BURNING BRIGHT: Overton wins second Firecracker 100

Brandon Overton’s expression in Victory Lane wasn’t what you’d expect. As he kissed the Firecracker 100 trophy and held it in the air, his smile showed signs of relief instead of excitement.

The Evans, GA driver won the Firecracker 100 for the second time Saturday at Lernerville Speedway. But he thought his luck may run out before taking the checkered flag.

“I’m glad to finish,” Overton said. “The [car] was darting like crazy and I was just waiting any minute for something to happen. Our luck’s been too good for nothing to go wrong.”

But nothing went wrong for Overton, who collected $30,000 Saturday and more than $36,000 in winnings over the weekend.

The victory comes at the same track he won his first crown jewel event at in 2017—a moment “Big Sexy” will never forget.

“[Lernerville] is special to me and this place is going to always be special to me,” Overton said. “I won my first big one here and to come back and do it with a different team means a lot to me.”

Overton bided his time at the start of the Feature. He dropped to fifth but worked his way back to second in the first 30 laps.

“Big Sexy” caught Chris Madden a few laps later and powered around the outside of the #44, taking the lead on Lap 41.

Overton’s car gave him a sign telling him he couldn’t wait any longer to strike.

“I was just trying to ride at the beginning, but I kept getting run over so I was like damn I better pick up the pace some,” Overton said. “When I felt like the tires were hot and I could feel it start pulling a little bit leaving the corner I said damn I need to go get him.”

The Firecracker 100 is Overton’s sixth win in his last seven races and 16th career World of Outlaws triumph.

Madden settled for second, after trading the position with Dennis Erb Jr. in the closing stages of the race.

The Gray Court, SC driver led the first 40 laps but felt he was missing something with the adjustments his team made before the Feature.

“We missed [the setup] just a little bit in the Feature [Saturday] and you can’t miss it with Overton right now, he’s definitely on,” Madden said.

Erb crossed the line third, after running second for most of the race as Madden snuck in traffic during the last few laps. “The One-Man Band” couldn’t get the car to run where he wanted it to and felt slower cars played a role in keeping him out of the runner-up spot.

“I just need to be able to run a little bit lower on the racetrack,” Erb said. “My car just wanted to drift out a little tonight, and I think if [Rick Eckert] wasn’t in the way we would’ve cleared him and ran second.”

Darrell Lanigan, the race’s hard charger finished fourth. The three-time Series champion worked the bottom of the racetrack passing 17 cars.

The Union, KY driver knew he put himself in a tough position, after qualifying through the Last Chance Showdown.

“The car was really good tonight you just can’t start that far back in these things and win these races,” Lanigan said. “There’s too many good cars up front.”

Three-time and defending champion Brandon Sheppard finished fifth—his third top five finish of the weekend. The New Berlin, IL driver leaves Lernerville Speedway with the Series points lead—58 points ahead of Madden.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models start its Northern swing with a doubleheader at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, MN on July 9-10.

Morton Buildings Feature (100 Laps)-1. 76-Brandon Overton [4][$30,000]; 2. 44-Chris Madden [2][$15,000]; 3. 28-Dennis Erb [8][$7,000]; 4. 29-Darrell Lanigan [21][$6,000]; 5. 1-Brandon Sheppard [5][$5,000]; 6. 111V-Max Blair [13][$4,500]; 7. 72-Mike Norris [7][$4,000]; 8. 25Z-Mason Zeigler [3][$3,500]; 9. 11H-Spencer Hughes [6][$3,000]; 10. 16-Tyler Bruening [9][$2,500]; 11. B1-Brent Larson [18][$2,300]; 12. 97-Cade Dillard [1][$2,200]; 13. 22F-Chris Ferguson [16][$2,100]; 14. 7-Ricky Weiss [15][$2,000]; 15. 2-Dan Stone [23][$1,800]; 16. 22-Gregg Satterlee [22][$1,700]; 17. 48-Colton Flinner [27][$1,600]; 18. 0E-Rick Eckert [14][$1,550]; 19. 19R-Ryan Gustin [11][$1,500]; 20. 58-Mark Whitener [12][$1,500]; 21. 10-Jared Miley [28][$1,500]; 22. 0-Scott Bloomquist [19][$1,500]; 23. 99B-Boom Briggs [24][$1,500]; 24. 8-Kyle Strickler [25][$1,500]; 25. 7R-Ross Robinson [26][$1,500]; 26. 72C-Jason Covert [20][$1,500]; 27. 119-Chub Frank [10][$1,500]; 28. 1C-Alex Ferree [17][$1,500]; 29. 25-Mike Benedum [29][$1,500] Hard Charger: 29-Darrell Lanigan[+17]

Uncle Sam Feature (30 Laps)-1. 25-Mike Benedum [2]; 2. O6-Mike Lupfer [5]; 3. 14-Dan Angellicchio [8]; 4. 0S-Ryan Scott [4]; 5. 23-Ahnna Parkhurst [6]; 6. 4-Gary Stuhler [7]; 7. 29S-Ken Schaltenbrand [20]; 8. 2T-Rich Wicker [12]; 9. 11-Joshua Powell [11]; 10. 311-Ken Monahan [13]; 11. 9-Levi Yetter [14]; 12. 16H-Clinton Hersh [9]; 13. 77-Tyler Dietz [15]; 14. 10L-Gary Lyle [3]; 15. 66-Todd Bachman [10]; 16. 26-Shawn Schaltenbrand [22]

