Legends Racing Hall of Fame – ULMS Racing Series

Each March at the Olean Mall Stock Car Show, Rod Biehler inducts individuals who have made a impact in the local and region racing industry. This page is a list of each inductee that has been inducted into the Legends Racing Hall of Fame! Congratulations to each inductee!

Legends Racing Hall of Fame Members:

Lee Anderson #2x – Street Stock driver from Smethport PA who passed away while competing in 1986 at MCFR. The family has hosted the Lee Anderson Memorial event every year until 2019 when rain washed it away for the first time during the county fair event.

His wife Pauline still attends races in the region watching her grandson, Larry Mitchell, great grandson Josh Canfield and son in law Ken Shelley compete.

Todd Andrews #42 – Late Model driver from Eldred, PA. During the 1980s, 90s and 2000s the name Andrews was synamonous not just in the local racing region but all along the mid atlantic region. The all time MACS feature winner, multiple championships at McKean, Bradford and Genesee. Todd won the STARS sanctioned HillBilly 100 at Pennsboro in 1996 along with the 1988 Hub City 150 at Hagerstown and the $21,000 Pittsburgher 100 in 1999. Other major wins were the Winchester 200 at Winchester VA. He was RRS Series champion in 2005 and finished his career off by winning the 2008 ULMS Championship. Andrews continues to operate Andrews Auto Salvage in Eldred, PA

Ron Baker #74 – Freedom NY. Ron Baker raced until he reached his age reached his car number (74). The former big block modified star of the 70s and later competing regularly in the super stock and crate late model division was winning races right up until he stepped out of the seat and became a winning car owner, with Ward Schell driving for him. Ron lost his battle with cancer on December 9 2014, but his legacy has not left the sport. He is remembered each year at his local track Freedom Motorsports Park with the annual Ron Baker Memorial that is sanctioned by ULMS. Even though Ron never participated in a ULMS event he was a great friend and deeply missed not only by the ULMS family but all the racers.

Bob Baldwin #7 – Wellsville, NY. “The Bird” was a household name in the southern tier region for nearly 25 years from the 1980s to the mid 2000s. Baldwin became a crowd favorite with his hard charging wide open style of racing. In 1988 he blew up his power plant nearly a dozen times, which did not stop him from winning the Bradford late model championship, despite a smoking motor. Baldwin also captured the 1990 and 91 MCR championship along with the 2000 championship. “Bird” was part of the inaugural ULMS event at Utica Rome Speedway in 2000. He also captured the Woodhull Late Model Reunion during his tenure along with qualifying for several STARS events during his career while also competing in the Race of Champions event at Hagerstown.

Duane Bartlebaugh

Dick Barton #28B / #14B – Ashville NY When area auto racing fans think of standouts the name of Dick Barton will have to be near the top of any list. In a career that spanned 42 years, he has set standards that may never be equaled. Barton recorded 228 feature wins at 13 different tracks over 30 years of Super Late Model competition. Barton won 80 feature races at Stateline Speedway in Busti, New York, 42 at Eriez Speedway in Erie, Pennsylvania, 36 at Raceway 7 in Conneaut, Ohio, 24 at McKean County Raceway in Smethport, Pennsylvania, and 13 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania. Other wins earned were 11 at Little Valley Speedway (NY), 7 at Sharon Speedway (OH), and 5 at Tri-City Speedway (PA). The final 10 wins were 3 each at Hagerstown Speedway (MD) and Challenger Raceway (PA), two at Freedom Raceway (NY) and one each at Mercer Raceway (PA) and Woodhull Raceway (NY). Track point titles were also a hallmark of his Super Late Model career. Barton was a 10-time point champion at Stateline and a 7-time champ at Eriez. He also won the Stateline-Eriez Circuit championship 6 times. Other tracks at which he earned point championships include Raceway 7 (4), Sharon Speedway (2), McKean County Raceway (3) and Little Valley Speedway (5). He was also a 2-time United Late Model Series champion, the PONY Series champ in 2004 and a 6-time Calvacade Late Model Champion. Barton earned the biggest payday of his distinguished career in 2002 with a $15,000 victory in the MACS sanctioned Fall Fest at Challenger Raceway. Barton final win of his career was at Stateline Speedway in 2014 during the ULMS sanctioned event, which made him the all time winning driver in track history, where he announced his retirement. Barton and his crew were a true team and they went out as a winning team. In 42 years of automobile racing, Dick Barton competed in about 1,750 races, winning 267 times and earning 46 track and series titles.

