John and Pee Wee Zemaitis Continue Winning Ways
Story By: JUSTIN SNYDER / RACERSGUIDE.COM Photos By: RACERSGUIDE.COM PHOTO STAFF
TOWER CITY, PA- August 6, 2016- Central Pennsylvania dirt racing is filled with a lot of history. The list of drivers who have ran a sprint car at one of the various tracks spread throughout the area is filled with the “who’s who” of the sport.
Even more impressive is the listing of team owners who have provided the drivers the opportunity to race and the fans the opportunity to cheer on a favorite on any given night.
From Al Hamilton and the red No.77, Walt Dyer’s Brickmobile No.461, Bob Stewart’s Apple Chevrolet No.12 to Bob Weikert and his famous No.29, Don Krietz Jr.’s baby blue No.69K, Mike Heffner’s No.27… Car owners have become just as well known as the driver who races for them.
However, as the sport has progressed and the times have changed, many of these owners and cars have faded into the history books of Central PA lore while others still thrive.
Among them all, one still remains a fixture at the track on a weekly basis thanks to John and Pee Wee Zemaitis of Tower City, Pennsylvania.
Whether it was painted black, white, or silver, their Zemco Racing #1Z has circled the various Pennsylvania tracks for multiple decades, being a home of sorts to some of the best drivers to come to the area. With past drivers including Bobby Weaver, Billy Pauch, the late Kevin Gobrecht, Jeff Shepard, Sean Michael, Mark Smith, Danny Lasoski, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Stevie Smith, Brian Leppo, Skip Jackson, and a young Kasey Kahne, it is easy to see why the Zemco #1Z is still a strong running team today.
As a result of their continued dedication the sport, the car owners will be honored alongside Randy Wolfe as part of the 2016 Port Royal Living Legends Dream Race on Saturday, August 6th.
Many of their past drivers will be on-hand to show there thanks to the longtime car owners and to meet with fans and reminisce. Jeff Shepard will be in attendance Saturday night. He wheeled the famous car on two separate occasions in 1999 and again from 2007-08, capturing multiple victories to become a definite threat to win anytime they unloaded at a track.
He believes that John and Pee Wee are well deserving of this honor and is excited for the chance to say thank you.
“John and Pee Wee have been long outstanding car owners and always provided me as their driver with the tools we needed to get the job done,” said Shepard of his time in the car. “It’s not often that car owners stay involved to the degree that they have been over the years, and I think it speaks volumes to their character and personal commitment to racing.”
With 87 career feature victories on his resume, 35 of which came at local standpoints Williams Grove, Lincoln, Port Royal and Selinsgrove Speedway, Shepard has driven for many of owners. However it was driving the Zemco car that he picked up arguably his biggest career victory when he captured a Knoxville Nationals preliminary night victory in 2007.
While that moment reigns supreme for him in his experience of driving the famed sprinter, it was the personal connection built with the owners that he will remember the most.
“John and Pee Wee always stayed focused on driver safety and supporting the community and I always felt encouraged to fulfill my goals. But most importantly, they have always supported their drivers through the rough times as much as the good,” said Shepard, who was seriously injured in a career ending accident driving for them in 2008.
“To this day it is a pleasure for me and my wife to visit with them every chance we get to see them. They have been extremely supportive of their drivers and their lives outside of racing and I think that’s what stands out the most to me. I would rank them as some of the best car owners this sport can provide.”
Another driver who will be attending the Living Legends Dream Race to honor the car owners will be Stevie Smith of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Smith currently races for National Sprint Car Hall of Famer, Fred Rahmer and has seen his career jump-started in the past few season running a part-time schedule. However, he credits John and Pee Wee for getting his confidence back behind a sprint car.
In 2009, Smith was hired to race the famed machine on a part-time schedule after years of struggling to find funding in his family owned #19.
“At the time the opportunity came up to drive for them, I really had nothing going on and nothing to look forward to,” said Smith who piloted the Zemco car from 2009-2011. “They really put me back on the map and boosted my career and my confidence.”
He echoed Shepard’s statements and believes that the racing couple is very deserving of being recognized. “Some of my best years in racing were driving for John and Pee Wee,” said Smith. “You won’t find a more laid back, yet hard working team. They were extremely supportive and easy on me as the driver and it made the experience driving for them positive and was one of my favorites.”
One driver who will not be in attendance for the evening festivities is Australian standout and Knoxville Speedway legend Skip Jackson. After many years of success racing, Jackson came to Pennsylvania in 2000 to pilot the famed Zemco ride. While his time behind the car was short lived, Jackson is thankful for the owners taking a shot on him and giving him the opportunity to race in PA.
“When that deal came together and I got the opportunity to drive their car in Pennsylvania I was truly thrilled to death,” said Jackson, who captured his only career PA victory driving their car at Port Royal that season.
“They have had a lot of great drivers over the years and I was honored to be able say I was part of such a great Central PA racing tradition that the Zemco car is.”
Jackson was thrilled for the long-time car owners to hear that they were being honored and is forever grateful for their friendship and dedication to the sport he loves.
“They are the type of people that no matter how long it has been since you’ve seen them, they come at you with the same smile and greeting, and I just can’t say enough about the people they are,” said Jackson, who has since retired from racing.
“I’ve been lucky to drive for some great car owners and accomplish a lot in this sport, but looking back it is easy to say that they are some of the greatest people I have ever met and I’m honored to call them my friends. They deserve every honor they get.”
While being honored, the car owners will be looking on as the current Zemco driver, Lucas Wolfe, looks to capture the $10,000 pay day for the 35-lap A-Main event. Wolfe captured the Port Royal track championship last season and will be looking to make the night even sweeter for the night’s honorees!
