SPRINT RACERS......WHERE ARE THEY NOW?


PLEASE E-MAIL ME WITH ANY PAST  DRIVERS NAME AND INFO.      Hit Counter

DO YOU HAVE ANY RECENT INFO ABOUT ANY OF THESE DRIVERS ?

LAST UPDATED........01/30/2008


 

 

TOM ALLEN....ESS #27

2005, OWNER OF A EXCAVATION BUSINESS, LIVES NEAR MIDDLETON NY, RACES ASPHALT AND DIRT MODIFIEDS.

 

 

Jon Banas.....SOS     

2008.....one of the SOS founders, Burford ON.....CREWED FOR MIKE LAUTERBORN ON THE SRA SPRINT TOUR IN 2002. Working as a truck driver. Living in Wilsonville, ON . Last seen at the 2007 SOS banquet.

 

 

Brett Barnett....ESS

 

 

Johnny Beaber....Woo driver and other various associations   

2005 .....Residing in Gibsonburg OH, retied to his business  (Beaberbuilt)

 

BOB BEEHLER....ESS #98

2004.....LIVING IN KENDAL NY

 

DAN BENNETT....ESS/PSG/FREEDOM #61

2005, LIVES IN PENDLETON, NY, BUILDS CUSTOM CHOPPERS.

 

 

JOHN BIROSH....ESS #9

2005, LIVES IN THE PENN YAN NY AREA, BUILDS HOT RODS. 

 

 

MIKE BOZZUTO.....ESS # 8

2004.....DIRT OFFICIAL

 

MARK BRAGMAN....ESS #3

2003.....OWNER OF MARK'S TRANSPORTATION IN THE SYRACUSE AREA, SEEN IN HIS BROTHERS SPRINTER ON OCCASIONS.

 

 

DARREL BRAGMAN....ESS/ELS #98

2004.....RACES WITH THE PATRIOTS ON OCCASIONS.

 

 

JOHNNY BRIDGE...ESS #55     

2008....

Johnny "Wild Child" Bridges is living in Cherryville, NC.  He races 360 sprints with ASCS & occasionally with USCS. The last 2 years he has finished 2nd in the southern region ASCS points with 4 feature wins. 

 In 2004 he was the AOAS/USCS National champion.

 

 

DENNIS BROCKMAN...ESS/ISS #27

1999.....ACCOUNTANT  NEAR BUFFALO NY.

 

 

DAVE BRUINIX....ESS #00    

 2005....I parked the sprint car about 10 years ago to attend college.  I am currently teaching 7th grade Social Studies at Williamson Middle School in Williamson NY.  I have a 3 year old son named Davey and have been married to wife Laurel for 15 years.  Just don't want to dedicate the time anymore, prefer to spend it with my son, they grow up to fast to miss any time with him......Dave 

 

 

 

 John Brutcher....ESS #2   

  kbrutche@twcny.rr.com
  2005.....Alive and well living in Phoenix, NY, doing antique cars again and building a recreation of Nolan Swift's 1959 '33 Ford 10 Pins coupe.

 

 

 Don Buchanan...ESS

 

 

Gordy Button....PSG / ESS.....1983, 84 ESS CHAMPION 

2008, STILL RUNS MODIFIEDS AND SPRINTS (305 CRSA)

 

 

 Bob Cain......ESS

LAST SEEN RACING AT FREEDOM SPEEDWAY AND CLINTON COUNTY SPEEDWAY IN 2003

 

 

 Harvey Calkins....ESS

 

 

T.J. CARLSON...ESS #66   

2005, LIVES IN ROMULUS NY, 2 BOYS RACE CAGE KARTS AT THE FULTON AIRPORT TRACK

 

 

 

Mike Castner Sr.....ESS / BLACKROCK  

2007....Sold his race car over the winter.  Retired from racing, busy running
Speedway Performance and Truck Shop.....he is building another hot rod.     

