When Gary Beward of Thompsontown started the 2008 racing season behind the wheel of a late model instead of a pro stock at Selinsgrove Speedway, it marked the crescendo of a good old country boy's racing career.

Beward spent the last 13 years racing either a pro stock, thundercar or street stock at area ovals, mainly Selinsgrove and Port Royal, but despite having impressive driving talents and numerous track titles and wins to his credit, he just never seemed able to break into the next level.

Until one night last autumn after he'd wrapped up his 83rd career win in a $2,000 run-from-the-rear, 50-lap performance at Susquehanna Speedway.

"Out of the blue, he just called me and we met in November and worked a deal out," Beward said of his fateful recognition and call by long-time car owner Ed Powell.

"I always dreamed that it would happen, but we did street stocks for 13 years and I figured it was never going to happen 'cause I thought if somebody was going to do it, they would have done it long before this," Beward said last week.

"Then we won the two championships (at Selinsgrove), and I thought if there's any chance of getting anything, this might be it."

So it was.

"I told my guys, we've won every race where we're at and this is a lifetime opportunity and you can't say no. And looking back, I'm glad we did it 'cause it's a challenge and I'm not getting discouraged or anything," Beward said.

Now 34, Beward says his new deal in the stock car big time is totally "no pressure," and he's having fun making the transition into the high-powered late models.

"I knew it was going to be tough, but my friends have been to some chassis schools and each week we run a certain setup and then we change and the last couple weeks we've found something that suits my driving style a little better," he said.

"I don't know if it's as hard as I expected, but you can't miss a setup on these things or you're done. It's not like the street stocks where you can mess up a little bit and make up for it. With these, you mess up one time and you're done."

Don't expect Gary Beward to be done in late models anytime soon now that he's got the chance to show his stuff.

A BUSY WEEKEND: Doug Esh overtook Fred Rahmer for the win in the 20th annual Mitch Smith Memorial at Williams Grove on Friday, where Nate Hammaker also took 358 sprints. ESS driver Justin Barger copped the $2,000 feature at Clinton County on Friday with 28 cars in action. Greg Hodnett won his second Port Royal race of the season Saturday while Mitch Hack took late models. Esh returned for his second weekend-win Saturday in the 56th anniversary race at Lincoln, making his two-day haul $10,600. Selinsgrove had a scheduled night off.

HEALING WOLFE: After suffering back injuries during a World of Outlaw racing accident in early June, Mechanicsburg sprint driver Lucas Wolfe is hoping to be back in action for the annual Knoxville Nationals in mid-August.

WHO'S GOT THE POINT: With the season past the halfway point, a survey of current point leaders at area ovals finds Alan Cole in command in a close 410 sprint race at Port Royal, with the top four including Mike Erdley, Mark Smith and Todd Shaffer separated by only 30 points as of the weekend. Scott Haus heralds the lead in PR late models. At Selinsgrove, Pat Cannon holds a comfortable lead in 358 sprints over Blane Heimbach, 3810--3550. Jeff Rine leads SG late models while Sean Michael has control in the 410 series. Fred Raher is atop in 410s at Lincoln over a tie between Chad Layton and Brian Montieth. Gerard McIntyre leads 358 sprints. At Clinton County, Bobby Howard leads sprints over Neil Petock and Waylon Wagner controls late models. Trailway finds Jeff Rohrbaugh in control of 358s. Carl Billet leads Susquehanna late models and Roy Deese leads Hagerstown lates over Selinsgrove driver Jim Yoder.