Sarver, PA (September 23, 2023) The High Limit Sprint Car Series makes its ninth opening of the season on Tuesday night with a historic battle at The Action Track as the $50,000-to-win Commonwealth Clash takes center stage. Last fall, series co-promoters Brad Sweet and Kyle Larson set out to craft a schedule of 12 races, with each taking place on a week night that could provide drivers with more opportunities to take part in large purse races in-between weekends that required their attendance at various tracks with other National Sprint Car touring events or their home tracks in central Pennsylvania, Iowa, or California. And when they started looking at venues, Lernerville immediately came to mind as a facility that checked the boxes required for one of their largest purse shows of the season.
"Lernerville is capable of hosting a big event with the infrastructure it has as far as stands, it can seat a lot of people,” Sweet said on a recent edition of the Hi Limit Room podcast. But it's one of the best race tracks and has been one for a very long time. It's put on great races over the years, it has a great following. I truly miss racing at Lernerville. It was a track that was tough at the beginning of my career but as we went on I've had a lot of success there and a lot of great battles there and a lot of great fans there. When it wasn't on our schedule with the World of Outlaws, it was at the top of my list for the High Limits and they were super thankful. It was a super easy partnership to start up and obviously for $50,000-to-win on Tuesday night is going to get everybody’s attention, throw in a little Dale Jr. and hopefully a lot of fans, and Kyle and Rico (Abreu) can battle it out and I’m looking forward to it because I can race in it too.”
However, aside from the history of the facility and impressive infrastructure and logistics of the speedway, the intriguing surface and substantial width of the track were key players in making sure that Lernerville wound up a high priority when it was time to plan the 12 race tour.
"If it's anything like it was when I ran the All Star race this year, it was slick,” Larson said. “ I've been there a few times when it was just ice and it's hard to get traction, you feel like it takes forever to get down the backstretch and you get the wing all the way back early on and you're searching for anything you can do to get grip. It's just a great track because you can run all over it. I’ve seen Brad get it going there late in the race with the wing in the trunk on the cushion, you get Donny (Schatz) on the bottom, Rico is going to be real fast. If there is moisture there’s a tricky curb, it’s just a cool place. It’s wide with a lot of options. “
The pair was also delighted when they received the news that NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. would be stopping by to do a live edition of the Dale Jr. Download, a podcast which is now in its 11th season with over 400 shows in its archive. Earnhardt had recently helped Larson with promoting an asphalt race, and on August 24, announced that he would make his way to Lernerville to return the favor for the Commonwealth Clash.
“I just think it’s awesome,” Larson said. “It was his idea too. He came to me at North Wilkesboro and asked if I’d run a CARS Tour race for him and he would come to support one of our events , so I thought it was amazing that it was already on his mind and I’m excited to have him there. I really hope he enjoys his time and I hope he thinks the racing is cool as we all do and I hope the fans give him a little bit of space so he can enjoy it.” ¬¬
The stage is getting set for the richest Sprint Car race in Lernerville Speedway history as the World’s Finest Race Fans are getting ready to enjoy a night with the world’s finest Sprint Car drivers who will be making their way to The Action Track from all corners of the country and beyond!
Tickets are available online at Lernerville.com with reserved seating priced at $50. Reserved seats are those found in the top half of the seating area marked with red painted bleachers and numerals. Simply pick out your own seat on our seating map and enjoy the night from where you like. General admission seating is available for $40 and just announced last week; infield seating is now available for $40. Come bring your lawn chair and enjoy the historic night as close to the action as possible from track level! Tickets will also be available at the gates on race night; however, all tickets purchased in advance will receive a free pit pass upgrade at the track at one of our upgrade areas located near the entrance gate.
Pit gates will open at 2 PM on Tuesday, September 26 with grandstands opening at 4 PM. Hot laps followed by Capitol Renegade Qualifying will commence at 6:15 PM with opening ceremonies scheduled for 7:15 PM. Tickets are selling fast, so make your plans to join us as soon as possible!
- Gary Heeman on Sep 23, 2023
- Article Date: 9/23/2023