Brent Matus, a fixture in the racing community with an impressive 40-year career behind the wheel of a Sprint car, is contemplating stepping back from driving after the 2025 season.

In a move that signals his intention to focus more on the technical side of racing, Matus is planning to field another Sprint car for a veteran driver to pilot. Matus, known for his dedication and skill on the track, has been reflecting on his future in racing.

"After four decades of racing, I'm considering that 2025 might be my last season as a driver," Matus said. "It's been an incredible journey, but I'm feeling the pull to shift my focus."

The Matus family owns a bustling garage where Matus and his son, Brandon, work 10 hours a day. The demands of running the garage, coupled with the intense time commitment required to maintain and improve their race cars, have made it increasingly challenging for Brent Matus to balance his responsibilities.

"We're very busy at the garage, and I can't give as much time to improving the performance of both my car and Brandon's car," Matus said.

If he were to step back from driving, he believes he could dedicate more time to enhancing the race cars' performance, leveraging his extensive experience and mechanical expertise.

"I feel that if I wasn't driving, I could spend more time working on the race cars and really push our team to the next level," Matus said.

Brandon Spithaler was racing at Lernerville Speedway recently, not in his familiar No. 22, but in a car borrowed from fellow racer Brent Matus. Due to a temporary shortage of motors, Spithaler found himself unable to field his own car for the race. Determined not to miss out on any racing action, especially as he is currently leading the FAST 410 series points leaderboard, Spithaler reached out to Matus for assistance. Understanding the importance of maintaining his lead in the series, Matus offered one of his own cars to ensure Spithaler could compete.

“I’m grateful to Brent for stepping up and helping me out,” Spithaler said. “Every race counts when you’re in the lead, and I didn’t want to miss this opportunity. It’s going to be a different experience, but I’m ready to give it my all.”

The local “hot shoe” is leading the points for the FAST 410 series with 1,956 over Indiana’s Zane DeVault (1,905) and Michigan’s Bobby Elliot (1,374). With eight races left, Spithaler aims to overcome this temporary setback and continue his quest for the championship.

AJ Flick has secured his eighth 410 Sprint crown. He has now tied Big-Block Modified driver Brian Swartzlander for the most Lernerville titles ever won. Late Model Mike Norris’ seven feature wins this season has helped him to garner his fourth career championship.

Garrett Krummertt is the Big-Block Modified “King” for the second time; the other came in 2020.

Christian Schneider’s first Pro-Stock title is a sweet one for him. He defeated his boss, Chris Schneider, by 11 digits. For the remainder of the season, Schneider will be the new driver of the John Deller crate Late Model, replacing Jared Miley.

The Deller team will concentrate on the crate Late Model and park the Super Late Model. The team plans to run some races at Lernerville and Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. They also plan to go to Georgia in December for the $100,000-to-win crate Late Model race at Golden Isle Speedway. In 2025, they will also follow the RUSH Late Model Tour if things go well. Schneider will park his Pro Stock for the most part to concentrate on the Crate Late Model.

Scott Bloomquist, a towering figure in the world of Late Model racing, tragically died Friday in a plane crash on his family's farm in Mooresburg, Tennessee. He was 60 years old.

Bloomquist, widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the sport's history, was known for his skill and distinctive car, marked with the number zero and emblazoned with a skull and crossbones.

His 40-year racing career was storied and illustrious, highlighted by 600 victories that included three in the Lernerville prestigious “Firecracker 100” Late Model features. His legacy was cemented with his induction into the Late Model Hall of Fame in 2002.

Beyond his achievements on the track, Bloomquist played a crucial role in creating the World of Outlaws Late Model series. In early 2004, Bloomquist met with WoO representatives Bobby Jackson, Ted Johnson and Dave Blaney, alongside Lernerville promoters Tom and Lori Roenigk and Homer Bartley, at the Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. This meeting laid the foundation for the original WoO Late Model show, with Bloomquist promising that top drivers, known as the “Dirty Dozen,” would participate.

Lernerville Speedway was the first track to commit to hosting a Northern WoO event, a decision that brought credibility and spurred other tracks to join the burgeoning series. A $50,000 purse was risky, but Lernerville promoters had faith.

Bloomquist’s first appearance at Lernerville for the April race was memorable, not only for the thrilling competition, but also for an unexpected mishap. After heavy morning rain, Bloomquist accidentally drove down the wrong entrance at the track, sinking his trailer near the grass. Tom Roenigk and his dad Al “Ouch” Roenigk had to step in to rescue both Bloomquist and his equipment.

Despite the rocky start, the weather cleared, fans filled the stands and the night delivered one of the best Late Model races the track had ever seen, with Chub Frank taking the win.

Bloomquist's contributions to Late Model racing, both on and off the track, will be remembered by fans and fellow drivers alike. His death marks the end of an era in the sport, but his legacy will undoubtedly endure for generations to come.

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle