For the first time this season, there is a full slate of auto racing scheduled for this weekend in western Pennsylvania.
Article by Rick Rarer
Fans will have the opportunity to attend races Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
On Friday, it will be another installment of Fab 4 racing at Lernerville Speedway while fans will have several options the rest of the weekend.
Saturday and Sunday, the FAST on Dirt Tour presented by Ti22 Performance will invade the area with shows at Michael’s Mercer Raceway and Tri-City Raceway where some of the best sprint cars from our area and Ohio will gather. These will be the first sprint car races of the season at each track and both shows will pay $4,000.00 to the winner.
After several cancellations Mercer Raceway will look to kick off their 2024 season with the FAST Series. Joining the 410s will be the 305 sprint cars, FASTRAK modifieds, and mini stocks all beginning their season long point chases.
The last time the FAST series visited Mercer, it was Franklin’s Bob Felmlee who scored the win. Bob will look to make it two in a row this Saturday with racing slated for 7:00 p.m.
At Tri-City Raceway, new owners Josh and Kyrsten Shiffer have been making improvements and getting the track and grounds ready for opening day. This past Saturday, they held their first test and tune of the season where drivers and fans could get their first look at all the improvements. Feedback from drivers and fans was all positive going into Sunday’s big opener.
The last and only FAST Series winner at Tri-City was AJ Flick, who will be on hand looking to repeat. Other locals expected this weekend include Carl Bowser, Jeremy Weaver, Jack Sodeman Jr., Brandon Matus, Mike Bauer, and the defending FAST Series champion Brandon Spithaler.
Representing the FAST Series this weekend should be a good group of Ohio cars led by current point leader Zane DeVault, the new driver for Lane Racing who have spent the last several seasons with the All-Star Circuit of Champions.
After two races, local favorite Dale Blaney sits second in FAST point while defending champ Brandon Spithaler, Cole Duncan, and Danny Sams round out the top five in points coming into this weekend.
Other invaders that are expected this weekend include former Tri-City winner Ricky Peterson, Ohio veteran Lee Jacobs, and Sean Rayhall among others. Tri-City will offer regular admission prices for the Sunday event and also announced they have upped the weekly purses for all four regular classes this season. Tri-City has been offering updates almost daily on their Facebook page, keeping fans updated with all the improvements at the track.
For modified fans, the BRP Modified Tour will invade Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway this Saturday along with their regular classes. This is the first time since 2016 the big block modifieds have competed at the Monster Half Mile.
Racing is set to get underway at 7:00 p.m.
On Sunday at Blanket Hill Speedway in Kittanning, the RUSH wingless sprint car series will make their first ever visit to the quarter mile oval as big car racing returns for the first time in fifty years. This will be the first of six visits by the RUSH sprints this season.
They will be joined by the pure stocks, 600 wingless micro sprints, and vintage cars with racing at 6:00 p.m.
Rick’s Racing Roundup is brought to you by:
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Zacherl Motors
Kerle Tire Company
Bauer Truck Repair
