KEVIN COOPER FOLLOWS HERO’S FOOTSTEPS AT TRI-CITY
by Brian Spaid

May 21, 2004 

   For many young racers in our region, Lou Blaney is their ultimate hero. His smooth driving style and quiet demeanor always attracted fans. When the Hartford, Ohio, veteran won a race, he either stomped the competition or pulled off a remarkable drive from the back of the pack.

   Blaney’s racing heroism rubbed off on Kevin Cooper. The Chapmanville racer is now in his second year in the Thundercar division at Tri-City Speedway. Last Sunday, he matched a career best finish with a second place in the 12-lap feature to move into a tie for second in points. He intends to work hard toward reaching his goal of victory this season.

   “Last year was the first time I was ever in a race car,” said Cooper. “I grew up at Tri-City watching my favorite, Lou Blaney, race with guys like Gus Linder and Buddy Cochran. I always wanted to race like him and my other family.”

   Cooper’s grandfather, Chuck Speer, raced at Tri-City in the old Pure Stock class in the 1970s. His uncles, Dan and Dean Speer, also competed in the Pure Stocks, which were the forerunners of today’s Pro Stocks, in the 1980s and 1990s. He even helped his uncles’ efforts in the pit area. It was natural that Cooper would want to imitate his hero, Blaney, and follow the footsteps of the Speer family into the racing world. It just never happened.

   “I saw the kind of money they put into the motors, and I just couldn’t justify it. Then, in February or March of 2003, I heard about the Thundercars, and I immediately told everyone I knew that I was going to race at Tri-City.”

   Cooper ventured to find a car, and it took him a few weeks to prepare it for racing. He missed the first few races of the debut season of the Thundercars, but emerged as a top contender in the class.

   Cooper, who works as a route salesman for Galliker Dairy of Johnstown, started slowly as he became more used to the speed. By the end of the season, he was battling for the lead like his hero.

   “I love it so far. There’s a lot of work involved during the week. There’s always something little to work on. The class is only good though as the long as the rules are enforced, and that concerns me right now.”

   Currently, Tri-City’s chief tech inspector, Larry Riffe, is on a medical leave. He is expected to return in the near future, but Cooper feels that the proverbial mice are playing while the cat is away.

   “I feel good about my effort because my car is legal and I’m beating other guys that are running some questionable engines. We need to stay within the rules to keep this a budget class, or it will be ruined. Some guys have more invested in their motors than in their cars. Last year, it cost less than $1,500 to put a decent motor in the car to race. Now, a few guys are spending around $2,000. That’s crazy when we’re racing for a bag of chips and a trophy.”

   Cooper’s last reference relates to the fact that the Thundercars receive no purse money. Instead, only the winner of the weekly feature receives a trophy and some special sponsorship awards. Track officials will continue to monitor the growth of the class and may institute a promised claimer rule if costs start to get out of hand.

   Under a claimer rule, track officials establish an amount that may be posted by any competitor in order to purchase another team’s engine or entire car. If, for example, the claim amount is set at $1,000, then there is a disincentive to spend more than that to build a car and engine when someone can simply claim it for that amount. If a team refuses to accept the claim amount, then the car is eliminated from further competition.

   For now, Tri-City officials will await the healthy return of Riffe while worthy substitutes fill in for the popular (or unpopular) chief tech inspector.

   “Believe me, Larry is not missed by everyone. I miss him, and I can’t wait for him to return to keep all of us in check. There’s guys in the pits saying it’s open season. I hope he gets well soon.”

   So, what will it take for Cooper to enter the same victory lane that was visited by Blaney on 53 occasions in the past at Tri-City?

   “My car’s not running as well as I’d like it to right now. It’s fast and consistent, and I feel that if we still run at the front, sooner or later, something will go my way. Also, Robby Switzer needs to keep breaking. He has a fast car!”

   Cooper’s yellow 1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass No. 6 should become a frequent visitor to victory lane in the future. Just like Blaney’s famed No. 10.

   Sponsors on Cooper’s Thundercar include Middelton Chiropratic, T-Vegas Tanning, and Hair Source, all of Titusville, and Lowrey Construction of Oil City.