FROM FATHER TO SON: SCOTT MYERS GROWS AS A PRO STOCK RACER
by Brian Spaid

May 20, 2005 

   Race car drivers are a rare breed. They are addicted to the sheer speed and competition. Victory lane is the ultimate goal where teamwork and racing skills combine as the driver and crew enjoy the spoils.

   For some, success does not come fast enough. Frustration sets in quickly. Whether it is mechanical problems or sheer bad luck, when victory fails to arrive, the car is sold and defeat is at hand.

   The sons of race car drivers seem to be immune to those troubles. Having lived through tough times side-by-side with his father, a second generation racer learns about patience and endurance in the ultimate quest for victory.

   Scott Myers of Rocky Grove fits the mold perfectly. The son of well-known Sportsman Modified star Randy Myers, the young Pro Stock star is gradually rising through the ranks of the toughest competition at Tri-City Speedway.

   “Dad’s experience helped me grow as a race car driver and to have patience,” notes Myers.

   As a young teen, Myers followed his father to the track. In the beginning, the elder Myers raced Pure Stocks and Outlaw Stocks before moving into the Sportsman Modified division. Success slowly came to the Franklin racer and he finally scored feature wins and track titles in the class before he retired in the late 1990s.

   “My first taste of driving occurred at Mercer Raceway Park,” recalls the young Myers. “I drove the car in hot laps one night and I knew I had to do it again.  I was about 17 at the time, and I purchased a roll cage kit and started to build a car. I finally got it together and went to Tri-City when it opened in 1996.”

   Myers ran at Tri-City three to four times. Each time, mechanical failure or blown engines sidelined his rookie effort.

   “I quickly figured out that I did not have a good job to finance the effort, and I wasn’t mature enough to handle it. I knew I had to get out.”

   Over the years, Myers still yearned to race. Then, in 2002, his father called about putting a Pro Stock together to race in the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series. One thing led to another, and, before Myers knew it, he and his father were building a car to race at Tri-City.

   In 2003, Myers was named the rookie of the year in the Pro Stock division. He finished eighth in points with one fifth place feature finish. Last year, he repeated that feat with two fifths. He also won three heat races.

   This season, Myers, 30, is fielding a brand new race car constructed by 1997 Tri-City Late Model champion Robbie Blair of Hydetown. Blair’s chassis have become popular among the Pro Stock ranks.

   “I’m pretty happy with the way things have gone so far over the last two years,” reflects Myers, who is a pump assembler at Barens Inc. in Seneca. “We had few mechanical breakdowns and the car’s been real safe. But, this season, I’m really looking to improve. We have a new car that competes well, and there are no more excuses.”

   The only thing that is keeping Myers from his elusive first career feature win is the competition.

   “My crew and I were talking about it just the other night. In years past, we could pick through the cars and know which guys we didn’t have to worry about because they weren’t that competitive. Now, we look at the heat race lineup at the start of the night, and all the cars are competitive. We are all pretty much equal and anybody can win on any given night.”

   That’s where his father’s experience bears the most fruit.

   “If I didn’t know what he went through, I’d be expecting more from it now. I look back and I see how he became a multi-track champion. It takes seat time and experience. Dad’s taught me to learn the good and the bad. Eventually, my day will come.”

   This season, the entire family is smiling. Although Myers continues to search for victory in the Pro Stocks, his younger brother, Chad, won the first two Thundercar features of the season.

   “I’m real happy for Chad. He’s using his head and driving smart. I just hope his head doesn’t swell too big,” laughs Myers.

    Noting that his brother built his Thundercar from scratch at their father’s garage, Myers believes that his brother also learned a lot of the same lessons.

   “Dad’s teaching him just like me. We were all shocked with his runaway win that first week. But Chad got real involved with the car. He’s running the same engine as last year. He did his homework. I know he’s eager to move into the Pro Stocks. He just needs some more experience, and he should be able to do it.”

   Not only is Myers’ father a lot of help, he also relies on good sponsors and the strong support of his pit crew. As for sponsorship, Myers Chevrolet No. 10 is adorned with multiple supporters such as Lowry Auto Body of Franklin, J.I. McCall Construction and Ralph's Garage of Polk, Overhead Door of Franklin, Lutz Radiator & Automotive and Pennewell Sandblasting & Painting of Oil City, Auto Tranz of Titusville, Hards Welding & Fabrication of Seneca, and Vinyl Graphics of Shippenville.

   As for the crew, Myers states, "There’s one guy that has been an important part of our season so far.”

   Oil City native Jim Lutz and Myers met in 2004 at Mercer. It was a chance meeting through a mutual friend that eventually led to a combination as driver and chief mechanic.

   “He decided to come to Tri-City and he kind of stood aside and watched at first,” recalls Myers. “Then, he got his hands dirty. Over the winter, I was worried about getting the car done. We only had three months to opening day when we first got the chassis. He was there when I needed him and other days when I wasn’t there. He worked with Dad and got the car done.”

   In addition to Lutz, Myers’ team includes Todd Streczwilk of Dempseytown and Dave Zuck, Chad McNeely and Tim Ross, all of Oil City.

   “Those guys stick with me through all the good and bad times. I hope to score a win this season for me, my team, and my sponsors.”

   And his father. Without his training and experience, Myers would not be a future Pro Stock champion.