Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – ACCORD, NY – After getting started in the OCFS Street Stock division late in the 2021 season, Tyler Romer ran the full schedule last season.
He raced and learned a lot about the division, his competitors and the track while coming home 11th in points.
As he and his team prepares for 2023, the goals are higher.
“The goals are higher than they were last year. Last year, I wanted to finish every race without the car being destroyed and finish in the top 10 in points. I got one part done, but I missed the points goal. I missed the top 10 by 6 points. This year, we are again aiming for the top 10 points finish and hopefully be consistently in the mix every race and hopefully get a win.”
With most family members, starting with his grandfather involved in racing, it was a given that Tyler would be involved in the sport at some point.
“Everybody in the family has been involved with racing, my grandfather, my mother and father, aunts and uncles and it was always said that it would eventually come down to Tyler. I finally got the chance to race in an Enduro at Accord in 2017. I got into it some more and I got to do the full time season in 2022.”
Although he’s still relatively new to the Street Stock class, Romer has a lot of experience in Enduros, taking a couple of wins at Lebanon Valley. His Enduro car is very unique in that form of racing. He races a big Lincoln Continental.
One of the things that Romer enjoys about Middletown is the respect that the drivers have for each other. And Tyler has been taking notes by watching how his fellow competitors navigate the 5/8th oval.
“One of my favorite things about Middletown, specifically the Street Stock class, is to see the amount of respect that they all have for each other. Especially me, coming into my 2nd full time season, so many guys have reached out to me throughout the off season and all of last year saying, ‘Hey, if you ever need help. just ask me. Mike Vigiletti. Bob Sleight, they both are awesome guys, they’ve helped me out a lot. The respect is awesome. We race hard and clean. We will race door to door, but we won’t just go into the corner and just slam each other.”
“The goal is to get a smooth line every lap. It all depends where you are in the field. Last year, I was running near Bob Sleight a lot. And he ran a really good line. When I was following him in the corner, I could see when he was jumping back on the gas. I could stay with him until corner exit and then he would pull away. But just following him some, I felt improvement by racing his line.”
Tyler’s sponsor lineup for 2023 includes Eager Beaver Stump Grinding (Keith and Kathy). Mannese Trucking in Milton, NY, A. Messina & Sons Scrap in Modena, NY (Chris and Anthony), Ashley’s Homemade Soaps (Ashley, Dawn and Brian), Harding Automotive (Paul Harding) and Premier Auto Body of Highland, NY.
Romer is very appreciative of the help that he has gotten from Premier Auto Body and Kevin Ward in preparation for the 2023 season.
“Kevin has been a huge help to me over the off season. The car is going to look brand new this year thanks to Kevin. He redid the body and painted it. The car is going to look phenomenal.”
Besides the #6 Street Stock, look for Tyler to be in the two Enduros that OCFS has scheduled in 2023. He may also do a race at Accord if his sponsor is involved. And he’s looking forward to the Enduro event at Lebanon Valley in July.
“The Enduro car scoots right along at The Valley,” Tyler said.
Although it wasn’t an official racing event, Tyler already has a pretty cool moment in 2023. At the Autobahn Indoor Speedway/OCFS Charity Event, Romer came home with a 2nd place effort.
With the Autobahn regulars on their home track and with 50 total competitors, Tyler scored the best finish yet by a local racer in the 2 year history of the race.
Tyler is very grateful to the people who help out on his car.
“Thank you to everyone who has helped out with the car. My father has put many nights in after work, when I can get off work, he and Kevin go work on it. We are looking to unveil it at the OCFS Motorsports Show later this month. It’s going to look sharp.”
Besides his dad Brian Romer, others on the crew include Kevin Ward, Paul Harding and his grandmother, Terry Romer.
“Grandma is always ready with the jack if I get a flat,” Tyler said.
The amount of enthusiasm that Tyler Romer has for racing is off the charts. It is a cool thing to see. Look for him to continue his rise in the OCFS Street Stocks in 2023.
