By Shawn Brouse
Port Royal – Fans arriving for the April 26 Bob Weikert Memorial at Port Royal Speedway will be able to meet and greet a trio of Weikert No. 29 pilots both past and present and also take in a piece of history on display.
Signing autographs from approximately 5 pm until 6:15 pm behind the grandstand will be Danny Dietrich, Paul Pitzer and Len Krautheim III.
On display with the drivers will be Dietrich’s replica Weikert’s Livestock No. 29 sprint car, which he will campaign in the prestigious event.
Also on display will be a restored No. 29 sprinter as throttled by Pitzer in the 1970’s known as “Old Blue.”
Affectionately known to many as “Captain Crunch” during his career, a moniker earned by his win-it or wreck-it driving approach, Pitzer is a four –time Port Royal winner in his career and he was the pilot of the restored mount at its retirement.
But the Trevis-built car is the same Weikert machine that famed pilot Kenny Weld used to claim Weikert victory in both the 1972 and 1973 Knoxville Nationals.
Krautheim holds the distinction of being the final driver to pilot the Weikert No. 29 to a Port Royal victory.
He led all 25 laps on May 21, 1994 to record the checkered flag.
General admission gates for the 2014 All Star Bob Weikert Memorial at Port Royal Speedway will open at 4 pm on April 26 with racing slated for 7 pm.
Adult general admission will be just $22 with youth ages 12 – 18 priced at JUST $5.
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