For the fifth year in a row, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series stopped at Don Martin's Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA for the now three-day event known as the Firecracker 100.  Thursday, June 23 was the first night of the extravaganza with a complete show of hot laps, time trials, six heat races, 3 B-Mains, and a 30-lap A-Main.  Rain threatened all day, with some showers earlier in the afternoon, but after a delay of about an hour to prepare the track from the wet, the show got underway.  And a fast track was the rule of the night.  Below are photos of the evening made by Jay Pees.

When your photographer arrived, the first thought in his mind was Pennsboro in the 90s!  There was mud everywhere!  And sawdust, and more mud, and puddles, and mud, and fans, crews, and drivers wondering if this was ever going to dry.  And did I say mud?  The blue skies in the above image were a welcome sight.  Most attendees had travelled through varying amounts of rain to get to the track and were somewhat discouraged.  But racers are determined to race and race they did.

The evening started for the drivers with the mandatory driver's meeting at the World of Outlaws trailer where procedures were explained.

During the first hot laps session several cars slipped over the edge in the slick conditions but every lap taught drivers a bit more about where the edge was and the entire night went off with very few cautions.  These guys are good and learn fast.

Here Rick Eckert is on his way to setting a new track record for Late Models, an even 15.000 seconds!  Eckert served notice that this was going to be no easy task to beat the current points leader.  In setting fast time, Eckert broke the tie for the most fast time awards that he shared with Josh Richards.  Eckert now has 25 fast time awards in the series dating back to 2004.

Austin Hubbard, the teenage sensation and 2010 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year, was second quick.  Hubbard would race well in his heat but fall off the pace a bit, eventually finishing third in the heat and falling out of the feature after 26 laps, finishing 21st after starting 14th.

Jimmy Mars was third fastest, won his heat, and finished fifth in the feature, being passed by Scott Bloomquist on the final restart at lap 26.

Steve Shaver timed in fourth quickest at 15.202, won the fourth heat and finished third after leading the first five circuits.

Dale McDowell timed fifth fastest, won the fifth heat, started fifth, but fell out of the event after only three laps and was credited with 25th in the final rundown.

Tim Fuller was sixth fastest and won the sixth heat.  Come feature time Fuller wound up 11th after starting sixth.

Former World of Outlaws Champion Tim McCreadie was seventh on the clock and wound up ninth in the feature after starting seventh.

Josh Richards, "Kid Rocket", timed eighth but came to the fore in his heat, started on the pole for the feature, slipped on the first lap, falling to third, but had the lead back on lap six and was never headed from that time.  This was his second of 2011, second in a row, but first in his customary Rocket house car.

"Cat Daddy", Clint Smith was ninth on the clock and eighth in the final rundown after finishing third in his heat.

Tenth in the time trials was Pat Doar.  Doar wound up being the first car out of the A-Main, completing but one lap.

Rookie of the Year contender, Ron Davies, led his B-Main until the final turn when he was passed by Dan Stone.  Davies wound up 17th at the end of the 30-lapper, on the lead lap.

Rookie of the Year contender John Lobb used a provisional to start the feature in 25th, then raced to 20th at the checkers.

Jill George took a provisional and finished 22nd after tailing the field at the green.

Dan Stone slipped by Ron Davies on the final lap of his B-Main to grabb the win.  Stone finished 24th after starting 20th.

Chub Frank, the "Shoestring Traveler", won his B-Main and finished 19th after starting 18th in the feature.

Jonathan Davenport parlayed a 21st starting spot into a 10th at the checkers.

The early battle for the lead was between Steve Shaver, eventual third place finisher, and Richards, who had started from the pole and faltered on the opening lap, falling to third behind Shaver and Eckert.

Californian Tyler Reddick, 15 years old (!), youngest winner in East Bay Raceway history, made the feature, started 19th and finished 18th after timing 24th fastest of the 61 cars present.

Greg Satterlee and Josh Richards watch time trials.

Josh Richards, youngest World of Outlaws Champion, two time champion, 24 fast times in his career with the World of Outlaws, now has 30 wins on the tour after starting his WoO career in 2004, and is now the winningest driver on the tour.  Richards recorded eight wins on his way to the 2010 title.

Richards waves to the crowd in triumph as he takes the checkers for the second tour event in a row.

For the 30th time in his career, Josh Richards in the World of Outlaws Victory Lane.

Josh Richards, winner!