9/3/2018
Midwest Legends Dirt Series
Driver Spotlight: Dan Mech
“Father Time,” that’s what it reads on the Legend of Dan Mech. It’s a fitting tribute for a number of reasons. Like the character that appears in print at the end of every year, he has a gray beard. In 2015, at the age of 55 he was the Legend Rookie of the Year at Beaver Dam Raceway and scored two feature wins. But, he was hardly a rookie, as he’s been racing off and on since 1983, at 23 years old.
Mech, from Greenfield, WI was a regular at Hales Corners Speedway, first as a fan starting in 1972, then he crewed in 1976 for Greg Golubeff and finally he got his own Sportsman car. At Hales he scored five feature wins.
In 1996 he moved to Modifieds and raced those through the 2003 season. It was at about this point Dan and his wife Diane settled down to start a family and he gave up racing.
Today, he’s happy to be back at the track with that whole family in tow. Diane and their daughter Allison are well known for the photographs they provide to the drivers on the Legend trail. Son Ryan, has followed in his dad’s footsteps and also pilots a Legend.
Looking back at his career, Dan feels there were great people thought the Sportsman and Modified ranks, but nothing compares to the family atmosphere between the drivers and crews in the Legend division. He likes how everyone pitches in if someone’s got car troubles and how the teams all try to get everyone to make the show. Plus it’s fun making race day a true family affair for the Mech clan.
Article Credit: Bill Blumer Jr
Submitted By: Ryan Mech
