Nevada Speedway will honor former competitor Lehmann with tribute event

Karl 'Screamin' Lehmann is all smiles in Victory Lane at Nevada Speedway.

Submitted photo

Nevada Speedway is slated to pay tribute to former racer Karl Lin 'Screamin' Lehmann, 7 p.m. tonight, with the Street Stock Memorial Event.

Lehmann, a well-known local mechanic and race car drive, tragically passed away on Christmas Day six months ago.

Lehmann, primarily a Street Stock competitor, won multiple class championships during his three-plus decades on the track.

Nevada Speedway director of operations Chris Diamond discussed his longtime friend's skillset.

"What made him a special driver, was attention to detail with his race car," Diamond told the Daily Mail. "I mean, the guy was meticulous with every one of his race cars. If it wasn't show quality, it didn't roll out of the shop. Everything was right, everything was proper."

Lehmann spent his early years as an understudy at his dad's auto mechanic shop off of North Osage Street — Karl's Garage.

"He built some of the most beautiful (race) cars I've ever seen," Diamond recounted. "He not only built and prepared his own cars, but he was always helping out Nevada Speedway as well. With him being such a mechanic, he was always out here helping us work on equipment."

Karl ‘Screamin’ Lehmann zooms around Nevada Speedway’s dirt oval, in his No. 71 race car. Submitted photo

Submitted photo

Diamond further emphasized that Lehmann was always willing to offer a helping hand.

"If you had a problem with your car, and you pulled into Karl's Garage or his gas station, he would never turn down helping somebody out. And in turn, he was always one of the guys who never really asked for a lot of help."

Diamond said he was heartbroken upon learning the news of Lehmann's death, describing him as a consummate family man.

"He was all about his grand-babies and his family," Diamond said. "He was a super-big family guy."

Community bond

Forty local businesses joined forces to help make the event possible on a sponsorship level, with a hefty $2,750 first-place payout for the Street Stock competition.

"The area businesses and the local racers have all come together to help put this show on — we couldn't have done it without them," Diamond noted.

Diamond added that fellow local mechanic and race competitor Foxie Sumner was instrumental in organizing the tribute event.

'Foxie went out and shook the trees, and was able to get us a lot of sponsors," Diamond said. "And also Merrill Johnson, for helping to promote the race."

Diamond said he anticipates a big turnout for the showcase event.

"It looks like we're going to have cars pulling from Batesville, Arkansas — up into Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. We expect a big crowd of people, a big crowd of race cars. We're ready to get this on, and are excited about the races (tonight)."