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Michael “Mike” Nelson was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1954. His father was a part of the PRA pit crew in the circuit that ran 4 nights a week in the 50s with Heidelberg Raceway as the flagship track. Nelson attended these PRA circuit races in the 1950s as an infant hidden in an empty tool box in the pits. During the height of Heidelberg, Nelson was there for the dirt races into the asphalt years during his highschool and college years.
In 1982, he began video taping local races as a hobby, later becoming a business full time in 1985. He taped races from Feburary to November in 12 states, with over 100 events. He later announced at Clearfield Speedway after the paving of the track in 1986. In 1987, he was hired by the Lasky family to announce and also joined NASCAR. Nelson hosted the TV show “Chase to the Checker” for five years.
1988 marked when Nelson was hired to work full time as a marketing director for Jennerstown. Along with being busy at Jennerstown, he announced at Motordrome during the early NASCAR sanctioning at both tracks.
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Doug Black has been going to the Jennerstown Races for over 65 years—first as a spectator and later as a member of a pit crew. In the mid 50’s, a friend’s grandma and aunt would pick the two boys up and drive from Confluence to Jennerstown’s ¼ mile dirt track. Those two ladies loved those dirt balls that hit them in the face. Doug told them that he was going to live by that dirt track. For the past 47 years, he has lived less than one mile from the track.
Doug began working on pit crews in 1972. Today he continues to assist drivers with ignition, wiring, and electrical problems in all divisions. He has no favoritism–he wants great racing for the entire racing community. He has helped on pit crews at Jennerstown dirt and asphalt, Bedford, Hesston, Thundervalley, Motordrome dirt and asphalt, Roaring Knob, Latrobe, and a Pocono Invitational.
This guy is lucky to be married to a woman who loves boys in fast cars. Together they have created a successful business, Black’s Specialty Service, two daughters, and have been blessed with three grandchildren.
Edward Lynn Houpt (Hippie) was born Janurary 10, 1942 and is from Somerset, PA. He raced for about 6 years and is being inducted into the 2023 Jennerstown Speedway Hall of Fame. Houpt competed in the Street Stock division at Jennerstown, Motordrome, Latrobe, Ebensburg, Meyersdale, and Cumberland.
His favorite memory from racing was when he was driving the number 11 Chevy that caught on fire with two laps to go. He finished the race and was met by firetrucks rather than a victory lap. His biggest accomplishment was winning the Piney Lasky Birthday race, years later his son, Dave Houpt won the same race. His legacy will be carried on by his three children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
“Clate” Husted raced for about 40 years in the Late Model and Modified divisions at Jennerstown, Clearfield, Hagerstown, Port Royal, Williamsgrove, Hesston, Pennboro, Bedford, Daytona, Charlotte, and Syracuse Speedways. His biggest accomplishment has been making and keeping friends and fans for over 40 years. He won 5 Yankee Doodle Races at Clearfield, won the Hillbilly 100, and the Laurel Highlands 101. His memory is carried on by Daniel, Alexander, and Cara.
August “Gus” Linder was born December 18, 1928 and raced for 35 years. Linder raced Super Modifieds and Stock Cars at Jennerstown, Selins Grove, Lennerville, Williams Grove, Motordrome, Pittsburgh Motor, Daytona International, TriCity, Sharon, Langehorne, Heidelberg, Blanket Hill, Mercer, and South Park Speedways. His biggest supporter is his wife, Joan Linder, and three children and three grandchildren. His favorite NASCAR driver is his brother, Dick Linder.
Throughout his career, he tallied 119 Sprint Car feature wins and was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. His most memorable race was when he has having engine trouble and someone thought on their feet to let him finish the race. They disconnected a cylinder and stuck a block of wood in the engine. Linder finished the race on seven cylinders and they called this accomplishment “the track-proven timing wedge.” The engine sounded more like an air compressor than a racecar.
