With the arrival of spring, folks will start making their way to Sarver, much like they have over the past 58 years, as the 2025 season kicks into high gear at Lernerville Speedway.
With a schedule that runs into October, expect plenty of rubbing and racing along the way. The first green flag drops Friday with the always popular Fab4 Racing series. The Peoples Natural Gas Sprint Cars, Glassmere Fuel Service Late Models, Diehl Automotive Big Block Modifieds and Millerstown Pic-A-Part Pro Stocks will all be in action, kicking off their points chase.
According to Lernerville Raceway general manager Greg Geibel, the Fab4 series has proven to be a winning formula that local race fans still flock to see since 1968.
“The Fab4 has been around pretty much since the beginning,’ said Geibel. “It’s proven to be perfect. Tri-City is now doing it, but we’ve made it a must watch with the best of the best each week here at Lernerville.”
For those new to dirt track racing, the Fab4 consists of sprint cars, late models, big block modifieds and pro stock cars. For 2025, there will be 15 Fab4 Friday nights, with occasional appearances for the RUSH Late Models and an appearance from the Allegheny Sprint Tour 305s as they fill in for an absent division.
The track will also feature Sunday evening racing on a semi-regular basis for the first time. DirtTv, which started at Lernerville during covid, was the brainchild of track public address announcer Eric Westendorf. He’s seen his idea grow over the past five years, and it will play a big role in the new dates on the schedule.
“It was originally a partnership with Speed Sport. It was called Lernerville TV,” Westendorf said. “One of the track owner’s sons is into all the tech stuff and after two seasons, I passed the torch to them and it’s grown to include bull riding, rodeo, motocross, demolition derby and has expanded past Lernerville.”
Among the marquee events on deck include the Firecracker 100. This Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event runs June 19-21 for the 18th year in a row. The series brings together top national touring drivers from all over the country, plus the best of the best among area drivers, as they compete for three straight nights, culminating in the $50,000-to-win Firecracker 100 finale.
“The Firecracker Fest is a five-day event and it’s a big deal,” said Geibe. “We have 700 campers here for the week. Every day we have something. On Monday, when they move in, we have a party for them. There is a rodeo and demo derby. Then the racing begins on Friday. Every night we have live music at an event area behind the track that was added last year. It can hold 10,000 fans.”
The world’s top sprint car drivers will also visit Lernerville for the $25,000-to-win Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup on Tuesday, July 22. Meanwhile, the richest sprint car weekend in the area returns Friday, Sept. 12 with preliminary night and continuing Saturday, Sept. 13 with the $50,000-to-win Commonwealth Clash.
The track’s popularity has connected with fans over the decades, drawing crowds of up to 14,000 fans per night. It’s also a family affair with many of the local drivers. Andrew Koenig has been racing at Lernerville for three years now, getting into the game via his father, who serves as his mechanic, among other hats worn.
“He helps out a good bit with the car,’ said Koenig. “Since I was 10 years old, I’ve been involved in racing. Lernerville is one of the tracks we race. They only run our class of cars a few times a year. My dad and his best friend while growing up were into dirt track racing. It’s how I got into it.”
The BRP Modified Tour will make three appearances in 2025 as the Diehl Automotive Big Block Modifieds take center stage starting May 16, July 11 and Aug. 1.
Brian Swartzlander has been racing modified cars since 1989. He retired two years ago but came back to race for Bill Rhodes.
“It’s in my blood,” he said. “My grandfather, my cousins. I raced at Lernerville years ago, along with my dad. He raced here in the first year of the track.”
Fan Appreciation Night with fireworks will take place this year on Friday, June 27. General admission seats are $18.
For more information, visit the track’s website at www.lernerville.com.