The local racing community lost one of its biggest supporters this week with the death of James "Red" Miley at the age of 53.
Miley owned Motordrome Speedway, and along with his family under the guise of Miley Motorsports, he helped run Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway.
Miley got started in racing back in the late 1960s, when he purchased a car that was driven by his then 18-year old brother, Ben. Jerry Miley, then 17, was the car's chief mechanic. Miley Motorsports continued to expand and included younger brother, Matt, and sister, Ty.
Red's nephew, Jared, one of the area's top young Late Model drivers, and Ben continue racing.
Motordrome Speedway ran a complete show Friday, and it was the same at Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway, where Ben and Jared raced their Late Models. Jared finished 10th in the feature, and Ben was 15th.
It was Red's wish that both tracks race as scheduled.
Jared also races at Lernerville Speedway and finished third in Friday's feature.
Miley purchased Motordrome Speedway in 2001, and Miley Motorsports leased Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway until it completed a purchase of the track in '04.
Miley is survived by his wife and three daughters. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Hershberger-Stover Inc. Funeral Home in Crafton. A funeral service will be held at the Windhaven Christian Church, 1040 East Windhaven Road, in Robinson.
Ferree on fire
The hottest local driver of 2007 is Alex Ferree of Saxonburg.
Ferree executed a low-track pass on Gary Lyle to take the lead Friday night at Lernerville and went on to win his third Late Model feature of the season.
His other finish in a regular race at Lernerville was a second behind the talented Sammy Stile.
Brown returns to asphalt
After a brief two-year run on dirt, Neil Brown was back on the asphalt Friday at Motordrome Speedway, and he was back in familiar territory -- Victory Lane.
The race was Brown's second with his new team.
Brown started on the pole and led from start to finish. He held off a challenge from 2006 Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Racing Alliance champion Will Thomas, who finished second.
Brown also announced this weekend that he will donate all of his first-place paychecks to the Nicholson Cancer Fund, in honor of his friend and race car owner David Scott Nicholson, who died of cancer in April.
Holtgraver grabs another at Mercer
Danny Holtgraver picked up another Mercer Raceway Park Sprint Car victory Saturday night.
The 17-year old has won two features at Mercer this season.
In both victories, Holtgraver held off a challenge from veteran Rod George. Last week, it was George who won at Mercer. That same night, Holtgraver rolled his car for the first time in his career.
Holtgraver was tired after Saturday's race.
"The power steering went out on lap five," Holtgraver said. "My arms are about to fall off. I was almost stopping in the corners just to get through.
"That was my first flip (last week), and I was a little nervous about coming back. But I just tried to hold on and race the same away I always have."
Lynch Jr. passes Watt
Ed Lynch Jr. picked up his 85th career Lernerville victory Friday, moving him into fifth-place all-time on the track's victory list. He was tied with Blackie Watt.
Lynch also has a good chance this season of passing Lou Gentile on the all-time list. Gentile has 89 career victories ,and he dominated the Six-Cylinder Modified division from the mid-80s to early '90s winning championships in 1984, '86-88 and 1991-92.