Larry Bennett

Kerry Bhe #83 – Eldred, PA

Rod Biehler – Eldred PA. If it wasn’t for Rod Biehler there would be no Legends Racing Hall of Fame, there may be no Olean Mall Stock Car Show that been ongoing since 1982. Rod has been a promoter and track announcer for decades. He and Roger Morris were part of the RM Motorsports promotional team that took the MCR late models to Fulton Speedway in 1988 and that evolved into the Woodhull Late Model Reunion, which lasted from 1990 until 2012. Rod was part of the McKean Motorsports promotional team that operated and leased MCR from 2006 till 2012, which saw MCR gain regional status with the MCR Fall Classic and the 2012 World of Outlaw Series event that saw the largest crowd in track history. Rod still announces at Bradford Speedway, where his announcing career took off. He is a true Legend to our sport!

Bill Bigley #51

Bob Bigley #7

Larry Bigley #51 – Port Allegany PA. The Bigley name is synamonous with McKean Co Raceway with decades over racing. Larry was continued the racing tradition for nearly 25 years throughout the 1980s till the early 2000s. Predominately in the late model division in the 1980s and early 90s, when he took over the driver stint in the Basil Shutt machine and later the Tarabori family v6 sportsman machine. Larry won races throughout the area but his biggest win was the 1989 Cantwell Johnson Firecracker 100 at Bradford Speedway. This was final 100 lap late model event to be held at Bradford. Larry’s son in law Mark has kept the Bigley racing tradition alive as has Larry’s son, William competing over the past several season. The Bigley family also operated MCR in 2018.

Nancy Bly – Cyclone, PA- Nancy was the head scorer at Bradford and MCFR throughout the 1980s. She lost her battle with cancer and for many years her life and dedication to the sport was remembered in the Nancy Bly Memorial.

Jim Byerly #19 – Bradford PA. In the 1980s the limited late division was highly contested week in and week out with multiple drivers having a chance to win each week. Jim Byerly was one of those competitors that was always a contender to win. He was always tough to beat at Bradford Speedway in his Plum Crazy #19. His fans were easily recognizable in their purple shirts. Bradford has ran the Jim Byerly Memorial the past few years in memory of Byerly for the crate late models.

Al Brewer #71 – Belfast NY. Any driver that has been racing for 50 years deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Al Brewer has been a fixture of local and regional racing scene for the past 50 years competing. Total number of feature wins are unknown but the number has to be above the 200 limit in his long and illustrious career. Track championships at Circle K (1983) Tri County (1983), McKean Co (1988), Bradford (1989), Freedom (1995, 2015, 2016, 2017). Many mid and end of season championship wins throughout his 50 year career. During his long tenure career that is still ongoing as a driver, Al has competed in the following racing divisions: super late models, limited late models, crate late models, Emods, limited sportsman, 358 small block modifieds, 360 sprint cars, street stocks, hooligans, dirt trucks, and in 2020 he will add the crate Pro Mod division to the impressive list of cars he has raced in his 50 years. 1984 was one of Brewer’s best years, driving the Larry Tassilo #32 machine to over nearly 30 feature wins including the Kendall Motor Oil 75 lap event and the Quaker State Invitational, both at MCR, where Al finished 3^rd in points despite not running there weekly until 4^th of July weekend. He was one of the areas first drivers to qualify for a national dirt late model event in the $10,000 to win Octoberfest 100 and Hub City 150 events at Hagerstown Speedway along with qualifying for Florida Speedweek events in 1992 at Putnam County where he had top ten finishes and consolation qualifying event win. Al has raced in six states in his career and added Ontario, Canada in 2019 to his impressive list of race tracks. He is one of the original drivers to start the very first ULMS series event that was held at Utica Rome Speedway , where he finished 3rd. The BrewMaster or for the old time fans, The “Bandit” is truly one of the areas racing icons!

