Larry Wright

That’s all one had to say to evoke a reaction from local race fans during decades of area dirt track racing.

The talent he possessed on the track was enormous, and it was the skill on how to use those driving abilities that made him a winner.

Without question his wife Peggy was his most ardent fan at the track. As Larry’s car owner, she was actively involved in all aspects of their racing success. Without Peggy’s total dedication to her husband
and her understanding of the time required to maintain a front running car, it’s difficult to say the level of success the #31 would have earned. Together they formed the nucleus of a successful race team of loyal mechanics and crew members that worked diligently to keep Larry running up front at area speedways.

Larry’s dad, Orville, and the family purchased a coupe modified before he was of age to compete on the track. When that time arrived, the old modified was obsolete compared to the newer
versions, so that idea was tabled. It was a minor setback as Larry was determined to chase his dream.

After competing briefly in the old cadet class at Everett’s South Penn Speedway in the early 1960’s, the family fielded a semi-late model car during the division’s first year in 1964 at Everett.

Working out of a small garage on the family farm in Claysburg Larry’s immaculate #31 white Ford caught the attention of area fans. In a racing world sometimes dominated by Chevys, the Ford enthusiasts had a local champion they could be proud of. He and his team members dressed the part with their sharp white uniforms normally associated with asphalt racing, and his cars displayed his trademark lightning bolt painted on the rear fender.

It’s easy to understand why Larry was once voted the most popular driver by the fans at Jennerstown.
Years after his retirement, his popularity is validated by the fact a photo of him standing next to one of his iconic #31’s has continued to be the best selling photo at the Bedford Speedway stand of vintage racing
pictures, which is a testament to his driving abilities and personality.

It is unfortunate that Larry raced at a time when not all results were documented or records saved for future publication. Therefore his number of feature victories officially recorded is probably well short of the actual total.
But we can confirm that Larry won 132 feature victories throughout his career. He won 17 times at the tough Bedford Fairgrounds track when the number of quality cars competing was challenging. Those 17 wins still ranks Larry as #11 on the all time late-model win list with his last coming in 1994. His 33 confirmed wins at Jennerstown ranks near the top as does his 31 feature wins at Hesston Speedway. Larry won 12 times at
Everett’s South Penn Speedway, a number that certainly would have increased if the track raced beyond its
closure. Other tracks he conquered were Cumberland, Clearfield, Port Royal, Motordrome, Pittsburgh Motor
Speedway, and Lernerville, where he finished third in points in 1988.

It’s difficult to determine how many track titles he won during his career, but we do know he earned the Jennerstown Championships in 1970, 1971, and 1978.

As we stated many records have been difficult to determine, but what we are able to produce illustrates
the stellar career Larry Wright had. Larry may not have been large in stature, but in a racecar, he was a giant
of a man.

He was inducted in the Bedford Speedway Hall of Fame and Jennerstown’s first Hall of Fame in 2005.
It’s only appropriate that a race driver of Larry’s success and stature be inducted into our Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame.

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