Dirt track racing is alive and well in America. But as an outdoor sporting event, the weather can throw the proverbial monkey wrench into the best planning.
In 2025, Lernerville Speedway in Sarver has been treated to one rainout after another, having just five live events so far. Rain has canceled quite a few races this season, including most of their signature event, the Firecracker 100 held during the prior to the Fourth of July each year.
The Firecracker has become so big, that it covers five days of festivities, has live music, rodeo and other attractions, including three days of racing. But due to storms and bad weather, the Firecracker was reduced to just one day of cars on the track.
“It’s been hard this season,” said Gary Heeman, the track’s public relations manager. “We got one day of racing in and spent a good portion of time pulling out a bunch of trailers from the campgrounds due to the mud and water. There are still large areas of water; it has nowhere to go there’s been so much.”
Weather conditions look outstanding for the 34th edition of the Don Martin Silver Cup race, scheduled to take place Tuesday. Clear skies and sun should be shining down on the old dirt track.
What makes this event so special is that the national racing stars from the Kubota Sprint Car Series will take part for a chance to win the $25,000 first place purse. Top names like Kyle Larson, Chris Bell, Kasey Khane and others will bring their crews and cars to the track that many local drivers are familiar with.
The big difference between the two is money. And some of the locals who will be racing this week know that’s what separates them, including A.J. Flick who sits at the top of the 410 Sprint Car Points lead at Lernerville and had a Top 10 finish in the Silver Cup in 2015.
“The casual fan doesn’t realize how outclassed the locals are by the High Limit guys coming in,” he said. “Those guys have so much money and so much experience, it’s hard to compare yourselves to them. Ultimately, were happy if we can make the ‘A’ show and, if we make the show, we expand our goals a little bit. We try to run top 15 or top 10. If we could make a top 5 or even a podium finish, it would be one of the greatest accomplishments of my career.”
Flick got into racing at age 4, running go-karts at local tracks like Blairsville, Blanket Hill and others. He made the move to Lernerville at age 15, jumping into street stocks until he was 21, running 410 sprint cars like he is now.
Like many, his family lineage is all about racing. Flick’s grandfather started dirt track racing in the 1950’s. His father carried the family banner after that, bringing his son to his first event when A.J. was just a few weeks old.
Another local who will compete among the best national drivers is veteran Carl Bowser, who’s been running sprint series for 20 years, calling Lernerville his home track since he took up the sport.
“Obviously, it’s a national touring series, it’s a bunch of professional guys coming in. If we can make the ‘A’ series, it will be a good day for us,” Bowser said.
Jacob Begenwald may only be 17, but he’s currently in third place for points at Lernerville in the 410-sprint series. The Lenape Vo-Tech student hopes to make his second Silver Cup experience a memorable one.
“We’ve got to not put ourselves behind the 8-ball early on,” Begenwald said. “I know if we can start up front in the heat race, I can hold my own against some of those guys. Making the ‘A’ main feature, it would make my year. It’s been pretty rough so far.”
Tickets can be purchased via the Lernerville Raceway website and start at $40. Fans can also watch the event on FloRacing’s YouTube channel.