JOHN "JOHNNY" KIEPER - 2/02/1932 - 7/30/2022
Another driver from the great Northwest, John Kieper started racing around 1952 at the legendary Portland Speedway. He also raced at the famed Oakland Speedway in one of Marvin Panch's former Mercury’s, and later drove Hudson Hornets and then Olds 88’s for Beryl Jackson. His first start in the Cup series came in 1954, driving the #6 for Vincent Cornella. It came at Gardena, where he started 15th and finished 20th as John Soars got the win. He made two starts in 1955. At San Mateo, he would start second beside pole winner Tim Flock. Kieper led 89 of the 250 laps, but Flock would claim the win with Kieper second. In 1956 he would make eighth starts at the Cup level. He made strong runs in all his starts. He finished second at Portland, and followed that up with sixth place runs at Eureke and at Merced Fairgrounds. When they raced at Portland again, he would start 12th, but by lap 32 he had taken the lead away from Lloyd Dane, and would lead the final 169 laps to take the win. He added runs of third, fourth and ninth that year. He made a total of five more Cup starts over the next four years. In all of them, he had mechanical issues and fell out of the races. His best finish in that stretch was 16th. Then he gave up stock car racing to go into the truck salvage and used parts business with his beloved wife and partner, Beverly. In the mid 70’s, with his family business flourishing, Johnny came back to racing - this time as both a driver and a car owner. Hershel McGriff, Derrike
Cope, Jimmy Insolo, Jimmy Walker, Jimmy Bown, Mike Chase, and Greg Biffle raced for John‘s Wholesale Truck Parts team, and the # 98 car found Victory Lane on numerous occasions. As a driver, he made 49 Pacific Coast Late Model starts (ARCA) between 1974 and 1982. He was never able to get a win however. He finished second at Umatilla Speedway in Hermiston OR. in 1975. He added a second at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey CA. At his Hall of Fame Induction ceremony a speaker said; "As a very little kid, I remember being at Portland Speedway, and particularly recall my Mom turning to me when Johnny drove out on to the track to qualify, and stating confidently.
PCLM Series 1956 Portland Win
Oakland
“That’s Johnny Kieper - he’s fast!” Over the years that I have known John, however, the one thing that stands out most in my mind tis that he is the literal definition of a gentleman: Courteous, respectful of others, totally ethical in business, and loyal - almost to a fault - in his personal relationships. I once had the privilege of securing a small sponsorship to help the Wholesale Truck Parts team with expenses for a late ‘80’s Riverside Winston Cup race. I had worked my tail off, trying to convince Dan Hannah of Hannah Car Wash Systems to write the team a check for the sponsorship, and agreed to accompany John and the team to Riverside to activate the sponsorship. Hannah did
a “half now, half after the race” deal, but John insisted that he pay my entire commission before the race. Above all, Johnny Kieper is committed to his family, and that family lost their wonderful wife and mother, Beverly, earlier this year. John, to me, Bev was the perfect match for you - lots of good old fashioned common sense, and a huge capacity for kindness and love. I miss her very much . . . And now, ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply honored to present a Hall of Fame induction and award to Mr. Johnny Kieper! A successful Portland businessman, he had one of the longest
Riverside 1975
Laguna Seca 1976
careers in the West Series, which began in 1954 and ended in 1996. First as a driver with one win and three poles between 1954 and 1982, and then as an owner with four wins and six poles. His last victory was obtained in 1988 with Derrike Cope and the last pole in 1995 with Jim Bown. He died on July 30, 2022.
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