GETTING TO KNOW…
…DEREK BYLER
By Terry Whetstone

 Once racing gets in your blood, it’s not easy to get it out. Well, I think we all know that, and Derek Byler is proof.
 The young man from Belleville, Pennsylvania went to the races with his dad as a child, they went to Port Royal on every Saturday night to watch Ken Dickson.
 “I’ve been hooked ever since,” he said.
 For six year now the 19-year-old driver has driven race cars, ok, that’s not entirely true. For three years he raced go-karts, which, technically, are not a car. He has driven a limited late model for three years.
 When the form was completed, Derek did race for only five years, but due to the snails pace this writer works at, it has increased a year to six.
 Derek drives the blue and white #5* at Hesston Speedway. The Rocket chassis is powered by a 358 engine built by Hershey Racing Engines.
 In his three years in a limited late model he’s competed at Hesston, Thunder Valley, Cumberland (the Rock), Hagerstown, Port Royal and Bedford over the years, but in the go-kart ranks he has raced at Flat Run Speedway, Selinsgrove Speedway, Penns Creek Speedway, Cove Valley Speedway, Silver Springs Speedway and Greenwood Speedway.
 When July 14, 2005 rolls around, Derek will celebrate his 20th birthday, and like most racers, he’ll be getting ready for another race. He won’t be at the track, as it’s a Thursday.
 It’s always interesting as to how a driver has come by the number on a race car, and while Derek hasn’t said for sure how he came to be number five, the STAR is for, go ahead, guess? If you said because he’s a Chub Frank fan, you’re right.
 Speaking of Chub Frank, that is just one of his favorite things. Other favorites include Eldora Speedway and the singing duo of Big and Rich. He likes any kind of music and hot wings are what whets his appetite. His favorite movie is Days of Thunder.
 April 24, 2004 stands out as Derek’s greatest moment in racing, as the young racer earned his first career feature win that night right here at Hesston Speedway.
 His least memorable moment happened at Thunder Valley Raceway. On this particular night, the night of his eighth career race, he had mixed feelings. It started out great, having won the heat race, and starting on the pole for the feature, but then, uh oh, he said he spun out in front of the whole field. He didn’t say what happened after that, of course, maybe he’d rather forget.
 He’s got a great goal in mind, as he’d like to race with the World of Outlaw Late Models, against the likes of Rick Eckert, Scott Bloomquist and Chub Frank.
 Over the past three seasons, not counting this year, he’s won eight heat races and three features, and one point championship.
 Derek is employed at Leidy Precision Auto body as an auto body technician.
 His pit crew includes Jay Byler, his crew chief and these helpers, with their nicknames in (parentheses) Kevin Krepps (Hoocch); Greg Lightner (Honer); Jason Kaufman (Animal) and Stewart Borst (Mudslinger).
 The sponsors that help keep the car on the track every week include: Peachey Transport, Harmon’s Gulf, D.L. Peachey Transport; Ivan J. Zook and Sons’. MAC Tools, Custom Speed and Accessories, Parkway Service Store, Hershey Racing Engines, M.D. Yoder Sales and Service, Extreme Custom Cycles, Yoders Tee’s and More, Richies OIP, RSK Rentals, and PAK Transport.
 While he doesn’t have an Internet website he does have email that his fans can correspond with him at. That address is bylerracing@hotmail.com
 We here at Hesston Speedway would like to wish Derek Byler, the 2004 limited late model point champion, and his crew good luck this season, and we’ll see them at the races.