Cover Photo by WRT Speedwerx
BIG CLIMB STUDIOS – September 17th, 2021
TOWER CITY, PA – It’s not every day in the motorsports world that a team gets the opportunity to race for their dreams and see them become reality, but with Logan Wagner piloting the Zemco #1 at Port Royal Speedway throughout the 54th Annual Tuscarora 50 weekend – this team got the chance to do just that.
“I’m living the dream in a different universe, man, this is just unreal. I knew in that second 25-lapper that I had something for (Dewease). It was so awesome to race him clean, I didn’t even know how many laps were left when we got by him. I just ran as hard as I could, just about stuffed it into the fence a couple of times. I’m out of breath!” said Logan through his ear-to-ear smile in Victory Lane on Saturday night after winning the Tuscarora 50 with the FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions Presented by Mobil1.
Owners John and PeeWee Zemaitis have been on the road together for over thirty years with Zemco Racing, and a much longer stretch of time including John’s own racing career in the antiquity of dirt track motorsports. John reflects on years past nostalgically, noting “I remember when we had racing seasons with over 100 races per year, with some years including what seemed like an endless flow of victory.” The pair have traveled thousands of miles racing as far west as South Dakota, with a stronghold in Ohio in the past. Previous to Logan’s time in the driver’s seat with Zemco, their biggest wins at Port Royal included Stevie Smith winning the Night Before the 50 in 2010, as well as the Tuscarora 50 in 2011.
Zemco Speed Equipment and Zemco Tool & Die are small businesses that employ many people from right in Williamstown and Tower City. The racing history at Zemco has always brought a sense of ‘winning it for the home team’ to the workers and community. Many crew members have worked for Zemco over time, keeping the Zemco team atmosphere alive and thriving. The shining collection of trophies and awards earned throughout their career to date line the front window at the Zemco Speed shop.
Logan’s strategy and strength on the track at the Speed Palace is combined with a great crew and owners who have stood the test of time on the East coast dirt track racing scene. Truck driver and crew member Creme celebrates seven years with Zemco this year. Together with crew members Craig, Andrew, Doug and Don, the squad has kept a tight ship with a massive team effort for such a small crew. This bond between the team and driver earned Zemco and Logan a fourth consecutive Track Championship Title with enough points ahead locked up on Friday at The Night Before the 50 event. Four Port Royal Titles in a row is a feat only once before accomplished by the great Keith Kauffman back in 1978 through 1981.
Crew Chief Tommy Carl stands proud of his team for their extraordinary accomplishments in 2021. Tommy was with Reho Racing before John acquired the modified team and has been with Zemco ever since with only a short time off. In all of his years as Zemco’s Crew Chief, Tommy touts big wins such as Syracuse 1994 with Billy Pauch against the World of Outlaws, but also mentions “The Tuscarora 50 is becoming more prestigious. It is an All Stars race, it attracts a real crowd and some big names like Rico Abreu and Brian Brown. It definitely has a prestigious paycheck now.”
The Tower City and Harrisonville, PA combo went on to almost sweep the night away on Saturday, gaining any awards they could get their hands on including Fast Time, Heat 4 Winner, Silver Dollar Award, Highest Top-20 Points for Port Royal Regular Award, and of course the big one – the $54,000 Tuscarora 50 Champion Award. The crew did not make any changes to the car from Friday into Saturday, including up through the lap-25 halfway point Saturday night.
Logan was determined to win the big event and did so by staying calm and collected with an attitude focused on the win and a very positive outlook. Logan was quoted several times throughout the day with statements like “We got this, I’m going to win.” This mindset paid off during the race and certainly up to and through the last two laps where he passed Lance Dewease with flying Zemco colors.
WATCH the Tuscarora 50 Highlights:
The top-5 premier sponsors for Zemco Racing contributed to a successful season so far up through the Tuscarora 50 weekend and will continue their partnership with the team throughout the remainder of the season. CES Engineering, LLC, Mac Magee Motorsports, Saner Brothers, DM Truck & Trailer Services and All Things Automotive all have a key role in driving the team to win big. CES recently became a title sponsor for Zemco, and Mac Magee Motorsports and Saner Brothers all have a longstanding history with Logan and the Wagner family over the years. Zemco and Logan are of course thankful for all of their crew, fans, sponsors, and everyone involved in making the 2021 season one to remember:
CES Engineering, LLC, Mac Magee Motorsports, Saner Brothers, All Things Automotive, DM Truck & Trailer Services, Dave Schlegel, Trevia Construction, Orange Crate Brewing Company, Custom Metal Coating, EMi – Eagle Motorsports, Schnee, Rider Racing Engines, Recchione Steve Auto Body, Diversified Machine, Inc. / DMI / BullDog Rears, Smith Titanium, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Inc., Penske Racing Shocks, Hoosier Racing Tire, BMRS Brown & Miller Racing Solutions LLC, Kelly Racing Fuels, Big Climb Studios and Hoseheads.
Photos by WRT Speedwerx
Brian Rhoad, Jeff Hertzler, Tim Bashore
Graphics by Big Climb Studios
Photos by Leister Photography, Jason Brown Motorsports Photography, Zack Barber
