RGeeProductions
03-01-2009, 09:43 PM
Keith Kocher, a very popular driver and car owner on the eastern Pennsylvania asphalt circuit, passed away early Sunday morning, March 1.
Kocher was 54-years old and hailed from Palmerton.
Kocher first became involved in racing at the defunct Dorney Park and Nazareth Speedways.
At Dorney he drove and owned cars in the Modified Sportsman class. Many may also recall his winning the 1987 Sportsman championship at Nazareth which at the time was run under promoter Charlie Bray.
When Mahoning Valley Speedway re-opened in 1987, Kocher turned his attention to the Lehighton paved ¼-mile. There he played the role of both driver and owner. As a driver he won 8 times between 1989 and 1996.
Some of the pilots who wheeled his mounts included track stars such as Eric Beers, Bill Teel, Mike Hosier and Scott Lesher.
When Evergreen Raceway in St. Johns re-opened in 1988, Kocher was one of the top runners there as well. His first win in the summer of that same season was a memorable one. Midway through the feature, a power outage hit the surrounding area and Kocher was leading when the track went completely black.
Amazingly not a single car made contact with another and when the lights came back on and the race resumed, Kocher went on to score his career first win there.
Kocher owned cars also saw action at Flemington, Oswego and Tioga Speedways as well as running on a number of stops with the Race of Champions Asphalt Tour.
His last win as a driver came driving for Billy Swartz at Mahoning on June 8, 1996.
In the last few years Kocher was instrumental in helping Lesher as well as Chip Santee who won his second Mahoning Valley Modified title in 2007.
His long time sponsor, the Shi-Ray Inn in Palmerton, which is owned by his parents, Shirley and Ray Kocher, was a popular stop for racers over the years.
Viewing will take place this coming Thursday evening, March 5 at the George G. Bensing Funeral Home, Inc., 2165 Community Drive, Village of Moorestown-Bath with the funeral taking place the following morning.
Dino Oberto
Kocher was 54-years old and hailed from Palmerton.
Kocher first became involved in racing at the defunct Dorney Park and Nazareth Speedways.
At Dorney he drove and owned cars in the Modified Sportsman class. Many may also recall his winning the 1987 Sportsman championship at Nazareth which at the time was run under promoter Charlie Bray.
When Mahoning Valley Speedway re-opened in 1987, Kocher turned his attention to the Lehighton paved ¼-mile. There he played the role of both driver and owner. As a driver he won 8 times between 1989 and 1996.
Some of the pilots who wheeled his mounts included track stars such as Eric Beers, Bill Teel, Mike Hosier and Scott Lesher.
When Evergreen Raceway in St. Johns re-opened in 1988, Kocher was one of the top runners there as well. His first win in the summer of that same season was a memorable one. Midway through the feature, a power outage hit the surrounding area and Kocher was leading when the track went completely black.
Amazingly not a single car made contact with another and when the lights came back on and the race resumed, Kocher went on to score his career first win there.
Kocher owned cars also saw action at Flemington, Oswego and Tioga Speedways as well as running on a number of stops with the Race of Champions Asphalt Tour.
His last win as a driver came driving for Billy Swartz at Mahoning on June 8, 1996.
In the last few years Kocher was instrumental in helping Lesher as well as Chip Santee who won his second Mahoning Valley Modified title in 2007.
His long time sponsor, the Shi-Ray Inn in Palmerton, which is owned by his parents, Shirley and Ray Kocher, was a popular stop for racers over the years.
Viewing will take place this coming Thursday evening, March 5 at the George G. Bensing Funeral Home, Inc., 2165 Community Drive, Village of Moorestown-Bath with the funeral taking place the following morning.
Dino Oberto