RPW Exclusive: Guy Sheldon, 2nd Generation at Lebanon Valley Speedway, shares emotional Lebanon Valley Speedway Hall of Fame Induction
RPW Exclusive Column By: Stephen Durham / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – Just a couple of weeks ago, Lebanon Valley Speedway celebrated the 2025 season champions and accomplishments. Along with that, welcoming the newest members into the Lebanon Valley Speedway Hall of Fame, including second generation driver, Guy Sheldon.
Sheldon is coming off a strong 2025 season with the DIRTcar Big Block modifieds, finishing 12th in the championship standings, with one win, one top 5, and four top 10s. The win marked his 8th big block modified win at Lebanon Valley Speedway.
Joining the Lebanon Valley Hall of Fame and being celebrated on the induction was a special moment for Guy Sheldon.
“It was certainly a proud moment for me and my family. I said in my speech there, there’s been so many iconic names that have gone through the gates there,” a proud Sheldon says, “lots of great names that have been selected, and to be in the hall of fame and be grouped in with some of those names is pretty cool, pretty, pretty neat, and pretty amazing.”
Being at Lebanon Valley Speedway, like many other local tracks, it’s a family tradition. It’s been just that for the Sheldon family. Guy Sheldon joins his father Todd Sheldon in the Lebanon Valley Hall of Fame, and got to enjoy this induction with his own son and current Lebanon Valley regular, Kyle Sheldon. Sharing it with Kyle and the Sheldon family, made the moment just a little bit more special.
“It was pretty cool to have him there. My daughter was there with her husband and my brother was there with his wife and obviously, my wife. It was a very special moment,” a grateful Guy Sheldon says “ just like when my dad got inducted back in 2002. So we were all there. It’s been pretty cool and it was a tear jerker. Certainly for me at times, but I did my best to keep my tears at bay.”
For the 3rd generation Sheldon family driver, Kyle Sheldon, it was just as special of a moment for him to see his dad be inducted.
“Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. My dad getting inducted into the Lebanon Valley Speedway Hall of Fame is one of those moments that really puts everything into perspective. All the years, the sacrifices, the long nights, the hard work—this is what it’s all about,” a proud Kyle Sheldon says “I am incredibly proud of his accomplishments and I can’t wait to see what else he has up his sleeve’s for this upcoming season.”
The Sheldon family has been part of racing at Lebanon Valley dating back to the 1960s, where even Todd Sheldon’s brothers raced at times on the high banks. Guy Sheldon’s first big block modified win at Lebanon Valley came in 1996. Guy Sheldon has also won at other tracks, including sister track to Lebanon Valley, Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Sheldon says there is one win that still is held close to his heart though.
“I was telling Kyle, when we got that win at Syracuse, that was special and is by far the one that sits at the top for me. Just to be able to win at that historic mile track at Syracuse and then to take off, whatever it was, 15, 16 years, and then, come back out and early on, and be competitive, and then to get a win was really shocking to me,” a humbled Sheldon says, “ I didn’t expect it. And the way the car was, the way I was driving the car with these new suspensions, I was not comfortable at all until that night. We made a bunch of changes, tried to slow everything down, and it worked. And the car was perfect that night. But that’s right up there near the top of the list, but not on top of the Syracuse wins”
As we head into April, Guy is getting ready for another full-season at Lebanon Valley.
“We’re going to do it again. Alex wants to, I believe this year will be 50 years that the 42 car has been at Lebanon, so he wants to try and hit that milestone,” Sheldon says.
Overall, for the second generation Sheldon, it has been a special time these last few years, seeing his son win at Lebanon Valley, and now joining the Lebanon Valley Speedway Hall of Fame.
“Just to be inducted into the Hall of Fame was really, really special for me. It just kind of, not validates everything, you know, I mean, we all work hard on the car. I don’t care if you’re running a pro stock or different division,” Guy Sheldon explains, “you know, we’re all working in the garage every night. You know how hard it is if you are racing weekly, it takes a lot of work. And to hear all the accomplishments that Brian(Bedell) was listing off, it’s pretty cool to hear all of that.”
Guy Sheldon will look forward to another busy season at the ‘High Banks’ of Lebanon Valley Speedway, with the regular season for the DIRTcar Big Block modifieds getting underway April 25th.
