Coal Region Racing and the local racing community lost one of its greatest supporters. Joe Kuperavage, 82, of Port Carbon, passed away Sunday, May 23rd, 2021.
The owner of Joe Kuperavage Coal Co. was better known among by the local race fans as one of the three operators of the legendary Anthracite Raceway. From 1966 until his involvement concluded in 1974, Schoentown as the track was more commonly known as by its faithful fans, presented some of the best dirt track racing in the county's history! In that same year of 1974, Joe would join D. B. Muscara and Fritz Roerhig in promoting Big Diamond Raceway. Just as he was at Anthracite, Joe was a hands-on promoter ready to do whatever was needed to put on a night's racing event. Together this trio created the basis for what would become the longest tenured dirt track in the county. The legacy he helped create at Anthracite lives on in the hearts of those who attended. The impact he had on Big Diamond lives on today.
Because of his incredible efforts he was an instrumental part of the creation of Coal Region Racing. Whenever he was asked to attend and support an event, Joe was there. Many of the former competitors were happy to spend time reliving many of their shared memories and more than a few laughs. The great respect between them was more than evident. Because of his overwhelming contributions to local dirt track racing and helping to preserve the memories, he was an inaugural member inducted into the Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame on April 6th, 2019.
From everyone at Coal Region Racing we extend our heartfelt condolences to his many family and friends. You will be greatly missed.....
The owner of Joe Kuperavage Coal Co. was better known among by the local race fans as one of the three operators of the legendary Anthracite Raceway. From 1966 until his involvement concluded in 1974, Schoentown as the track was more commonly known as by its faithful fans, presented some of the best dirt track racing in the county's history! In that same year of 1974, Joe would join D. B. Muscara and Fritz Roerhig in promoting Big Diamond Raceway. Just as he was at Anthracite, Joe was a hands-on promoter ready to do whatever was needed to put on a night's racing event. Together this trio created the basis for what would become the longest tenured dirt track in the county. The legacy he helped create at Anthracite lives on in the hearts of those who attended. The impact he had on Big Diamond lives on today.
Because of his incredible efforts he was an instrumental part of the creation of Coal Region Racing. Whenever he was asked to attend and support an event, Joe was there. Many of the former competitors were happy to spend time reliving many of their shared memories and more than a few laughs. The great respect between them was more than evident. Because of his overwhelming contributions to local dirt track racing and helping to preserve the memories, he was an inaugural member inducted into the Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame on April 6th, 2019.
From everyone at Coal Region Racing we extend our heartfelt condolences to his many family and friends. You will be greatly missed.....
The second Coal Region Racing Banquet will be held at the Community Fire Company of Landingville on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Additional details will be released as they are finalized.
If you ever wondered what early stock cars that raced around the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds looked like, wonder no more.
Although Mario Andretti, who turned 81 on February 28, never raced at any of the Schuylkill County tracks, one of his former cars that he raced with his late twin brother Aldo did. This Ford Sportsman that the Andretti brothers raced at Nazareth Speedway purchased by the Tremont Racing Club competed and won at Gold Mine Speedway.
Enjoy the story.
The latest installments from the Coal Region Racing DVD series are now available. The evening of April 6, 2019 was truly a special event in the history of Schuylkill County motorsports.
These limited edition DVDs are available for $20 each.
These limited edition DVDs are available for $20 each.
Also now available from Coal Region Racing is this poster from our Open House at Pioneer Pole Buildings from June 16, 2016. For only $5 you can own this special limited edition poster with some of the greatest drivers, photographers, and promoters in Schuylkill County's long racing history.
How many can you name?
These 3 items are perfect for the local racing fan in your life and just in time for last minute Christmas gifts!
To order call Mike Clay, Sr. at (570) 294-2669.
How many can you name?
These 3 items are perfect for the local racing fan in your life and just in time for last minute Christmas gifts!
To order call Mike Clay, Sr. at (570) 294-2669.
Preserving the History of the Dirt Tracks of Schuylkill County, PA
It is with great sadness that Coal Region Racing reports the loss of one of its most important members and friends.
On Thursday November 26, 2020, the creator of the immaculate 13x replica, Bill Yerger, lost his long battle with cancer. Bill was 81. He resided in Lakeland, FA with his wife Dale.
