SARVER, PA (October 18, 2026) – The herd is in. For the eighteenth season, scores of racers invaded Lernerville Speedway for the Steel City Stampede. The multi-divisional, season-endling extravaganza traces its roots to the days of Fall Fest at the defunct Challenger Raceway, which was located in nearby Indiana County. This season, 232 cars lined the Lernerville pits, which is down from years past when Enduro Cars would swell the car counts in excess of 300.

Earning the belt buckles (the traditional Stampede trophies) were the following:  Brandon Spithaler (410 Sprints, first time champion), Michael Norris (Late Models, five time champion), Garrett Krummert (Modifieds, two time champion, plus three RUSH Sportsman Modified championships), Chris Schneider (Penn Ohio Pro Stocks, seven time champion), Jeremy Wonderling (RUSH Late Models, first time champion), Braeden Blackshear (RUSH Sprints, first time champion), Darin Gallagher (RUSH Sportsman Modified, first time champion), Ty Rhoades (E-Mod, three time champion), Camden Frantz (Four Cylinder Mini Stocks, first time champion), Justin Bailey (Six Cylinder Mini Stocks, first time champion), Leyton Wagner (305 Sprints, first time champion), Garrett Wolfe (Crown Vic, first time champion), and Wally Stock (Vintage, two time champion).

In addition, there was a non-qualifiers race held for the RUSH Late Models. It was won by Steve Baldwin.

410 Sprints

In the first feature event of the day, Brandon Spithaler made a dramatic last lap pass coming off turn four to earn his first belt buckle. He was the fourth and final leader of the twenty-five lap event. He edged multi-time track champion, A.J.  Flick by 0.353 seconds.

Zach Morrow led the first two circuits. However, he lost the lead to Flick on lap three, following a restart. Flick’s time out front was limited to one lap, as Dan Kuriger slipped ahead on the next trip around the speedway.

Kuriger rode the extreme outside line to maintain the lead for the next seventeen laps, However, Flick slid under him in turns three and four to take the lead on lap twenty-two. Spithaler made the same move one lap later to take over second.

It appeared as though Flick had the race sewn up. However, Spithaler stayed close enough to be a threat.

Flick closed in on a lapped car on the final lap. He hesitated entering turn three, and that gave Spithaler the opportunity that he needed. Flick floated through the middle of the final two corners, leaving the bottom open for Spithaler. He pounced.

Spithaler blasted to the inside of Flick, He pulled even in turn four and won the race to the scoring loop.

“It was fun,” Spithaler said. “Hopedully, it was good for the fans.”

Kuruger was third, followed by John Jerich, and Leyton Wagner, who started on the inside of row nine. Carl Bowser, Cole Knopp, Morrow, Hayden Miller, and Jacob Begenwald rounded out the top ten.

Flick and Brandon Matus won the pair of heats conducted on Saturday night. There was no B Main needed for the eighteen cars that checked in.

Late Models

Michael Norris grabbed his fifth belt buckle in the twenty-five lapper for the Late Models. He battled the early leader, Levi Yetter, for most of the race. Their contest featured several lead changes. Remarkably, there was a brief interval when Yetter got shuffled back to fourth, but he came storming back to regain the lead from Norris for a couple of laps near the end of the contest.

However, Norris ripped the lip in turns one and two on the final restart to take the lead away from Yetter for the final time on lap twenty-four. Norris shut the door on him entering turn three to secure the win.

“I tried about three or four times to give that one away,” Krummert said. “I thought that it would come down to whoever snookered who on the restarts. That’s my weakness.” However, he turned his weakness into an advantage when it mattered the most.

Colton Flinner was third, ahead of Tyler Wyant, and Caiden Black. Positions six through ten went to Ken Schaltenbrand, Jon Lee, Alex Ferree, Jared Miley, and Chris Schneider.

Saturday’s heat wins went to Wyant, Lee, and Flinner. Sunday’s B Main belonged to Nick Eck. Twenty-eight cars participated in the event.

Big Block Mods

Garrett Krummert avoided the biggest upset of the weekend when he raced past veteran newcomer Allan Hammond on lap twenty-four of the Big Block Modified race. The win was Krummert’s second in the class during the Stampede. He also has three RUSH Sportsman Modified titles to his credit.

Krummert led the first six laps of the race, but Hammond was lurking in his shadow. Hammond used the low line coming off turn two to pass Krummert. The New Hampshire driver, who was making his first start at the Action Track, kept Krummert at bay for sixteen laps, including several double file restarts.

However, Krummert had just too many chances to get by him on restarts. The last one came with two laps remaining. Krummert got a big run on Hammond through turns one and two. He edged ahead coming off turn two and won the race to the third turn, He shut the door on Hammond entering turn three. Hammond missed the bottom, and that allowed Noah Walker to scoot past him. Ayden Cipriano passed Hammond on the final lap to take third.

