Twice as Nice, Flick Doubles Up With Thrilling Lernerville Win

Shippenville, PA (June 2nd, 2023) – A week high thirty cars filled the pits at the famed Lernerville Speedway on Friday night as the drivers fought for bragging rights on Night #3 of Western PA Speedweek. Despite higher than usual stakes, tricky track conditions, and an entry list comprised of drivers from all different directions, fans were still greeted in victory lane by a familiar face in six-time track champion A.J. Flick. The $3,000 win was Flick’s second in just three Western PA Speedweek races this year, and fifth career Speedweek win.

The Apollo native was quick from the drop of the green, and so much so that he was awarded overall quick time honors during Knox Bakery Qualifying with a lap of 13.639 seconds. The Knox Bakery and Krill Recycling combined to offer a $500 fast time award on this night, and will do so again Saturday at Sharon Speedway.

The 24-car starting field was set once preliminary races and the Rod Squad Fishing Charters redraw were complete. Flick found himself lined up on the inside of 2nd row, sandwiched between a host of capable winners both in front and behind him. After gaining the lead early, it was a replay of Thursday night at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway with Dave Blaney in tow and slowly reeling in the leader lap by lap. But this time Blaney snapped everyone out of their deja vu as he was able to work by Flick on Lap 14 and continue pursuit of his first Western PA Speedweek victory.

Flick, however, had other plans in mind as he and his #2 machine stayed calm, cool and collected over the last dozen laps of the race. As the leaders continued slicing and dicing through lapped traffic, Flick slowly gained ground on the former World of Outlaws champion before pulling the trigger and retaking the lead for good on lap 25 of 30.

If A.J. Flick has bigger things on his mind, he took care of business there too. The pre-race point leader expanded his gap over Ryan Smith, who remains 2nd in the standings following his hard charging effort of going from the B-Main to the top five. The speedweek champion will earn $3,000, with the total $13,500 pot being split amongst the top ten in the final rundown.

A.J. Flick earned the $500 ‘Knox Bakery/Krill Recycling Fast Qualifier’ award. Flick also was the recipient of the randomly drawn Hoosier tire giveaway early in the night, and earned an extra $100 for being the highest finishing driver in the ‘Lockhart Raceway Jackpot’ program.

Ryan Smith earned the $200 ‘Rustler Sales & Service Hard Charger’ award.

Matt Farnham, Zane DeVault and Michael Bauer were the Mobile Bail Bonds heat race winners.

A.J Flick also earned an extra $100 as part of the ‘Lockhart Raceway Jackpot’ program for being the highest finishing driver displaying the Lockhart Raceway decals.

George Hobaugh was awarded the $50 ‘Pittsburgh Racing Now’ hard luck award after being in the wrong place at the wrong time, ultimately flipping in the feature after a collision with another car.

Everyone now turns their attention to Round #4 of Western PA Speedweek on Saturday night, June 3rd, as we tip-toe across the state line to the 3/8-mile Sharon Speedway oval in Hartford, OH for another $3,000 to win event. Pit gates open at 4pm, with drivers meeting set for 6pm and opening ceremonies scheduled for 7:30pm.

FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): 1. 2-A.J. Flick [3][$3000]; 2. 10-Dave Blaney [6]; 3. 32B-Dale Blaney [7]; 4. 23V-Zane Devault [2]; 5. 6R-Ryan Smith [19]; 6. 7NY-Matt Farnham [4]; 7. 5E-Brandon Rahmer [11]; 8. 46-Michael Bauer [1]; 9. 29-Dan Shetler [8]; 10. 11-Carl Bowser [9]; 11. 08-Dan Kuriger [22]; 12. W20-Greg Wilson [16]; 13. 20B-Cody Bova [14]; 14. 6-Bob Felmlee [10]; 15. 49H-Bradley Howard [21]; 16. 33-Brent Matus [15]; 17. 13-Brandon Matus [20]; 18. 35-Jared Zimbardi [18]; 19. 23-Darren Pifer [23]; 20. 5D-Jacob Dykstra [13]; 21. 40-George Hobaugh [12]; 22. 5-John Walp [24]; 23. 19R-Mark Smith [5]; 24. 12-Darin Gallagher [17] Hard Charger: 6R-Ryan Smith [+14]; Lap Leaders: A.J. Flick (??-13, 25-30); Dave Blaney (14-24)

CURRENT POINTS: 1. 2-A.J. Flick [132]; 2. 6R-Ryan Smith [118]; 3. 08-Dan Kuriger [103]; 4. 46-Michael bauer [101]; 5. 6-Bob Felmlee [93]; 6. 10-Dave Blaney [92]; 7. 13-Brandon Matus [86]; 8. 40-George Hobaugh [82]; 9. 32B-Dale Blaney [82]; 10. 11-Carl Bowser [80]
Shippenville, PA (June 2nd, 2023) – A week high thirty cars filled the pits at the famed Lernerville Speedway on Friday night as the drivers fought for bragging rights on Night #3 of Western PA Speedweek. Despite higher than usual stakes, tricky track conditions, and an entry list comprised of drivers from all different directions, fans were still greeted in victory lane by a familiar face in six-time track champion A.J. Flick. The $3,000 win was Flick’s second in just three Western PA Speedweek races this year, and fifth career Speedweek win.

