It will be an event to remember at Lernerville! The premier Northeast World of Outlaws Late Model race is now less than a week away.

Lernerville Speedway will present its second annual Firecracker 100 June 27-28. Friday's schedule of events includes time trials and heat races, followed by a fireworks display, and a post-race concert by local artists Nomad and Vanessa Campagna.

Saturday's festivities start at noon with a driver/fan horseshoe contest, and a music concert by Sarah Wilson. Later in the afternoon there will be a driver autograph session with every driver in the pits signing autographs under the grandstands.

Afterwards, the B, C, D-Mains will be run and the Uncle Sam 30 for non qualifiers, paying $3,000 to the victor. Then the prestigious Firecracker 100 will be presented with the coveted prize of $40,000-to-win for the 100-lap shootout.

What was the big announcement that Tony Stewart made at the Eldora Dream Late Model race?A new bronze statue of Berniece and Earl Baltes was unveiled at the track, prior to running the big event. Stewart commissioned an artist to create the work so that the founders of the half-mile speed-plant will always be looking over the facility.In addition to the statue, a new Late Model race will be added to the track's schedule each September to be known as the Baltes Classic. Fifty thousand dollars in prizes will be awarded to fans during this September race.

Shocking news: Former Lernerville Sprint Car Champion and World of Outlaws Sprint driver Tim Shaffer is no longer in the Parker Brothers #6 race car. Tim is seeking another ride.

Long time Sprint car owner, Bob Dionese, husband of Martha, passed away Monday after a long battle with cancer.Bob and Martha owned the #15 Purple Sprint cars driven for many years by Jerry Matus. In the past few seasons, they have had drivers Arnie Kent, Mike Lutz and this year Charlie Holben as their pilot. Our thoughts and prayers are with Martha.

NASCAR is following the lead of pop singer Rihanna's hit song, "Shut Up and Keep Driving."NASCAR President Mike Helton recently held a driver's meeting and the men were instructed to cease complaining about the "Car of Tomorrow (COT) in all interviews. He said they have a great sport, a good life, and alluded to the fact that fans have other choices. He asked the drivers to be positive.This is totally unprecedented; a meeting of this nature has never had to be held before.

Outlaws' Wolfe injuredWorld of Outlaw's Sprint driver Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, PA, was injured at Tri-City Speedway, Missouri. He fractured his C-4 vertebrae and will be out indefinitely.

Top gun Donnie Schatz was victorious in the Ollie's Outlet 360 Sprint NASCAR Challenge at Sharon Speedway Tuesday evening, lapping his owner Tony Stewart.Heat races were won by Schatz, Kasey Kahne, Robbie Blair Bryan Howland and Stevie Smith. During the past two weeks, Schatz has turned up the pressure on his competitors, racing to victory five times in the past eight events and finishing second twice.

Race cars ran without their roofs Tuesday night at Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Keith Barbara checkered the Super Late Model main over Jared Miley and Daryl Charlier won the Crate Late Models on "Topless Tuesday."

Before the races Sunday at Tri-City Speedway inFranklin, a Hall of Fame ceremony will be held. Those drivers to be inducted in the 2008 Hall of Fame class are former Super Sprint and Big Block Modified stars Lou Blaney of Hartford, Ohio, Ralph Quarterson of West Middlesex, Jim Magill of Zelienople and Johnny Axe of New Castle and former track announcer and promoter Bud Miller of Sharon, Pa. Magill was also a former pit steward at Tri-City.