Dave Ely - News Archives 9/30/98

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Rising Stars by Rocky Entriken National Speed Sport, Sept. 30, 1998 Despite three generations of racing heritage on both sides of his family, Dave Ely didn't get into competitive racing himself until he was nearly a teenager. It was, he says, a good decision. "I started as a karter, around the home when I was 3," Ely said, "but I didn't get into competitive karts until I was all but 13." At the time, Ely's father, Mike, was wrenching the sprint cars of his uncle, Don Kreitz, Jr. Dave was usually along, helping out, while his young friends were off somewhere else at the kart races. "I was so busy going to other races, and I wanted to do a lot of other stuff too," he said. "By the time I started, my friends who started young were already burned out. I'm glad I did not start that young." Ely's grandfathers -- Don Kreitz, Sr. and David Frank Ely -- were both racers, early members of the Pennsylvania Posse. David carried the No. 77 on his modifieds in the 50s and 60s, and his namesake uses that same number today on his Eagle sprinter. Ely (pronounced E-lee) followed the kart circuit for 3 years, racing in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware. He ran up 35 victories and three track championships, but sprint cars were always the goal. In 1994, he finally got behind the wheel of one and began running KARS limited sprints, scoring his first victory in just his eighth start at Seacoast Speedway in Georgetown, Del. The tousle-haired youngster, who just turned 21 last week, is not pursuing a single series championship or rookie award, but gains broader experience running whatever comes along. He has raced with the United Racing Club, Empire Super Sprints, Ohio Sprint Bandits, the All-Star Circuit of Champions and the World of Outlaws, plus unsanctioned 360 and 410 events. "We will race anything that comes in local. The Outlaws will take a swing through New York and we'll maybe go follow that with them," Ely said. Earlier this year he won a World of Outlaws heat race at Lincoln Speedway. In four 1998 WoO appearances so far, he has made the feature three times. He's competing in the series full time. "One day, that would be my aspiration," he said. "Ideally, I'd be doing it now. Realistically ... " and he paused a moment. "I'd say in the next 5 years." But now, as he hones his skills behind the wheel, he works the late shift in sales at the family store, Kreitz Oval Track Parts. Fridays he joins the Pennsylvania Posse at Williams Grove and Saturdays he races at Lincoln, unless some further event beckons, racing for the team co-owned by Larry and Jan Gilbert and his parents. At this point, he just wants to race sprint cars. "If the opportunity (of other types of racing) came along, I'd be a fool not to try it, but as long as I'm racing and content and happy, I don't much care what kid of car it is." Ely said. If an Indy car opportunity would come along that would be great, but I enjoy racing sprint cars and if that's all I do, that would be OK." Back to News Archives

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Rising Stars
by Rocky Entriken
National Speed Sport, Sept. 30, 1998

Despite three generations of racing heritage on both sides of his family, Dave Ely didn't get into competitive racing himself until he was nearly a teenager. It was, he says, a good decision.

"I started as a karter, around the home when I was 3," Ely said, "but I didn't get into competitive karts until I was all but 13."

At the time, Ely's father, Mike, was wrenching the sprint cars of his uncle, Don Kreitz, Jr. Dave was usually along, helping out, while his young friends were off somewhere else at the kart races.

"I was so busy going to other races, and I wanted to do a lot of other stuff too," he said. "By the time I started, my friends who started young were already burned out. I'm glad I did not start that young."

Ely's grandfathers -- Don Kreitz, Sr. and David Frank Ely -- were both racers, early members of the Pennsylvania Posse. David carried the No. 77 on his modifieds in the 50s and 60s, and his namesake uses that same number today on his Eagle sprinter.

Ely (pronounced E-lee) followed the kart circuit for 3 years, racing in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware. He ran up 35 victories and three track championships, but sprint cars were always the goal. In 1994, he finally got behind the wheel of one and began running KARS limited sprints, scoring his first victory in just his eighth start at Seacoast Speedway in Georgetown, Del.

The tousle-haired youngster, who just turned 21 last week, is not pursuing a single series championship or rookie award, but gains broader experience running whatever comes along. He has raced with the United Racing Club, Empire Super Sprints, Ohio Sprint Bandits, the All-Star Circuit of Champions and the World of Outlaws, plus unsanctioned 360 and 410 events.

"We will race anything that comes in local. The Outlaws will take a swing through New York and we'll maybe go follow that with them," Ely said.

Earlier this year he won a World of Outlaws heat race at Lincoln Speedway. In four 1998 WoO appearances so far, he has made the feature three times. He's competing in the series full time.

"One day, that would be my aspiration," he said. "Ideally, I'd be doing it now. Realistically ... " and he paused a moment. "I'd say in the next 5 years."

But now, as he hones his skills behind the wheel, he works the late shift in sales at the family store, Kreitz Oval Track Parts. Fridays he joins the Pennsylvania Posse at Williams Grove and Saturdays he races at Lincoln, unless some further event beckons, racing for the team co-owned by Larry and Jan Gilbert and his parents. At this point, he just wants to race sprint cars.

"If the opportunity (of other types of racing) came along, I'd be a fool not to try it, but as long as I'm racing and content and happy, I don't much care what kid of car it is." Ely said.

If an Indy car opportunity would come along that would be great, but I enjoy racing sprint cars and if that's all I do, that would be OK."

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