Jackson Kristyak was fifth, followed by Todd English, Colton Walters, Rick Regalski, Jeremiah Shingledecker, and Chelsie Gallagher.

Rex King, Jr., Rob Kristyak, and Walker, topped Saturday’s heat races. There was no B Main needed to set the twenty-five car field.

Pro Stocks

Chris Schneider, who was doing triple duty this weekend, had his best run in the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks. He earned his seventh title in the class by leading the entire twenty-five laps.

Jacob Dietz ran second through lap twenty-four. Brandon Connor got around him on the final lap. Mike Miller was fourth and Jackson Humanic fifth.

Logan Koteles, Jason Fosnaught, Chase Lambert, Dale Tuche, and Brett McDonald completed the top ten.

Cody Koteles, Schneider, Dietz, and Curtis J. Bish on the Saturday preliminaries. The fastest qualifier was Cody Koteles, with a lap during Group A of 18.927 seconds. Dietz topped Group B with a lap of 19.141 seconds. Rocky Kugel won the B Main held on Sunday.

RUSH Late Models

Jeremy Wonderling led wire-to-wire to get his first belt buckle. He also clinched the RUSH Touring Series championship and, earlier, he won the RUSG Weekly Series title. His total winnings amounted to $29,000.

Wonderling set a brisk pace despite several interruptions. Kurt Stebbins ran second in the early going, but he surrendered the position to Michael Norris on lap nine. Norris slipped to fourth for one lap  following a restart, but he rallied to regain second on the next circuit.

Jason Knowles, Christian Schneider, and Bill Holmes completed the top five. The next five finishers were Stebbins, Ben Easler, Austin Allen, Brett Marlatt, and Matt Dobnak.

Norris, Christian Schneider, Demetrios Drellos, and Stebbins won heat races on Saturday. The fastest qualifiers were Drellos in Group B (18.181) and Norris in Group A (18.609). Logan Stockdale and Marlatt shared the B Main honors on Sunday. Stave Baldwin won the Non-Qualifiers Race.

RUSH Sprints

Fourteen-year-old Vraeden Blackshear scored his first ever win in the RUSH Sprint Cars. He led all twenty laps to get his first belt buckle.

Wyatt Long was second, followed by Cooper Macormac, Devon Deeter, and Ashton Riggle. Trent Marshall, Zach Morrow, Ricky Tucker, III, Jesse Armstrong, and Kevin Kasserman were the next five finishers.

Long and Blackshear split the heat wins on Saturday. There was no B Main.

RUSH Sportsman Modifieds

Darin Gallagher led from start to finish to score his first Stampede championship in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. Kole Holden was second the entire way.

Third went to Karston King, followed by Todd English and Kyle Hanshaw. Jacob Rutana, Leyton Wagner, Dalton Gabriel, Jordan Ehrenberg and Ryab Riffe were sixth through tenth.

Holden and Karston King prevailed in the Saturday preliminaries. There was no B Main.

E-Mods

Ty Rhoades led all twenty laps for his third Stampede triumph. Chris Schneider worked his way up to second in the first half of the event and he held it to the finish.

Dennis Lunger, Jr., Chad Ramsey, and Jeremy Holbrook, Jr. were the balance of the top five. Then came Tyler Rendell, Brian Whitmeyer, Bud Watson, Derek Tessean, and Alex Siekkinen.

Andrew Hammond and Lunger won the heats on Saturday. There was no B Main.

Mini Stocks

Due to the small turnout of Six Cylinder Mini Stocks, those cars were blended with the Four Cylinder Minis for racing. The overall win went to a Four Cylinder driven by Camden Frantz. The best finishing Six Cylinder was steered by Justin Bailey. He was tenth overall.

Positions two through nine went to Josh Frantz, Tim Bish, Matt Kiesel, David Seibert, Greg Kiehl, Josh Whetstone, Mike Phillipson, and Allen Robinson.

Josh Frantz and Camden Frantz won their heats on Saturday. There was no B Main.

305 Sprints

Leyton Wagner, another triple duty driver, saved his best performance for the last. He led wire-to-wire for the win in the IMCA 305 Sprints. After taking over second on lap three, Jeremy Kornbau held that position to the finish.

Greg Dobrosky, Shelb Kelly, Tim Robertson, Rocco Capelli, Mike Schellhaas, and Bella Begenwald were the remaining finishers. Josh Hartman did not start the race.

Kornbau was the heat winner on Saturday. There was no B Main.

Crown Vics

Garrett Wolfe led the first three laps and then fell back to eighth. He battled back to the lead on lap twelve, only to lose it one lap later. He regained the lead for good on lap fourteen.

