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Western Pennsylvania Sprint Cars by Colton Sutley

2026 Tri- City Raceway Park
Sprint Car Preview

Tri-City Raceway Park is the only track in the country where fans can see both winged and non-wing sprint cars compete on a weekly basis. Located in the sprint car history rich Western Pa region, the Franklin, Pennsylvania track has seen a lot of great sprint car racing since its opening in 1954. Racing on Friday nights with some special Sunday shows mixed in the track is host to 410 winged sprint cars, pro stocks, RUSH wingless sprint cars, and RUSH stock cars on a weekly basis. This season will be an exciting season in both the 410 sprint car division and the RUSH wingless division with the potential for different winners in each division every week starting with opening night on Friday April 10th. Now let’s preview this season for both divisions of sprint cars at the Western Pa racing staple.

410 Title Contenders

For the third year in a row Tri-City Raceway Park will have a different track champion in the 410 winged sprint car division. The champions from the previous two seasons AJ Flick and Jeremy Weaver both plan on not running weekly at the raceway, with Flick committed to running for points at Lernerville and Weaver planning on traveling more often this season. This brings the question of if the track champion will be a first time champion or a former Tri-City Track Champion. The three contenders that stand out to me are 3 time track champion Bob Felmlee, 2021 track champion Brandon Matus, and New York driver Matt Farnham. Felmlee, a Western Pa legend, is second on the all time wins list at the track with 34 wins and this past season averaged a 5.8 finish with 7 top 5s and 11 tops 10s in all 11 starts he had at the raceway last season. Matus on the other hand has 3 career wins, while last season he averaged a 6.1 finish with 7 top 5s and 11 top 10s in 12 starts. Meanwhile Farnham has 4 career wins at the track and averaged a 6.0 finish last year with 1 win and 7 top 5s in 9 races he attended at the track. Those three have the best average finish of drivers that are expected to run weekly at Tri-City, but Farnham may not make the trip down to the Venango County Pennsylvania raceway from New York every week. With all three drivers with so close average finishes to each other, it will most likely come down to who can capitalize on the others' mistakes and misfortune.

Other Expected Weekly Drivers

Some drivers who ran at least half of the races held at Tri-City Raceway last season that have won at the track are expected to potentially race weekly at the track are Jack Sodeman Jr and Dusty Larson. The veteran Sodeman Jr who has 5 career wins at the track and was the 2020 track champion is one driver that is expected to compete at the track on a weekly basis and will definitely be one to watch to win a race or two this season. While on the opposite end of the experience spectrum is the teenage driver Larson who got his first career 410 win and first win at Tri-City last year, averaged a 8.4 finish with 2 top 5s and 8 top 10s in 10 races and will be looking to add more wins to his tally. Some other drivers who are expected to compete weekly are Brent Matus, Andy Cavanaugh, Natalie Brannon, Jazlyn Boyles, Steve Bright and Bodey McClintock who all could compete for good finishes if they run well in their heat races and get a good starting position for the features this season.

Invaders To Watch

Tri-City could see lots of potential winners who invade the raceway this season. Whether it be from different states, different speedways such as Lernerville or Williams Grove, or even invaders from other countries. Some invaders from Lernerville that stand out are 3 time Tri-City track Champion AJ Flick, teenager Jacob Begenwald, John Jerich, and veteran driver Carl Bowser. Flick and Bowser both have career wins at Tri-City with 17 wins and 5 wins respectively, while Jerich and Begenwald are both looking for their first career 410 wins at any track (Begenwald won a Dash race at Blanket Hill last season) and have shown plenty of speed to contend for wins. Some drivers from different regions that are expected to visit the track some this season that stand out are Billy Dietrich, Tyler Esh, and Garrett Bard from Central Pa, Tyler Gunn and Zane DeVault from Ohio, and international drivers such as Brock Hallett, DJ Christie, and Ryan Newton who all have ran at the raceway in recent years and shown good speed to compete for wins. There are Western Pa drivers that are either full timers with the All Stars, FAST, or uncommitted to running points that also will invade the raceway from time to time looking to steal some wins. Those Western Pa drivers that standout are Brandon Spithaler, last season’s track champion Jeremy Weaver, Adam Kekich, former 305 sprint driver Jeremy Kornbau, FAST Full Timer Michael Bauer, All Star Full Timers Cody Bova, Leyton Wagner, Logan McCandless, and the legendary Tim Shaffer. All of these aforementioned drivers can come in any night and walk away with a victory.

