August 30, 2003 

                At the end of 2000, Matt Lux felt he accomplished many goals as a Pro Stock driver. The Rocky Grove driver won two track titles at Sportsman’s Speedway in 1998 and 1999. At Tri-City, he captured nine feature wins in his career including the prestigious Applefest 100 in 1999. He was ready to move on to bigger and better things.

                That winter, Lux made the jump to the Late Models. With help from his father, Dave, his wife, Ramona, and crew chief Mark Dulaney, Lux was ready for the full-bodied racers.

                “I like the Late Models a lot,” said Lux, 29, who works as a mill operator at Tapco Tube in Meadville. “The competition is tough and I enjoy going out and racing all over.”

                In his first season, Lux won a feature at Challenger Raceway in Jacksonville. Despite the flash of success produced by his 2001 win, Lux entered a difficult winless streak. He finally broke it Saturday night at Gamblers Raceway Park in Clearfield.

                “We were a little surprised when our first win came so fast, but our entire team knew we had it in us to win,” recalled Lux. “To wait two years for the second win was tough, but the simple fact is that racing is unpredictable. We’ve had a great car that finished last and a bad car run in the top five.”

                The Late Models are quite a bit different from the Pro Stocks he used to drive. There is higher maintenance on the bodies. The engines produce a lot more horsepower. Even the lift of the left front wheel due to weight transfer on the right rear makes the high-powered machines harder to drive.

                “My years in the Pro Stocks were a lot of fun, but they really didn’t help me make the transition,” said Lux. “There were so many changes to make to learn to drive the cars that I had to start from scratch. The biggest adjustment was the speed and the lift of the left front tire.”

                Despite the inability to transfer his knowledge from Pro Stocks to Late Models, Lux was happy to race in the class for several seasons.

                “I will never regret my Pro Stock experience. I still like to watch them. I like to go to Tri-City to watch them. They put on the best races. There are a bunch of equal cars out there and some real good wheelmen in the class.”

                At this time, Lux and his team are down to one motor and chassis to finish out the season. He intends to race at Tri-City the next two weekends. Yet, just like his inability to transfer his knowledge of Pro Stocks to Late Models, his prior winning experience at the Venango County half-mile oval will be no advantage.

                “I know the layout of the track, but the track surface is totally different now. I also have just three years of experience in the Late Models. There are guys in this class that hit the track and have the car dialed in right away.”

                In the short term, Lux would love to win at Tri-City over the next two weekends. Lux’s future plans are a little less concrete.

                “I’m going to keep racing, but the next step is to find a ride to drive because this is not a low budget sport. It’s expensive. I want to stay in it, and I think the best way is to prove myself and, hopefully, some car owner will put me in his car.”

                Maybe, just maybe, Lux can impress that future car owner with a win at his home track.

                Lux’s Rocket No. 21 is sponsored by Tapco Tube of Meadville, Dulaney’s Garage of Cooperstown, Ledderhead Vinyl Graphics and Uncle Herbie Lux of Oil City, Lee’s Fine Detail of Reno, Hilltop Beverage and Subway of Franklin, Em’s Broidery of Clarion, and Mosquito 4x4 and Cordy’s Cigar Box of Bristol, Ohio.

                LABOR DAY RACE AT TRI-CITY

                This Sunday night, Tri-City Speedway will host one of its biggest shows of the season with four divisions.

                The Super Sprints will compete in a 25-lap York Triathlon Series race paying $2,000-to-win. Track champion Rod George of Kittanning has a chance to set a new season win record with a ninth win. Bobby Clark, Ed Lynch Jr., Daryl Stimeling and Jason Jacoby are just a few of the drivers that will try to stop George.

                The BRP Modified Tour 2003 returns to Tri-City for the 30-lap Kodiak Memorial, which will also pay $2,000-to-win. In addition, the race is part of the Super DIRT Modified Series, and the winner will earn a guaranteed starting spot for the Syracuse 200 in October. At this time, Kevin Bolland and Ron Smoker are running neck-and-neck for the Mod Tour title.

                Lux and his fellow Late Model drivers will compete in “The Return” 30, which will pay $2,000-to-win. Other top contenders expected to be on hand include Dick Barton, David Scott, two-time E Mod track champion Brent Rhebergen, and current Pro Stock champion Darrell Bossard. In addition, DIRT Modified driver Jim Rasey will be in a Late Model.

                The Pro Stocks will round out the show with the 25-lap Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series race. The $600-to-win race will provide the Pro Stock teams with their final tune-up for the Applefest 100 to be held on Sept. 28.