Branden Porter was second, followed by Griffin Williams, Mike Bakalon, Matthew Eiselman, Devon Thompson, Brian Krepps, and Bill Fuchs.

Bradley Shaffer, Mike Matta, Justin Myers, and Bryan Fee did not start the finale.

Porter was the heat winner on Saturday. There was no B Main.

Vintage

Wally Stock drove a Blackie Watt inspired Modified to the win in the final event of the Stampede. Brayden Miller, Vincenzo Fiurillo, Noah Wirginis, and Jim Kurpakis were second through fifth. The remaining finishers were Ron Ramsey, Jeff Walters, Paul Bacchus, and John Radvansky.

Miller was the heat winner Saturday. There was no B Main.

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (October 17, 2026):  Danny Dietrich romped to the win in the Final 50 at Lincoln Speedway. He earned $20,000, which included the $5,000 bonus for leading at the halfway mark. It was his sixty-ninth career win, which is the highest of all active drivers. The Gettysburg driver sits fifth, behind Fred Rahmer, Sr., Steve Smith, Bobby Allen, and Kenny Weld, all of whom are inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

Dietrich, who made a bold outside pass in turn four to go from third to the lead on lap eighteen, explained that he wanted the bonus money. “I was prepared to hit the wall, but I hit some dirt instead, and I got the lead.” He added that Dylan Norris, who simultaneously peeled off to the bottom in his bid to move from second to the lead, “must have used up his tire.”

Dietrich noted that, after taking the lead in such a dramatic fashion, his car started to sputter. “It ran out of fuel under the yellow.”

In addition to adding fuel, Dietrich and company made wholesale changes to his car during the mid-race break. “We changed the whole car.” He mentioned that they went back to the same set-up that he used successfully to advance from seventh to third in his heat race. They also made an adjustment to the motor because he “didn’t want the car to fire off too quickly.” He added, “I wanted to pace myself. I was hoping that it would go non-stop (in the second half).”

The changes worked out perfectly. “The car was really good. It was really fun to drive,” he said. “It was like driving a Cadillac.”

It took three tries to get the race started. There was a false start on the initial attempt. The second was nullified by a spin by Tyler Ross in turn two. The third was the charm, especially for the pole sitter, Brandon Rahmer.

Rahmer established the early lead, with intermittent pressure coming from Dylan Norris. Norris looked to the inside on several occasions. While he was able to pull alongside the leader, he could not get his nose out front. Matt Campbell, Cameron Smith, and Billy Dietrich followed in the early going.

However, Danny Dietrich wasted little time in moving into contention. In just five laps, he climbed from tenth to fifth. He was third by lap ten. He remained there until lap eighteen, which was when he swept around Rahmer and Norris to assume control.

Two other racers were also making tremendous forward progress during the first half of the contest.

Chase Dietz, who started twelfth, reached the top ten on the opening lap. He was eighth at lap five, and seventh on lap ten, when the first caution was displayed for Buddy Schweibinz. Dietz cracked into the top five four laps later. He moved up one more spot by the halfway mark.

Anthony Macri was also on the move. After transferring from the B Main and starting twentieth, Macri was all the way up to tenth by lap ten. He picked up two more positions by lap fifteen and one more by lap seventeen, when the second caution came out for Jude Siegel. Macri was fifth at the break.

The starting order for the second half had Danny Dietrich on the point, followed by Norris, Rahmer, Dietz, Macri, Cameron Smith, Logan Rumsey, Campbell, Troy Wagaman, Jr., and Ryan Smith.

Danny Dietrich drove away from the field in the second half, which did go non-stop. Dietz took third on lap twenty-six and he advanced to second three laps later.

Danny Dietrich stretched his lead despite the lapped traffic. He was able to roll around the outside most of the way, while the slower cars were racing in the middle or on the bottom of the track. Dietz was not as strong as Dietrich was on the top, so he moved down to pick his way through the backmarkers.

Macri battled with Cameron Smith during much of the second half. Macri took third position on lap thirty-one, with Cameron Smith right behind him. They continued their struggle to the finish.

Danny Dietrich had a margin of more than four and a half seconds at the checkers. Dietz was second, followed by Macri, Cameron Smith, and Norris. Justin Whittall, Campbell, Rumsey, Wagaman, and Ryan Smith rounded out the top ten.

The anticipated battle for the Lincoln Speedway championship did not materialize. Freddie Rahmer, Jr. was absent due to an injury suffered Friday at his place of employment. So, Dietz claimed his third track championship of 2026 by default.

Dietz maintained his lead of 112 points in the PA Posse Series. However, Danny Dietrich moved fifteen points ahead of Wagaman for second in the standings. Three races remain on the tour schedule.

Cameron Smith, Rumsey, and Billy Dietrich scored heat race victories. Schweibinz took the B Main in his family-owned car. Norris was the evening’s fastest qualifier, turning in a time of 14.368 seconds. Twenty-nine cars entered the event which closed out the season in the Pigeon Hills.

