News Director 
Story By: DINO OBERTO / FUTURE MOTORSPORTS – LEHIGHTON, PA – In the spring of 2016 asphalt Modified car owner Robert Wagner quietly came onto the local racing scene and within short order became quite the factor. In just the 10th race out he and the team where celebrating a victory at Lehighton’s Mahoning Valley Speedway thanks to veteran driver Todd Baer pulling off a rousing win. Wagner and company continued to race at Mahoning as well as visits to Evergreen Raceway.
“I couldn’t have been more proud of the job that Todd (Bear) did. To get a win in just 10 weeks was amazing for a new team,” said Wagner.
For 2017 Wagner has looked to restructure and has put his focus on young talent. Realizing where the prospects of the sport lies, he did an extensive search on who to put in the seat of his car and settled with a pair of enthusiastic talents that should foot the bill rather nicely. It also led the name of the team, “Future Motorsports.”
24-year Kris Graver of Lehighton and 19-year old Cody Kohler of Schnecksville have been tapped to share driving duties for this season. Both have impeccable records, most notably Graver who has amassed 43 career wins between four different classes and four division championships among them.
Likewise Kohler has a multitude of wins in Quarter Midgets and then went on to stock cars where he notched a Pro 4 title in just his third season.
Both drivers are stars at Mahoning Valley.
“I felt it necessary to contact the appropriate people that would give me the best possible information that I wanted to put together for the future. When all was said and done with the research I feel that Kris (Graver) and Cody (Kohler) best fit the outlook that we’re looking for with Future Motorsports,” said Wagner.
“We’re not rushing into anything although the progress is going quite smoothly at this point.”
The game plan is to run both Mahoning Valley and Evergreen. Kohler will do Mahoning while Graver will take over at Evergreen. If all goes well Graver may also run some NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour shows.
Kohler is currently a student at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, NC. His class time will limit his seat time but that was all taken into consideration.
“I was pretty excited when Bob (Wagner) first contacted me. He explained that he was looking for someone to drive his Modified and he felt I’d be a good candidate,” said Kohler.
“We talked about what he wanted from me as a driver both on and off the track. With my school he understands that comes first and I have to keep focusing on that so for now we’re looking at getting seat time when I am home and build off that. Then by next year we can look at going full swing on everything.”
Kohler did get the chance to wheel a Modified last season when John Markovic fitted him into his back-up car for a night.
“Going from the Pro 4 to the Modified it was more nerve wracking than anything especially being out there with guys like Johnny Markovic and Eric Beers and all those others. By the end of the night though I was really feeling comfortable. It was definitely a learning curve and I’m looking forward to getting back out there with a Modified,” he explained.
“I feel I can really learn a lot from Kris (Graver) too. His numbers speak volumes and it will be great to tap into his knowledge.”
Graver comes from a deep heritage of racing that reaches back five decades. He proved a fast learner not long after beginning his stock car career as the wins and titles followed in earnest.
While he will still run his own family car weekly at Mahoning Valley, he is looking forward to getting the opportunity to race the Wagner car at the 1/3-mile St. Johns oval.
“I can adapt pretty quick I’ve always felt and I have my grandfather and uncle to thank for that. They nurtured me into the driver I am today. For me the thing I’m looking forward to most about Evergreen is having straightaways. I have laps around there but I’ve always been willing to race anywhere when the opportunity presents itself. Running there will only help me out with venturing to others tracks,” said Graver.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for everybody on the team. It’s great how Robert (Wagner) is bringing new faces in and giving young people the opportunity to get behind the wheel and with good equipment to work with. There’s so much to build on,” he continued.
“I’m willing to give anyone help if they come to me and Cody (Kohler) is a very good talent and I think will be fine once he gets accustomed to the feel of a Modified. One thing we have in common is we both ran with the Pro 4 class and have championships there and I think it will help in the transition of explaining how to make the move from those cars and into the Modified.”
The Wagner car is immediately recognizable the second it wheels onto the track, that due to the sharp looking wrap of a camo design. It comes from his years of serving with the U.S. Marine Corps. Wagner, who specialized in communications, spent six years in the service that included a tour of Iraq.
“I’m sticking to my roots with the commitment of doing this motorsports thing and I’ve reverted back to my Marine Corps ways. The three main functions of the Marine Corps is Honor, Courage and Commitment and I’ve felt what better way to implement the Eagle Globe and Anchor that I received in 1997 was to emboss it on the car. I’m looking to work all of the great attributes and work them into our team,” said Wagner.
“I’m hoping to get the car back to victory lane a few more times this year and I feel that with Kris and Cody we’re in good hands to make that happen.”
