07/16/2026
Throwback Thursday Mike Krempasky
By Todd Spadt
This week’s legend is Mike Krempasky who also has a memorial race in his honor this coming Saturday night here at Mahoning Valley Speed Park.
Mikes son Kyle Krempasky and Mikes wife Sheila Krempasky were essential in putting this story together. Drivers JR Roth and TJ Gursky also had plenty of Mike’s information to share.
Mike has one active win at Dorney Park as driver and 6 wins as owner and 2 championships as owner including one as a partial owner.
Kyle had a whole lot to say about his dads racing career and his life. “My dads signature car no was #19 and always red and white.” “He loved Kenny Brightbill hence the number, color combination.” Mike always followed the Tobias racers back in the day. Sheila said “Mikes always had red in his cars and mikes motto was running with the devil.”
Kyle continued “My dad raced at Dorney in the late model division in his Chevy Nova from 1979-1983 and had one career win there.” Kyle said dad only raced about 5 yrs, but was always around the racing scene becoming a crew member for drivers Gary Grim, Brian Kressley, Dale Bauer and Sammy Hill. “My dad also raced a few times in the dirt at big diamond Kyle said (Pics below).
Sheila said “I think Mike started owning at cars at Mahoning because he was good friends with Floyd Santee up there.” “The name was MKS racing engineering for Mike Krempasky & sons. This collection was brainstormed by Mike, Jeff Scholl and Tom Miller. Jeff said “we bought the car from Mike Follweiler and stored it in Gary Mertz garage in Allentown. That car was housed in a few garages over the years including Ed Hoffmans place too. Sammy Hill was also a great help to us.
He later went on to buy a Monte Carlo from the late Tom Casagrande in the early 2000’s. It was a mid-80’s SS monte Carlo.
He bought and reworked it when I was a toddler Kyle said. Kyle vividly remembers his dad being present for his only win in a ¼ midget at Blue Mtn. (pics below)
I asked Kyle why his dad hung up his helmet in favor of ownership. Kyle said “My dad just said “I’m too old to drive,”
Mike owned cars and “had my brother Michael, JR Roth, Jon Moser and finally TJ Gursky behind the helm. Also, Todd Ahner ran it one time at Evergreen in a 75 or 100 lapper. He finished 3rd, JR drove it at Evergreen from 2004-2007.
In 2008 dads first as owner teamed with Jon Moser to race at Mahoning with his Monte Carlo even though it was dominated by Monte Carlos and didn’t work well at Mahoning. Jon had a Camaro so they decided to bring TJ Gursky in to drive the Monte Carlo in June as a teammate. Jon won the points championship in his car partnered with my dad that year TJ resurrected the stigma of monte Carlos not working at Mahoning and captured 2 wins and rookie of the year. In 2009 and 2010 TJ finished in the top 5 in pts. In 2011 TJ won the street stock title for my dad proving a non-Camaro could run well at Mahoning. “My Dad unexpectantly passed away in March 10th of 2012.” “We continued to carry on what dad had started and TJ continued to win championships in 2012 and 2014 with the trusty Monte Carlo while my mom took over as owner.
We stopped racing at Mahoning 2016 and went to Evergreen in 2016-2017 with TJ as driver. Kyle stated.
JR Roth, one of the drivers who drove for Mike had this to say. “I met Mike in the late 90’s and me and his oldest son Michael were best friends. Mike knew my dad from the Dorney Park Days. They raced and hung out with the same guys. I was racing my street Stock at evergreen in 2002 and 2003 and Mike was helping me.
JR said I believe it was at the end of 2003 he bought the Monte Carlo for his son Michael and built as a factory stock. Mike and I transitioned it into a street Stock and I did the fabrication work. Mike and I worked out of the same garage. Michael drove that car a few times but when that came to an end, he approached me about driving it. We had a bunch of top 5’s and ran Mahoning, Evergreen, Tioga and Oswego. “We won the 2005 ROC race at Oswego but was taken away due to some BS, that’s another story JR said.