Bill entrusted Coal Region Racing with his pride and joy, the faithful 13x reproduction he spent many years creating. Thank you for this incredible gift to us and local racing enthusiasts and historians. Rest easy, Bill.
On Thursday November 26, 2020, the creator of the immaculate 13x replica, Bill Yerger, lost his long battle with cancer. Bill was 81. He resided in Lakeland, FA with his wife Dale.
Bill entrusted Coal Region Racing with his pride and joy, the faithful 13x reproduction he spent many years creating. Thank you for this incredible gift to us and local racing enthusiasts and historians. Rest easy, Bill.
Don Zerbe brought The Tommy Doyle Special under the checkered flag first and was greeted by Head Flagman, the late Warren Thomas. Mr. Thomas met many feature winners during his tenure during the 1970's at both Anthracite Raceway and Big Diamond Raceway.
Coal Region Racing lost another one of its family. Warren Thomas of Port Carbon passed away. Warren was just 75.
After serving his country as a Sargent in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, he returned home and worked as an electrician for the Reading Railroad. He wanted to be involved in racing even though he couldn't afford to own his own race car. So he did the next best thing. He took a job at Anthracite Raceway as did his wife Judy. While his wife was working in the scoring tower, as a fireman in 1968, he stood on top of a large chunk of coal in the middle of the infield pit area. If there was an accident, it was his job to run out on to the track with a fire extinguisher.
Then the opportunity arose that he became the assistant flagman to Babe Womer. It wasn't long before Warren became the head flagman. With the opening of Big Diamond Raceway in 1972, Warren would soon become the head flagman after that track's first head starter, Red Lesher, left that position at the end of that inaugural season. Beginning in 1973, he was the head flagman. Warren flagged at Anthracite Raceway until that track closed at the conclusion of the 1975 season. He remained in the flagstand until the end of the season in 1980 when he rolled up his flags for the final time and retired from flagging.
Through the years, Warren never seemed far from his racing family and friends. He and Judy were greeted warmly at Anthracite Raceway reunions. During an interview session for Coal Region Racing, he mentioned how during "the oil days" of track prep, he would have to go home and take 2 separate baths to try and get oil, dirt and grime off! He also mentioned when the pits were in the infield at Schoentown and it rained, it was rather entertaining watching the race car haulers being pulled out of the muddy mess, up the track and into the parking lot. Although intimidating in stature, Warren was like a big teddy bear with an extremely pleasant disposition. This undoubtedly helped make him many friends throughout the pit area even after a long night at the races. Long nights that commonly involved a few cold beers.
Many race fans like to think that racers that pass on are reunited with their old racing buddies and are turning laps again. If that's true, that big race track in the afterlife has one of the best flag men to ever wave a set of flags.
After serving his country as a Sargent in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, he returned home and worked as an electrician for the Reading Railroad. He wanted to be involved in racing even though he couldn't afford to own his own race car. So he did the next best thing. He took a job at Anthracite Raceway as did his wife Judy. While his wife was working in the scoring tower, as a fireman in 1968, he stood on top of a large chunk of coal in the middle of the infield pit area. If there was an accident, it was his job to run out on to the track with a fire extinguisher.
Then the opportunity arose that he became the assistant flagman to Babe Womer. It wasn't long before Warren became the head flagman. With the opening of Big Diamond Raceway in 1972, Warren would soon become the head flagman after that track's first head starter, Red Lesher, left that position at the end of that inaugural season. Beginning in 1973, he was the head flagman. Warren flagged at Anthracite Raceway until that track closed at the conclusion of the 1975 season. He remained in the flagstand until the end of the season in 1980 when he rolled up his flags for the final time and retired from flagging.
Through the years, Warren never seemed far from his racing family and friends. He and Judy were greeted warmly at Anthracite Raceway reunions. During an interview session for Coal Region Racing, he mentioned how during "the oil days" of track prep, he would have to go home and take 2 separate baths to try and get oil, dirt and grime off! He also mentioned when the pits were in the infield at Schoentown and it rained, it was rather entertaining watching the race car haulers being pulled out of the muddy mess, up the track and into the parking lot. Although intimidating in stature, Warren was like a big teddy bear with an extremely pleasant disposition. This undoubtedly helped make him many friends throughout the pit area even after a long night at the races. Long nights that commonly involved a few cold beers.
Many race fans like to think that racers that pass on are reunited with their old racing buddies and are turning laps again. If that's true, that big race track in the afterlife has one of the best flag men to ever wave a set of flags.