The Apollo native was quick from the drop of the green, and so much so that he was awarded overall quick time honors during Knox Bakery Qualifying with a lap of 13.639 seconds. The Knox Bakery and Krill Recycling combined to offer a $500 fast time award on this night, and will do so again Saturday at Sharon Speedway.

The 24-car starting field was set once preliminary races and the Rod Squad Fishing Charters redraw were complete. Flick found himself lined up on the inside of 2nd row, sandwiched between a host of capable winners both in front and behind him. After gaining the lead early, it was a replay of Thursday night at Pittsbugh’s PA Motor Speedway with Dave Blaney in tow and slowly reeling in the leader lap by lap. But this time Blaney snapped everyone out of their deja vu as he was able to work by Flick on Lap 14 and continue pursuit of his first Western PA Speedweek victory.

Flick, however, had other plans in mind as he and his #2 machine stayed calm, cool and collected over the last dozen laps of the race. As the leaders continued slicing and dicing through lapped traffic, Flick slowly gained ground on the former World of Outlaws champion before pulling the trigger and retaking the lead for good on lap 25 of 30.

If A.J. Flick has bigger things on his mind, he took care of business there too. The pre-race point leader expanded his gap over Ryan Smith, who remains 2nd in the standings following his hard charging effort of going from the B-Main to the top five. The speedweek champion will earn $3,000, with the total $13,500 pot being split amongst the top ten in the final rundown.

A.J. Flick earned the $500 ‘Knox Bakery/Krill Recycling Fast Qualifier’ award. Flick also was the recipient of the randomly drawn Hoosier tire giveaway early in the night, and earned an extra $100 for being the highest finishing driver in the ‘Lockhart Raceway Jackpot’ program.

Ryan Smith earned the $200 ‘Rustler Sales & Service Hard Charger’ award.

Matt Farnham, Zane DeVault and Michael Bauer were the Mobile Bail Bonds heat race winners.

A.J Flick also earned an extra $100 as part of the ‘Lockhart Raceway Jackpot’ program for being the highest finishing driver displaying the Lockhart Raceway decals.

George Hobaugh was awarded the $50 ‘Pittsburgh Racing Now’ hard luck award after being in the wrong place at the wrong time, ultimately flipping in the feature after a collision with another car.

Denny Peebles got an extra $50 from The A-Main Podcast for being the first non-qualifier.

Everyone now turns their attention to Round #4 of Western PA Speedweek on Saturday night, June 3rd, as we tip-toe across the state line to the 3/8-mile Sharon Speedway oval in Hartford, OH for another $3,000 to win event. Pit gates open at 4pm, with drivers meeting set for 6pm and opening ceremonies scheduled for 7:30pm.

FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): 1. 2-A.J. Flick [3][$3000]; 2. 10-Dave Blaney [6]; 3. 32B-Dale Blaney [7]; 4. 23V-Zane Devault [2]; 5. 6R-Ryan Smith [19]; 6. 7NY-Matt Farnham [4]; 7. 5E-Brandon Rahmer [11]; 8. 46-Michael Bauer [1]; 9. 29-Dan Shetler [8]; 10. 11-Carl Bowser [9]; 11. 08-Dan Kuriger [22]; 12. W20-Greg Wilson [16]; 13. 20B-Cody Bova [14]; 14. 6-Bob Felmlee [10]; 15. 49H-Bradley Howard [21]; 16. 33-Brent Matus [15]; 17. 13-Brandon Matus [20]; 18. 35-Jared Zimbardi [18]; 19. 23-Darren Pifer [23]; 20. 5D-Jacob Dykstra [13]; 21. 40-George Hobaugh [12]; 22. 5-John Walp [24]; 23. 19R-Mark Smith [5]; 24. 12-Darin Gallagher [17] Hard Charger: 6R-Ryan Smith [+14]; Lap Leaders: A.J. Flick (??-13, 25-30); Dave Blaney (14-24)

CURRENT POINTS: 1. 2-A.J. Flick [132]; 2. 6R-Ryan Smith [118]; 3. 08-Dan Kuriger [103]; 4. 46-Michael bauer [101]; 5. 6-Bob Felmlee [93]; 6. 10-Dave Blaney [92]; 7. 13-Brandon Matus [86]; 8. 40-George Hobaugh [82]; 9. 32B-Dale Blaney [82]; 10. 11-Carl Bowser [80]

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Western PA Speedweek is brought to you by Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants together with J.S. Bova Excavating along with the support of the A-Main Podcast, Bill McCandless Ford, Bowl-O-Drome Family Bowling Center, Classic Ink USA, Hobaugh’s Auto Parts, Kistler Racing Products, The Knox Bakery, Legends of Seneca, Lockhart Raceway, McClung Auto Body, Mobile Bail Bonds, Rustler Sales & Service, Superior Interiors Dustless Hardwood Refinishing, Rod Squad Fishing Charters, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, The Dirt Network, Fox’s Pizza Den of Mercer, and Pittsburgh Racing Now.

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