Ownership Careers Of Zemaitis' On Display Friday At Williams Grove - Race will celebrate career spanning some six decades
2025-08-26 14:02
dirtFan website https://dirtfan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/dirtfan-200x200.jpg
Mechanicsburg - The long and successful car ownership career of John and Pee Wee Zemaitis and their famous Zemco No. 1 race cars will be celebrated on Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway as the oval hosts Zemaitis Tribute Night for the 410 sprints.
The 25-lap sprint car main will pay the winner a cool $8,000.
But before the on-track action gets going the Zamaitis' will be feted in the infield beginning at 5:45.
Their iconic Zemco No. 1 sprint car recorded some 38 sprint car wins at Williams Grove alone with drivers like Bobby Weaver, Billy Pauch, Mark Smith, Stevie Smith, Jeff Shepard and others at the wheel.
Several former drivers will join the husband/wife duo in the infield before the special race to meet fans and take part in pre-race interviews.
Drivers slated to appear is Pauch, Weaver, Sean Michael, Mark Smith, Brian Leppo, Lucas Wolfe, Logan Wagner and Dave Calaman with the possibility of others joining the list.
Overall the Zemaitis' watched their sprint car alone race to 167 victories to go along with at least 21 more in modified competition dating back to the 1970s when John Zemaitis himself was behind the wheel.
At Williams Grove Speedway the powerful sprint team beat the World of Outlaws three times, with drivers Kevin Gobrecht, Mark Smith and Lucas Wolfe in the seat.
All Stars wins at the Grove came with Stevie Smith and Brian Leppo at the helm and Billy Pauch upended USAC at Williams Grove in 1996.
Over the years the Zemco car claimed the prestigious National Open and the Open Preliminary at the track to complement wins in the season opener, Early Bird Championship and the Jack Gunn Memorial.
Zemco won Williams Grove Diamond Series titles in 2004 with Mark Smith and again in 2010 with Stevie Smith wheeling.
The team took their maiden Williams Grove sprint car win on August 31, 1990 with their former modified star Bobby Weaver in the cockpit while their final oval victory came on August 15, 2016 thanks to the talents of Lucas Wolfe.
Prior to launching into the sprint car ranks the Zemaitis fielded modified stock cars in the region to success with drivers like Elvin Felty, Tom Mayberry and Bobby Weaver.
With an ownership career spanning portions if not all of six decades, there is much to celebrate with this Friday's Williams Grove event.
Gates will open at 5:30 pm.
Keep up to date on all the latest speedway news and information by visiting the oval's official website at www.williamsgrove.com or by visiting the oval on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
RacingJunk.com is the Official Classifieds for Williams Grove Speedway.