Ed Carley #28 – Freedom NY. Ed Carley and Carley Motorsports has been a fixture of nearly 30 years in the western NY region. Ed was and may still be the all time feature winner at Freedom during his racing career where he won track championship titles in the super stock and limited sportsman/IMCA class. Ed was one of the original ULMS drivers that competed in the first ULMS series race at Utica Rome Speedway where he finished second place and also won the Woodhull Late Model Reunion in 2000. Ed has wins at McKean, Freedom, Woodhull, Genesee, Little Valley and Humberstone, Canada. Carley Motorsports has helped numerous of racers over the past 30 years from all over the tri state region and Cananda. Currently Ed and his family operate Carley Collission and his son Zack competes in a super late model just as his father, Ed did. “The Hot Shoe” was added to the Legends Hall of Fame in 2017.

John Charlesworth – Little Valley, NY. John Charlesworth was the partriach and institutional of racing returning to the Little Valley Fairgrounds in the late 1990s. John was the President of the Little Valley Fair Association and he oversaw the race track operations with his family. Little Valley Speedway was the areas only 1/2 mile oval , which gave fans and drivers the unique showing of speed and performance. Large crowds would attend the facility over 20 years the track was in operation but the final few years saw mother nature win more than racers and Little Valley final event was July 3rd 2017.

Art Clark #7 – West Seneca NY. If you grew up around short tracks in upstate New York in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, you know Art Clark. He is a short track racing legend. Race records were not always accurate back then; however Art is credited with 19 track championships and 339 feature wins. He finished in the top 5 in season ending track points 53 times. His records defy rational belief. And bear in mind: his accomplishments took place in upstate New York. It is cold there. The race season lasts only from mid-May until the first week of September. Factoring in ice outs and rain outs, Art’s accomplishments become all the more impressive. He won 12 of his 19 track championships on his home track of Holland Speedway, and spent many summers with cars in his rear view mirror. In 1965 there was a bounty put out by Holland of $100 on top of the purse to be the first driver to beat Art in his B-Modified. Between the years of 1964-66, he won the feature races on the same night in both B-Modified and Late Models 18 times. He won the Bud 100, Holland’s biggest event, eight times in four separate decades. Art’s passion had him racing, and winning until he was 69 years old. In 2002, August 3rd was proclaimed “Art Clark Day” by the United States Congress, New York State Assembly, Erie County Executive, and the Erie County Legislature. When anyone is asked about Art Clark, the answer is always that he was the best local racer that they have ever seen! Art ended his driving career in 2005.

Bob Close #04 – Eldred PA. If you walk thru the pits and here someone say the name Close, you know they are talking about Bob Close. The Eldred, PA driver won numerous championships at McKean County Raceway, Bradford Speedway and Little Valley Speedway including three ULMS Late Model Series championships in 2000, 2006 and 2007. His eight career ULMS wins puts him 6^th all time on the series wins list. Close had a huge following of fans at his hometrack of MCR and where he developed and built his former business Close Racing Supply and became the northeast dealer for GRT Race Cars that was used by many teams during the late 1990s and mid 2000s. Bob not only won in his super late, but also could be found driving a Emod and successfully as well for Butch Southwell. Where ever the Close #04 was at, when it unloaded from the trailer everyone knew that was one of the cars to beat. Close was also the inaugural ULMS feature winner at Utica Rome Speedway to kick off the ULMS Late Model Series.

Heath Cousins – Prentisvale, PA. When you visit the Olean Mall Stock Car Show each year, you will see this guys artwork on many of the cars on hand and usually most of the best appearing are his handy work. Heath Cousins may not have sat in may race cars in his career, but his eye of putting each car that comes through his race shop as one of the top looking machines in the pit area year after year is unbelievable. Nearly 25 years of artwork and custom designing, his artwork has not slowed down with new and returning customers to Cousins Designs. Some of his artwork and designs have been seen on many racers including, Bob Close, Al Brewer, Jason Dobson, Mike Wonderling, Jeremy Wonderling, Randy Hall, Vic Vena, Greg Oakes, Critter Hemphill, Larry Mitchell and so many more over the years.

Dan Dunham – Scio NY. Dan competed in the local region for nearly 25 years from moving up the ranks until he reached the late model divison. Dan and his race partner, Cal Maybee always had their potent orange #24 late model as one of the nicest cars week in and week out, which attracted many marketing partnerships including at the time local media power, Adelphia Cable. Dan competed at all the local track such as McKean, Bradford, Freedom, Stateline, Raceway 7 and Woodhull for the Late Model Reunion events. He still makes it to the track each year for honor and memory of his son, Jason Dunham, who is remembered each year by ULMS.

