Ken Meahl
| Ken Meahl | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kenneth M. Meahl April 9, 1931 Lockport, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 14, 2025 (aged 93) |
| Retired | 1975 |
| Debut season | 1948 |
| Modified racing career | |
| Car number | 28, 38 |
| Championships | 3 |
| Wins | 185+ |
Kenneth M. Meahl (April 9, 1931 – February 14, 2025) was an American Modified racing driver.[1] He was the driver for teen car owner Jerry Cook for several years before the NASCAR Hall of Fame driver came of age.
Racing career
[edit]Ken Meahl began racing in Western New York at the Niagara County Fairgrounds in 1948 and soon began competing with the NASCAR Modified series at the Buffalo Civic Stadium and winning the 1949 points championship at the Monroe County Fairgrounds.[2][3] He went on to compete at race tracks throughout New York, including victories at Canandaigua Speedway, Fonda Speedway, Lancaster Speedway, Utica-Rome Speedway, Vernon Fairgrounds, and the Victoria Speedway in Dunnsville, claiming the Ransomville Speedway track championship in 1960 and 1966.[2][4][5][6][7]
Meahl was also successful at venues elsewhere in the east coast, such as Merrittville Speedway in Ontario, Trenton Speedway in New Jersey, and Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut, and captured the 1963 Independence Day event at the Syracuse New York Mile.[8][9][10] He was inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 1997.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Meahl died on February 14, 2025, at the age of 93.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Kenneth M. Meahl". Prudden And Kandt Funeral Home, Inc. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
- ^ a b Ott, Larry (January 23, 1995). "Inductee brings a special gift new Hall of Famer's contribution packs a punch". The Buffalo News. NY. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Hedger, Ron (April 11, 1997). "Westervelt joining Dirt Hall of Fame". The Daily Gazette. Schenectady NY. p. 2. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Ken Meahl is a winner at Vernon". The Post-Standard. Syracuse NY. May 15, 1950. p. 23. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Ortiz becomes first to down Meahl at speedway". Daily Messenger. Canandaigua NY. July 8, 1963. p. 6. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Meahl best at Victoria". The Daily Gazette. Schenectady NY. October 19, 1964. p. 24. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ Quinlan, Mike (June 11, 1965). "Knocks and Boosts". Niagara Gazette. NY. p. 20. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ "Meahl wins 100-mile race". The Post-Standard. Syracuse NY. July 7, 1963. p. 27. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "NASCAR race for modifieds set at Trenton". Hanover Evening Sun. PA. August 8, 1963. p. 11. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Ken Meahl Results: Wins List". The Third Turn. Retrieved May 5, 2024.