Where are They Now

R

racefan61

Veteran
I know there are a lot of pass drivers out there i have seen race a few come to mind maybe you remember them or now what has come of them..
      1. Doug Hewitt ( i think last name is right )
      2. Gail Barber ( if i'm correct he drove a #20 or #01 mod at the old shangri la )
      3. Jerry Cook ( red #38 mod raced at chemung and shangri la )               
 
raceguy

raceguy

Champion
Jerry Cook served as the Whelen Modified Series' director when it began in 1985, and is currently NASCAR's Administrative Director.
 
R

racefan61

Veteran
here are a few more
wayne edawards #48 stump jumper special shangri la
Chris Pozzi #01 street stock paint was THE GENERAL LEE
Brothers A.J and J.J Michaels A.J drove mod #10 yellow white and J.J same color but was street stock #01
 
J

Jayman

Veteran
Racefan61,

A.J. Michaels' modified was the yellow #81 that often made appearances at the old Shangri-La, J.J. Michaels (which I always thought was his nephew or cousin) drove a similar colored #10 Street Stock.  A.J. passed away quite a few years back while racing a #4 Super Modified at Oswego Speedway in an accident.  I always loved the yellow 81 car, it was one of my favorites as a child.  I am unsure about the status of J.J. Michaels.

 
Mtroyerfan6

Mtroyerfan6

Veteran
These mod greats are still with us=== Dutch Hoag, Maynard Troyer, Don Diffendorf, George Kent, Geoff Bodine...ahh the good ol days of the modified heroes! ;D
 
R

racefan61

Veteran
how could i forget good ole Troyer white mod with alittle bit of orange and silver #6 of course cant for get George "The Duke " Kent all the Bodine brothers
 
R

racefan61

Veteran
thank you for letting me know about A.J  and the correct car #  never knew he drove a Super Mod  did he have any luck in that class before his death
 
B

bakes

Veteran
Last I heard Wayne is still living in the LeRaysville PA area. 

Doug Hewitt retired from driving after Richie's death and ended up in NC, where he was a Winston Cup crew chief for a time.

AJ Michaels was killed at Oswego while driving the Mucci Motorsports #98 in an accident in the 1st turn, when he backed in to the wall at speed.  I won't say anything more regarding the accident as I don't like recalling it.  He had won at least a couple of features and was becoming a consistent front runner at the time of his death.  I don't know what happened to his #81 Modified - not sure if that was the same car that Mickey Cahill had or not.

Haven't heard from Chris Pozzi in ages - he used to work with my dad many years ago.

Others from Shangri-La in the 1980s:

Rick Neild, #97/#5 Modifieds (another Gault Chevy guy)

Bob Carlisle, #37 Modified (from out towards Elmira?)

Wade Stewart, #4 Modified (Waverly/Sayre/Athens)?

Rich Rafferty, #K21 Modified (Clarks Summit, PA)

Carl Harvey, #Seventy Six Gremlin-bodied modified (Binghamton?)

 
M

modcrew18

Rookie
  I may be wrong but wasn't AJ driving the Mucci #98 at the time of his passing? One of many tragic hits the super rosters took in a few year span.

 
 
R

racefan61

Veteran
thank you for info on AJ sad to hear but right this sec. i feel like a dummy how could i forget one of the best that passed 25 years ago cant believe its been that long but the #61 or the Rapid Romen The King of the Mods RICHIE EVENS
 
M

modcrew18

Rookie
  A few from my very early days at Lancaster and/or Cayuga (Canada):

        Jerry Mathis
 
        Tommy Leeson

        Andy Haley
 
       
 
B

bakes

Veteran
Reminds me - whatever DID happen to Mickey Cahill?  Or another Oswego-based Modified and Supermodified driver, Jim Crouch?  Both were good guys to hang around and talk racing with after the races back in the day.
 
R

racefan61

Veteran
heres one for you Greg Sacks ...... Now i do know if I'm correct I remember him driving a white mod at shangri la #1 .. He did how ever had a brief time in NASCAR cant remember the year or years or even the team he drove for but i do recall him racing
 
uticamike

uticamike

Racing Genius
I'll toss a few out from My mid-seventies LM days at Shangri-La.

Mike Casterline
Duane Ellis
Cecil King
Dick Finnerty

I know ole Jim Zach is still around
Randy Hedger is an official with NASCAR in NC.
Pete Walker passed away an number of years ago.

and Denny McNally ( the guy I used to help) is off to parts unknown.


74' and 75' were good years for me.
 
Rocket88

Rocket88

Veteran
Pete Walker died due to injuries from a crash while driving the Loden Brothers #29 Vega. I believe it was at Oswego. Pete had replaced Mike Loescher in the car. As far as I know Mike is still running his driving school in Florida.
 
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