RUSH Wingless Sprints

The RUSH Wingless sprints were dominated last season at Tri-City by Blaze Myers who won 11 times at the track on the way to not only the track championship but also the RUSH Sprint National Weekly Championship. Myers is back this season in the Ted Hull number 41 car and will look to continue his dominance. Some veteran drivers who will compete against Myers this season are Zack Wilson, Joe Buccola, Zach Morrow who has 2 wins at the Tri-City, Gale Ruth Jr who has 6 wins, and John Mollick who has 5 wins and was the 2024 National Weekly Champion. There are a lot of youngsters in this division that show a lot of speed, two of them got their first career RUSH Sprint wins at Tri-City last season which were Cooper Fritz and Luke Mulichak. Other young drivers to watch out for this season are Wyatt Long, Ricky Tucker III, Trent Marshall, Samantha Priest, Grayson Bayle, Lucas Roessner, and Logen Lockhart who will also make some 410 starts at Tri-City.

24 Races To Look Forward To In Western Pa in 2026

By: Colton Sutley

Every year there are races scheduled that fans, drivers, and tracks all look forward to. So for this year, I will go over 24 races that stand out to me as events in the Western Pennsylvania region that all fans should look forward to. You may ask why 24, instead of a top 20 or top 25? The reasoning behind a “top” 24 is simple, the average feature event or A-Main starts 24 cars so it only makes sense that 24 races make the starting lineup for my list of races that I am most looking forward to. Of course there are many more races I am looking forward to within the Western Pa region, and I highly suggest you go to as many races as possible whether it is a weekly race or a regional/national touring series event but these are the 24 I suggest going to if you can only go to a few. Also note that these are not ranked in any particular order, and are simply just listed.

The Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup
This is my favorite race to attend every year, mostly because of how legendary and great of a promoter Don Martin was with the event held at Lernerville Speedway where he was so successful as a promoter. The Silver Cup is also the most prestigious race in Western Pa with sprint car legends such as Steve and Mark Kinser, Kyle Larson, Sammy Swindell, and Donny Schatz winning the race. It also has been a race known for a great upset, when in 2002 local legend Ed Lynch Jr won against the World of Outlaws. The excitement for the race continues to be high, with the High Limit Racing Series set to race the event this year on Tuesday July 21st which will mark their first of two visits to the region in 2026.

High Limit at Stateline Speedway
Sticking with High Limit, the next event to look forward to is when the High Rollers roll into Busti, New York. Although technically located in New York, Stateline is definitely a part of the Western Pa racing scene with how close it is to Pa. After having a successful All Star Circuit of Champions race last season, Stateline was able to book High Limit for Friday July 24th this year. Stateline is definitely more known for their Late Model racing, but they have had 6 previous All Star races and should put on a good show when the likes of Rico Abreu, Tyler Courtney, and others roll in.

RUSH Sprints Return To Raceway 7
Another track with a sprint car show that rarely run sprint cars is Raceway 7. The RUSH Wingless Sprint cars make their return to the Ohio track for the first time in four years. It should be an exciting show with it being only the fifth time ever racing at the track for the RUSH Sprints with Gale Ruth Jr being the only previous winner still racing in the division. Also on the card for Buckeye Openwheel Night at the raceway on July 3rd are UMP Modifieds, Econo Mods, and RUSH Sportsman Modifieds.

