John Draucker
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Tribute to John Draucker |
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I met John Draucker in my first year of high school at the York County Vo-Tech School (York, PA). I was the new kid at a new school and didn't know a soul. John and I soon quickly hit it off, once we found we shared the same love of racing. Both of us ran go-karts, loved motorcycles and had an intense interest in the local dirt track racing scene. John was big enough to have easily been the school bully, but instead, he was something of a gentle giant. He had a kind word for everybody, but you sure didn't want to get on his bad side! However, boys will be boys and we were anything but angels. Without a doubt, we tested the metal of more than a few teachers, especially a certain freshly college graduated math teacher... that poor woman. Anyway, I could go on about some of our escapades during high school, but there may still be some Statute of Limitations issues. <just kidding> |
 Dick Greenwalt Photo |
 Bruce Craig Photo |
John
started racing go-karts at age 12, running up and down the east coast with
the I. K. F. for four years and winning the Pennsylvania Championship two
years in a row.
With John having that ever present need for speed, he next stepped up to drag racing for a couple of years, then moved on to flat track motorcycle racing with the AMA. Finally, the influence of growing up in Central PA, an area extremely rich in dirt track racing, led John to begin his sprint car career. In 1974, John purchased Bobby Weaver's old "Sidewinder" sprinter and went racing. |
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started out running at the local tracks, then started traveling out to
western PA and competing there. He next began racing all over and teamed
up with Dick LeFever, driving the #50.
He became a semi-regular with the URC and that's where he really started to realize his success. Near the end of 1977, John began driving for Scats Anfuso in the famed #3 Highway Oil car. In his first full season with URC, he was voted most improved driver. He also scored 3 wins, including his first, and finished 7th in points. In only his second full season, John went on to win the URC Championship. At the time of his death, John was once again right in the thick of things and a definite contender for the URC points championship in only his fourth year with the circuit. |
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John
had a very aggressive and determined driving style, getting him in a
little hot water on more than one occasion. But then John always loved a
challenge. He once took on USAC at Flemington, and without a wing,
finished in an impressive fourth place.
Wet, rough tracks were his favorite. As he'd put it, "You have to drive the car, instead of the car driving you." |
| John's
promising career ended tragically on August 25, 1979, when on the 11th lap
of the feature at Jennerstown, his car hooked a rut and flipped into the
concrete wall. John suffered multiple injuries due to a roll cage failure.
He left behind a wife, Tonia, and a daughter, Jonda.
The following day, the members of URC voted to prematurely end the points season, out of respect for their friend and competitor, John Draucker. Paul Rochelle was awarded the championship with 2701 points, with John being posthumously awarded 2nd place with 2419 points. Gone, but not forgotten... we miss ya' J.D. DZ - Editor, TVR |
 Photo submitted by Jim Carmichael of Jimmie's Old Time Racing Photos Joe Cawley Photo |
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