Butler’s Brandon Spithaler is an intelligent, ambitious, hard-working and witty Sprint driver. His passion for racing began at the age of two when his father, Frank first took him to the races! Throughout the years, he has managed to balance his school studies with racing.

Spithaler currently leads the Fast on Dirt Sprint Racing Series point title. He has won seven feature events in 2024, four in this series. This group runs approximately 25 races in PA, Ohio, and Indiana. All shows are $3,000 to win, $300 to start. The Series point title boasts $15,000 to win. Aaron Fry has had this group for three years. He also created the Boss Wingless Sprint group.

Spithaler’s No. 22 (Jac Haudenschild’s number) competes in a total of 45 shows during the year. That would include All Star Sprints, World of Outlaws and other higher paying local purses. He is excited to compete in this newly founded group-High Limit Sprint race that will pay $50,000 to win, Tuesday, September 26 at Lernerville. It is the highest paying sprint car race in the 50-plus year history of Don Martin's Lernerville Speedway headlined by NASCAR Champion Kyle Larson and co-owner Brad Sweet. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be at the track!

Two weeks ago, Spithaler got a call to drive the McCandless No. 29 Sprint. Former driver Sye Lynch has mutually parted ways with that team and is piloting his own No. 42 Sprint in the All-Star Series. In New York, Spithaler drove the No. 29 on Friday and had a DNF. On Saturday, he finished ninth in the main event. However, Spithaler could not continue in the All-Star Series since he is locked into the FAST Sprint Series with four more races on the schedule.

His crew consists of Scott McClymonds, Travis Sharrar, Zach Morrow and supporting wife Nikita. Nikita works in the Mercy Health System and also at the Allegheny County Jail in mental health. His sponsors are Superior Tank and Trailer, Raven Trailer and Tony Burke Trucking. “I have to thank all of them for letting me drag them all over the country. Without them, I would not be where I am today.”

Spithaler has been racing since the age of 12. From 2003-06, he garnered 28 wins out of 99 Go-Cart starts. He ran the Sharon Limited Sprints from 2007-09. In 2007, he was declared the Rookie of the Year and in 2009 won the Sharon Limited Sprint Championship.

“It was really helpful to run the limited Sprints because 410 Sprints are very much the same- except for the power,” he said. “It got me acclimated to the car and how to drive one. Then it gets you ready to deal with more power.”

In 2010, he moved up to a partial season in the 410 Sprints as he graduated from Butler High School. It has been full time since then. He won his first 410 feature a Mercer Speedway in 2010. Spithaler captured the Lernerville 410 Sprint Championship in 2013 and he also commuted daily to Youngstown State University, where he graduated with honors in Mechanical Engineering and Math. That’s impressive. He managed to balance college studies with a racing career. He demonstrated determination, perseverance, and resilience.

In the future, Spithaler would like to have the opportunity to earn a competitive ride. Currently Spithaler’s job is with John Crane.

By the way, his grandparents, Frank and Rose Spithaler, who are in their 80s, will be competing in the Lernerville Bus races Saturday. They both are winners too!

Pro Stock driver Christian Schneider doesn’t always compete at the “Action Track” every week, but when he does, he’s a threat to win. The talented young pilot has two feature victories. He is employed by Chris Schneider at S&S Chassis. Chris Schneider is third on the All-Time pro Stock Win list with 33 victories. Oddly enough the two of them are not related.

Congratulations to Knoch senior, Levi Yetter and the Schaltenbrand family! Levi finally broke down that door and won career feature No. 1 at Marion Center! It has been a long time coming! On Saturday, September 9, it will be the Ken Schaltenbrand Sr Memorial ULMS Late Model race at Lernerville. (Levi’s late grandfather) He is hoping this will be his second victory.

Last week Tyler Dietz scored his first Pro Stock feature race at Sharon Speedway earning $2,000. Sharon Speedway opened in1929 and is for sale. It was recently listed for $3 million dollars by the Blaney, Weller and Kirilla families. Tri-City Speedway and Sportsman Speedway are also on the market.

AJ Flick won the Peluso Roofing Sprint feature and earned $5,000 for his 14th season victory. AJ would like to combine his forces with a few more sponsors or find a competitive ride in 2024.

I met 9-month-old cutie, Macey Matus this past weekend. Grandmother Jackie Matus said, “It is the best and worst job.” She just loves babysitting her son Brandon’s daughter all week but, it is the worst paying job!

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle