Curt Van Pelt

Curt Van Pelt
BornJames Curtis Van Pelt II
(1957-12-31) December 31, 1957 (age 67)
Westfield, Pennsylvania
Retired2018
Debut season1977
Modified racing career
Years active1982-2018
Car number11jr ,12T
Championships4
Wins90+
Previous series
1977-1981
Championships		Late models
4
Championship titles
1987 Mr. Dirt 358 Modified Champion

Curt Van Pelt (December 31, 1957) is a retired American Dirt Modified racing driver credited with 135 career wins throughout the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.[1][2]

Racing career

Curt Van Pelt started in the Late Models at New York's Woodhull Raceway in 1977 and was soon winning races and track titles by the handful. By 1982, he and his car owner, father Jim Van Pelt, decided to advance to the modifieds, immediately winning the division championship at the Circle K Speedway in Whitesville, New York.

In 1987 Van Pelt was hired to drive the Sherwood #11JR, winning the Woodhull track championship and the regional 358 modified MR. DIRT title.[3] He went on to drive for several car owners, eventually claiming eight track titles, including one at Dundee Speedway in New York and a second modified championship at Woodhull.[1][4]

Van Pelt also worked as race director at McKean County Raceway in Smethport, Pennsylvania.[5] He was inducted into the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame with the class of 2018.[1][6]

Personal life

Curt Van Pelt is part of a racing family. Patriarch Jim drove for many years before campaigning a car for sons Billy and Tony, as well as Curt.[5][7] Cousin Jason Burdett progressed from crewing for the Van Pelts to serving as NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson's crew chief in the Daytona 500, while nephew Dillon Groover began winning races at age 14.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c Hedger, Ron (December 17, 2018). "Pat Ward, Curt Van Pelt, Gary Iulg & Jerry Rose Latest To Be Inducted Into NYSSCA Hall Of Fame". Race Pro Weekly. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "Speedway holding final program" (PDF). The Glengarry News. Alexandria ON. September 21, 1988. p. 14. Retrieved December 31, 2024 – via Glengarry County Archives.
  3. ^ Hill, John (October 26, 1987). "Hoffman scores Schaefer 200 win; Johnson has points lead". The Post-Standard. Syracuse NY. p. C8. Retrieved December 31, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
  4. ^ Naylor, Mike (August 10, 1994). "Dan Fultz wins SS, Curt Van Pelt stays favorite". Dundee Observer. NY. p. 21. Retrieved December 31, 2024 – via The NYS Historic Newspapers.
  5. ^ a b Leet, Ken (July 11, 2007). "Special night at the races". Olean Times Herald. NY. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Bettig, Ed and Betty. "This & That - Holiday Season". Dirt Track Digest. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  7. ^ Adaskaveg, Mike (November 18, 2022). "Billy Van Pelt Retires on Top". Outside Groove. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "Layfield among winners at McKean raceway". The Evening Tribune. Hornell NY. August 29, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  9. ^ Potter, Chris (February 14, 2024). "Burdett's NASCAR journey leads from Steuben County to Daytona 500". The Evening Tribune. Hornell NY. Retrieved December 31, 2024.