USAC Back In Western PA
Sticking with Non-Wing sprint car racing, an event I am extremely looking forward to is this year’s Commonwealth Clash at Lernerville Speedway on September 11th and 12th. Previously being a High Limit Racing event the past three years, the Commonwealth Clash will now be a USAC Sprint Car event. It will be the first time in awhile that the USAC Sprints will be in the Western Pa region giving many fans their first opportunity to see them in person. Not only will fans be able to see the stars of USAC such as Justin Grant, Logan Seavey, and Kyle Cummins but also the region's best 410 Winged Sprint Car drivers and the RUSH Wingless Sprint Cars.

Western Pa Sprint Speedweek
From May 27th to May 31st will be the best week of the year for Western Pa sprint car fans. That is when this year’s Western Pa Speedweek will take place starting at Michael’s Mercer Raceway followed by Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Lernerville Speedway, Sharon Speedway, and the finale at Tri-City Raceway Park. Hopefully Mother Nature is a race fan, because when it does not rain there is a great car count throughout the week. It’s the best time to see the top Western Pa drivers such as AJ Flick and Brandon Spithaler go against invaders such as Central Pa’s Ryan Smith and Ohio regular Zane Devault.

Firecracker 100/ Bill Emig Memorial June 25-27
If you are a Late Model fan then this is a weekend you look forward to every year. On June 25th through the 27th not only do you get the Lucas Oil Dirt Super Late Models invading Lernerville Speedway for three nights, but you also get the best of the RUSH Late Models competing for the prestigious Bill Emig Memorial. The 100 laps of the Firecracker 100 is phenomenal with the Lucas Oil drivers, but somehow it is topped by the 3 and 4 wide racing that happens in the 50 laps of the Bill Emig Memorial. This is a big event and you feel it in the air while there, between the meaning of the Bill Emig Memorial portion and the quest of victory by the RUSH drivers to the star power of the Lucas Oil drivers battling for the Firecracker 100 trophy, it is a can’t miss event.

Feel The RUSH at Tri-City
Another RUSH Late Model Touring Series event that I highly suggest fans attend are one of the two tour races being held at Tri-City Raceway Park. The first one is on Memorial Day Weekend on Sunday May 24th. Not only will you get the stars of the RUSH Late Models, but also the stars of the BRP Big Block Modified Tour with the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds also on the card. The other RUSH Tour race at the raceway is September 6th as the finale of the Oil Region Labor Day Classic. On the final night you will get to see the RUSH Late Models along with 410 Winged Sprint Cars, and the RUSH Stock Cars. Attending one of these nights is a must in my opinion.

Kyle Miller Memorial
An event that is very dear to me is the Kyle Miller Memorial. For those who do not know, I had Ewing’s Sarcoma which is the same kind of cancer that Kyle Miller had. Throughout my treatments, Kyle’s mother was very kind and supportive to my mother and me. I sadly did not get a chance to get to know Kyle, but I was lucky enough to have met him once. He was a great man and never gave up fighting as evident by him winning not only one but two track championships in 2019 while using hand controls to drive. Eriez has not yet released their schedule but I am sure the Kyle Miller Memorial will be on it with extra money up for grabs for the Econo Mods, which is what Kyle drove. This is an event that everyone should go to if they can, to remember a great man.

Connor Bobik Memorial
The Connor Bobik Memorial is an event that also is a great cause. Conner, whose father is Derek Bobik, a longtime racing photographer in the region, passed away from cancer at a very young age. This event is held in his memory with money being raised each year for Make-A-Wish. So make plans to be at Marion Center Raceway on May 15th and 16th when the World of Outlaw Late Models come into town. Not only will you see stars such as Bobby Pierce and Nick Hoffman duke it out, but you will be able to raise money for Make-A-Wish and remember a great young man.

