An interview with....Second Generation Driver:  Brian Weyandt, Jr.

The name Weyandt is one of the most famous names at Bedford Speedway.  Barry Weyandt won 2 Street Stock Championships in the eighties.  Current Limited Late Model driver Kevin Weyandt won 3 Street Stock Championships in the nineties.  Former Semi-Late super star Brian Weyandt won 2 Semi-Late Championships in the nineties.  In the seventies, Benny Weyandt owned two of the most famous cars at Bedford Speedway, the Bobby Weyandt Meats number 88 and 88x driven by local legends Turk Burket and Gary Martz. 

Wait, there's more.  No one in the history of the speedway has won more Street Stock races than Kevin, and he's ranked eighth on the all-time/all divisions combined list.  No one has won more Semi-Late races than Brian, and he's ranked second on the that same list.  So it's easy to see why the name Weyandt is synonymous with champion at Bedford Speedway.

When the Semi-Late division folded at the speedway in 1997, Brian had a short stint in the Super Late Models before retiring, and Barry rarely races at Bedford anymore.  Kevin has one career Limited Late Model feature win in a very competitive division.  Kevin still has a long successful career ahead of him, but now it's time for another Weyandt generation to take the wheel. 

Brian Weyandt's son, Brian Weyandt, Jr. started racing in the Cruiser-Hobby Stock division last season.  In his very first year, Brian Jr. finished 7th in points, and picked up one feature win at the young age of eighteen. 

Talking with the younger Brian is a pleasant experience.  Unlike so many of his teenage peers, Brian is very soft spoken, and is years beyond the typical nineteen year old in maturity.  Aside from racing, he enjoys working on cars, and customizing them.  Brian is an avid hunter and fisherman, attends church, and works a full time job. 

Brian Jr.'s racing career didn't start with the Cruiser-Hobby Stocks.  He raced go-karts for 7 years before making the leap to the full size race car.  At such a young age, his future racing career could be full of endless options.  Although concentrating on the 2004 Cruiser-Hobby Stock championship is a top priority, Brian's goals go much further with hopes of someday racing a Late Model.  It's possible that he'll take a step towards that goal next season by moving up to the Street Stock division, but no definite plans have been made yet.

With the name Weyandt being a mainstay at Bedford Speedway for so many years, a lot of fans probably expect Brian and his number 88jr to always run up front.  Especially after watching his father and cousin Kevin dominate for so many years in their respective class.

Brian agreed, "Yes, I do feel that they think I should be running up front.  Dad doesn't care where I finish, as long as I race good."

The elder Brian has experienced about all there is to dirt track racing, and he hopes that his son learns one of the most valuable life lessons dirt track racing can teach - friendship.  "Racing friendships last forever.  Since I've retired from racing, it's not too often you get to see old racing friends.  I mean, you hug each other whenever you get to see one another.  The friendship lasts forever," stated the proud Father.

With both Brian Sr. and Kevin notching a mark in history with their incredible career feature wins at the track, it must be hard not to daydream about someday joining them on that coveted list.  "I've thought about it.  I plan to get up there, it's sort of a goal.  Atleast to get somewhere near their win totals," stated the young racer.  He won his first race last season, and the experience was exhilarating.  "I knew I had a fast car that night, and I led the whole race.  I got really nervous during the last few laps, and after I won I got a rush,"  said Brian.

With so much racing knowledge between Brian Sr. and Kevin, the driving tips and lessons must be really helpful.  "Dad usually doesn't say too much.  Sometimes he'll point out mistakes, like pulling down low on the track when I should've stayed high.  Kevin and I will talk about driving once in awhile, but not to often,"

Bedford Speedway is a huge track compared to other regional dirt tracks.  The Cruiser-Hobby Stocks are running some pretty impressive speeds, and usually in a tight group of cars.  It must be a challenge to learn which drivers you can trust to race side by side, bumper to bumper.  Brian emphatically replied "Definitely!  Rough Driving is usually the clue to tell you if you can race tight with someone."

One sure way to get your name in the record books for future generations to see is to win a track championship.  Brian's racing team has a plan, and a championship would be very meaningful.  "I plan to stay in the top five every race, just so I know I'll be in contention for it (championship).  A championship would be really nice because Dad and Kevin did it, and it would make me feel some what special."

I couldn't do this without my Dad, Henry Lingenfelter, my little brother Devin, the rest of the Weyandt clan - Chucky, Jeff, and Kevin, and my sponsors:  Shellbrook Stables, B & S Used Trucks, Radical Ride, Sager Racing Engines, Second Glance Variety Store, and Morrison Cove Live Stock Auction."

If you ever get a chance to get into the pits after the races, stop in at the number 88jr hauler and say hello.  Take your kids in for an autograph.  Brian would make a fine role model for any young child.