Earnhardt draws a crowd at Lernerville
BUFFALO TWP — Tuesday night, Sept. 26, marked Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s first visit to Lernerville Speedway.
Fellow newcomers to the track packed the bleachers, as much to catch a glimpse of the two-time Daytona 500 NASCAR winner as to take in the action on the dirt track.
Attendance sales for the Commonwealth Clash — a High Limit Sprint Car Series event — soared as word of Earnhardt’s appearance spread.
“I was like, ‘Oh, that’s a must go to,’” said David Alligood, of South Fayette. “I love racing. I’m usually into NASCAR. I haven’t really experienced dirt racing much, but this was an awesome introduction to it.
“Dale being here was kind of the reason.”
That Earnhardt was at a local race — rubbing elbows with faithful fans — was a treat for those who showed up.
Prior to the night’s race, Earnhardt spent time in the trailer of fellow driver Kyle Larson. A horde of fans gathered outside, waiting with memorabilia and hoping to get autographs while trying to snap pictures.
“He’s an icon,” said Lynn Decker, of Breezewood. “It’s pretty cool that somebody like that would come to a small track.”
Earnhardt has competed in hundreds of NASCAR races over a storied career.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Kristopher Trowbridge, of Somerset. “He’s coming away from the asphalt to check out the dirt side of things. You’re a lot closer to the drivers. In NASCAR, everybody is so far away from the drivers, you don’t get up close and personal.”
“(I was) surprised,” said Vaughn Wood, of Shelocta. “I didn’t really expect him at a dirt track.”
Dave Hess, of West Mifflin, was another fan who had not previously visited Lernerville. A follower of the sport for more than 25 years, he hurried to secure the opportunity to attend.
“I was very excited,” Hess said. “I just couldn’t believe it.”
The same was the case of Jim Hartle, of Petrolia.
“When I heard it, I instantly got my ticket,” Hartle said. “I was like, ‘I’m going.’ I got off of work. … His old man was my favorite.”
Earnhardt insisted on having an autograph session early in the day. Hartle, who said he watches races at Lernerville every Friday, was fortunate enough to get a signature on his blue Nationwide hat. He was wearing a shirt with the same sponsor to match.
Later in the evening, Hess was next in line to get Earnhardt’s autograph before security ushered the accomplished driver away.
“I felt sorry for him, he was, like, mobbed,” Alligood said. “They did a live podcast. That was awesome. I listen to that every week, so it was pretty cool to see that.”
“I’ve never been honestly around anybody that famous — or in a setting like that,” said Larson, a fellow NASCAR driver, in a television interview. “Just seeing the fans swarm him was wild.”
Nonetheless, Hess was thrilled to experience a new setting. “The crowd’s great, the cars are great, and I get to see Kasey Kahne!” he exclaimed as he waited outside the dirt-track driver’s trailer before the race.
Alligood, who works as a consultant, said his job’s flexibility has allowed him to go to most NASCAR tracks, but the atmosphere at the local oval was much more intimate.
“The access is awesome,” Alligood said. “Being able to kind of hang in the pits and be so close to the cars and the drivers is pretty sweet. It just has a great hometown kind of Pittsburgh feel, which you don’t see with NASCAR.”
More local racers and a tighter track mean more excitement, Wood said.
“I think it’s good,” Wood added about Earnhardt dropping by. “It’s going to help the track. It will help the sport.”
In Hess, Lernerville has at least one new regular.
“I’ll definitely come back,” Hess said.
Hartle hopes Earnhardt does, too.
“It would be great if he could come every year,” he said.
