Mike Keeler: Family, Racing, & Racing As A Family

Column By: RYAN HILL / RPW – DANBURY, CT – When you enter the Mike Keeler Motorsports shop race car pictures ring the shop, old fire suits are hanging on the wall, but beyond that you are greeted by a dose of racing heritage, Laverne the team mascot, the warmth of a family working together for their shared passion, and of course the Montanari Fuel # 55 Big Block Modified.

Mike Keeler is a second generation driver out of Danbury, Ct who races his Teo Pro Car Big Block Modified weekly at Lebanon Valley Speedway.  Mike’s career has spanned the better part of two decades, and it has been a career that has found Mike piloting everything from quarter to half midgets, Dirt Sportsman Modifieds, NEMA Midgets, SK Modifieds, Asphalt Tour Modifieds, Super Modifieds, and Big Block Dirt Modifieds.

In a career that started at the age of 7, Mike has many accomplishments, such as Lebanon Valley Sportsman Rookie of the Year in 2001 at the age of 15, NEMA Midget Rookie of the Year in 2005. While Mike has raced on many levels that have taken him from Maine to Florida to being of one of nine to qualify for the double header at the indoor midget race in Ft Wayne, Indiana where Mike raced with drivers such as Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, an event that had Mike pick up a heat race win.

Mike’s career so far has certainly provided him with experience in various race car disciplines, but what stands out the most is his family’s dedication to his racing, and Mike’s strong appreciation of having his family race with him.

Mike’s team is his family, and the crew members and sponsors that are not related by blood are connected by what sometimes runs deeper than blood, racing.  Mike’s entire team is his family.

His Uncle Wayne Spiers was a car owner, and Wayne told me stories of racing with Mike as a kid, trips that took them all the way to Florida as if they had happened yesterday.  The results of the races were not what the stories were about, at least not what I took away from them.  The bond that has grown between uncle and nephew was paramount in Wayne’s stories, and in Mike’s reaction to the re telling of the adventures.

Kevin Keeler is Mike’s father and a former driver at Lebanon Valley.  Mike and Kevin share a love of racing and have been doing it together since the beginning when Mike started racing Quarter Midgets with his sisters Trisha and Ann at the age of seven.

“Mike started racing at an age when the driver’s don’t even have the vocabulary to describe what the car is doing, it forces you to develop communication in one on one guidance environment that can be pretty rich in life, as well as in racing experiences” Kevin said, As Mike has grown up and matured that coaching and guidance has expanded to where we are best friends and work at playing to each other’s strengths.”

Kevin is excited for the 2017 season , “ We have tried out a number of different types of cars, but we have settled down to DIRT Mods, we are just trying to have fun and get faster on whatever budget we can scrape together.  The car we have this year likely the best DIRT car we have ever had and we have our fingers crossed for some good finishes.”

Mike looks back at his early days of racing as fondly as his father does, but also greatly appreciates still working with Kevin as a team, a tradition he is carrying on with his son Mason, daughter Avery and wife Mandy.

“I think that racing has created a bond between my father and I that we wouldn’t have had if we done stick and ball sports” said Mike.  You grow up and the sports end after your school years, our bond has lasted past my childhood, and now into my adult years.  I am already establishing the same bond with my own kids, as they are already in the race shop helping with Dad’s race car. I am also truly lucky to have an amazing wife Mandy, who understands racing.  Mandy is a major help on and off the track.”

Mandy Keeler has been around racing her entire life. Her brother Todd Szegedy is the 2003 NASCAR Whelen Modified Series Champion, and while it may have taken a little adjustment to DIRT racing, Mandy loves being at Lebanon Valley every week, even admitting that at first she wanted to go back to asphalt racing, but now finds dirt racing more exciting.

On any given race night Mandy can be found setting up Mike’s tear offs, making sure everything is ready to go for the race, and hanging out with their dog Laverne. “I couldn’t picture my life without racing” Mandy said. “I have been racing since I was 2 years old, without racing I would be getting bored.”

Mike and Mandy are a great team, they lean on each other on and off the track, which works well as they also work together.

“I have an amazing wife” Keeler said.  “Mandy has the same competitive, but family orientated attitude that I have.  I feel that Mandy is the glue that makes this race team a family race team, all the while keeping victory lane in our sights.”

Every driver wants to win, there are often realities such as finances and equipment that stand in the way, or even scare some people away from even competing to cross the checkers for a feature win.  Mike’s team, admittedly, is one of the lower budgeted Big Block Modified teams that contend weekly at Lebanon Valley.  The underdog role is a role that doesn’t scare Mike or his team off.

“ I think to some being the underdog can be discouraging at times, and I am not going to lie it can be for me too, but honestly I think it makes me push for success that much more. “ Keeler adds that “Being in the underdog situation makes me respect our equipment, and pay closer attention to all the little details.”

Jim Anderson is a crew member on the # 55 and he says that the Keeler team is old school and will make it happen even when finances are a struggle.

“They are good at bringing new life to a damaged part” Anderson said.  “My time with them is not so much work, but a combination of work and fun.  Mike has taken on the roll of my son, after my own son’s passing; I love the Keeler’s and always have fun with them following our mutual passion for racing.”

Mike and the entire Mike Keeler Motorsports team are poised for what they hope to be a successful 2017 season.  This off season they addressed their deficiencies purchasing a Teo Pro Car chassis from Eddie Marshall, and will be running motors prepared by Mike’s father-in-law Paul Szegedy.

Mike’s goals for this season is to post top tens , top fives, and of course visit victory lane as often as possible.  Mike hopes to one day race the Super DIRTCAR Series, and he feels confident in his ability to make those goals a reality.

“Driving different cars has helped me tremendously” Keeler said. “My dirt experience made me a better asphalt driver, and my asphalt experience has made me a better driver on dirt.  If I had stayed at The Valley I would have more dirt achievements, but I wouldn’t trade that for all the traveling I have done with my dad, my family and crew, which are also my family.”

Mike would like to thank his parents Kevin and Jane, in laws Paul and Robin Szegedy, his Uncle Wayne Spiers, Mandy, Avery and Mason, his sisters Trisha and Ann, Jim Anderson, Rick Gerlach, Eddie Marshall and Al Heidinger.

Mike would also like to thank his sponsors for all the continued support they provide him: Montanari Fuel, Pamby Motors, Motta Landscaping and Construction, Hat City Construction, Montanari Excavation, Economy Signs, Bobby Chalmers Public Relations , Blue Cord Media, Bagelman and Joe’s Bar and Grill.