Jon Dawley – Big Jon was head flagman at Bradford during the 1980s along with flagging at McKean County and other tracks in the area during that time

Jim & Mike Duffy – There may not been a McKean County Raceway if it wasn’t for Jim Duffy! “Gentleman” Jim raced at MCR when the track was operational in the 1960s when the old half mile was used and as part of the county fairboard when it was decided to bring racing back to Smethport. Duffy built the current 3/8 mile configuration that was in operation from September 1983 until the end of the 2018 racing season. Jim also competed on the original half mile and on the current configuration during the 1980s and would pass away from a heart attack on opening night in 1989 after competing in his heat race. Jim’s legacy never faded at MCR as he was remembered every year with the Jim Duffy Memorial. Mike Duffy followed his dads footsteps in racing, while competing in the street stock and limited late division during the 1980s. He gave up racing when his father passed away and took reigns of the family business with his brother. In 2004, Mike and Jim (Chumley) took over the lease of MCR and they hosted several MACS Series events and awarded Todd Andrews $20,000 for winning the RRS title in 2005.

Larry Dye

Tom & Betty Elder – The Elder’s were part of the original official team for MCFR when the track opened in 2003. Tommy was around helping at the track for decades up until 2013 in various differnet roles.

Dick Flaig #33 – Amherst, NY. If there been no Art Clark, Dick Flaig would had 20 championships to his career at Holland Speedway. His first Holland title came in 1968 when he co-captured the New Cars title with teammate Eddie Anchor. Flaig and Anchor other teammates were DeVere Bliss and Pete Tingue driving out of the Williamsville Performance stable for crew chief Larry Marx alongside owners Mike Reagan and Junior Robertson. Flaig’s Holland Late Model titles came in 1975, 1976, 1984, 1989. His 53 Late Model victories at Holland puts him in third place on the track’s all-time wins list, behind Rick Wylie (60) and Art Clark (82). As well as winning titles at Holland, Flaig is a five time Perry Raceway champion. Flaig won titles in 1965, and won four in a row from 1970-1973. Driving the famed “Genesee Beer Wagon”, the orange and white 33 was a force wherever he raced. Flaig competed at tracks throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario, including Holland, Perry, Lancaster, North Collins, Angelica, Ransomville, Cayuga (ONT) and elsewhere throughout the region. Upon his retirement in 1989 after winning his fifth Holland title, Dick was enshrined in the Friends of Auto Racing (FOAR SCORE) Hall of Fame and in 2001, was named one of the top 25 drivers in WNY racing history by the FOAR SCORE Fan Club. Dick passed way at age 80 in 2016.

Don Fowler #30 – Bradford PA Don was long time runner at Bradford Speedway in the 1970s and 80s. Running in the semi late and late model class. His son “Bud” Fowler also competed and his daughter Dawn married former ULMS series champion Jason Dupont.

Chub Frank #1* Bear Lake PA – Go to any track in the country and just say the name, Chub! Everyone knows who you are talking about. Chub Frank, the original Shoestring Traveler took the hobby of racing into a fulltime job and put northwestern PA on the map by winning national events and national series titles. Signed as one of original 12 contract drivers when World Racing Group restarted WoO LMS in 2004… First career WoO LMS victory came on April 23, 2004, at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. One of the most decorated drivers on the WoO LM tour, Frank started racing locally as a 16-year-old… Became dominant at tracks near his home, winning Stateline/Eriez circuit Limited Late Model titles from 1983-87 and capturing the Stateline Super Late Model championship in 1989 and ’90… Began following STARS (later Renegade DirtCar) series in ‘90s and ultimately became the first driver to win the regional tour’s championship four years in a row (2000-03)… Was 2001 UMP Florida State LM champion… Won prestigious World 100 at Eldora Speedway in 2004… Other major victories include the Winchester (Va.) 200 (1998); Octoberfest 100 at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway (1998); Pittsburgher 100 (2001); Dixie Shootout (2001); North-South 100 at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky. (2002); Hillbilly 100 at West Virginia’s Tyler County Speedway (2003); and the Dirt Track World Championship at Ohio’s K-C Raceway (2007)… Captured four features away from WoO LMS in both 2006 and 2007… Was inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2004. Won a O’Reilly All-Star Late Model Series event on July 18, 2009, at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway… Captured three weekly features at Lernerville Speedway in 2010 during off weekends from WoO LMS action… Won three features away from WoO LMS in 2011, including two weekly shows at Lernerville and a rich $13,000 victory in the ULMS Fall Classic on Sept. 25 at Pa.’s McKean County Raceway… Won two features at Lernerville Speedway in 2012…Chub is also the 2002 ULMS Champion and has five career ULMS wins including two Fall Classic wins at MCR and picked up his last ULMS win in September of 2019 at Freedom in part of the Fall Classic there.

