Opening night, Take 2 at Lernerville Speedway
Share this post:
Mother Nature kept the cars off the track at Don Martin’s Lernerville Speedway last week in what was scheduled to be opening night for 2021.
“We had much longer precipitation than what was originally anticipated,” first-year Lernerville general manager Mike Lysakowski said.
“When we went to bed on Thursday night, we were hearing things that the rain would be out of here at 10 or 11 in the morning. That turned out to not be the case with the wet weather extending into the afternoon. The decision to cancel was something that was tough for everyone, but we had to do it.”
Lysakowski said he is optimistic Friday’s forecast will be a little warmer with no rain as engines rev for the start of the new season.
Getting the season started, even if it is a week later than originally hoped, has Lysakowski energized as he welcomes fans to the Action Track.
Gates open at 5 p.m., with racing to begin at 7:30.
“I think we will have even more people come out Friday night with a more favorable forecast,” Lysakowski said. “We’re all ready for a great outside celebration to kick off the new racing season.”
Fab4 racing again will have 410 Sprints, Late Models, Big Block Modifieds and Pro Stocks on the new clay surface.
The 410 Sprint Cars are set to compete for the 999th time since the first race at Lernerville Speedway on May 10, 1968, and will lead to next week’s Lernerville Grand, which will celebrate the 1,000th Sprint Car race.
The April 30 night of racing now is in connection with the point-paying Tony Stewart All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car touring series.
“By coincidence and because of the postponement of opening night to this week, The Lernerville Grand will land on an entirely Sprint Car night,” Lysakowski said.
The other divisions will have the night off.
“Tony Stewart’s national touring series will be the headliners on April 30, along with two forms of Limited Sprint Cars (305s and RUSH Sprints),” Lysakowski said.
“It turns out that the 1,000th race in Lernerville Speedway Sprint Car history will put the (410) Sprint Cars in the national spotlight with two other types of Sprint Cars as the companion to it. It makes for a really exciting night.”
Since the first Sprint Car race at Lernerville, 146 drivers have claimed Sprint Car victories. A number of those previous winners have accepted invitations to be on hand next week for the celebration, which will include a pre-race autograph session.
Commemorative T-shirts will be available listing all the of the past winners, including the winner of race 999 on Friday if he happens to be new to victory lane.
The winner of the 1,000th race will receive a $1,000 bonus from event sponsor Alternative Power Sources.