FORESTVILLE — Terry Kramer Jr. looked around and saw the large pool of water across Big Diamond Speedway’s infield.
“I thought maybe I’d have to bring my boat and life jacket up here tonight,” Kramer said after heavy rain last Thursday created the water hazard.
Kramer might be feeling that way about his position in the roadrunner division at the speedway as well.
Entering the final two programs in the division, he owns just a 12-point lead over Chris Holland at the top of the class.
Both are vying for their first championships, a possibility Kramer only really wants to whisper.
“It’s talked around the garage,” the Phoenix Park resident said. “We try to keep it on the down low. We’ve just got to work. Week in, week out, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
What has happened is that Kramer has driven his new Chevrolet Monte Carlo to three victories this season, including his first-ever feature win in the season opener. He later added a Crazy 8s victory and then a comeback triumph from the 12th starting spot July 17.
“When you start back that far, you get a little worried because that’s a far way to go in 20 laps, but we worked our way through it,” Kramer said.
One who would have been proud at the achievement was Kramer’s grandfather, Jack Gwyther. He raced at Big Diamond in the 1980s, and Kramer is con-
tinuing the legacy today by racing Gwyther’s car No. 992.
“All of his pictures were all around everywhere, and there was something always in there that said, ‘I want to do that some day,’ ” Kramer said of the man whom he never saw on the racetrack.
Still, it wasn’t an easy sales pitch to those who mattered most.
“My mom said I’m crazy,” he said. “ ‘Don’t ever do that. It’s expensive.’ Racing’s an expensive sport no matter how you put it.”
So Kramer set up his race shop in the very building that housed Gwyther’s race car four decades earlier.
“It brings a bunch of memories back. Same garage, same spot,” he said.
That garage is a busy place during the season, even though Kramer commutes daily to the Philadelphia area to work on bridge construction.
“Every day, we’re down in the garage trying to work on something right, working on what needs to be ready for the track Friday night,” he said.
Some of the help comes from rivals. Jesse Krasnitsky, who drives the No. K-2 weekly, lettered Kramer’s current car.
“Jesse painted it and I give him credit for making it look so nice,” Kramer said.
Kramer got his start in an enduro class for three seasons. He switched to the roadrunners four years ago and quickly became a contender.
Kramer placed sixth in points last season, nearly 1,500 behind division champion Jeremy Becker.
“Last year, the draw, that’s what hurt us,” he said about his starting position in heats. “Starting in the front helps a lot. It helps you staying out of everyone else’s crashes.”
Kramer himself endured crashes earlier this season.
“After that, we were kind of just creeping up there, hoping for something to happen,” he said. “A couple of guys ran into bad luck, and we’re just there at the right spot, hoping to finish off the season the way that we started it.”
Along the way, Kramer’s family and friends have taken his career to heart and fans wearing his team shirt dot the grandstand weekly.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “I have all of these fans supporting. You walk on the street and you see somebody with one of your shirts on. It’s pretty neat to see.”
They hope to see Kramer finish where he started the year — in first place.
Today’s races
Where: Big Diamond Speedway, Forestville
When: 8:15 p.m. Gates open at 5:45 p.m.
Program: Andy Fayash Memorial 30 for sportsmen (30 laps, $1,570-to-win, $157 to start); 358 modifieds (final points night), roadrunners and street stocks. Powder puff races for all divisions.