Pete Frederick #67 – Bradford PA – Pete Frederick was a top runner in the 1980s at Bradford Speedway and McKean Co Raceway in the semi late and limited sportsman class. Multiple wins at both facilities in the Go-Rilla #67 machine

Rich Gardner #1

Ned, Tom & Terry Gleason #11 – Smethport PA. The Gleason family were widely known in the region during the 1980s. Ned, the patriarch of the family built the machines, while Tom and Ned engineered the black and orange #11 driven by Terry to many wins and championships at Bradford, McKean Co, Freedom, Circle K and elsewhere. Terry eventually moved up into the super late model ranks where he had to change the number to #14. Tom would return to the racing world as part of the McKean Motorsports promotional team of Ken Leet, Rod Biehler and Rich Yeager, which operated MCR from 2006 until end of 2012 season. Tom earned the nickname “Dr Dirt” with his prowlness on making MCR surface smooth and racy week in and week out.

Eleanor “Dolly” Gosper – Powder Puff driver from 1956-1963 that won several times during that era.

Whitey Gorsuch –

Junior Green #75 – Wellsville NY. Another household name during the 1980s and 90s in the limited late model division. Jr Green and his Mopar #75 machine was always tough to beat. Multiple wins at McKean Co, Bradford, Circle K and Freedom.

Kathy Grimes – Kathy was long time scorer at Bradford Speedway, McKean County Raceway and Little Valley Speedway. Having one of the most difficult jobs in the sport scoring (before transponders). Kathy scored races for more than 30 years in the region as her family was a staple to the racing world in the region.

Peggy & Ralph Grimes – For the older generation of fans, all you have to say is the name Ralph and Peggy and everyone knows who you are talking about. Ralph and Peggy held positions at McKean County Raceway and other tracks for years and were part of the original official crew when McKean County Fair Raceway reopened in 1984. Loved by everyone and with their own children racing and family involved in the sport for many years after.

John Haggerty #49 – Olean NY. One of the most loved racers in the region over the past 30 years. John and his blue #49 late model could always be seen at McKean County Raceway along with Freedom, Bradford, Circle K, Woodhull, Genesee, Stateline and Eriez over the years. For the past decade John has been primarily running the crate late models and still winning against the younger generation! If John isnt racing, you can expect him in the grandstands watching with a cold beer in his hand.

Jim Hakes

Randy Hall #10 – Olean NY. Randy has been one of the top open wheel drivers in the northeast region over the past 25 years. Winning countless championships at McKean County, Freedom, Bradford and three UEMS championships and mutiple wins on the IMCA circuit along with wins in Florida at Volusia Speedway. Randy has won events in the super stocks, crate late models and open E-Mod division. He is simply one of the best in the open wheel class!

Don Hardy – Eldred PA Don Hardy was big supporter of racing at McKean County Raceway along with Todd Andrews throughout his career. His contributions to both Andrews and the local tracks do not go unrecognized, which led to the annual Don Hardy Memorial for many years after his death at MCR.

Dan Hoffman – Delevan NY. Dan owned and operated Freedom Raceway for nearly 20 years in Delevan NY. Dan was instrumental in bringing the IMCA modifieds in the area during the 1990s along with being one of the first tracks to have the super stock class. Freedom has been a Friday night track for all of Dan’s tenure and even till now with track changing hands over the past dozen years. Dan operates Hoffy’s in Arcade.