Lou Blaney Memorial
The Blaneys, everyone knows about the Blaneys. From World of Outlaw champion Dave Blaney to his brother, All Star champion Dale Blaney, and Dave’s son NASCAR Cup champ Ryan Blaney, almost every race fan has heard of the Blaney family. The patriarch to the great racing family though is the legendary Lou Blaney. On August 1st fans will have the opportunity to watch 410 Sprint cars and Big Block Modifieds, two divisions Lou dominated in, battle it out for the memorial race named in his honor at the speedway his family owns Sharon Speedway. If you know anything about Western Pa racing history, you know how great Lou Blaney was and that is why it is a can’t miss race and one of my favorites to attend each year.

World Of Outlaw Sprints Vs. Western Pa
The World of Outlaw Sprint Cars only make two visits to the region this year, and both of them are at Sharon Speedway. The first visit is the “Border Battle” on May 2nd with the second visit coming on October 10th as part of Sheldon’s Buckeye Brawl. Both Dave and Dale Blaney have been able to beat the Outlaws at Sharon in recent years, and this year Dale or another driver from the region could pull the upset. Anytime the Outlaws are in town, they are a can’t miss show, especially when they come to the slick track of Sharon Speedway.

Chiller Thriller
If you like racing in the cold, then the Chiller Thriller at Michael’s Mercer Raceway is a race for you. It is also the first of two times this season to see Super Late Models at the raceway. Also on the card for the night are the Racesaver 305 Sprint cars, 602 crate modifieds, Mini Stocks, and Crown Vics. This event has a little bit of everything, so no matter what you prefer there is something for you to enjoy.

Yinzer 100 N’At
A new event this year is the Yinzer 100 N’At at Lernerville Speedway on Tuesday September 1st. A $15,000 to win, $1,500 to start midweek Super Late Model race is a must attend, with the region stars likely to be competing against many invaders. Midweek racing is always a fun thing to go to, and this event will be no different.

Rick Briggs Memorial
Another great midweek Super Late Model race this season is the World of Outlaw Late Models’ Rick Briggs Memorial at Stateline Speedway. Scheduled for Wednesday July 8th, will be a great opportunity for the drivers from the Northern part of the region to do battle against the stars of the Outlaws. Fans will see Dave Hess Jr, Jason Genco and other local drivers do battle with Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, and Tyler Erb. Hess has one Outlaw win at Stateline back in 2021 and has been competitive in other races in the region against the Outlaws as well as against the Lucas Oil series. This is definitely a race you do not want to miss.

Battle At The Border
A few days later the World of Outlaw Late Models make their way to Sharon Speedway for the Battle at the Border. From July 10th to 11th fans can go see super late models do battle at Sharon Speedway for the only time this season. Seeing how late models traverse the slick surface is always a great show, and a nice change of pace from the predominantly sprint car and modified track.

All Stars at Sharon
The All Star Circuit of Champions will battle against Western Pa’s best at Sharon Speedway twice this year. The first trip will be a part of the historic Ohio Speedweek on June 13th, with the second trip to the speedway on August 29th. Fans will be able to see Western Pa racers Cody Bova and Leyton Wagner, who are full timers with the All Stars, compete with not only All Star regulars Kalib Henry and Bobby Elliot but also Western Pa racers such as AJ Flick and Carl Bowser as well as Ohio drivers like Cap Henry and Cole Duncan.

All Stars At Mercer
Not far from Sharon, the All Stars will make two trips to Michael’s Mercer Raceway this season on May 23rd and October 2nd. Last year saw Western Pa native and All Star full timer, Brandon Spithaler win his first career All Star race at his home track of Mercer. Will Spithaler repeat at Mercer this year, or will another Western Pa racer win their first All Star race. You can not forget about 2025 All Star champion Kalib Henry when it comes to drivers with the potential to win either. These are definitely two races that I am looking forward to.

