mrmracing.net

Roger Kerr, a key member of a thriving East Tennessee racing family who fielded Late Models for standout drivers and for many years operated Competition Racing Equipment with his sister Cindy, died Sept. 1. The Maryville, Tenn., resident was 68.

Kerr, a 2018 inductee into the Smoky Mountain Speedway Hall of Fame, followed the racing path of his late father J.T. Kerr, founder of Stinger Race Cars and J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment, who instilled his son with a passion for short track racing.

“As a racing business owner, Roger built lasting personal connections with his customers and took great pride in mentoring racers, helping them grow into winners both on and off the track,” according to his obituary. “He loved the roar of the engines, the thrill of the competition, and the camaraderie it brought.”

Jason Welshan, who drove a Roger Kerr-owned car for seven seasons and purchased the Rockford, Tenn.-based Competition Racing Equipment, praised Kerr as a mentor, saying on the company’s Facebook page that “if not for him, we would not be here today. The list of his accomplishments are numerous, but most importantly for us, he was family. Roger will be missed, but we will continue to work hard to honor what he helped to create.”

During FloRacing’s coverage of the World 100, veteran racer Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., sent condolences to the Kerr Family.

“I wouldn’t have raced a lot of races in my first years without his help,” Weaver said. “He helped everybody in that area: Patrick Duggan, Scott Sexton and the list goes on and on.”

Survivors include Mickie, his wife of 49 years, Cindy Kerr-Scott, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.