Jeff Hoffman #32 & Tim Hoffman #83 – Clarendon PA. Jeff was one of the two Hoffman cars that often seen at McKean County Raceway from the early 1990s until present day. A former track champion at MCR, Jeff is still winning races in his familiar blue #32 crate late model presently. Jeff has a win in the Woodhull LM Reunion event along with multiple wins at MCR, Bradford, Stateline and Eriez over his tenure that has expanded over the years. In 2021 you can expect to see Jeff compete at McKean and Bradford consistently. Tim has retired from the sport but he was one of the top competitors at McKean County Raceway during the 1990s along with a championship and multiple wins at MCR and Stateline- Eriez circuit. The red #83 along with the Hoffman Coach Co buses pulling their cars into the pits from track to track were ahead of their time in the toter business that today sees teams arriving in much more expensive haulers.

David Hollander – Dave Hollander was a columnist for the Gater Racing News. He covered all the local and regional tracks including Bradford, Freedom, Genesee, Woodhull, Perry, Circle K and McKean. His coverage of the racers and tracks in the region gave the race fans outside the western NY/ western PA region a look at our local tracks and racers way before the internet age of today.

Dean Ingalls #36 – Little Genesee NY. Dean drove his own street stock and limited sportsman car in the 1980s and was one of the top runners in the old 6 cylinder sportsman class with wins and championships at McKean Co and Bradford. Dean would then join Darwin Snyder and take the #12 limited late to multiple wins at MCR, Bradford and Freedom. A hard charger, tough competitor and a true Legend to our sport!

Rick Isadore #9 – Smethport PA Rick was a front runner in every class he competed in. The Street Stocks, limited late division in the 1980s and early 90s and then later the late models. Rick was the 2004 ULMS Champion. Many wins and championships at McKean and Bradford along with feature wins at Stateline, Clearfield are on his resume. In the early years Rick was #15 and later changed his number to #9, which he used until he retired from racing. In his last few years of competing he loaned his backup car to fellow Smethport driver and Legends Racing Hall of Famer, Dave Lundgren to use as he was fighting cancer. A move that many forget but a true showmanship of true sportsmanship!

Bud Johnson #19 – Olean NY. Bud was one of the pioneers of the sport during the 1960s, 70s and early 80s competing at all the regions tracks including the old Olean Raceway, Cuba Lake Raceway, Drum Raceway, Angelica, McKean, Bradford, Stateline during his career. The number of wins and championships Bud had over his career are countless. A true icon and legend of our sport in its early days.

Hazen Jordan – during the mid 1990s till mid 2000s, Hazen was vital to MCR track prep week in and week out during the Dennis Shutt era. A Smethport native and member of the county fairboard.

Ray Jordan #32 – Cuba NY. The Flying School Teacher was always one of the crowd favorites where ever he was at. Angelica, Olean, Drum, Cuba Lake, Bradford, McKean, Stateline during his tenure. He returned to racing after a retirement in the mid 2000s to run sprint cars at Freedom. Even at retirement age, the need for speed was there for Ray Jordan.

Cary Kaber – Cary was the original McKean Co Fair Raceway race director when the track reopened in 1984. He held this role until 1987.

Don Kio #61 – Ulysses PA. Don Kio was another of those special drivers that adapted to technology and changing racecar design to win races and Championships from the sixties into the nineties. A tough as nails competitor behind the wheel, he was laid back and friendly in the pits, always welcoming a visitor with that good natured smile and a story or two. He raced mostly at Mills, PA, Woodhull, Drum, and Bradford. Don was elected to the Woodhull Raceway Legends Club in 2019. He truly is one of Woodhull Raceway’s greatest drivers ever!

Sammy Lamancuso #27L – Jamestown, NY. Behind the wheel of his 27L race car, LaMancuso performed from the 1940s through the early 1970s at nearly 20 different tracks in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, scoring victories at Penny-Royal, Skyline, Jamestown, Stateline and Eriez speedways. Because of his popularity and devotion to the sport, he was awarded a lifetime pit pass at Stateline Speedway during “Sammy LaMancuso Day” at the track in 2010. Sammy was inducted into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

Bill Law –

Bill Layfield #21 – Allentown NY. The “Grandaddy”. Just hear that name at a western NY and northern Pennsylvania race track and everyone knows you are talking about the legendary Bill Layfield. Bill raced for 52 years! He raced everytype of car you could imagine and he kept his racing career economical. Bill along with his brothers Dean and Herbie were the patriarchs of the Layfield racing family. There is no number of wins or championships for Bill as they are so many. There wasnt a race track that he didnt win at it seemed. It didnt matter if the track was down along Interstate 80 or in central New York or right in his backyard at Drum, he won at them all. You look up the words “racing pioneer”, “legend”, “The Grandaddy” and there will be a picture of the one and only Bill Layfield.

