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Even though he has not hit that magic age of 21, when you officially become an adult and distance yourself from your teen years, Danbury Ct’s Mike Keeler talks like a seasoned racer and drives like a veteran wheelman that has been at it for a long period of time. That’s because he has, since age 7, when he raced go-karts at New England venues. “I started at Meriden Ct and raced my good friend Bobby Santos, III.” said Keeler this week and like Santos, he has raced in more classes at more tracks than some do in an entire career.
Keeler’s travels have taken him to some of the top asphalt and dirt track facilities in the northeast with experience coming at tracks like Lebanon Valley, Accord, Orange County Fairgrounds and Fonda, on the dirt while the NEMA midget tour and TVMRS tour takes him to several venues on the asphalt. Keeler’s resume lists several different divisions including modifieds, midgets, SK Modified’s and Sportsman cars. He captured the Lebanon Valley Sportsman of the Year title in 2001. This past winter the young driver competed in the USAC midget indoor show at Fort Wayne Indiana. “That was lots of fun” says Keeler. “We finished in front of Tony Stewart in one of the events and that felt pretty good.” Keeler says his intent this season is to focus on his midget career with the NEMA tour. They started their season last weekend on a sour note with a blown engine but they’ll be back. “We get lot’s of help from the Seymour’s and they are a big inspiration to me” added Keeler. The midget will get their full attention but the True Value modified, a Troyer chassis racer once driven by fellow Danbury driver Jimmy Dolan will also receive attention with hopes of competing in 10 to 15 events on the 2006 True Value Modified Racing Series tour. Keeler popped up in the pits at Seekonk last year with the ex Dolan racer and looked right at home. “That is our plan this year, I like this tour, we were fed up, we like the way things are done here, the officials, the competitors, the tracks, the whole thing, and the most important part is if we make the show, my tire bill is paid. That is very important to me”. “We plan to head for Monadnock Saturday to practice, then hit the opener, hopefully Canaan, then we’ll go to Lee, Seekonk and Waterford.”
Keeler recently tested at Waterford at their practice day and said the car was quick. “ We wanted seat time there and the car was great” as he looks ahead to the June 17 show there.
Keeler’s engine is built by his father, Kevin, a former Lebanon Valley racer who Mike shows a lot of admiration for. “My Dad knows his stuff and I could not do this without him” said Keeler. “I am still at home and I own my own landscaping business” I have a 4 or 5 year plan to prove myself and beyond that I’ll race as a hobby if things don’t pan out.” He hopes to land a ride this summer at an ISMA super modified show. Keeler and his No 56 modified will be part of the Rolling Thunder that rumbles the mountains at Monadnock Speedway Saturday night April 15 as the True Value Modified Racing Series kicks off its 3rd season at 6.P.M.
