Jerry Frank, one of the founders and former co-owners of Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y., and Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa., whose son went on to become a Hall of Fame racer, died early Friday morning at Kinzua Healthcare & Rehab Center in Warren, Pa. The life-long resident of Sugar Grove, Pa., who was battling an aggressive form of brain cancer, was 81.

Frank and four other men — his brother Don Frank, Leonard Briggs, Lloyd Williams and Marv Thorpe — built the Stateline oval in 1956 on 100 acres of land near the New York-Pennsylvania border they purchased after being unable to gain control of another nearby track. Three years later Frank and his partners constructed and opened Eriez to give their racers another place to compete.

For nearly three decades Frank co-owned the sister tracks. He was tasked with preparing the racing surface and made the speedways a family affair with his wife working as a scorer and in other capacities and a number of other family members also pitching in, including his namesake son who was dubbed “Chub” at an early age and got his racing start driving packer cars around the third-mile Stateline layout.

Frank and his two remaining partners sold both speedways in 1985 to Francis Seamens, but he remained deeply involved in racing through Chub’s burgeoning racing. He helped Chub and watched with pride as his son became a national touring series standout and winner of several of the sport’s most prestigious events, including the World 100 and Dirt Track World Championship.

The family tentatively plans a June 24 visitation and memorial service at Sugar Grove Free Methodist Church; more details will be announced.