Dean Layfield #9/16 – Wellsville NY. Maybe, simply the best Layfield ever to hit the track! That is saying a lot with this racing family! The Layfield family’s racing roots go back farther than NASCAR’s inception in 1948. he 1930s,” Dean Layfield, raced in the 1958 Daytona 500 (Daytona Beach race). Dean Layfield was a household name in the region back in the 1950s and early 60s. e was a big name back then. Dean finished 12th on the Beach in 1958. That was the Wellsville native second NASCAR Grand National start. He finished fourth in his first race, a 100-lap race at the state fairgrounds in Syracuse. Layfield lost his life after a 1961 crash at the NASCAR sportsman level and became, at the surface, just another of the thousands of names who attempted a NASCAR race as the Grand National Series became the NASCAR Cup Series.

Herb Layfield – #48 Allentown NY – Another of the iconic Layfield patriarchs that were part of the early years for the “Racing Layfields”. Herbie competed competitively for decades at all the local tracks in western PA and New York with countless wins at Perry, Drum, Angelica, Olean, Bradford and McKean.

John Layfield #20 – Allentown, NY. One of the Racing Layfields with his father Bill and brother Joe, John was a constant at any track in the region. Muliple wins and championships at Woodhull, Drum, Bradford, Freedom, Genesee, McKean, Kane and elsewhere. Since his retirement of car racing, John has established himself as a proficient track promoter and owner of the Allegany Motor Speedway in Allentown for gokarts. The gokart track host events for kids and adults of all ages from April to September each year. Even a few go kart racers have graduated John’s track into the full size stock car racing.

Joe Layfield #121 – Bolivar NY. Joe is the last of the racing Layfields that still competing in stock car racing. The number of events may be less than they were years ago when his father and brother were barnstorming the roads, but Joe still can be found in his crate late model competing at Woodhull and Bradford regularly. Joe has a undocumneted number of championships and wins over his 40 plus years of competing at tracks such as Drum, Circle K, Genesee, Freedom, Bradford, McKean, Kane and elsewhere.

Ken Leet – Bradford PA. Ken been around the sport since his childhood days. Helping with his idol, Dave Lundgren and Rich Gardner. Being a fan and attending races at McKean, Bradford, Stateline and elsewhere. In 2006, Ken along with Rod Biehler, Tom Gleason and Rich Yeager took over the promotional duties of McKean County Raceway till the end of 2012 season. Ken has become a track announcer at MCR during 2016 and 2017 season along with announcing multiple ULMS Late Model events. Ken will return to the track promotion in 2021 as he and Joel Smith will reopen MCR. One thing with Ken, be ready for his famous quick one liners!

Dave Lundgren #6 – Smethport PA. Dave Lundgren was a household name at his hometown McKean County Raceway along with Bradford Speedway. He also spent many nights and laps around Stateline and Eriez Speedway and winning at all of them. The 1989 McKean Co Raceway Champion along with his 1988 Cantwell Johnson Firecracker 100 win at Bradford are two of many highlights of his illustrious career. Dave raced as long as he could and fought cancer also while racing. The will to compete on the track never left #6. He will always be remembered as one of the best!

Fuzzy Mader #4 – Kane PA. Jim “Fuzzy” Mader ran the 6 cylinder Sportsman class in the late 1980s and early 90s. His career began in gokarts before he started in 1989 and was the Rookie of the Year in the Limited Sportmsan Class. His yellow #4 also received best appearing awards as well as Jim always kept his cars nice. Jim passed away in 1996

Don Martin

Cal Maybee – Wellsville NY. Cal was car owner for Dan Dunham for many years including the days of the Adelphia Communications #24 late model era. He was owner of the Maybee Farms and definitely one of the truest nicest guys you could ever meet at and away from the racetrack. Cal passed away in 2015.

Ed McCleaft