Rick and Michele Hetrick are in the process of buying Tri-City Speedway in Franklin. They plan to keep the facility operating the same as it did in 2008, but they plan to add motocross, quads and go-carts.

Tri-City concluded its 2008 season last week, when Alan Dellinger captured the 12th annual Applefest 100 for the Pro Stocks. Dellinger collected a race-record $3,350 in prize money in the finale.

In other racing news:

• Lernerville Speedway will have a two-day show this weekend. Modified Madness will be the first day of the annual Autumn-Motive Fest. Tonight, The Super DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds are back. The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series contingent is led by series points leader Billy Decker. They will do battle with Lernerville Speedway-BRP Modified Tour drivers in the $6,000-to-win North-South 100 portion of Modified Madness. Small Block Modifieds and Mod Lites divisions also are on the bill.

On Saturday, the UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks will have their Super Bowl Street Stock Pandemonium, with $2,000 on the line for the winner. Last year, Mike Pegher Jr. capped his championship season by taking home the big check. The second $1,000-to-win 100-lap Enduro of the season is also on tap for Saturday.

• Mercer Raceway Park will host the 20th annual Western Pennsylvania Sprint Championship Saturday. The drivers will be running 30 laps and the winner gets $2,000. Joining them on the racing card are the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series, E-Mods, Mod Lites and Mini Stocks. This will be the final night of points.

• Defending champion Bobby Henry stood atop the points standings at Motordrome Speedway until last week. His Super Late Model failed to start when the field was summoned for the weekly 40-lap feature. Three-time Motordrome champ Richard Mitchell now is two points ahead going into the last racing program of the season tonight.

"We couldn't script this kind of drama if we were writing our own plot for the 2008 season," said Motordrome promoter Stan Lasky. "It's former champion versus former champion, Ford versus Chevrolet, and Pennsylvania versus West Virginia. What more could the fans ask for?"

• Lonny Riggs captured the 25-lap Bill Emig Memorial Modified title, pocketing $1,500 for his third victory of the season at Mercer Raceway Park. After having a tough 2008 season, Carl Bowser got the monkey off his back and garnered a career-first Sprint feature win worth $1,500 in the 25-lap non-stop event.

• Steve Baker continued his hot hand and picked up his sixth feature win of the season and 36th career Late Model win at the track at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Daryl Charlier earned his fifth win of the season and third straight in the E-Mods. Dennis Curry, driving his son Dusty's Crate Late Model, picked up his first win in several seasons. Pat Hanley earned his first PPMS win in the Pure Stocks.

• On Oct. 4, Lernerville Speedway will host the inaugural Y108 Thrillbilly Country Bash, featuring Grammy Award winner Leeann Womack. Special guest The Lost Trailers will also perform, along with the Chris Higbee Project, NOMaD and Sarah Marince. In addition to the concert, there will be a monster truck show featuring Aftershock and Warrior, as well as the Americrush monster truck ride. Yes, you can ride in a monster truck. The show will end with a fireworks display and huge a bonfire.

• Jeremy Miller is the King of the Knob in UFo event at Roaring Knob. Miller led all 51 laps, earning $5,500 in the 42-car field. Area drivers Keith Barbara was fourth, Gregg Satterlee, fifth, Jared Miley seventh and Alex Ferree eighth.

• The Sharon Speedway will be dark Saturday as final preparations are made for the Apple Festival Nationals that will be held Sept. 20 and 21st. The two-day event will include the ASCS Sprints, which will run a complete program both days, as well as the BRP/Hoosier Race Tires Modified Tour '08 and the Pure Stocks. The Modifieds will be contending in the $3,000.00-to-win Russ King Memorial. The Pure Stock drivers will be competing for a $500 first-place prize.

• The annual old-timers event will be held at Eracer's Go Kart Park and Banquet Hall in Butler from 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 15. The club will provide the main course for the meal and drinks. Guests attending can bring covered dishes or desserts.

Carol Gamble is the racing columnist for the Butler Eagle.