Footbraker, Chester Lay of Corryton, Tennessee
May's Racer of the Month.


Chester started bracket racing when he was 16 years old. His first race car was a 1970 Plymouth Duster. He attended races three or four times a year at 411 Dragway just for fun being that it was only 55 miles from his home. Always having a love for Hot Rods his next car was a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda. Chester continued to race at the 411 Dragway a few times a year.

In 1982, Chester met and married Mary and her two year old daughter Amanda who Chester was proud to call his own. In Febuary of 1984, Mary and Chester gave birth to a little girl and named her Heather. Well with a wife and two little girls, money was tight and Chester put his racing on the back burner for a while. In June of that year he purchased a work car, which was a 1974 Duster with a 6-cylinder engine and a automatic transmission. Shortly after he bought his Duster, the new Knoxille Dragway opened. Chester loaded up his wife and daughters along with two box fans and they headed for the track. He took first place in his Duster. When he pulled up to the booth and they handed him 35 twenty dollar bills Chester said that he never thought his 12-second grocery go-getter car would ever have done that!

Still with all the excitement and not sleeping a wink that night after his win, reality was that Chester still was only going to be able to race four or five times a year. He put his family first at all times, but his desire and love for the sport never tarnished.

In May of 1995, his older daughter Mandy was 15 and Heather was 11. Work was good so he and Mary decided they would hit the race curcuit that year. Chester had a 1968 Plymouth Satellite with a 318 engine and automatic transmission that would run 10.60s stock. On July 8th of that year, Chester Lay won a BIG race at Knoxville Dragway. He knew the big Mopar show was going to be in two weeks in Bristol and he wanted to be there.

To make the trip he decided he would really need another trailer. So Chester and his daughter Heather headed out after he had gotten off work to look at one that was for sale in Knoxville. On his return trip home they were involved in a wreck which took the life of 11 year old Heather. This great loss changed Chester, Mary, and Mandy’s lives forever. As far as racing was concerned the 1995 season was over.

In 1996, Chester, Mary and Mandy joined the points chase at Knoxville Dragway. Still driving the 1968 Satellite with the same stock equipment. The only thing that had changed is that a new license plate was on the front of the car that read HEATHER’S RIDE. Chester won the first points race and led the points chase right up until the end of the season. He ended up in second place.

In 1997 Chester won the Footbrake Championship at Knoxville and dedicated it to Heather’s memory. “Every minute she is with me in spirt.”

The 1998 season didn't go as well as he expected and in January he put the car in shop to be painted after having a whole new front end put in under it. His first cousin, Mike Beason, who works for Fox Chevrolet in Clinton, TN, did all the body work and paint. After getting the car back, he won runner-up at the Mopar race in Knoxville and received honors for Best In the Show for the Footbrake class.

Chester wanted to thank Mike for the great body work and also Pap, a 65 year old who sprayed the car. He finished in the Top 5 Footbrake points in Knoxville and attended the Southern Bracket World Finals.

For 1999 season Chester decided to run for the points in the B&M Series. He runnered up at the race in Memphis and finished number 6 in the points. This 2000 racing season, Chester Lay has made quite a showing! He has won two races in Memphis at the last B&M race series...one of those wins being for $5,000! A win at his home track, Knoxville Dragway, and placed runner-up at 4-11 Dragway. Goals for this year is to lead the B&M points chase and win the Championship.

Chester wanted to thank his wife Mary who is his number one supporter and crew cheif. His daugher Mandy, and Don Cox for all his help in Memphis.

Chester, we at DragRaceResults.com want to thank you so much for sharing with us. You are a great racer, family man, and person. We look forward to seeing you and your family at the races!