Late Model owner Chuck Kennedy stood outside the gate at Lernerville Speedway. He was so happy to be back. Filled with emotions, his eyes teared up. He had been through a near death experience. It was over a year since he had visited the racetrack.

While he was sick, his racing friends and family were all there for him. To come back and see everyone was very touching for Chuck.

His wife Cheryl said, “I have to say that sitting in the stands watching my son Clayton pull our Late Model onto the track for the first time in over a year made me cry. Last year at this time, we had no idea what was going to happen.”

In January 2022, Chuck started with major surgery and it went downhill from there. Ultimately, he was in the hospital for three months, home for two and bounced back and forth to the hospital several more times.

His doctor’s goal was to get him to Lernerville Speedway for the last race in September, the “Stampede”. In his weakened condition, that wouldn’t have been possible without a wheelchair.

Chuck said, “When I go back, I want to be able to walk into the track.”

Cheryl said, “It was hard. We’ve been together for 46 years, married 40 and last year was the first time we never set foot in any race track.”

Their daughter Brittany connected them with Lernerville TV and they watched the races from their living room.

“It was difficult for Brittany to go to the racetrack alone because we always went as a family, but she did go with her boyfriend. So, it changed a lot of stuff,” Cheryl said.

Chuck started racing Street Stocks in 1978 when he was 19 years old. He won the Lernerville Stock Championship in 1980 and also ‘81. Chuck sold his stock equipment and got a Semi-late that he raced for a year. Shortly after that, they were married.

He took a year off and then began racing for many different owners, in various divisions, winning championships. One night, he drove in three different divisions. In 1990, he went racing on the asphalt circuit. Five years later, Chuck came back to Dirt racing, driving an E-Mod and he won another title. Chuck bought his own E-Mod in 1998 and in 2000, Chuck also piloted the late Art Osmer Late Model until 2006.

His son Clayton also ran an E-Mod. In 2015, Chuck decided to retire from driving and they sold their equipment. They decided get a Late Model from Rick Heim and put Clayton behind the wheel. Their pit crew consists of John Miller, Norm Gray, Steve Burke, Brittany and Clayton. Sponsors that support the Kennedys are Moody’s Sales and Service, Kozminski Auto Body. Chuck is a member of the Pittsburgh Circle Track and Lernerville Speedway Hall of Fame.

His oldest son Andy and Chuck work at Chuck Kennedy Auto Sales in Mars. Chuck said, “We cannot thank our racing family enough for all of their support last year; we are lucky to be part of such a wonderful caring family!”

Cheryl appears to be the “glue or rock” that holds things together in the family. Chuck said, “I would have no idea what I would do without her! She is a wife, mother, nurse, and physical therapy person, whatever needs to be done, including taking care of her mom at that time. She is everything to me.”

How did this experience change Chuck and Cheryl?

She said, “Looking back, we found out how strong we both are. There is a whole different outlook on life. We now realize how precious life is.”

Speedweek repeat

For the second year-in-a-row, AJ Flick was declared the Champion of Western PA Sprint Speedweek. The highlight of his week was not only winning the $3,000 event at Lernerville, but running wheel to wheel and defeating Hall of Fame brothers Dave and Dale Blaney respectively.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Flick said. “This is one of the coolest wins I’ve ever had!”

“It wasn’t bad at all,” third place finisher Dale Blaney remarked. “I watched a heck of a race in front of me. It was pretty cool to watch those guys (AJ and Dave) go at it. They were up, down, and in the middle of the track. It was a pretty good race from my seat!”

Here and there

After 410 days in Children’s Hospital, John Miller’s grandson Patrick was released to go home. He wanted to thank everyone who sent thoughts and prayers during this time.

Driving into racing history, a question was asked, “When was Pennsylvania’s first Go-Kart race? In the Pittsburgh area, at Mt Nebo, the Green Valley Speedway also known as North Hills Raceway started Go-Kart racing in 1959. The Green Valley Karting Track became one of the best Karting operations in the state.

Friday is #1 Cochran Fan Appreciation Night at Lernerville. There will be Fab 4 Racing plus Fireworks!

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle

.