jared Miley (DNF)

McCutcheon Enterprises Heat 1 for Diehl Modifieds:

(83) Brian Swartzlander
(65) Rex King Sr.
(45) Steve Feder
(37MD) Jeremiah Shingledecker
(18) Colton Walters
(03) Mark Frankhouser
(9) Will Thomas (DNF)
(25) Chris Rudloph (DNF

Thermo Twin Windows Heat 2 for Diehl Modifieds:

(165) Rex King Jr.
(29) Garrett Krummert
(61) Dave Murdick
(75) Jeff Miller
(4J) John Mollick
(13) Rick Regalski
(22) Kevin Long
(A51) Bill Barr

Thoma Meat Market Heat 1 for Pic-A-Part Pro Stocks:

(948) Joey Zambotti
(27) Tyler Dietz
(C33) Corey McPherson
(22jr) Chase Lambert
(28Y) Terry Young
(25) Brett McDonald
(35b) Jake Dietz

Hovis Auto and Truck Supply Heat 2 for Pic-A-Part Pro Stocks:

(13X) Ryan Moyer
(66) Joe Kelley
(26) Mike Bordt
(29B) Scott Byers
(310) Dale Tuche
(17) Sam Eichelberger
(10) Butch Lambert- Did Not Start

Car Count Total: 71
Peoples Natural Gas Sprints: 26
Precise Late Models: 15
Diehl Modifieds: 16
Millerstown Pic-A-Part RUSH Pro Stocks: 14