New Year, New Opportunities For Tyler Bear In 2017

Story By: ANTHONY CORINI / VANDERECKEN RACING – ELLIOTTSBURG, PA – After some snow filled weekends, everyone is chomping at the bit to get back to the track – but maybe no one is as anxious as Tyler Bear.

Bear has partnered with Iowa located car owner Mike VanderEcken for the 2017 season and will run Port Royal Speedway frequently while making trips to the famed Knoxville Raceway as time permits. Bear will pilot the #10 car both locally in Pennsylvania and out west at Knoxville. While the car number will be the same, the actual cars will be different.

“At home I’ll still be running my own equipment for the most part, just putting Mike’s #10 on the car,” Bear said. VanderEcken has a separate car to work with in Iowa. “Honestly, I’m so excited for this season. Mike and I hit it off right away. We get along great and I can’t wait to get out there to work with him.”

Although there is no set schedule for Bear at Knoxville, he plans on running as much as possible in preparation before the 57th Annual 5-hour Energy Knoxville Nationals in August.

“I went to Knoxville last year as a spectator and knew I wanted to compete in that event at some point. I just never imagined I would get to do it so early in my career. It’s going to be a learning curve, but I couldn’t be more ready to run at the Nationals. I can’t thank Mike enough for this opportunity,” Bear said.

Bear plans on opening his 2017 season this Saturday at Port Royal Speedway and was quick to thank his sponsors: VFW Post 34, VanderEcken Motorsports, Bossinger’s Firewood and Lumber, Perry Auto Collision, Sections Salon, Justin Snyder Racing, Fultz Excavating and Beerhill Gang.

Bear referred to these partners as family rather than sponsors and is thankful for each and every one of them that help him get his car to the track on a weekly basis.