Below is a brief look at our friend Phil Long's racing career.
Phil began his driving career at Big Diamond in this red Camaro in the Late Model division. He would move up a class quickly.
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In 1981, Phil would purchase a former Tommy Long Small Block Modified at the very young age of 17 years old.
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Next, in 1983 he bought a former Dave Schoffstall Mustang bodied Tobias chassis Modified from Bill Arndt, Jr.
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By 1987, Phil made the successful transition into the Winged Super Sportsman and made a stop in Big Diamond's Victory Lane.
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Phil also has the Facebook page
Vintage Dirt Modified Models
Here are a few examples of the 1/25th scale model kits he turned into miniature replicas of the Sportsman race cars that 4 Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame members raced at one point in their respective careers.
It was difficult to just choose 4 pictures.
Don't take my word for it, visit his page and see for yourself!
Vintage Dirt Modified Models
Here are a few examples of the 1/25th scale model kits he turned into miniature replicas of the Sportsman race cars that 4 Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame members raced at one point in their respective careers.
It was difficult to just choose 4 pictures.
Don't take my word for it, visit his page and see for yourself!
Drick Hendricks - 11x
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Hal Lord - 89
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Russ Smith - 11
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Roy Wiest - 123
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Nominations are currently open for Coal Region Racing's next Hall of Fame inductions. Nominations are open to anyone who were involved in the racing activities at any of the tracks in Schuylkill County, PA.
Please read the posting above carefully and remember to include the reasons why you feel the individuals you choose should be considered for the Hall of Fame and the years of eligibility of 1900 to 1985.
Please read the posting above carefully and remember to include the reasons why you feel the individuals you choose should be considered for the Hall of Fame and the years of eligibility of 1900 to 1985.
Our late friend, Bill Yerger, was the mastermind behind the recreation of the Drick Hendricks 13x that has been shown at various race car reunions and Coal Region Racing functions. This car he masterfully constructed as close as possible to the original is a perfect example of what local race cars of this era appeared as.
On May 7, 2016, an official presentation was made at the Circle M Ranch Reunion. It was during this event that Bill entrusted this incredible machine to Coal Region Racing. From left to right are Dolly Hendricks, Kate Bretz (sister to Dolly), Bonnie Mates, Bill Yerger and his wife Dale Yerger.
Bill wasn't going to let Dick Maberry have all the fun. He got to fulfill a long-time dream, to turn some laps on the same race track the original car competed on. The same track Bill attended in the mid 1950's and Dick's father Ears competed on during that era.
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Bill poses proudly in front of his beautiful recreation with Dolly Hendricks, wife of the late Drick Hendricks. The original turned laps here over 50 years prior to him donating this identical duplicate to Coal Region Racing. Making his final preparations before taking the 13x on the racing surface is Dick Maberry.
Here's Bill cruising around the track on the back stretch at Circle M Ranch where the fans were able to view not just the 13x but watch all the activities of the various types of race cars that helped turn this event into one the must-see reunions of the year.
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The local racing community has lost another member. On Thursday evening, Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Rick Huff passed away at the age of 69.
Rick got his love of auto racing from his father and uncle who were very involved in local racing. They supplied portable light trucks for Shenandoah Speedway and Mount Carbon Speedway. It only was natural that he would follow in their footsteps. When outgoing Anthracite Raceway photographer Wild Bill Hess would give him his first camera, little did he know the impact that gift would have.
Along with his father and uncle, they would capture the priceless moments in time at Anthracite Raceway that became iconic in the history of that track. Those images added to the legacy of the dirt track known to many as Schoentown. We owe Rick and his family an enormous amount of gratitude for the images they created that are so cherished by the Anthracite Raceway faithful. He would also create the track's racing program and all the press release for the various racing papers and publications.
Rick and his family didn't confine themselves to just one track. When Big Diamond Raceway opened, they were there to record the racing action and continued for a number of years. They also photographed and recorded the racing at the Reading Fairgrounds, Penn National, Nazareth, Susquehanna, Pocono and Daytona to name a few. He also was the General Manager and photographer at Fredericksburg.
Rick would then change coarse and become a car owner along the Wilhelm brothers with the late Jim Steele steering their 51 jr. Jim Somers then became the new driver wheeling their well prepared Chevelles. Then, in 1979, they arrived at Big Diamond with a brand new creation, a Camaro. That new Late Model would earn them the 1979 Late Model Point Championship.
