Pennsylvania ex-racer succumbs to Covid
D.J. Troutman of Hyndman, Pa., a second-generation Dirt Late Model racer and father of up-and-coming teenage driver Drake, died Thursday, his mother, Robin Troutman, confirmed in a Facebook post. The 39-year-old succumbed after being hospitalized with Covid-19 and and pneumonia.
Troutman (pictured) grew up watching his father, Dave Troutman, compete in Dirt Late Model events across the Mid-Atlantic region and eventually joined him on the track. D.J. and his father finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 2004 Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series points standings, and among the junior Troutman’s other accomplishments was the 2015 track championship honors at Bedford (Pa.) Speedway.
In recent years D.J. has put his own driving career aside to focus his family’s efforts on supporting the burgeoning career of his son Drake, who at 17 has become an open-wheel modified standout and has begun to make noise inroads on the Dirt Late Model division. D.J. served as Drake’s crew chief as he traveled alongside his son, including an extended trip last month during which they tackled a week of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals and Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals.
Troutman leaves behind his wife, Lori, and their son Drake. He made his living working at his family’s D&R Trucking in Hyndman, Pa.
