Paul Shaffer, from Columbia
Station, has been racing for over twenty five years. He drives the #40
in the Grand National Class at Lorain Speedway, and since he has no sponsors,
you can just call him "the lone wolf"!
Paul finished the 2004
season with:
* 295 total points * 31st overall * 1 top 5 finish * 2 top finishes * 5 feature and heat
starts
Paul's uncles raced
dirt tracks and that is where he got started racing. He started off
racing asphalt at Cloverleaf in a 1970 pink Chevy Nova. Ever since,
he has been racing on and off at several speedways including Mansfield, Lorain,
Midvale, Barberton, Sandusky, and Fremont along with several dragstrips including
Dragway 42 and Norwalk Raceway Park. He has raced in a variety of different
events including drag racing, enduros, demo derbies, and circle tracks, both
dirt and asphalt.
His son Tigh Shaffer , who is only 16 years
old, also races at Lorain in the #41 car in the Grand National Division.
Paul's goal is to improve Tigh's racing skills so he can be competitive
in the Grand National division.
Paul's most memorable
moments have been in 1998 when he won the Bomber Class championship and Tigh
got to go up and receive the trophy with him. Then in 2001 he won the
Dash for Cash at Calvacade. And in 2004, he got to see Tigh win his
first Grand National feature.
Paul has had alot
of success at other tracks. During his racing career he has won many
dashs, heats, and features. He has also won a National Bike Meet at
42 in the late 70's, in 1989 he won a 150 lap enduro at Cloverleaf, and in
1990 he won a demo at the Medina County Fair. At the Lorain Speedway
he won the Bomber Class Championship in 1998.
His favorite thing
about Lorain is the track because of tight racing. He also says he keeps
coming back each weekend because of his family who comes out and support him.
Paul feels the track can be improved if the officials make better calls.
Next year Paul
isn't sure what he plans on doing, although he says that retirement could
be in the near future.
