Don O'Keefe Jr
Lots of times we have racing families involved in the sport. This is the case with Don O'Keefe Jr, whose father raced before him. In the 1970s, Don started racing at Antioch Speedway in both Stock Cars and the Sportsman division. He didn't have a big budget, and he didn't have any big sponsors paying his way. He did it himself.
He picked up knowledge along the way and played a part behind the scenes in helping others become faster. He was also a skilled welder. In the 1980s, he moved up to the Late Model class before moving into Sprint Car racing, which may have surprised a few people. Don was a pretty big guy back then.
He was known for his trademark baby blue #0k car and was always a fan favorite for his friendliness to anybody who came by to see him. He joined the Winged 360 Sprint Car class as it was being established in the state at Baylands Raceway and was a Main Event winner there before going to run with the NCMA, where he was a Top 5 driver and Main Event winner.
He also went on to run Champ Silver Crown cars and in more recent years has raced Midgets and Road Racing. However, his big impact came in 1998 when Don drafted the rules for Antioch's new Wingless Spec Sprint class. He not only wrote the rules, but he played a part behind the scenes during the first season in helping others get faster, even making trips to people's houses to set up their cars.
The first season for the Wingless Spec Sprints is the most successful debut season of any division in the modern era of the speedway. There were never less than 12 cars. and the first race of the second season saw a B Main, which became a regular occurrence for the next half dozen years. Without Don, it may not have happened.
With his wife Linda by his side, Don has always been a good ambassador of the sport. Win or lose, he's friendly and conducts himself in a professional manner.
He picked up knowledge along the way and played a part behind the scenes in helping others become faster. He was also a skilled welder. In the 1980s, he moved up to the Late Model class before moving into Sprint Car racing, which may have surprised a few people. Don was a pretty big guy back then.
He was known for his trademark baby blue #0k car and was always a fan favorite for his friendliness to anybody who came by to see him. He joined the Winged 360 Sprint Car class as it was being established in the state at Baylands Raceway and was a Main Event winner there before going to run with the NCMA, where he was a Top 5 driver and Main Event winner.
He also went on to run Champ Silver Crown cars and in more recent years has raced Midgets and Road Racing. However, his big impact came in 1998 when Don drafted the rules for Antioch's new Wingless Spec Sprint class. He not only wrote the rules, but he played a part behind the scenes during the first season in helping others get faster, even making trips to people's houses to set up their cars.
The first season for the Wingless Spec Sprints is the most successful debut season of any division in the modern era of the speedway. There were never less than 12 cars. and the first race of the second season saw a B Main, which became a regular occurrence for the next half dozen years. Without Don, it may not have happened.
With his wife Linda by his side, Don has always been a good ambassador of the sport. Win or lose, he's friendly and conducts himself in a professional manner.