[Read More]

Firecracker 100
June 24, 2021 to June 26, 2021
Lernerville Speedway
313 N Pike Rd
Sarver, PA 

Event Description
The historic World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series Firecracker 100 featuring $6,000-to-win 30 lap features Thursday and Friday, the Uncle Sam 30, and a$30,000-to-win 100 feature lap feature Saturday; plus the RUSH Late Model 10,000-to-win 50 lap Bill Emig Memorial.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Late Model Series

Sprint Car Track Record
12.334 seconds by Joey Saldana on 5/15/02

Late Model Track Record
14.812 seconds by Mike Marlar on 6/22/18

To Win Amount
$30,000.00

Feature Laps Length
100

Event Schedule
ORDER OF EVENTS
*All times and events subject to change*

Tuesday, June 22nd 2021
12 Noon Camping Opens

Wednesday, June 23rd 2021
11:00pm Camper load in continues
3pm – 5pm Vendor Parking
4pm-8pm Hauler Parking

Thursday, June 24th 2021
Noon – 4pm Vendor Parking Continues
4:00pm Pits Gates Open
5:00pm Main Gates Open
5:30pm Drivers Meeting
6:00pm World of Outlaw Late Model Hot laps (GWC)
World of Outlaw Late Model Qualifying (3 Cars/2 Laps)
RUSH Late Model Hot Laps (GWC)
Opening Ceremonies
World of Outlaw Late Model Heat Races (8 Laps)
RUSH Late Model Time Trials (4 Cars/2 Laps)
World of Outlaw Late Model Last Chance Showdowns (10 Laps)
World of Outlaw Late Model Feature (30 Laps) $6,000 to win
Victory Lane
Pits Open to all Fans
DJ Concert @ The Fan Stage

Friday, June 25th 2021
11:00am Pit Parking Begins
3:00pm Judging of the best tailgating & camp site party
3:30pm Ticket Box Office Opens
4:00pm Pit Gates Open
5:00pm Main Gates Open
5:30pm Drivers Meeting
6:00pm World of Outlaws Late Model Hot Laps (GWC)
World of Outlaws Late Model Qualifying (3 Cars/2 Laps)
RUSH Crate Late Model Hot Laps
Opening Ceremonies
World of Outlaws Late Model Heat Races (8 Laps)
RUSH Late Model Heat Races (10 Laps)
World of Outlaws Late Models Last Chance Showdowns (10 Laps)
RUSH Late Model Dash (6 Laps)
World of Outlaws Late Model Feature (30 Laps) $6,000 to win
Victory Lane
Firework Show
Pits Open to all Fans
Concert @ The Fan Stage

Saturday, June 26th 2021
Noon Slick Woody’s Corn Hole Tournament
3:00pm Pit Gates Open
3:30pm Advanced Ticket Gate opens for Autograph Session line-up
4:00pm Main Gates Open/ Autograph Session Starts
5:30pm Drivers Meeting
6:00pm RUSH Late Model Non-Qualified Cars Hot lap (GWC)
World of Outlaws Late Model Hot laps (W/ Heat Race Group)
Opening Ceremonies
World of Outlaws Late Model Heat Races (10 Laps)
RUSH Late Model Last Chance Showdowns (12 Laps)
World of Outlaws Late Model Last Chance Showdowns (10 Laps)
RUSH Late Model Qualified Cars Hot laps (GWC)
“Uncle Sam 30” ($2,000 to win or start the Firecracker 100)
Track Prep (if needed)
Driver Intro/Fireworks
“Firecracker 100” ($30,000 to win)
Victory Lane
RUSH Late Models “Bill Emig Memorial” (50 Laps) $10,000 to win
RUSH Late Model Non-Qualifier Race (15 Laps)
Pits Open to all Fans

**Sunday, June 27th 2021 – Firecracker 100 Rain Date**
*All times Eastern

Event Hashtag
#FIRECRACKER

To Win Amount
$30,000.00

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers

Stadium Seating
Small stadium seats are allowed

Handicapped Seating
In front of main concession stand

Handicapped Parking
In front of main gate

Pit Age Limit
No age Requirement

Pit Gate Location
North side of the track

Personal Coolers
Small (14") coolers are permitted, no glass or alcohol

ATMs
1

Credit Card Use
Pit Gate, Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is available at the track

Smoking Policy
No smoking in the grandstands

Family Section
Sec AA

Parking Cost
$0.00

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite, waste services

Camping Cost
$75 (ALL Weekend)

Closest Airport
Pittsburgh International

Other Airport
Latrobe

Lernerville Speedway
313 N Pike Rd
Sarver, PA 

Track Phone
(724) 353-1511

Ticket Phone
(844) 347-8849

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Size & Type
0.400;

Sprint Car Track Record
12.334 seconds by Joey Saldana on 5/15/02

Competitor Downloads
 https://www.dirtcarmembers.com/downloads.php