 

Mike Castner Jr.......ESS  

2005.....retired from racing, married, 2 Kids, Busy raising family....MCastner@GWLISK.com

 

 

 

GARY CHAMBERS....ESS #16

 

 

Mark Christiano.......CAN AM TQ, SOS

2005- retired driver ......now a car owner for his daughter Stephanie # 18.

 

 

CARLSON CLARK....ESS # 91

 

 

RYAN CONIAM.....SOS /ESS /ALL STARS  

2007....Ryan is working in N. Carolina at a NASCAR shop.

 

 

 

RICK CRANE....ESS

 

 

 

ERIN CROCKER....#16 ESS, WOO & NASCAR.   

2008......currently involved with the Evernham Motorsports NASCAR team
........X-SPRINT DRIVER FOR MIKE WOODRING TEAM 16

 

 

DAN DECRACKER....ESS #47  

2005....Residing in Williamson NY with my wife, Julie.  I recently started a new
job that is keeping me quite busy.  No racing plans for the upcoming
season are in place yet.  I am interested in driving / partnering with
an existing team for a few races in 2005 in just about any division!

 

DOC JOHN DEUEL...ESS #87/PARADISE #2

2007, X-OWNER OF THE GEORGE SUPRICK 2004 PSG AND BLACKROCK CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINTER. 

 

 

 

Rob Dietrick....ESS #10....FORMER ESS "CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD"

2008, LIVES IN FARMINGTON NY, CURRENTLY RACING BICYCLES. RACES HIS SPRINTER ON OCCASION.

 

 

GARY DRUM.....ESS #22  

2005.....Gary in Manager on Maxximum Performance in Cohocton NY, a major
developer and supplier of hi-performance snowmobile parts. He also has developed
a great love for golf and spends his leisure time on the golf coarse.

 

 

STEVE DOW....ESS/LIMEROCK #70

2008, WORKS AT OXBO INTERNATIONAL, OWNS AND FLIES AIRPLANES.

 

 

KRISSY DOW.....ESS/LIMEROCK #80    kdow@rochester.rr.com

2008, MARRIED, WORKS AT IMPACT GRAPHIC'S IN BYRON NY.

 

 

BRIAN DUMIGAN......ELS / ESS.

2007....SYRACUSE, NY....RACED WITH THE ESS CLUB A FEW TIMES......BACK RACING IN 2008? 

 

 

JEFF EDDY....ESS #88  jeddy@rochester.rr.com             

2008, LIVES IN ROCHESTER NY, RACES MOTORCYCLES AND CHASES GIRLS.

WORKING AT GENESEE SPEEDWAY AS AN OFFICIAL.       

 

 

Bob Featherly....ESS

 

 

Adrian Flath.... ESS #10

2008, LIVES IN EVANS MILLS NY WITH WIFE RITA, HELPS OUT SPRINT DRIVER SON-IN LAW JEFF COOK ESS/PSG #10C. LORIE (FLATH) COOK IS A SCHOOL TEACHER IN THERESA NY....jlcook@usadatanet.net

 

 

Matt Fortner....SOS

2005, Raising Family - no longer racing


KIM GAGLIARDI.....ESS# 76.....

2005....now lives in Montana, working as a guide at a hunting resort. Sold the garage (Wobble Shop), Kim comes back to Lockport during off season. (Tony Kulesza)

 

 

CHUCK GREEN...ESS #88

 

 

Pat Golley.....ESS

 

 

Mike Gorman...ESS

 

 

 Rob Hart....ESS / ELS

2007, MARRIED A GIRL FROM AUSTRALIA, CREWING ON WOO TEAMS

 

 

Rick Hart....ESS / ELS

 

 

 

 Joey Hebert.......SOD    

2007.....He lives in the Howell, Mi area, not far from my home town Fenton, Mi. I have not seen Joey or his car owner father for 2-3 years.  Joey was attending college.  I believe that his Dad had sold all the sprint car stuff.

