Josh Powell has felt both agony and ecstasy in his racing career.

The 20-year old Sarver native is a member of a garage that houses a trio of Late Models owned by 2019 Lernerville Late Model champion Ken Schaltenbrand, rookie Levi Yetter, and himself.

Lernerville Speedway is the place his grandfather first carried his mom to see the races when she was a kid. She in turn took Josh when he was 3 and continues the tradition each Friday evening for the last 24 years.

At the age of 11, Josh met Tammy Schaltenbrand Yetter, who introduced him to her brother, Kenny. Josh decided to join the Schaltenbrand pit crew and helped him for 10 years.

Five years ago, he decided to buy a racecar from Schaltenbrand and begin his career as a 604 Crate Late Model driver. After a year, he drove to Alabama and bought a Super Late Model motor and changed divisions.

Last year in June, Powell started his first Super Late race of 2019. He began the heat race on the pole and when the green flag was thrown, the inevitable happened

Going into turn two, a “domino” type accident occurred that collected Powell's car and tuned it on its side.

“I got hit again and my car bounced off the top of my roll cage on the ground, and it felt like someone pounded me in the center of my chest with a baseball bat,” Powell said. “So the ambulance took me back to the pits and I thought maybe I just got the wind knocked out of me.

“The car was fine. I probably could have raced it. So I just laid down in the trailer and spread my arms open so I could breathe better. But then I couldn't get up off the ground.”

The ambulance took him to the emergency room and they found three vertebrae fractures that night and later four more, all the ones that help you to breathe. They couldn't put a brace on him because the breaks were too high.

For five months, he had to lie flat on his back. He was permitted to get up to eat or use the bathroom to shower.

He remarked, “Sometimes I would walk to the porch to get a change of scenery. There is only so much TV you can watch!”

It was difficult for him to be a human being instead of a human doing.

He went back to work at Allegheny Ford five months after the accident. He has been a diesel mechanic since graduating from high school.

“I did not race a car until first practice at Lernerville in May this year,” he said. “I was fine at the practice, but on opening night, when the actual season began, I was on the front row of the heat race again and I was so nervous I started shaking.

“It hit me like a ton of bricks. For two weeks, my friends yelled at me and said I was driving like a wimp in turns one and two. I guess subconsciously it bothered me.”

Now it's no longer a problem since he has worked through the flashbacks.

His crew consists of Brandon Phillippi, Jared Fullerton, Ryan Flick, Nick Rusak, mom Daralee, dad Frank, and girlfriend Alyson Rusak. The three drivers in the garage and their crews all help each other when needed. At the track, the group parks together behind the Precise Tool truck and assist each other like family, also.

Look for the No. 11 Late Model at Lernerville. He chose those digits because it was his soccer and hockey jersey number.

Powell is a happy guy with a super personality, but he claims he is boring.

“All I do is race, sleep and work!,” he said.

In the off-season, he likes archery hunting to escape from everything.

While not racing in 2019, and the advent of COVID-19 delaying the opening of the 2020 season, Powell used the time to rebuild. He purchased a brand new Battle Chassis. It changed his program, going from old to new. He had a top five feature finish last week.

“I want to stay consistent, keep getting top fives and use this as a test year to see what my new car will do. If I get a fifth in points and finish every race safe, I will consider it a successful year,” he said.

Would he ever think about driving in another class like Sprints?

“No, I always liked Late Models. I tried the Crates but Super Lates are more fun … more opportunity to go to different tracks, and you have a lot of super competition,” he said. “ Lucas Oil and World of Outlaws Late Models traveling groups provide an opportunity to race for big money.

“ I like the guys I race with each week. Everyone helps each other. You can talk it out if you have problems. I am content where I am. I don't have the natural talent like AJ (Flick) to jump from one division to another and kick butt in whatever division he runs in.”

Growing up, Powell liked to watch Schaltenbrand and John Flinner battle. He also enjoyed David Scott and Spanky Daugherty's style! Sometimes he watches Flick and Brandon Spithaler scope out the track.

“Wherever they are is probably where you want to be!,” he said.

Recently, he went to Port Royal Speedway to watch the races and just relax. The track is two hours away.

Returning Powell said: “It is nice living in Sarver though, where I am only five minutes from the track!”

World of Outlaw Late Model Director and former Pittsburgher Chris Dolack has just been diagnosed with Lymphoma.Dolack has decided to journal his experience on his Facebook page with the hope of helping others who may be going through similar times.Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.<b>Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle</b>