Lebanon Valley’s 2017 Banquet Was Extra Special For Peanut Pierce & Chris Lynch
Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – This past weekend, Lebanon Valley held their annual awards banquets to honor the best of the best from the year gone by. Speedway officials also honored several individuals for special achievements, and to two people in particular, it meant the world.
Saturday evening, the Valley inducted one of the most likable people you’ll ever meet, Peanut Pierce, into their elusive Hall of Fame. The night before, Chris Lynch was named as 2017’s Mr. Excitement for the Sportsman division…an award in honor of the late Jeff Yasinsac.
To both of these men, if you ask them, these honors bring great pride.
When you mention the name “Peanut” around the pit area at Lebanon Valley, Albany-Saratoga, or Devil’s Bowl Speedway, one person comes to mind…Edmond Pierce. Over the years, this gentleman has been able to work his magic on several racing machines, which have visited victory lane more times than many can count.
While he started out as a driver in the early 70’s, he quickly found out his talents were better as a head wrench. First it was with fellow Vermonter Denny Young, then the likes of Ron Dwyer, and his son, Chad. He even helped Hector Stratton when he was starting out. But it was with fellow Lebanon Valley Hall of Famer Claude Hoard that Pierce experienced his most success, and boy was this tandem amazing.
In one particular season, 1980, the Pierce team set a record in the Sportsman class, winning an astonishing 13 out of 18 events, including seven-in-a-row. That record still stands today. Talk about domination.
Pierce has been able to amass three Lebanon Valley Sportsman championships as well as two victories during the prestigious Race of Kings crown jewel event to go with countless other trips to victory lane at all three speedways. That winning has continued even to this past season, as he was able to lead his son to victory lane on May 20th of last year.
However, if you talk to Peanut, you’ll know right away that he’s very humble for every bit of success he’s achieved.
“It’s really hard to put into words just what this means to me,” Pierce said. “I’ve been fortunate to have great people around me, from great drivers to great crew members, and to my family who have been very supportive. There have just been so many people involved that I can’t thank them all, really.”
No matter how many accolades he’s won over the years, Pierce knows exactly what’s important.
“The person who I have to thank the most for everything is my wife, June,” he said. “This is a tough sport. We’re doing this every weekend from April to October, so everything you do with the family is Monday to Thursday. It takes a special person to put up with that and she’s been doing that for 48 years now. I love her so much and I can’t thank her enough.”
Throughout his career, Peanut has been lucky enough to have some amazing people work on his cars. Great friends who turned into family as well as his actual family. His children, and even his grandchildren, have put in their time working on his cars in the pits. It’s that dedication, and love for the sport, which makes this award so special to Pierce.
“We’ve definitely had a lot of fun doing this that’s for sure,” he said. “There have been some nights that weren’t so good and Saturday I’m all done racing, only to be going back at it again on Monday. Racing is an addiction just as bad as smoking and drinking. You can’t get rid of it.”
Even with all his success, what he’s doing these days in the pits holds a very special place in his heart.
“It’s an honor right now to be racing with my son,” Pierce said. “I never thought I’d ever see that day, but he wanted to race and here we are. We do it every weekend and I enjoy every single minute of it.”
For Chris Lynch, being named as the Jeff Yasinsac Mr. Excitement Award winner Friday night was an absolute highlight for him.
“One of the greatest honors that Lebanon Valley can give a driver each year is the Mr. Excitement Award and I received it,” Lynch said. “This is one of the best nights of my life.”
Lynch has come into his own as a driver over the last few years. After winning his first career race back in June of 2016, the New Milford, CT driver has proven that his family-owned #74 belongs at the head of the class each and every week fighting for wins.
Last season, he took home the biggest Sportsman event at the speedway, the Andrew Sherman Memorial $2,000-to-win event and brought the Elliott Air, Jamie Scott Auto & Tire Center #74 home third in points for the second straight season on the strength of one win, seven top 5’s and nine top 10’s.
“I’m not going to lie, this award is really great to win, but this isn’t all about me,” Lynch said. “I’ve been able to be associated with some amazing people which makes this extra special.”
He was quick to thank his crew for their dedication to his racing efforts.
“To race for this team right now and everyone that works on it, is an honor because they are not only the hardest working crew, but are all the salt of the Earth,” he said. “I’ve really have to thank Lebanon Valley as well. Outside of my stepdad and my father, I wouldn’t know any of them if it weren’t for this place.”
Even with his success last season, the second-generation driver kept things in perspective.
“I’ve had some amazing people stand by us for 24 plus years and am very grateful for that,” he said. “There are some nights that you want to pull your hair out and other nights you’re just blessed by God to be a part of it. If I could, I’d love to tell you all how much I love each and every one of you.”
The biggest supporter of Chris’ racing over the years has been his father, Kevin. Starting in 2001, the elder Lynch has since handed the keys to the family car to his son and you can tell he’s enjoyed watching Chris succeed.
“My dad has been there for me every step of the way,” he said. “A lot of you know our story. Between the two of us, it took 15 years to get our first win and it came on Father’s Day weekend in 2016. When it comes to dedication, my dad is amazing. Nobody has worked harder than we have to get this award and be third in points, it’s just a great night and I can’t thank you all so much.”
Now Lynch is looking ahead at the 2018 racing season. After two-straight third place finishes in points, the fire is burning within the #74 team for more.
“I can’t wait for April to get here,” he said. “We’ve been working hard and maybe this will be our best year. Hopefully, come next banquet, I’ll be standing here with this award again and maybe a championship but we’ll see how that goes.”
Editor’s Note: It was very cool to see both Pierce and Lynch get their special awards this weekend. I also have to say congratulations to the other award recipients:
Denny Soltis – Modified Entertainer Of The Year- Sean Mandel – Small Block Outstanding Performance
- Jason Meltz – Pro Stock Outstanding Performance
- Bill Deak Jr. – Pure Stock Outstanding Performance
- All Of The 2017 Champions
- All Of The 2017 Modified Owners Of The Year
One thing that stuck out to me was the connection the Brian Bedell had to both Pierce and Lynch on Saturday night.
Back in the late 60’s, driver Barry Purdy won 11 features, holding the record until 1980 when the Pierce team broke it. Back in that year, Pierce’s driver, Claude Hoard, use to give his trophies away to kids in victory lane. Bedell was a youngster at the time, and thought this was very cool.
However, Claude gave the record-breaking win trophy to someone else. Pierce, in turn, gave his trophy from that night to Bedell.
Well, Saturday night, after 37 years, it returned home. Brian made the presentation to Peanut on stage of that very trophy so that it belonged to its ‘rightful owner’ as Bedell said. This was a truly amazing gesture and one I was happy I got to witness.
Bedell also had to make the presentation to Chris Lynch for his award. Every year, Jeff Yasinsac’s widow, Robin, has the honor of doing so. Unfortunately, she was unable to make the banquet this year, so she asked Brian to do it.
Anyone that knows Mr. Bedell knows that his speech was full of statistics about Yasinsac as well as Chris. Let me tell you. Brian didn’t disappoint, even letting everyone in attendance know that Chris’ first win was on the same date as Jeff’s final victory, June 18th.
It was an amazing time both nights and congratulations to all who received awards.
