In the winter of 1971, Al and his late father, Fran Brewer started building and racing stock cars in Belfast, New York, and has not missed a racing season since! Brewer known for years driving a dirt late model at the McKean County Raceway oval in Smethport, PA switched to the open wheel Emod division full-time last year after selling his late model operation.

At the age of 55, Brewer is in the best fitness shape in years as he has been working out all winter long at Brewer’s Fitness Gym in Belfast that is owned and operated by his daughter. Al has stated he doesn’t know how much longer he is looking to keep driving his own equipment, but is definitely not ready to hang the helmet up anytime soon.

The 2011 plans for Al Brewer Racing will see Brewer commit himself following the 19 race United Emod Series schedule plus competing locally at McKean County Raceway, Little Valley (NY) and there will be some weekly visits to Stateline Speedway in Busti, NY and Raceway 7 in Conneaut, OH.

Sponsors on the black and yellow #71 GRT Emod are: Jerge’s Buyers of Scrap Metal, Allegany Grill, Brewer’s Fitness Gym (all from Belfast) and Gordon Hull Enterprises of Canadea, NY. Brewer who holds over 170 wins in his career and multiple track titles is looking to grab his first ever series title. This means he will be traveling to the UEMS events in Pittsburgh, marking his first appearance to the Monster Half Mile in twenty-years!

The Brew Crew consists of Chris Zuver, who will be making his 22nd year turning wrenches on the Brewer #71 machine. Jeff Chamberlain will be the key crew member throughout the season as many of the events will be UEMS events, which will eliminate Zuver’s help in the pit area. Chamberlain has been with the Brewer team for seven years and has stepped up the past two years in taking more key role on the team. Gordon Hull will be helping out as much as his work schedule along with Lee Licht. Al will be accompanied by his girlfriend Brenda as well throughout the season.

Brewer Racing welcomes all of our fans to come out during the 2011 season to support “The BrewMaster” and your local race track! For more information on Al Brewer, check the website out at www.albrewer.com and check Al’s Fanpage on Facebook (Brewer Racing).

It was July 24th at Arcade International Raceway on lap five, when “The BrewMaster” endured the hardest crash in his 38 year history. Making it three wide coming out of turn four with the competitors Justin Tatlow and John Woodward Jr. on the outside of him, the outside pair made slight contact resulting in the black #71 machine of Brewer to wheel hop over Tatlow’s left front and start taking a series of end of end flips destroying the track point leader’s machine. With the success, Brewer has had this year and rejuvenating his career with four wins in the Emod division, it was only matter of time before fans would see him back in the class. Well they wont have to wait any longer, come Friday night!

“The new car has lot of adjustability that the old car didn’t have and if we can make it work as good as the old car was out of the box, we should be in the hunt to pick up where we left off at, commented Brewer.” Brewer continued stating, “the plan for this weekend as of now, is go to Arcade on Friday night and if the car is real good, we may be head to Tri City on Saturday and Sunday for the United Emod Series events.” “Were limited on tires as I traded all my new tires back to Close Racing Supply for credit on my account and there has been lot of things that has had to be bought to get the car ready to go on the track and compete. If it wasn’t for our sponsors Jerge’s Buyers of Scrap Metal and our new sponsor, Allegany Grill (both out of Belfast) we wouldn’t have this car or be as close to being ready to go race this weekend, Al stated.”

For more information on Al Brewer and his career, check out the website at www.albrewer.com www.AlBrewer.com.

For those who may be interested, my e-mod engine is for sale $8500.00 – serious inquiries only – call 585-365-8013 – leave message and phone #

I plan on racing our late model at Woodhull this coming Saturday night, weather permitting.

Al was taken to Olean General. He had his bell rung really bad. I knew when I talked to him on the track he needed to go get checked. He did have some memory loss in the beginning but as time went by things started to come back to him. He still doesn’t remember getting out of the car. He does remember the car being on fire, and saying OH *&(^ when the car turned right and started to roll. He is very very very sore. Biggest thing now, is he gets very nauseous from moving his head. Dr not calling it a concussion but saying his vertigo is all messed up and it be some time till he have his bearings straight again. He already said see you at Woodhull with the late model. Me personally, I will wait and see on that. He was still at hospital with his daughter and family and more likely be there for a few more hours till he is allowed home. He is joking around and thats a good sign as the nurse had hard time getting the IV in him and she told him he had tough skin and he replied, “you got a dull needle!” LOL. Joyce must have been looking over him as that is his worst crash that I have seen him in.

I will see him later today and try to give a update. But as of now, he is much better than say 11pm Friday night when he almost left turn one. I was told that during his ride, he landed on the car of TJ Downs at least once and George Ritter as well and that George also hit Al twice during the serious of flips. TJ may have hit Al once… cant remember if he said he did or not. I do want to thank everyone for their texts to me and the crew asking about Al.. everyone from Matt Gleason in NC to Boom at Attica. Car is junk but they make them everyday.

In car video at McKean County Raceway, April 25, 2009

It all started in the winter of 1971, Al and his father, Fran Brewer started building and racing Late Model stock cars in Belfast, New York, and has not missed a racing season in thirty-eight years.

With Al driving and both he and Fran working on the cars, they had a remarkable fortune and skill at staying in the racing business and still being competitive. One of the three drivers that were called the “Belfast Connection,” Al was the least financed of the trio. It was Al and his dad, with used equipment that showed up for a race, sometimes looking, as they did not belong in the more expensive late model class. Whether they looked part or not the Brewer’s came to race, and the came to win!

A lot has changed in the past 38 years in racing. The late models of then are the street stocks of today. Race tracks have come and gone, changed names, ownership, new drivers have come into the sport, drivers have left the sport, but one thing has not changed and that is Al Brewer driving a #71 dirt late model at the regions race tracks. Al will also be competing in the Emod division throughout the summer as well.

In thirty-seven years of competing at local tracks throughout western New York and western Pennsylvania, Al has earn the respect of many of competitors and countless fans as being one of the true “low” budget racers that still self fund their operation and still compete at a competitive level. Al has not stated when he will retire from the sport he has loved over the past thirty-seven years, but will all things, time and age is creeping up on the Belfast veteran.

Jerge’s Buyers of Scrap Metal and Roll of Service of Belfast, NY has come back on board as the primary financial sponsor for Al Brewer Racing for the upcoming 2009 season. . Joining Jerge’s Buyers of Scrap Metal are the following associate sponsors: R&M Home and Auto / AMSOIL of Allentown, NY ,Cousin Designs of Eldred, PA, Raceway Magazine.com and Gary Henry Racing Engines of Butler, PA. This year will be the twelth year that Ray and Marilyn Stilson of R&M Home and Auto has been associated with Al Brewer Racing.

Turning the wrenches this coming season on the Al Brewer Emod and super dirt late model will be, Chris Zuver who has been with Al for twenty years. Steve Perkins will be assisting again for the seventh season and Jeff Chamberlain returns for the fifth year. Lee Licht, Brett Ritter and Tommy Ritter will join the “Boys” at times throughout the season.

Fans can expect to see Al at McKean County Raceway (PA), Arcade International Raceway and Little Valley Speedway with the super late model and emod, along with all the United Late Model Series (ULMS) and United Emod Series events along with some possible World of Outlaw Late Model Series (WoO) events throughout the 2009 racing season. For more information on Al Brewer, please check out the website at www.albrewer.com.

photos by Jay Pees and Al Brewer Racing