Family Affair
BUFFALO TWP — After winning his first career points championship at his neighborhood track, Ken Schaltenbrand is ready for his 25th season at Lernerville Speedway.
The 44-year-old Sarver resident will have some familiar company with him in the pits — and on the track — this season.
Levi Yetter, 14, Schaltendbrand's nephew, will join him in the Late Model field after racing go-karts for 10 years.
“My uncle knew a guy who was selling a car (Davey Johnson from Pittsburgh Pa. Motor Speedway),” Levi said. “We were able to work it out.”
While Schaltenbrand claimed Lernerville's Late Model title with 351 points last season — 66 points better than runner-up Tyler Diez — Yetter was putting together three points crowns in go-karts at Blairsville Speedway.
“I rode a go-kart when I was a kid, but I never raced one,” Schaltenbrand said. “Levi's done great with it.
“The biggest difference he'll experience now (driving a Late Model) is the power issue. But I've seen him on the track in practice. He's handling the adjustment pretty good.”
Schaltenbrand won one feature last season. He won a pair of heat races and finished among the top five in eight feature races.
He has four feature wins in his career at Lernerville. He finished sixth in Friday night's season-opening Late Model feature at Lernerville. Yetter did not race.
“Winning that (points) championship meant a lot to me. It was a relief, really,” Schaltenbrand said. “I wanted to get that done at least one time.”
Now his goal is to win “one of the bigger races.”
For example?
“I'd love to win one of those Firecracker 100 events,” Schaltenbrand said of the World of Outlaws Late Model show, set for Thursday through Saturday at Lernerville.
Yetter won 40 of 43 features on the go-kart circuit at Blairsville last year, claiming points crowns in the Champions 2, Junior Champions and Super Dirt Series divisions.
Schaltenbrand has helped put the motor together in his nephew's No. 9 Late Model car.
“Kenny's spent about four weeks getting Levi's car ready. He's fallen behind on his own set-up because he's been working on the other car,” said Tammy Yetter, Levi's mother.
The cars will be pitted side by side on Friday nights. Schaltenbrand's crew includes Matt and Curt Hughes, Shawn Cramer, Josh Powell, Tyler Greene, Mike Phillippi, Jake McNeil and Dave Fredley.
Yetter recognizes the adjustment he'll have to make once he gets behind the wheel of his Late Model.
“My first few races will be like practice runs for me,” he said. “I know I'm going to have to get a feel for this.”
Schaltenbrand went through the same process as a young driver.
“I think everybody does when they first get out there,” Schaltenbrand said.
Yetter is using the No. 9 in honor of his grandfather. Ken Schaltenbrand Sr. raced a Late Model bearing that number. He was killed in a racing accident years ago.
“I want to follow my grandfather and uncle and build a racing career,” Yetter said. “I want to be doing this for a long time.”