 

 

 

 

J.T. HENDERBERG....ESS #71

2008, LIVES IN SPENCERPORT NY., WORKS IN ROCHESTER NY.   PROFESSIONAL BANJO PLAYER, 


 

Jack Hewitt......USAC   

2005 residing in Florida fishing,  wheeling his 2-seater.

 

 

GREG HICKSON.....ESS

2008, BLACKROCK SPEEDWAY BACK RACING MODIFIEDS.

 

 

SCOTT HOLCOMB.....ESS #91  

2008, MARRIED WITH LOTS OF KIDS.  OWNS A SHIPPING CONTAINER STORAGE BUSINESS AND WORKS AT A HUGE TREE NURSERY.

 

 

RODGER HORVATH....ESS #79     http://www.ridgeviewracing.com/New%20Challenge.htm

 

 

 

Mark Irwin......SOD   

 2007....Mark is from Columbiaville, Mi.  Mark has raced for about thirty years.  He is instrumental in the formation of the new non-wing Michigan Traditional Sprint series.  Mark really loves non-wing racing and is not doing any winged racing.  He has followed the Sprints on Dirts series in the past.  He says that retiring from racing is "never going to happen".  Marks son's, Steve and Joey, are sprint car racers as well.  Steve has won a couple SOD events and at least one non-wing show.  Joey is fairly new at sprint cars and is focusing on the Michigan Traditional Sprint series this season, as he has been a very important player in getting the series going.

 

 

 

Bill Johnson......SOD   

 2007.....Bill resides in the Linden/Argentine area of Michigan.  Bill is having a very good season racing with the Sprints on Dirt series.  He is currently fifth in season points.  Bill also had a solid top ten finish with SOD in 2006.  Bill has been racing sprint cars for about fifteen years after several years spent in drag racing a roadster type car.

 

 

 

RAY JORDAN....ESS/FREEDOM #18

2008......LIVES IN BLACK CREEK NY, RETIRED FROM RACING

 

 

JEFF KANALEY....ESS #14

2008.....HIS DAD CREWS FOR CURT SHUTTLESWORTH PSG #12.

 

 

Craig Kugler......URC  

2005.....formally from Albany, NY. Former URC and independent driver from 1977 to 1980.
President of Constructive Solutions, Inc in Stuart, FL.....independent catastrophic insurance claim business.
We own the 99K TBARA and Fast Sprint Pavement Sprint car operation that Jeff Van Dusen drives for in Florida.  

 


Todd Kennedy....ESS

 

 

 Jon King.....ESS #57

2008.....LAST SEEN IN NEVADA...... ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

 

 

 Bob Krautheim....ESS.....

2008.....Bob lives in Mifflinburg Pa. owns an antique car restoration business….Village service center

 

 

 

BILLY KROLL......SOS /PSG /ESS /FREEDOM

2008......SOLD ALL HIS SPRINT STUFF......LAST SEAN AT OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY

 

 

MIKE LAUTERBORN.....ESS/SOS/ELS/ISS/PSG/USAC/SCRA/SRA/FREEDOM. #41

 

2008.....PROMOTER OF GENESEE SPEEDWAY IN BATAVIA NY.....STILL RACES SPRINTS WHEN POSSIBLE.  WWW.GENESEESPEEDWAY.COM

 

 

 

FRANK LONGO....ESS #18

 

 

 

 

 Tim Lowe.......SOD    

   Tim is also from the Holly, Mi area and is John Lowe's brother.  Tim is racing the new non-wing Michigan Traditional Sprint series this season.  He has also raced occasionally with the SOD series in the past.  Tim is a former AMA flat-track motorcycle racer and loves the sprint cars.  Tim and John are in the excavating business and have cut a mini-Eldora in John's backyard for giggles with a couple old sprints.

 

 

 

 John Lowe.......SOD    

John is from the Holly, Mi area.  He has been racing the SOD series occasionally and the Michigan Traditional Sprints (new 2007 non-wing group) this season.  John has won the last two MTS non-wing features.  His first main event wins ever.  He won at Winston and Cherry Speedways, both Michigan tracks.  John is a former AMA flat-track motorcycle racer and loves the sprint cars.

