Column By: BILLY HODGES / RPW – DOLGEVILLE, NY – From the very start, he loved the sport. Now, Dave Richer is successful doing what he loves.
After getting into racing in 1999 when he was seven years old, Richer, from Dolgeville, NY, knew this sport is something he wanted to pursue.
“I remember when my dad took me to Caroga Creek Speedway (karts) for the first time,” Richer said. “Right away, I fell in love with the sport. He bought me a kart to race and within a few weeks I was on the track. The rest, they say, is history.”
The 2022 racing season proved to be a good one for Richer. Capturing a pair of victories on the year, Dave brought his #318 home 15th in the season-long Sportsman points standings at Brett Deyo’s Utica-Rome Speedway.
He remembers the first trip to victory lane pretty fondly, as he had to hold off the champ to do it.
“The first win was pretty awesome,” he said. “We had a red flag with five to go and I knew Matt Janczuk was in second place in the race. He was tough to beat all year and I thought he was going to pass me for the win.”
That didn’t happen.
“I honestly thought my hard work would fall short,” he said. “We went back green and I pulled away a little bit and just kind of stayed there.”
Even if he hadn’t gotten the victory, if Janczuk had passed him, he still would have been ecstatic.
“Finishing second to Matt is like a win at Utica-Rome,” he said. “Outrunning him is a feat that’s hard to do and we got it done. That was huge for us.”
Unfortunately, a very hard crash in the middle of June very nearly derailed Richer’s season, if not for the generosity of a great racing family.
“The Welch family at Ted’s Body Shop bought the current chassis I have been racing,” he said. “After we destroyed ours, they really stepped up for us and I can’t thank them enough for what they did.”
That kindness kept the 318 on track and allowed Dave to chase another checked flag. That second win of 2022 came in the last points race at Utica.
The 318 was the class of the field on this night.
“We were straight hooked up that night,” he said. “Earlier in the year, we got a new chassis and were tuning it ever week, trying to make it better. That night, we finally hit on something and the car was spot on.”
The 2023 season will be Richer’s sixth full-time year in the Sportsman division and the driver and his team have a goal set squarely in their sights.
“We’re going to be on a mission this season,” he said. “For 2023, we want to go back to Utica-Rome speedway and finish top 5 in points. Last year, getting wins, we know we can do it. Now we crave it.”
Does Richer know what he needs to do to accomplish this?
“We just can’t miss races,” he said. “We need to finish races. No DNF’s (did not finish) and we should be fine. We’ll work hard to make that a reality.”
They’ll also hit the road if time allows.
“We’d love to go to other tracks if possible,” he said. “That’ll all depend on scheduling.”
Richer is grateful for the support he’s gotten to help his team chase victories, and for 2023, that’ll be no exception.
“There are a lot of people that have helped me to get to where I am today,” he said. “I have to thank Ted’s Body Shop, Chavis Motorsports, Fastline Performance, Donath Motorworx, Express Employment Professionals of Albany and Saratoga, Haun Welding and Supply, Scott Hamlin Speed Supply and ever other person that has helped me
in any way. I truly appreciate you all.”
In addition to the champion, Matt Janczuk, who won an astonishing 12 times at Utica in 2022, another strong competitor, according to Richer, is Payton Talbot. Talbot won four times at the Vernon, NY track this past season and was a tough driver to beat as well.
“Payton and I race each other pretty hard but always clean,” he said. “He’s door’d me a few times but I give it right back to him. We’re both very competitive.
However, that competitiveness has proven to develop into a friendship.
“The whole Talbot family has gone above and beyond for me,” he said. “Whenever I’ve needed help, or had any questions at the track, they’ve been right there for me. We try to do the same for them.”
Richer truly loves seeing Talbot succeed.
“Payton won the Sportsman championship at Fonda this past season,” he said. “I was very happy to see that. That kid has talent.”
Recently, Utica-Rome announced they have secured NASCAR sanctioning for their weekly racing. What does Dave think about this move?
“To be honest, it’d be hard for me to say anything right now,” he said. “I still don’t know the benefits of it. However, one thing I can say. Brett Deyo has always treated us right at Utica.”
It’s because of that treatment that Richer sees this as a great positive for the track.
“I can’t see Brett wanting to do something that would hurt his drivers,” he said. “I don’t see him just doing something that could potentially lower the car counts. For that, I’m all for the NASCAR deal. I’m excited about what’s to come.”
Dave Richer has proven to be a winner. If given the right breaks this season, the 318 might compete with the Janczuk’s and Talbots of the Sportsman class at Utica-Rome Speedway for the season’s point championship.
He’s got the drive. He’s got the love. Now, will lady luck ride with him?