Jr continued we had fun times from late garage nights to our every Saturday traditional breakfast at Susie’s Shady nook in Slatington. Mike and my dad Jimmy were always in the garage tinkering or reminiscing about the Dorney days. I got married in 2006 bought a house and built a modified but Mike and Sheila were still a big part of the Roth family. I bought a ¼ midget to get ready for my son to start racing but he wasn’t 5 yet so I had Kyle Krempasky race it and he did great winning some races. JR said looking back it was awesome to have Mike in victory lane with Kyle and I know Mike was proud, Mike was a great friend to our family. “We all lost a part of something when we lost Mike.” “I have a pic in my garage and I often say to my dad what would Mike say. JR wants to keep Mikes memory alive as well as Kyle and “the race is so important to many people.”
Talking to TJ Gursky he had much praise for Mike as well. “I drove for Mike for 5 years from 2008-2012 and after Mikes passing, I drove for Sheila until 2017. TJ had 5 wins for Mike and 10 for Sheila in the Monte Carlo 13 at MVSP and 2 at Evergreen. He also was the points champ in 2011 2012 and 2014. TJ said we got together as Jon Moser was racing for Mike and had his own Camaro, obviously he was only one man and they were looking for another driver so I drove the monte Carlo from week 6 of the 2008 season. Mike and I instantly hit it off with common interests. That year Johnny won the points and I won rookie of the year while winning twice in the Monte Carlo. What a year for mike the car owner I thought. TJ talked about Mikes passion for racing. “No matter what the guys/gals were talking about whether it be football, hunting, music Mike would quickly return the conversation to racing. He just ate, slept and breathed racing. “TJ recalled Mike wouldn’t let the car go to the track unless every nut and bolt was gone over plus the car was always wiped down from hood to bumper. “He wanted it to look and perform well every race”. TJ was also sentimental about Mike. “When I got a win Mike would always greet me with a hug. Mike cared for the ones close to him. “He had a big heart.” I may have had only been close to him for 3-4 before his passing in 2012 but we became family. “I often think about how life and racing would be if he was still here. I truly miss the big guy.” If you see TJ grab him and talk about Mike.
TJ recalled his biggest win with Mike. “I know it was our first win in the Monte Carlo because it was not easy to take a coil spring Monte Carlo and beat a leaf spring Camaro and we did it.” There were years when we had 27-30 cars so just making the 20-car feature was tough.
Kyle also loved to talked about the history of Mikes race and how much it means to many people. “After my dad passed away the Santes were good friends of my dad and they ran the track at that time. “Floyd asked my family to run a street stock race in his name and we wholeheartedly accepted. “The race became an instant hit.” Don Biegley and Dino Oberto were instrumental in putting this race together with us. Just putting Mikes race together is no easy task Kyle also just got married weeks ago. It is awesome what lengths people go to keep their loved one’s memory intact.
Jason Frey won the inaugural event a 100 lapper in September of 2012. In 2013,2014 and 2015 “we made it a triple 19’s races and an overall champion with the best finishers of the 3 races combined.” “Sadly, we stopped racing at Mahoning in 2016 and the race ended that year.” “We raced a partial schedule at evergreen in 2017 in the Monte Carlo with TJ
In 2020 the race was rejuvenated as Keith reached out to Kyle about restarting the traditional race. “My dad used to visit Hoffman Speed supplies and became good friends with the Hoffmans back in the day and we gladly obliged.”
In July of 2021 my dads race returned as a 50-lap cone race as has continued the same to this day,
Kyle stated “the most gratifying part of this race is keeping the memorial legacy alive. “Dad has been gone over 14 years but people still approach me and tell me stories about how much he is missed. “My dad could get along with anyone and was a friend to all so the fact that we can still do this after 14 yrs just cements that he will never be forgotten in the racing community.” So true Kyle the racing fraternity as fierce as they are on the race track has everyone’s back off the track.
Kyle stated “there were a lot of great memorial races over the years but 2022 stands out as TJ Gursky won dads race.” “It was extremely emotional for all involved as the checkers flew with TJ in first without my dad there although we knew he was there.”
“Kyle always remembers the triple 19’s as a wild night and we used to get over 30 cars and we sent guy’s home. “It was a mad dash to the front.”
Kyle continued I find it extremely gratifying to put on this racer for the Street Stock class which undoubtedly puts on some of the more exciting racing at Mahoning. “I love to give back monetarily to the drivers for all the emotionally support this gives me and my family.” “I appreciate the support we get back from the drivers, the speedway and the fans. “My wife Jeanna also helps me a lot with this race. “I appreciate her.”