 

 

 

 

Mike Ling....SOS

2005, Running AVSS in MI, OHIO, IN area

 

 

WES (BUD) LINK JR.....ESS # 56

2008, LIVES ON GRAND ISLAND NY.

 

 

Alan Lane....ESS

 

 

MALCOM LANE....ESS #5....MULTI TIME ESS CHAMPION.

2008, OWNER OF LANES YAMAHA IN WATKINS GLENN, LIVES IN DUNDEE NY WITH WIFE CINDY, AFTER MANY YEARS RETIRED FROM DRIVING RETURNED TO THE COCKPIT IN 2004 WITH GREAT RESULTS.

 

 

Dave MacLeod........SOS

2007...DRIVER & CAR OWNER SOS # 32 & 33......WE LOST DAVE TO A HEART ATTACK EARLY 2007. THE 1ST DAVE Macleod MEMORIAL SPRINT RACE WAS HELD AT GENESEE SPEEDWAY IN BATAVIA NY ON AUG 25TH 2007.

 

 

Norm MacLeod........ESS / SOS

2008......Manager of Auto parts store IN BUFFALO NY

 

Don Magee...

2005, Lives in Bridgeport NY and owns Salt City Machinery Inc... Salt City Machinery Inc has sponsored Scott Davis ESS #3 for the last few years.

 

 

 

JAMES "ITCHY" MEAD....ESS #99

 

2007...Itchy now lives in Orefield Pa. Is a Trainmaster for Norfolk Southern Railway.

 

"Silent partner" with a very completive 410 team in central  Pa.

 

 

 

 

BOB MESSMER....ESS/SOS/ISS #20

2008, LIVES ON GRAND ISLAND NY, RETIRED FROM SPRINTS IN 2003, IS RACING MINI PULLING TRACTORS.

 

 

RICHARD (CRASH) NASH.....ESS # 48

2008.....AUBURN, NY.....NOT SEEN IN A RACE CAR SINCE 2004.

 

 

SPEEDY NIEDHAMMER.....ESS/ELS  #02

 

 

LEE OSBORN....ALLSTARS/PA POSSIE

2008, LIVES IN THE PENN YAN NY AREA, BUILDS HOT RODS.

 

 

BOB PARROW....ESS #80

2008, WATERLOO NY, RACES MODIFIEDS AND SPRINTS ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

 


 Bill Peri...ESS

 

 

EARL POTTORFF....ESS #9

2008, OWNS THE SPRINT CAR THAT CRAIG (CRICKET) KEEL DRIVES.

 

 

GREG POTTORFF....ESS #9

 

 

JEFF RIES...ESS # 90.......2007

I’ve finished a long house build project and plan on racing with ESS in ’07.  I’m sure I’ll need to knock off some rust as it’s been a few years since I’ve gotten out on the track.  I hope to find some early season test track time to do knock the dust off J.  There are also two tracks in New Hampshire that I’ll make stops at as time permits.)  

#72 J&J

227 Argilla Road

Ipswich , MA 01938

Wellcraft72@yahoo.com

 

 

 

CHUCK ROAN....ESS #22

 

 

ERIC ROBINSON.....ESS/ELS #23

2007..... SYRACUSE AREA, MARRIED WITH KIDS

 

 

LEE SANDERS.....ESS/ISS/PARADISE #26

2007, X-OWNER OF SMACKS HOT ROD SHOP IN ONTARIO NY.

 

 

Marshall Shunk....ESS

 

 

GEORGE SIFO.....ESS #6

2005....LAST SEEN AT JOHN BIROSH SHOP IN PENN YAN, NY RACING NAME........"RUSTY STEEL"

 

 

BILL SIMS....ESS #57

 

 

STEVE SIRAGUSE....ESS #28

2007, X-TECH INSPECTOR AT GENESEE SPEEDWAY

 

 

ERIC SMITH....ESS #49

2007, OWNER OF "409 EXPRESS" FUEL STATION ON THE TONAWANDA INDIAN RESERVATION.

