LEHIGHTON, Pa. – Relying on the current constraints to be retracted from the COVID-19 virus, the first race of the year at Mahoning Valley Speedway is now slated for Saturday, May 9.
The last time racing was on that date, which was in May 2015, Eric Beers scored a big 100-lap victory.
Known to his legion of fans as “The Master of Faster,” Beers is hoping history will repeat itself when he makes his return to action at the paved quarter-mile oval on that same night. It will mark his first race back at Mahoning in over two years and he’ll be behind the familiar Dave and Laura DeLange No. 45.
Joining him will be teammates Austin Beers, his 17-year old son who will run the No. 19 and 22-year Jack Ely, who is also returning after a two year hiatus with the No. 54.
“I’m definitely excited about coming back to Mahoning Valley, it’s been almost three years. Mahoning is home to me and it’s where I really came into my own in racing. I went from a wide-eyed rookie to a better racer. I really paid my dues there,” said Eric Beers.
For the past three seasons Eric Beers and Ely competed on the Race of Champions Tour while Austin Beers ran Mahoning, Evergreen Raceway and select RoC shows.
Eric Beers recently announced that he will be stepping away from the Tour and instead focus on the special five race Mahoning Valley Speedway Hall of Fame Series.
“If you want to see Eric Beers race this year, it will only be at Mahoning Valley Speedway,” he affirmed.
“That’s going to be an awesome series. I’ve always liked it years ago when Doug (Hoffman) came up with the Poker Series and then Floyd (Santee) did the Gamblers Series and now with Keith (Hoffman) coming in with this Hall of Fame Series, I feel you’re going to see great car counts and lots of fans coming out for it.”
Eric Beers has raced at Mahoning Valley since 1990 and although it hasn’t been yearly, he has amassed a record setting 55 wins among Modified drivers. He also owns three class championships (1992, ’13, ’16). On Aug. 26, 2017 he collected his 100th overall win.
He’s also eager to come back to Mahoning as for the first time he’ll race against Austin Beers in what he refers to as a more level playing field which will be contrasting from the RoC Tour.
“This is really the first time we’re going to race head-to-head in equal equipment. When we raced on the RoC (Tour) my car was a lot better then what he had so it was never really a fair fight,” explained Eric Beers.
“It’s going to be interesting to see because we’ll both be in similar prepared cars and either of us can win with those cars and I think it will make for a really fun evening.”
So then the question arises what happens if they are both heading for the checkers on the last lap?
“The only thing that will change is that all bets are off once the race gets underway, he’s just another racer out there,” Eric Beers said.
“If anyone knows how my son is – he’s not very cocky but inside the shop he likes to have bragging rights and that’s not just in racing. So if I can take that away from him especially if it comes to the last lap, the last foot before the start/finish line, I’m taking it.”
Austin Beers, who has won Mahoning class titles in the Hobby Stocks and Sportsman Modifieds, shares a similar outlook.
“To race as clean as we can or I should say I’m going to race him as clean as I can. I don’t know what he’s going to do,” offered Austin Beers.
“It’s going to be fun for sure. I know one thing, it’s going to be nerve wracking for my mom.”
Much like his father, Austin Beers has been finding success right from the get-go. Last year he began to make inroads with a Modified and even scored a win at Evergreen Raceway against a very talented group of veterans. Of course to his benefit he has his dad offering solid advice, especially when it comes to Mahoning Valley.
“His advice is huge. I knew the racing line from watching all those years but then him telling me how to pass people the right way and where to get a good run and the how to set the car up right,” said Austin Beers.
“Although I feel that I’m still learning and progressing with the Modified, I’m leaning less than I have because I’m more comfortable in the car.”
Ely has always complimented the DeLange Team nicely ever since becoming a teammate to Eric Beers in in 2016. He, like Austin Beers, heeded the guidance of Eric Beers and has since refined his skills into a very talented Modified chauffeur.
“I’m excited about it for sure and looking forward to coming back to Mahoning for the Hall of Fame Series and a couple more in between,” said Ely, who is in his senior year at Brookdale Community College in Middletown, N.J., majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
“When we left Mahoning in 2017 we were running top-three, top-five almost every week so I hope to come out on Opening Night and go for a win. We have some good notes built up from when we raced there so I am looking to come in and run good right off the bat and hope that we can win a couple shows.”
The Beers/Ely trio will add great stability to an already solid Modified class ready to do battle in 2020. They will be looking to improve on their combined 74 feature wins there although given the talent pool they will be up against the job will not come easy. Nonetheless this team with its roots deeply planted at Mahoning Valley will no doubt be a force to reckon with.
“Eric, Austin and I are all going to go out there and try to win. Of course we’ll all help each other. Eric is a great driver and really doesn’t need any help. But I rely on and respect his input,” added Ely.
“We’re going to race clean, we’re going to win and we’re going to race each other harder than anyone else on the race track just because we want to beat each other.”