Tyler Dietz doubles his pleasure each Friday evening at Lernerville Speedway.

The Cabot driver pilots a Late Model that’s owned by Dan Huston and a Pro Stock that he built. Huston has been a fan for many years and had a racer that he sporadically competed with about ten years ago.

In 2018, he talked with Dietz in the pits and asked him if he would like to join forces and drive his Late Model. Dietz agreed.

After winning the 2019 and 2020 Pro Stock Point Championship in the #27 owned by Charlie Neeley, Dietz decided to concentrate his skills on the Late Model and turned the Pro Stock seat over to his younger brother, Jake.

Tyler did not compete in the Pro Stocks in 2021, but decided in November that he missed doing that, so he built one himself. He has won two Pro Stock features so far in 2022. Tyler said, “Jake thought it would be a lot easier driving up front, but he found that to be different. He has learned that he has to pay his dues.”

All three cars are in the same garage and Tyler helps Jake with setups and watches film to give him pointers. Jake feels that he has gained confidence with having seat time behind the wheel. With true sibling rivalry, Jake, who is 8 years younger, laughingly said, “All I want to do is beat my brother! I was five years old when he first started to learn to drive!”

To date, Jake’s best Pro Stock feature effort is third.

Tyler said, “I have multiple Late Model seconds. I just have bad luck, but my goal this year is to keep things rolling, get that big Late Model win, and maybe win some better paying Stock car shows!” Dietz has a Welding and Fabrication business while his brother Jake works for Peoples Gas.

He’s changed his Pro Stock number to 00 this season. His grandfather, Louis Dietz, passed away last year and before he died, Louis asked if Tyler would put something of his on the car this year. Since 00 was Louis’ softball number, that is what is on the side of the car in memory of him.

The crew consists of Jake Dietz, Jeff Hay, crew chief Todd Yerkins, Jeremy Bowser, Jace Swager, Mathew Siganik, Brianna Durand, Brooke Warren, and Fox Trucking.

Tyler’s philosophy of life has changed. “As I got older, I have settled with reality. I realize that I am not going to be a great Late model driver. I just want to have fun in racing. It’s too much work if you’re all in with racing. You can’t do much of anything else.

“I like doing other things like hunting and fishing, too. I’m not willing to sacrifice everything else.”

Friday, Lernerville will have the Zimmer’s ULMS (United Late Model Series) race paying $3,500 to win. Leading the point is Gregg Satterlee-90, Rick Eckert-96, Tyler Emory-84, Jared Miley-83, Jason Covert-74 and Colton Flinner-68.

Tyler Dietz will debut his new Longhorn chassis with his brand-new motor and is ready for the competition! It is also called the Willie & Conda McConnell Memorial race. Last year at Latrobe Speedway, John McConnell of the popular podcast Garage Crawl, raised thousands of dollars in bonus money for the event in memory of his father and mother.

Jared Miley earned over $7,000 with all the bonuses added.

If the recent Lernerville All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint race was any indication of what to expect for the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XXXI Sprint race, July 6, it is going to be a “barn burner!” Forty-four cars were at the track, representing 11 states and two additional countries, Canada and Australia. Hunter Schuerenberg of Montana checkered the event and Tyler Courtney from Indiana was a close second. The Highest local finisher, AJ Flick, started 15th and garnered 11th. Sye Lynch nabbed 13th, but began the race in sixth place. He timed sixth and won his heat race.

Over the winter, racing lost an avid fan, Davey Hartman, who courageously battled against cancer. Our sympathy goes to his wife, Debbie, and other family members. His mother, Ginger Meloy, has been a ticket seller at the main grandstand for over 20 years. Hartman’s business, Fence by Maintenance Service in Mars, has been a sponsor on AJ Flick’s Sprint car since 2018.

A member of the Joe Corrado Late Model team put $500 on the Sprint feature at Lernerville in memory of Hartman. Flick started ninth in that feature and despite few caution flags, was determined to win, which did happen. Flick said, “Davey was one of my best friends. We raced in Go-Carts and he came on board as a sponsor when I needed it the most. He was one of my biggest supporters. He was there when I had some big wins, won Championships and went to the Chile Bowl with me … him, his wife and family are our family. I am going to miss him for sure!”

Mike Kinney is driving a Big Block Modified this season. He started racing Stock cars in 1992 and in 2012 moved to E-Mods, winning two championships. Brett Porter owns the former “King Race team” Modified.

Daryl Charlier and Brad Spochaz have formed a Late Model team. Charlier has a lot of experience in Crate Lates and Pro Stocks. However, it has been 11 years since he was behind the wheel of a Late Model.

Nathen McDowell is piloting a 410 Sprint this season. He transitioned from an old Sportsman Modified.

What effects will the lower economy have on local short track racing? Dave Roberts says, “It remains to be seen. But in the past, no matter what the challenge, race drivers and fans always found a way to the tracks!”

Indiana, Pa.’s, American Racer Tire manufacturer received 2,000-pound rolls of nylon fabric from its suppliers in North Carolina. This will enable them to increase tire production. The company’s executive, Scott Junod said, “In the manufacturing process, nylon fabric sheets are laid flat, then dipped in a chemical and stretched to produce the fiber. The rolls of nylon are calendered with rubber and cut.”

Mercer Raceway, Pennsylvania Motor Speedway and Sharon Speedway are all opening this weekend.

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle