Zach Yost

Michael Duritsky Jr., a standout Crate Late Model racer from Masontown, Pa., died Wednesday after suffering fatal injuries in a two-vehicle accident on Route 40 outside of Hopwood, according to the Fayette County Coroner’s Office. He was 28.

Duritsky, the driver of a minivan, was pronounced dead at the scene after the wreck that happened just before 6:50 p.m., according to the coroner.

Born May 9, 1997, Duritsky established himself as a weekly frontrunner in the Northeast since his rookie 2017 season, amassing more than 80 career multidivisional Late Model victories over that span. His resume is highlighted by a 14-victory season in 2022, along with a pair of Super Late Model victories August 2024 at Marion Center (Pa.) Raceway and May 2025 at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, Pa.

Duritsky recorded five victories in 2025, all at Roaring Knob and Latrobe (Pa.) Speedway, and was preparing to expand his schedule entering his third season in the Super Late Model ranks.

Third in RUSH’s overall Crate Late Model weekly points in 2022, he was a multitime track champion at Latrobe and Dog Hollow Speedway in Strongstown, Pa., along with a Roaring Knob tittle in his rookie season.

Away from the racetrack, Duritsky worked as a mechanic at Mike’s Auto Repair, the shop owned by his father, Michael Sr. He is survived by wife, Jenna, and daughter, Ryleigh, who will turn 22 months old on Jan. 18.