Alex Ferree and Russ King lead local contingent into Firecracker 100 w

[rebelracewriter]

Alex Ferree and Russ King lead local contingent into Firecracker 100 weekend

 

 

 

Sarver, PA (June 24, 2015) The eyes of the national Dirt Late Model community are soon to be squarely focused on Lernerville Speedway for the 9th Annual Firecracker 100 presented by www.GottaRace.com this Thursday-Friday-Saturday, June 25-26-27. Local drivers Alex Ferree and Russ King are ready to defend the Action Track! Ferree is a five-time Track Champion and fifth all time in Lernerville Late Model wins. Russ King took a different path to this point; following the World of Outlaws Late Model Series tour and winning their 2009 Rookie of the Year Award. Ferree (2) and King (3) account for five wins in the seven races contested so far this season and each look forward to hosting the best Late Model drivers in the country for one of the Crown Jewels of the sport.

 

 

 

Alex Ferree is locked into Saturday Nights $30,000-to-win, 100-lap Firecracker A-Main, but will not rest on his laurels, You cant start in the back of the field against these guys in the Firecracker and hope to do anything. Im not saying Im planning on winning or anything, but Id like to be competitive and be in the top ten for the big show.

 

 

 

Despite wanting to put on a show for the local fans and take a shot at the $30,000 grand prize, local drivers also have to be cognizant of the big picture and not mortgage the rest of the season for a 100-lap mid-summer race. Ferree explained the decision that comes into play between going for it and preserving the equipment for the stretch run of the season, It all depends on where youre running. Last year I actually started up front and was running in the top ten for the first 20 laps, but the engine got hot so I had to pull off. If Im in the back and get lapped early, Ill probably pull off, but if were up front or in the middle of the pack Ill stay out there and see what happens, it all depends on where youre at.

 

 

 

King has a different perspective on the same topic. Having won the $3,000-to-win Uncle Sam 30 twice, King considers the virtues of running 70 fewer laps for a solid payday in the non-qualifiers race versus running 100 laps against formidable odds. Id almost rather just run the Uncle Sam and win that three grand and be over with it, but theres no guarantees you win that either. He actually thinks a local driver has a better shot to win one of the $6,000-to-win preliminary features on Thursday or Friday night, People tell me, Well you got a chance!, and maybe you do in the preliminaries, but 100 laps and not running the 10s (referring to the Hoosier LM 10 tires which are an option for weekly competition, but not for the Firecracker), a lot of these guys have no idea what they have on the 20s and its going to be tougher!

 

 

 

When asked whether his experience on tour is an advantage for him, King explained Its actually a disadvantage because I know those guys pretty well and it turns into a BS session and their always dealing with new stuff. This is what happens at Lernerville; they figure stuff out on the road and we find out about it two weeks later, so you always try to stay ahead of the curve, but sometimes thats not good. You know you gotta run at a hard level, but anymore, when you come here you gotta run at a high level any time. You saw when Darrell (Lanigan) and Chub (Frank) were here a few weeks ago a race that King won by passing Lanigan for the lead it wasnt just me. Michael (Norris), Alex (Ferree) and (Mike) Pegher were right there too. Anyone can run with those guys, they just make less mistakes!

 

 

 

Off the track, both drivers enjoy the laid back, three-day race weekend. Ferree looks forward to being able to hang out for the weekend, The whole weekends just neat. You get to see a lot of people you dont see a lot because theyre out travelling and get to meet a bunch of fans during the autograph session. Its just a great weekend!

 

 

 

King likes to have a little bit more fun; Drinking beer and having fun, thats the honest truth. We come here on a Friday, live two hours away, get here at 6:30 and its chaos. So for the Firecracker, Its nice just to have my stuff here, park for three days and then win, lose, crash, fight or draw its just low key.

 

 

 

Driver of the iconic #1 Cochran Late Model Mike Pegher Jr., like Ferree, is locked into the Firecracker 100 A-Main by virtue of his standing in Lernervilles Budweiser Point Standings. The rest of the local contingent from the ultra-competitive Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models will have to race their way into the 100-lapper; including Russ King. The unique Firecracker format gives drivers multiple opportunities to make their way into the show. The best finish of Thursday or Friday nights Preliminary A-Mains (and B-Mains where applicable) will set the heat race lineups for Saturdays Firecracker Finale. Plus, if Ferree or Pegher races their way into a better starting position, the track provisional falls to the next highest driver in the Budweiser Point standings, which currently consists or Jared Miley, Russ King, Michael Norris and Ken Schaltenbrand.

 

 

 

In addition to the three complete shows of on-track racing action, there will be a wide variety of off-track entertainment and interactive fan activities, starting with the Froggy Hometown Country Tour Thursday night after the races. National recording artists LOCASH will bring their red hot song I Love This Life to the Firecracker stage along with opening acts Abby from Hillbilly Way and Cody Gibson.

 

 

 

Fridays activities begin at 1:00PM with the Firecracker 100 Kick-It Cup charity kickball game featuring dozens of drivers and a benefit auction. After Fridays racing action, fireworks will light up the sky, and then the Justin Fabus Band will light up the Firecracker stage along with opening acts Bridgett McCrum and Vanessa Campagna.

 

 

 

Saturday afternoon is chock full of fan-interactive activities starting with the fan/driver horseshoe and cornhole tournaments at 12:00, then the always popular driver autograph session at 4:00.

 

 

 

The $69 Advance Reserved ticket package is available online at Lernerville.com through Wednesday at 11:59PM. The $69 three-day package includes FREE fan pit pass upgrades for Thursday and Friday Night preliminaries and priority access to the driver autograph session. There are also a vast array of single, two and three-day day of show ticket options available at the gates upon arrival.