 

 

DICK SPADARO....ESS #29

2008, OWNER OF "DICK SPADARO'S EARLY FORD REPRODUCTIONS"  RACES SPRINTS ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

 

 

TOM TABER....ESS/PSG #57

2008, X-OWNER OF THE PATRIOT SPRINT GROUP, AUTOMOTIVE TEACHER AT ALFRED STATE. HELPING KYLE DRUM WITH HIS LATE MODEL.

 

 

ARON THAYER....ESS #69

 

 

JOE TIMERSON....ESS #81

 

 

JEFF (SPIDER) THOMAS....ESS #77

  2005....Jeff got Guillon / Behre Syndrome (a virus of the brain stem) 2 years ago in September. He was paralyzed and spent quite some time in the hospital. After about one year of recuperation he was almost back to normal and returned to work. It has left him with a slight eye focusing problem, but his eyes should return 100% in the next few years. Needless to say, he cannot drive a race car any more.

    Last year Bubs (JEFF'S DAD) bought Jeff and Denise's son Jordan, 6, a go kart. Jordan raced  every Friday night at Snydersville Speedway in Snydersville, PA and every Saturday night at Hamlin (PA) Speedway. Jordan won a total of  25 feature events during last year and was voted Most Improved Driver at Hamlin. 

        So Spider is still very active in racing with his son, Jordan. Another Go Cart will be purchased this sprin for Colby Thomas (Jordan's brother) and he will start racing this August when he turns 6. Jeff is having a lot of fun with his family and is still very involved in racing. Having 2 boys that love to race has really taken Jeff's mind away from sprint car racing, a sport he loved and misses so much.
  
   Spider's address is: RR 1 Box 186 A-1
                        Pittston, PA 18643
   His home phone is:
570-388-6106

 

 

 

 

 Jeff Taylor....1985 ESS CHAMPION

2005, Lives  and works in Chittenango, NY. He own  his own landscaping company.

 

 

 Ken Townsand....ESS #58    

2005...Ken has a new sprint car that he built four or five years ago but never ran do to a work related injury. He put the sprint car aside and is now building a street rod for himself. 

 

 

 

 

MIKE VanDusen....ESS #56

2008, SPRINT CAR OWNER FOR HIS SON JEFF, DRIVES SPRINTS ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

 

 

RICH VanKeuren.....ESS #78

2005.....Lives in Penn Yan NY,  busy running his trucking company.   

 

 

BOB (R.E.) WADE....ESS/ELS #37.....2005    

2007.....OWNER OF "WADE TOURS"    Was running SCONE on a regular basis until an accident at 
Fonda. WAS BACK RACING IN 2007 WITH THE CRSA GANG.

 

 

RICH WATKINS....ESS #23

 

 

 

BILLY WHITE....ESS #66W   

 

2005....Billy has been road crew for Russ Bennett #65 the pass few years. The plan is for Billy to run a back-up for Russ  at a few shows this
season......Works at New Boston Crane, Service & Sleds. 

 

 Bill White...ESS

 

 

 

Jerry Whitney.....SOS

2007 first ever SOS feature winner is retired from racing and restoring a late '60's rear engine Indy Car.

 

Out of Fenton, Michigan, he put away the helmet after the 2004 season.  Now crewing with son-in-law, Mike Galajda, a long time Canadian racer now residing in Fenton, Michigan.  Still trying to find time to restore my old Gerhardt Offy Indy car and a couple midget racers.  It is more fun working on a competitive sprint car and going to the speedway.  A dirt track is still the best place to be on a Saturday night!!

 

 

 

 

Jim Wohlfeil......