FAST Times at Tri-City
Another regional 410 Winged Sprint Car series that will be racing in the region is the FAST series. On May 1st, June 21st, and July 24th they will be at Tri-City Raceway Park. Ricky Peterson Jr was the FAST series champion last season as well as in the points lead for the track championship at Tri-City until FAST commitments made winning both not viable. Peterson has the potential to sweep all three nights which include the $7,000 to win Summer Sizzler on July 24th, but track regulars such as Jack Sodeman Jr, Bob Felmlee, and Logan McCandless will have something to say about it. 2025 track champion Jeremy Weaver will also be a driver in contention, but intends to travel more this season so he may not be in attendance at each race. Regardless, there should be a great field of cars each night.

Pittsburgher 100/ Bill Hendren Memorial
Lucas Oil Late Models and RUSH Late Models go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly, perfectly. Fans are in for a treat on October 2nd and 3rd when those two series are at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway for the Pittsburgher 100 and the Bill Hendren Memorial respectively. Not only will they see the stars of both series competing, they may also see drivers compete in both divisions. Last year saw both Max Blair and Carson Ferguson do double duty and battle for top ten finishes in all four feature events of the weekend. Fans also saw Jeremy Wonderling clinch his record 5th RUSH Touring Series championship, and young driver Ben Easler get his first career podium with the series.

Feel The RUSH At PPMS
The RUSH Late Model Touring Series will make two visits to PPMS, before the Bill Hendren Memorial race. The Herb Scott Memorial on April 18th will serve as the tour’s season opener, which should mean a very large car count for fans to enjoy. Then on July 25th fans should again enjoy a good car count for the Jook George Steel City Classic. If either of these races are like the 2025 Jook George Steel City Classic fans will be in for a treat, because Christian Schneider won his first career tour race beating not only his competitors but also the rain.

Super Dirt
A midweek modified show? Yes please! On Wednesday August 12th that is exactly what fans will get as the Super Dirt Car Series invades Sharon Speedway. Fans will get to see local drivers such as Rex King Jr, Will Thomas, and Garrett Krummert do battle against the stars of the Super Dirt Series like Mat Williamson, Matt Sheppard, and Alex Yankowski. Fans also may be treated with seeing NASCAR Truck Series star Stewart Friesen race with the Big Block Modifieds. Also on the card for the event are the 410 Winged Sprint Cars, making this a must see event.

RUSH Late Model Manufacturers’ Night
If you like good racing and a good car count then RUSH Late Model Manufacturers’ Night at Eriez Speedway on May 9th is a must attend. The RUSH Late Model Touring Series always gets a good car count, but one of the best they get all year is at their Manufacturers' Night at Eriez. Not only will fans see 40-50 RUSH Late Models compete, but they will also be treated to Super Late Models, UMP Modifieds, RUSH Stock Cars, and more.

Appalachian Mountain Speedweek At Marion Center
On Thursday June 11th fans will be able to attend a Appalachian Mountain Speedweek race at Marion Center Raceway. Paying $5,500 to win and $550 to start, fans will be treated to not only Western Pa’s best Super Late Model drivers competing but also Central Pa’s best. It will be a great opportunity for fans to see the likes of Rick Eckert, Gregg Satterlee, Colton Flinner, and Mike Norris do battle on the quarter mile bullring.

Pot Of Gold 3
For the third year in a row, PPMS will kick off the racing season in Western Pa. On March 21st fans will have the chance to see the FAST 410 Winged Sprint Car series do battle, along with the region's best Super Late Model drivers and Crown Vics on the same day. This event has a little bit of everything that fans want, from the speed of the sprint cars to the “rubbing is racing” of the late models. Circle this one on your calendars and hope for great weather because this is an event you do not want to miss out on.

These are 24 of the must see events in Western Pa this season. There are so many more races that I could have included such as the All Star doubleheader at Stateline, the ULMS race at Mercer, as well as the return of the RUSH Late Model Tour to Sharon. This season is one to be excited for in the region, and everyone should be able to find an event they will enjoy. Attend as many races as you can this season and support your local tracks as much as possible.

Colton Sutley

csutleymedia@gmail.com

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