Racing is a sport where size or age does not always matter.
On Aug. 20 at Sharon Speedway, 14-year-old Eric Wilson of Cortland beat a stellar field of Fastrak Late Models in what maybe the biggest upset in Fastrak Late Model history. It was no fluke he held off defending two-time national weekly series and Northeast Touring Champion Max Blair. He is believed to the youngest race winner in the storied history of Sharon Speedway.
Not to be outdone, Joshua Double, 18, of Bristolville, has won twice at Sharon in the Fastrak Late Models, including last Saturday by a mere 0.378 seconds. With only one point night of racing left at the Hartford oval, he is leading in points and may very well be on his way to a track championship.
Brandon Matus of Wampum, Pa., won the Sprint car feature event at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., on Aug. 5. Now Lernerville always has been one tough place to win, but Matus beat a field of 20 cars. Still not impressed? Did I mention that he is 16 years old? A third generation driver at the tender age of 16 beat the regulars at the action track in what some call the toughest racing division in the country.
Adam Kekich, 18, of Hermitage, Pa., is also driving Sprint cars and currently is fifth in the points race at Mercer Raceway Park in his first year of driving a 410 Sprint car. Mercer has the biggest car count and pays the most money in this area. Racing against seasoned veterans with bigger bank accounts, he his holding his own. A win in this tough division cannot be far away. Adam is also a third generation driver.
The local season is winding down. Sharon Speedway was idle Labor Day weekend then Saturday final night of Steel Valley Thunder - when track champions will be decided. Things wrap up Sept. 16-17 with the Applefest Nationals.
Mercer Raceway Park had its final night of regular racing last Saturday. Then, the 22nd annual Western Pennsylvania Sprint Car Championship is Saturday, followed by the Little Guy Nationals Sept. 23-24.
Lernerville Speedway had an All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprints last Friday. Lernerville closes out the season with the World of Outlaws Commonwealth Clash Sept. 24 with $10,000 going to the winner.
Still some excellent racing to get out and see before the season ends. See you at the races.