JOE LOCKHART: FROM ATVS TO PRO STOCKS
by Brian Spaid

April 2, 2004 

   Piloting a Pro Stock at Tri-City Speedway wheel-to-wheel against some of the toughest drivers in the business is a far cry from racing all-terrain vehicles. But it’s a lot of fun.

   At least those are the thoughts of Seneca racer Joe Lockhart, who is ready to plunge into his third year of competition at the Venango County half-mile oval when it opens on April 25.

   “I feel I’m getting better,” said the smiling young man. “When I first started I thought it would be easy after racing ATVs for so long, but I learned real quick to tone it down. There is still a lot to learn.”

   The Cranberry High School senior started his racing career early. While most of his friends were focused on baseball or basketball, Lockhart loved ATVs. At 15, he raced nationally. He also learned to live with injuries.

   “I broke a lot of bones running ATVs,” said Lockhart. “I broke about eight or nine major bones, like arms and legs. I also broke a lot of bones in my hands. My parents and friends thought I was nuts, but racing ATVs is fun, and I got to travel back then.”

   One day, his mother, Kathy Neil, decided she would take her son to Tri-City. Just maybe she would be able to get him away from those wild ATVs.

   “Mom got me involved at Tri-City. She went there with family and friends, and they all knew I liked to race. They just wanted me to race cars instead. It is very family-oriented at Tri-City with my parents, aunts and uncles. There is a lot of support there.”

   With financial help from his father, Randy Lockhart, and mechanical assistance from his uncle, Jeff Lockhart, who also letters the car, the ATV racer became a dirt tracker in 2002.

   “My first race car was built like a tank. We all knew I needed to learn how to drive Pro Stocks. I made a lot of mistakes and got into some people that were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I still feel bad about that because it cost both of us money and I tore up their equipment. I was real glad that most of the guys understood I needed to gain experience.”

   Lockhart, 19, credits all the drivers and teams for helping him learn the ropes of Pro Stock racing.
   “All of the drivers are real supportive. Guys like Rod Laskey and Ron Iorio are willing to give me some advice, which really helps to boost your confidence.”

   In 2003, Lockhart grew more serious with his effort. He enlisted the help of two-time Pro Stock track champion and fellow Seneca resident Bobby Whitling, who built race cars that off-season. Whitling constructed a chassis for Lockhart, and it improved his performance.

   “I needed to learn more about the mechanical aspects and set-ups on the car,” recalled Lockhart. “Last year, I worked a lot at trying to get the car to go faster. We suffered through some motor and transmission failures, but we steadily improved.”

   Despite his effort, Lockhart, who works at his father’s industrial cleaning business, Lockhart’s Commercial Cleaning in Oil City, was somewhat disappointed with his 17^th place finish in the final Pro Stock points.

   “We’re getting better. We know we have top notch equipment and we’re going to work real hard to make it run better in 2004. I’d love to finish in the top 10 in the final points this season.”

   Even though he enjoys Pro Stocks, Lockhart still has time to race ATVs. In fact, Clear Channel Entertainment, which operates the USHRA Monster Jam events featuring Monster Trucks, often enlists Lockhart in the Quad Wars shows.

   “The folks at Clear Channel are great. When I was racing ATVs, they asked our team to help them out. At the time, I was injured and on the mend, but I got a bunch of guys together and we raced. Since then, they’ve invited me back along with some of the other guys I know. We’ve race the Quad Wars at Tri-City, Jennerstown Speedway, the Jefferson County Fair, and the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.”

   Designed with the same drama as professional wrestling, the Quad Wars pit the “good guys” against the “bad guys.” Of course, the “good guys” are the fan favorites while the “bad guys” are the insulting loudmouths that race aggressively. Lockhart has played both roles. Other dangers exist in that style of motorsports, however.

   “One time, I played the lead ‘bad guy’ at the Civic Arena. I had 30,000 people booing me at once. I’ll tell you what, I had to change into my street clothes before I left that night. Some fans take it seriously and you worry that they want to fight with you.”

   It is doubtful that Lockhart will stir that much emotion at Tri-City. In just two years, he steadily became a reliable, fast competitor that other drivers enjoy to race without the fear of unnecessary contact. While a good finish in the points is his priority, a feature win in his Pontiac Grand Prix No. 58 would send him over the edge.

  “If I won a feature race, I’d jump through the fiberglass roof!”

   Lockhart’s sponsors include his father’s business as well as B&M Floors, Subway and Total Sound & Image of Seneca, Plaza Mart Convenience Store, Oakwood Mini Storage and Ultra Sign Art of Oil City, Underwood’s Repairs of Titusville, Shook’s Garage of Dempseytown and SRE Industries of Rockland.