After his induction into the Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame on April 6, 2019, Rick was almost overwhelmed with pride and emotion upon being honored. We truly lost a good friend in racing.
From all of us at Coal Region Racing we extend our deepest condolences to his family and many friends.
This recently discovered newspaper clipping form the Shenandoah Evening Herald shows the drive-in movie theater built inside the Brandonville race track. Located 3 miles northeast of Shenandoah, the racing surface can be seen around the edge of the photograph. This image shows just how wide the track was with long sweeping turns and short straightaways.
Today, all signs of the race track and drive-in movie theater have been erased from view.
Today, all signs of the race track and drive-in movie theater have been erased from view.
The Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame Inductees for 2019.
The possibility of at least 2 additional race tracks in Schuylkill County has recently come to light.
In the upper photo from August 28, 1958 shows the outline of a small dirt track located along Sweet Arrow Lake Road about 1 1/2 miles from Cressona.
In the second photo from August 12, 1971 shows the outline of a small dirt track located along Stone Mountain Road just off Sweet Arrow Lake Road just south of the first image.
These 2 possible little facilities were approximately 1/4 mile about. The second one may have been built to replace the first one.
If anyone has any information on either or both of these possible race tracks, please contact me directly at coalregionracing@gmail.com.
Our long awaited display of local racing history is now open to the public. Thanks to the Orwigsburg Historical Society, artifacts from the archives of Coal Region Racing will be accessible during the society's regularly scheduled hours.
This undated image is courtesy of Irv Yeict sent to us by Dennis Somers.
These are the earliest forms of race cars to compete in Schuylkill County. This photograph is from the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds in Cressona, PA. In the very beginning of automobile racing, machines such as these were common at county fairgrounds tracks across the country. As you can see, they lacked even the most basic safety equipment. Many a driver was injured or killed because of this. Two fatalities were recorded here, the very first casulty on July 4th and the second on August 4th, 1935.
Irv Yeict was the owner of S & Y Paints in Pottsville, PA and was a huge supporter of local dirt track racing by sponsoring dozens of race cars of all types through the years.
Many thanks to both Irv and Dennis for sharing this priceless photograph with Coal Region Racing
These are the earliest forms of race cars to compete in Schuylkill County. This photograph is from the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds in Cressona, PA. In the very beginning of automobile racing, machines such as these were common at county fairgrounds tracks across the country. As you can see, they lacked even the most basic safety equipment. Many a driver was injured or killed because of this. Two fatalities were recorded here, the very first casulty on July 4th and the second on August 4th, 1935.
Irv Yeict was the owner of S & Y Paints in Pottsville, PA and was a huge supporter of local dirt track racing by sponsoring dozens of race cars of all types through the years.
Many thanks to both Irv and Dennis for sharing this priceless photograph with Coal Region Racing
Here are two examples of what early sprint car racers appeared as in the 1950's and 1960's at such tracks as Brandonville, Ringtown and the inner oval at Mount Carbon. Since photographs from those tracks seem to be non-exsistant, these two photographs from the Circle M Ranch Speedway Reunion held on September 23, 2017 show what the sprint cars from that era really looked like.
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Brandonville raced what were known then as "Big Cars", early forms of what we have come to know as today's modern sprint cars before the wings. This is what those cars had evolved into during the 1950' and '60's that competed at the big, flat Brandonville 1/2 mile dirt track.
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Mount Carbon was known to have an inner oval that hosted midget racing and early forms of micro-sprints during it's tenure. Circle M Ranch hosted at least one event in 1955 while Mahanoy City, Ringtown, and possibly Brandonville and Sparky's also raced these early racing machines.
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Anthracite Raceway circa 1968.
Aerial Views of the Dirt Tracks of Schuylkill County
Please be sure to check out these historical racing websites
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www.readingfairgroundsracing.com
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Please support the businesses that help support Coal Region Racing.
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Thank you to Mark's Service Center for all the help and support in preserving the history of racing in Schuylkill County. |
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Big Diamond Raceway 1985
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Please check Scott Herring's website. Scott is a key member of Coal Region Racing and is the foremost current photographer on the anthracite coal industry and all the related elements involved in this industry.
www.thelastanthracitephotographer.com