Billy Van Pelt Continues to Travel for First Win at Tri-City

Of all the drivers who compete at Tri-City Speedway, Billy Van Pelt may travel the farthest from home. Hailing from Harrison Valley in Potter County, the Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modified star looks forward to the three-hour trip each week. And he is eager for his first win at the half-mile oval.

"I like racing at Tri-City. I just wish they'd let the track get hard and slick, then I could catch Brian Swartzlander and win my first feature," laughs Van Pelt.

Swartzlander is the current DIRT Modified point leader at Tri-City while Van Pelt sits second in the standings. Piloting the Butch Rapp Bicknell No. 11R, Van Pelt has yet to score a feature win. In fact, he seems to be the perennial bridesmaid because he has four career second place finishes at the Venango County dirt track. Swartzlander, on the other hand, has seven career victories.

"I like racing against Brian," notes Van Pelt. "He's a good, clean driver and we discuss our setups each week in order to learn from one another. The other guys are great competitors too. Overall, racing is enjoyable every Sunday night."

Following the footsteps of his brother, Curt Van Pelt, who was the 1987 DIRT 358 Modified Champion, Van Pelt actually began his racing career in New York. He started driving DIRT 358 Modifieds in 1987 at two Empire State dirt tracks, Black Rock Speedway and Woodhull Raceway. A DIRT 358 Modified is powered by a smaller engine compared to a full-fledged DIRT Modified.

Van Pelt is well-known at Black Rock and Woodhull. In 1995 and 1997, he won the track championship at Black Rock, which is located in Dundee, New York. His greatest success came at Woodhull, where he earned track titles in 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1995.

In 1995, he made his Western Pennsylvania connection at Black Rock. Corry's Scott Gurdak raced for Butch Rapp at the third-mile track every Friday night that season. Van Pelt and Gurdak became friends, and Van Pelt beat Gurdak by one point for the title.

"One night, Scott lost a shock during the feature at Black Rock," recalls Van Pelt. "He came into the pits and my crew ran over to help him. They put a new shock and spring on the car and Scott made it back into the race without losing a lap. Then, he beat me in the finishing order. Scott came up to us afterwards and thanked my crew for solving the problems his crew had setting up the car. Apparently, we installed the correct shock and spring. After that, he and I battled week after week."

When Gurdak and Rapp parted ways at the end of the 1996 season, Gurdak recommended that Rapp install Van Pelt in the driver's seat. The Shippenville car owner made the move and Van Pelt has driven for Rapp ever since.

"Butch and Lisa Rapp and their entire family have an excellent operation," gleams Van Pelt. "They have been good to me and my wife, Susan. Butch is meticulous about his cars. I know when I climb behind the wheel that the car is going to drive well. This year, former driver Eddie Fuller and some of his crew members have also helped us a lot too."

On some weekends, Van Pelt drives Rapp's DIRT Modified at Sportsman's Speedway. When not at Sportsman's, Van Pelt races a Late Model at McKean County Fair Speedway in Smethport or his father's Chilson Bros. Roofing Bicknell No. 2 DIRT 358 Modified at Woodhull.

This weekend, Tri-City Speedway hosts the Third Annual Bob "Kodiak" Graham Memorial on Sunday night, which is a 35-lap DIRT Modified event paying $1,500 to the winner. Normally, the DIRT Modified feature is 20 laps. Van Pelt's experience in longer distance races in New York will undoubtedly give him an edge.

"A longer race gives us more time to work toward the front. The 20-lap features are more challenging because you have to get to the front in a hurry. The races are definitely fast-paced. Right now, we have to control an overheating problem. If we get that solved on Sunday, we can really challenge for the win."

To date, Van Pelt has been consistently finishing races. There is no doubt he will soon capture that elusive victory. Then, the long drive will be even more worthwhile.