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[Lernerville PR BigE]

Jim Fosnaught steals the show with emotional career first feature win
All Time Greats Swartzlander & Geisler win Pitkavish Memorials
New daddy Jack Sodeman Jr. dominates Ti22 Sprint feature
Cowboy Brian Steinman’s Benefit Auction doubles previous donations

Sarver, PA (August 3, 2012) On a night where the finest race fans in the world generously donated thousands of dollars to an injured driver’s benefit fund and a pair of All Time Greats padded their Hall of Fame resumes, it was a first time feature winner that stole the show. While emotions always run high in Sheetz Victory Lane when veteran drivers like Dean Pearson and Chuck Sarver score their first feature wins, there’s nothing like a Sportsman/Stock victory celebration as several drivers come to support their biggest rivals and that was the case again last night when fan favorite Jim Fosnaught led all 20 laps to score his first Fab Four feature win. Prior to Fosnaught’s breakthrough win, future Hall of Famers Brian Swartzlander and Lynn Geisler held of late race surges by Jeremiah Shingledecker and Jared Miley to make return visits to Sheetz Victory Lane, while Jack Sodeman Jr. dominated the Ti22 Sprint feature to score his second win of 2012.

The dual bonus nature of the Joe Pitkavish Memorial & Lernerville/Sharon Big Block Bonus Weekend of the Diehl Auto Group DIRTcar Modifieds feature allowed most recent feature winner Dave Murdick to qualify for a pill draw position in lieu of the standard 10th place on the starting grid; though he will start ninth next Friday. Murdick jumped out to a quick lead from the pole while Brad Rapp quickly came to third from ninth of the grid. By lap eight, Murdick had a full straightaway lead, but a caution on lap nine tightened the field back up and All Time Diehl Mods wins leader Brian Swartzlander had already ascended to sixth from 19th on the starting grid due to pulling out his backup car after winning his heat race. Rapp got crossed up in turns one & two on the restart and Swartzlander moved into third. Swartzlander was in second by lap 13 and was pursuing Murdick when he slowed dramatically on the back straightaway, giving Swartzlander the lead. Murdick rolled pitside with engine issues and did not return. Swartzlander, meanwhile, led the rest of the way but had to hold off a late charge by Defending Track Champion Jeremiah Shingledecker to score his third win of the season and milestone 75th career feature win.

Click here to read the entire Fab Four Race Report at Lernerville.com!