LEHIGHTON, Pa. – Austin Beers earned a guaranteed redraw pick during the June 13 John “Peepers” Yerger Memorial 77-lap Tribute at Mahoning Valley Speedway by out-timing everyone during Sunday’s test and tune at the track.
The 17-year-old Beers bested his father, Eric Beers, with a 10.088-second lap. The elder Beers’ best time was 10.134 seconds
The timed dashes where part of the track’s test and tune days, which actually began on March 14 but was halted afterwards due the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed this past weekend.
Brandon Christman, a rookie and Jesse Bollinger, also took top honors in the Street Stocks and Hobby Stocks respectively.
The classes where divided in groups for two sessions and five-lap runs per session. When Eric Beers drove onto the blacktop in session one it marked his first official time in action at Mahoning since August 2017 and he immediately darted to the top of the speed charts.
However, no sooner did the next and final group take to the clock then Austin Beers blasted ahead of dad and all the rest. His 10.088-second lap was the fastest for a modified since 2016.
“It really felt good out there today and that despite we were on used tires. Really I need to thank my dad because he did a lot of the set-up on the car and when you can out run him here at Mahoning Valley that says a lot,” said Austin Beers.
“This is huge knowing how many good drivers where here today and will be here next week too and so much pressure is off us now. The fans are going to be in for a great show with a lot of Modifieds and I can’t wait to come back Saturday and go for the win in the Peepers Tribute.”
Todd Baer, Tyler Haydt and Austin Kochenash rounded out the top five. The Yerger Tribute will pay $2,250 to win and $500 for 10th.
Christman came into the weekend with the fastest time from March 14 and it held up over the past weekend, giving the third generation rookie driver an impressive outing for his upcoming feature debut.
Likewise Bollinger showed his hand three months ago and when Test and Tune began and he then added and insurance lap with his 12.130-second circuit.
The test and tune, which took place Saturday and Sunday, saw more than 100 cars take part in shake down runs in anticipation of the June 13 lid-lifter.