2997.....Ran with the all-Stars, & at Fremont & Findley in the 80's  Finished 5th. in Eldora Enterprises point standings 1988 1st. place was Jeff Gordon.  1975 Michigan triple crown snowmobile champion.  NHRA record holder 1960-61.  U.S. Nationals class winner  ( B-Fuel dragster) 1967, UDRA Jr. Fuel champion 1967, U.S. nationals Top Fuel qualifier 19??  181mph Blown Fuel Hydro record Dayton,Ohio, Now building last sprint car with Chris Hettinger & rebuilding old cars (20's or older) & hit & miss engines ect.  Living in Marquette & Waterford Mi.

 john.wohlfeil@sbcglobal.net

 

 Jim winters in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and summers in Waterford, Mi.  Jim has not formally retired from driving.  I have seen him at the speedways this season.  He may run a non-wing race or two this season I hear.  He has been working with midget racer Chris Hettinger in his effort with sprint cars.  Jim is also interested in vintage race cars and has been advertising for a vintage midget to restore.  Many old-timers may remember the legendary midget racer, Johnny Wohlfiel, he is Jim's father.

 

 

 

RICH WOOD JR.....ESS/ELS #66

2007, BUILDING MINI SPRINT MOTORS......K&S Powersports.

 


MIKE WOODRING....ESS #19....MULTI-TIME ESS CHAMPION

2007, X-WOO SPRINT TEAM OWNER, BECCA ANDERSON & ERIN CROCKER #16 WERE HIS THE DRIVERS.

CREW CHIEF FOR WOO CRAIG DOLANSKI.

 

 

Brad Young...ESS

 

 

MIKE YOUNG SR.....ESS

2005, LIVES IN WALWORTH NY, UNION LOCAL 86 ELECTRICIAN, FORMER FLAT TRACK RACER.

 

 

MIKE YOUNG JR....ESS/PSG #42

2005, OWNS A EXCAVATING BUSINESS, SOLD ALL HIS SPRINT STUFF IN 2004. SPONSORS AMA FLAT TRACKER #44 CHRIS HART.

 

 

 

WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET.....

 


John Zentner...ESS #24.

TRAGICALLY DIED IN A SPRINT CAR ACCIDENT AT McKean COUNTY RACEWAY IN THE LATE 80'S. THE "JOHN ZENTNER ESS AWARD" IS GIVEN OUT EVERY YEAR IN HIS MEMORY...... HIS RACE CAR NUMBER HAS BEEN RETIRED FROM ESS AS A TRIBUTE.

 

Note From Jeff Eddy........winner of the first ESS race I ever drove in. June 19, 1987 at Brewerton Speedway. He was also the first guy to offer help when our car failed to start for the warm up session. John and family drove from Williamsport ,PA. to those early ESS races. He was always a good, clean driver, and a nice guy. Someone the younger drivers could look to for advice.  Long time friend of Ken Townsend. 

   At the first Zentner Memorial race, all feature drivers presented his widow, Diane, with a rose at the finish line before the start of the feature. (Jeff started on pole) We did a "missing man " formation on one of the pace laps to honor John. The race ended 1 lap early and the checkered flag flew over an empty track.

 


Don Wilson .....SOS, ESS, flagman

 

 

 

 

 

 

     NEW....TO BE ADDED SOON     FROM HELEN BROWN....SOS    

Jim Wohlfeil-semi retied i believe  SOS  SOD
Rick Burt-retired
Gary May retired  5M
Bruce Waddell- retired SOS
Robby Mc Henry- moved to AB Canada
Rich Watkins- Can AM ESS,SOS.retired-own business, a machinist, Grand Island

Jim Brown#55- SOS, Supers, London Ontario
Sean Stafford- Cascar now
Sean Felt-moved to Florida

ANY NEWS FROM THESE GUYS?
Joey Hebert
Mike Bellaire
Ed Bellaire
John Lowe
Mark Irwin
Bill Johnson
Tim Lowe
Rod Payne
Carl Babcock
Michael Ulman
Joseph Atkinson
Darrin Davis
Todd Cummins
Larry Atkinson