In the 358 Sprint Car division, Chase Guttshall went wire-to-wire to score his first win of the season and second of his career at Lincoln Speedway. Dylan Smith ran second the entire twenty laps.

Ashley Cappetta was running strong in third place until lap fifteen when she had a mechanical failure. That handed the position to Jayden Wolf who held it to the end of the race. His third place finish was more than enough to secure his first track point title.

Brock Hammaker was fourth, followed by Logan Spahr, Matt Findley, Chase Robinson, Chris Arnold, Steve Owings, and Andy Best.

Tylar Rutherford flipped his mount in turn two during the feature event, collecting several other cars. He was not injured. One of those involved was Cody Fletcher who was second in the points. Fletcher was able to continue, but was never a factor in the race.

Guttshall, Smith, and Findley won the preliminaries. There was no B Main needed to set the twenty-five car field.

SARVER, PA (October 15, 2026):  Rex King Jr. kicked off the Steel City Stampede weekend with a Thursday win in a BRP Modified Tour race held over from September 19.

“That’s just my luck,” King Jr. lamented after being reminded that the race did not award any points toward the series championship. Indeed, after the race was postponed from its original date, Modified Tour officials determined that the make-up date would not be a points race. As such, Erick Rudolph–who was absent on this night–was declared the 2026 series champion.

However, King Jr. also had some good luck in this event.

First, he survived the opening lap. He started next to his son, Karston, who teased his father that he was going to run him up the track in turn one. The boy was not close enough to make good on his good-natured “threat.” In any event, King Jr. admitted that he was not worried about it.

Second, the lap after he lost the lead to Garrett Krummert on a restart required because Karston stopped coming off turn four, King Jr. got a second chance when Rob Kristyak brought out another caution. This time, King Jr. nailed the restart and he rolled through the middle of turns one and two to regain the lead. after the race, King Jr. poked some fun at his son for bringing out the caution that enabled Krummert to take the lead for that one lap. “He almost cost me the race.” King Jr. then added, with a laugh, “he’s got to pull off when daddy’s leading.”

Third, King Jr. brought his mount home in one piece despite suffering a bent steering wheel after he bounced through a rough patch of the track between turns three and four. King Jr. noted that he’s never had a steering wheel get bent due to adverse track conditions. “It got a little rough and it bent my steering wheel. That’s the first time that ever happened to me.”

In conclusion, King Jr. switched back to a jocular mode. “We got to get him (Karston) going so I can get out of this $h!t.”

King Jr. reached turn one well ahead of his son at the start of the thirty-five lapper. This, he was able to establish a lead of several car lengths over the teen on the opening lap. Kyle Fink watched this unfold from his third position. He was followed by Dave Murdick, Macey Adamik, Krummert, Rick Regalski, Colton Walters, Dr. Brad Rapp, and Jackson Kristyak.

Dr. Rapp brought out the first caution, on lap one, with damage to his front suspension.

When the race resumed, Fink got under Karston King for second in the first turn. Krummert then shuffled the third generation driver back to fourth later on lap two.

Chad Brachmann, in a second Regalski entry, triggered the next caution, on lap four.

Fortunately, the yellow fever abated somewhat after that. The racers completed twelve laps under the green, with King Jr. stretching his lead over Fink. Krummert ran in third, followed by Murdick and Karston King.

The caution came back out again for Jackson Kristyak on lap sixteen. This time, the field completed ten laps under the green, with King Jr. again leading the way. At the end of the run, Fink tangled with a lapped car and he sustained a flat tire, ending his night. That elevated Krummert to second for the restart, with Murdick, Walters, Karston King, and Regalski making up the second and third rows.

Unfortunately, a second bout of yellow fever broke out, as cautions on laps twenty-eight and twenty-nine slowed the pace.

Following the lap twenty-eight restart, Krummert repeated his diamond move in turns one and two. This time, the maneuver was successful and he was scored as the leader for one lap. He opted for the inside line for the next restart, and that gave King Jr. the middle groove. King Jr. was called for a jump on that restart but no additional penalty was imposed. Even though King Jr. exercised some patience on the second try, he was able to roll past Krummert in turn one to regain the lead.

The final six laps were completed without further interruptions. King Jr. took the checkers almost three seconds ahead of Krummert. Regalski clawed his way into third, followed by Murdick and Empire State driver Noah Walker. Walters, Ayden Cipriano, Adamik, Karston King, and Rodney Beltz completed the top ten.

The qualifications were completed on September 19 before the rain settled in. Karston King, Krummert, and Steve Feder were the heat winners that night. No B Main was held. Twenty-one of the scheduled twenty-six starters were on hand for the make-up race.