This message was edited on
December 02, 2008 at
05:42:30 PM by cubicdollars
(Harrisburg Patriot-News Article)
Zemaitis taps WoO veteran
Stevie Smith, the 1990 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year, has been named the new driver of the John and Pee Wee Zemaitis-owned, Zemco Speed Equipment sprinter.
Jeff Shepard drove the Zemco car this season until he suffered a serious head injury during the Knoxville Nationals in August. He retired this fall.
"We wanted somebody of the same caliber as Jeff," Zemaitis said. "From the get-go, Stevie was on the top of our list."
Smith owns 20 career wins at Williams Grove Speedway and won the National Open in 1990. He has 22 career wins at Lincoln Speedway, including two this season. He ranks eighth on the all-time win list with the World of Outlaws with 66 wins. He had numerous top five point finishes with a runner-up in 1992.
Smith has competed on his home tracks sporadically over the past few seasons driving the RAACE Foundation No. 19. Smith lives in Oklahoma City now, but grew up in New Oxford and learned to race in central Pennsylvania as a teenager.
Zemaitis said the team is planning on running a similar schedule to what Shepard ran.
"We needed somebody that's a good time trialer and a good racer," Zemaitis said. "Stevie fits that bill. We're going to race the time trial shows and chase the better-paying shows."
They will begin racing in Florida and will run the Knoxville Nationals, Pennsylvania Speedweek and possibly Ohio Speedweek as well.
Other than that, Zemaitis said they will wait to make their schedule until the tracks and sanctioning bodies, such as the World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions, release theirs.
This season the team ran all of the big local shows, but took some weekends off to accommodate Shepard's work schedule and family commitments.
Zemaitis, a former modified driver, said Smith's availability will allow the team to run more shows than last season.
Zemaitis has been involved in racing for 47 years and has fielded a sprint car in central Pennsylvania since 1989 with Tom Mayberry. Bobby Weaver, Billy Pauch, the late Kevin Gobrecht, Sean Michael and Shepard have driven his sprint cars over the years.
Niki Young of East Berlin has been named the new driver of Tom and Fran Chiappelli's No. 98. Young was left without a ride when long-time car owner Denny Neiderer retired from competition at the end of the season.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to drive for Tom and Fran," Young said. "The crew and I are eager to get to work preparing the cars. The sponsors are enthused and have come on board quickly to move this deal forward."
"After meeting with Niki, I knew he was the perfect fit for our team," Fran Chiapelli said. "We look forward to returning to central Pennsylvania competition."
The Chiappelli team won the Sharon Speedway point championship this season with Dan Shetler and at Clinton County Speedway in 2003 with Daryl Stimeling.
Young won the season opener at Lincoln Speedway this season and will race their car at Williams Grove and Lincoln next season.
http://www.syracuse.com/motorsports/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1227838229143650.xml&coll=1
They don't even know how to spell sprint car
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com
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