Weather has been a major factor this season as far as local auto racing is concerned. The spring season was shortened due to rain, while the start of the summer season hasn't been much better.

Late model driver Tim Fuller of Watertown and city native Tim McCreadie spent more time outside the car than behind the wheel last weekend at the Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.

"The weather was the definite winner Saturday and Sunday down there,'' Fuller said from his racing shop in Edwards. "We've got a two-week tour in the Midwest starting in about a week. We've got something like 13 races in 21 days.''

Fuller had a slow start, but has been pleased with the way his late model car has been performing recently.

"We've got our motor program straightened around and we look to be in good shape now,'' Fuller said.

McCreadie didn't have any concrete plans as to his schedule this weekend.

"We don't have anything definite yet,'' he said. "We'll take a long at the weekend in a few days.''

Neither Fuller or McCreadie are expected to be in any modified races in the next few weeks. Fuller has criticized some tracks for lowering their purses for the modified division.

FIREWORKS PLANNED

There could be fireworks on two front at some north country speedways this weekend. Some speedways have special races this weekend and huge fireworks displays are scheduled following the racing.

There will be a 76-lap ASA Challenger late model race Saturday at the Adirondack International Speedway in New Bremen.

On Saturday night, Can-Am Motorsports Park in LaFargeville is holding the Budweiser Shootout. In action will be the Empire super sprints, racing for $2,000 to win, and the DIRTcar big-block modifieds will be competing for $2,000 to win the 35-lap feature.

Also on Saturday night, at the Oswego Speedway, a full race schedule is planned for the supermodifieds and the small-block supermodifieds. The Mid-State Old Timers Club will make a return visit to the speedway.

Racing is also scheduled for Saturday night at the Brockville Ontario Speedway and Mohawk International Raceway (Hogansburg). There will be no racing at Thunder Alley Speedpark (Evans Mills) this week.

The week of racing actually begins tonight at the Ransomville Speedway with the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series with the running of the 100-lap feature. The winner of tonight's race collects $6,000.

CAMPING WORLD EAST SERIES

The Camping World East Series, which comes July 26 to the Adirondack International Speedway later this month, is led by Austin Dillon, the 18-year-old grandson of Sprint Cup Series team owner Richard Childress. Following a race last weekend at the New Hampshire Speedway, Dillon has a 48-point lead over veteran Matt Kobyluck (807-759). Kobyluck, a two-time winner of the Edge Hotel 150, finished third in the New Hampshire race. Dillon was fourth.

Dillon ran the first four events of the season with Andy Santerre, but he will run the remainder of the season for the family-owned Team Dillon Racing.

In a story on the Boston Herald's Web site on June 18th, Dillon was quoted as saying his team would be more prepared at the racetrack after leaving Santerre's organization.

"This is going to be a little less stressful for us,'' Dillon told the Herald. "We weren't as prepared at the racetrack as we wanted to be.''

Dillion told a reporter for Courant.com that he didn't know where that comment originated.

"I saw that on the Internet too,'' Dillon told the reporter. "I had no problem with Andy Santerre or his group. They did an awesome job for me.''

John O'Donnell covers local auto racing for the Times. You can contact him at jodonnell@wdt.net.