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By Dino Oberto

The first week of March usually brings about the anticipation of a soon-to-start racing season. The weather slowly begins to change for the better, off-season car shows are winding down and has everyone eager to see racecars on track.

For many of us who are followers of the local racing scene, most notably that of Mahoning Valley and Sundance Vacations (Evergreen) Speedways, the first week of the month was instead received with sadness when within seven days two area drivers passed away and both were very much in their prime.

54-year old Keith Kocher of Palmerton and 26-year old Brad Kline of Dorrance.

Both of these drivers had made significant impacts on the history of the area’s only two asphalt short tracks and as both facilities are nearing the start of their respective seasons, I suspect there will be a numbing feeling of not having their presence with us.

Kocher, a very popular driver and car owner on the eastern Pennsylvania asphalt circuit, passed away early Sunday morning, March 1 of natural causes.

He first became involved in racing at the defunct Dorney Park and Nazareth Speedways.

At Dorney he drove and owned cars in the Modified Sportsman class. Many may also recall his winning the 1987 Sportsman championship at Nazareth which at the time was a Friday night series run under the late promoter Charlie Bray.

When Mahoning Valley Speedway re-opened in 1987, Kocher turned his attention to the Lehighton paved ¼-mile. There he played the role of both driver and owner. As a driver he won 8 times between 1989 and 1996.

Some of the pilots who wheeled his mounts included track stars such as Eric Beers, Bill Teel, Mike Hosier and Scott Lesher.

When Evergreen Raceway in St. Johns re-opened in 1988, Kocher was one of the top runners there as well. His first win in the summer of that same season was a memorable one. Midway through the feature, a power outage hit the surrounding area and Kocher was leading when the track went completely black.

Amazingly not a single car made contact with another and when the lights came back on and the race resumed, he went on to score  his career first victory there.

Through the first few seasons at Evergreen Kocher was a consistent title contender with his trademark red Pinto bodied #3.

Kocher owned cars also saw action at Flemington, Oswego and Tioga Speedways as well as running on a number of stops with the Race of Champions Asphalt Tour.

His last win as a driver came driving for Billy Swartz at Mahoning on June 8, 1996.

In the last few years Kocher was instrumental in helping Lesher as well as Chip Santee who won his second Mahoning Valley Modified title in 2007.

His long time sponsor, the Shi-Ray Inn in Palmerton, which is owned by his parents, Shirley and Ray Kocher, was a popular stop for racers over the years.

A very touching moment occurred at his funeral when fellow drivers Eric Beers, Chip Santee, Scott Lesher, Bill Teel, Bobby Jones and Eric Kocher served as pallbearers while donned in their driver suits.

Kline was tragically killed in a car accident early Saturday morning, March 7. His is a name that is synonymous with Sundance Speedway for over 30-years thank in part to his father, Dean Kline, Sr., was a powerful figurehead prior to hanging his helmet up a few years ago.

When you mention Street Stocks at Sundance you immediately think of the Kline’s. Dean was the 1980 track champ and one of the fiercest competitors to ever turn a lap there. He also dabbled in some Modified action as well.

When the new millennium arrived, so too did his sons, Dean, Jr., and Brad as racers. And, just like their dad, the boys showed their talent early and often. Dean, Jr., spent a brief time with the Street Stocks before moving into a Late Model.

Brad, however, stuck with the class popularized by his dad and in doing so not only became a regular in Victory Lane, but went on to capture back-to-back championships in 2003-04.

Both lads even raced with the same livery as their father with the trademark Kline dark blue while proudly carrying the infamous #22.

The elder Kline did have a few occasions to race with his sons before he retired and despite all of his triumphs, those few times have always stood out for him in his career.

Dean, Sr., and Brad are also part of an elite group of father/son racers at Sundance as they join Russ and Paul Frantz and Larry and Travis Fisher as the only father/son combos to have won track titles.

Like our lives we must move forward. The racing will go on but we, as a tight knit community of racers and fans, will certainly miss and remember these two individuals who touched so many. May they Rest in Peace.