I asked Kyle on his dad’s race day what’s it like for Kyle and he said “I am very busy as I try to go around to every single driver to thank them for their support. “I also normally pace the field with dad’s car but make sure to sit and enjoy dad’s special race.
I also got great information from Sheila. Sheila like so many of us grew up at the racetrack. “I would go to Mahoning on the tow truck with Chad and Jean Ziegler and Micky Webber.” “I also went to Mahoning and hung with Terry Schweibenz and Brian and Vicky Beck. “We met at Dale Kerns garage as Mike used to help Dale out when he raced.
Sheila remembers the infancy of the Monte Carlo. “I remember it was built in Hoffmans garage with Frank & Matthias Hoffman and I believe Rick Reichenbach.”
“We started out out at Frank garage in Slatington with the likes of JR and dad Jimmy Roth, Todd Ahner, Rick, Ryan Bachman and Matthias. Mike and I built our house in 2007 in East Penn and a detached garage was built and that’s where the car was until we sold the house in 2018.
As for when Mike owned the race team Sheila would order the parts for the team and was in charge of food prep for the team. “I was the support systems for the guys.” Proudly, she said I never missed a race.”
Sheila remembers the three championships under the team. One was when Mike was still alive and the other two when she was owner. ““I know we had pretty many wins Sheila stated.
Sheila said their toughest competitors were Jon Moser, Todd Arner and Randy Ahner. One weekly tradition the guys did before the races where they would play basketball before leaving the track.
I also remember during TJ’s tenure a man named Ronnie was a huge fan and supporter of ours. He was always there and loved Monte Carlos.
Sheila remembers a ton of helpers over the years. “Don Biegley was so good to us and was one special guy he was our main man.” “Guy Bowman aka “Smiley “was also a big contributor and he was always helping he lived by our house. Our crew members were TJ, Ross and Tim Gursky, Bryan Schoenenberger, Tom Woodring and of course Kyle. Mikes daughter Michelle would come weekly and was a huge supporter and fan. She brought her boys and boyfriend Roy Good who is a corner flagman at MVSP. Sheila said after Mike passed the guys and gals kept the car and team alive. “I couldn’t have done it without them.” Jimmy Roth Jr’s dad and Mike were best buds he helped a lot too.
Besides son Kyle Mikes daughter Michelle and son AJ follow racing and Mikes race. Michelle is a huge supporter and AJ as well but he is so busy with his kid’s quarter midget racing. Kyle has a 20-month-old son Cameron So, the roots have been planted for future racing Krempaskys to hit the circuit and keeps Mikes legacy in the limelight.
Sheila remembers years when she was a regular with Mike and as an owner at Mahoning telling people if you get married on a Saturday in the summer “I won’t be there.”
Talking about her years as owner Sheila managed the funds. TJ did really well so we would just use the winnings to keep the car going. “We were smart with our spending.”
Sheila also tells a story about local race car owner Lynn Peters giving Mike a frame that basically put Mike into tears being he was so happy”
Outside the car Mike loved watching Football and was an Indianapolis Colts fan. In baseball he loved the Phillies. Every Xmas I decorated a special tree for Mike besides our regular one. He had so many decorations of the Colts.
Talking about Sheila’s life now she said “Honestly racing brought some of the best people into our lives. I really do miss it.”
Today, Kyle and Sheila’s fiancé Scott Klinger keep the famous Monte Carlo purring and will have it prepared for Saturday for Kyle to pace the field.
Sheila current racing repertoire includes drag racing going in a straight line instead of a small circle. My boyfriend Scott has a red 1972 stick shift roadrunner bought in 1988. His home track is Cecil County Maryland. He also races at Island, Mason Dixon and several your east coast tracks.
The Krempasky family would like to wholeheartedly thank all who donate, race, help out and just in general. “It takes a village.” Kyle said I would also like to thank Bill Osborn for allowing me to keep the race alive and well. “he’s a great guy.”
Well, who’s going to be the 2026 winner. Kyle said it doesn’t matter. “My dad will be there watching”.
