What does it take to be considered a Hall of Famer?
In baseball it's home runs.
In football it's yards gained and touchdowns.
In basketball it's points.
In racing it's what Larry Wright has done since 1964: win.
Wright, a familiar face in local racing, was inducted into Jennerstown Speedway's inaugural Hall of Fame class in May of this year.
It all just caught me by surprise," Wright said of the honor. "I was speechless when they told me. It was just a thrill and privilege.
"When I heard all I could ask was 'Why me?' I just went and raced hard like everyone else"
If Wright was notching career wins in his belt, he would need a big belt to fit the 531 victories he has compiled.
At Jennerstown, the Claysburg driver recorded more victories in the 1970's and 1980's than any other driver in the dirt late model class. The competion was tough, but Wright's hard driving style which we still see today, was tougher.
"I remember when I was racing in the early days," said Wright. "We'd spend long hours doing lots of work and the only type of sponsor you'd have is if a junk yard donated some scraps.
"It was never for money, because we didn't have any."
Wright's skills earned him nine track championships, including four at Jennerstown. Competition at Hesston Speedway watched as Wright passed them by for three championships and at the South Penn Speedway the appropriately named "white lightning" carried him to two titles.
"Racing has always been pure enjoyment for me," Wright added. "It's a great feeling to go out there and race every weekend."
While racing has been a love of Wright's for over 40 years. It was a race for his life that give him a new outlook.
"When I went to the hospital I was scared," Wright said. "I would lay there and think about everything that was going on.
"I made a promise to change the way I do things in everything I do in my life."
With the support of family, friends, and fans alike, Wright fully recovered to take the driver's seat once more.
"The doctor said I was nuts when I told him I was going to race again."
In 2000 and 2001 Wright finished sixth and fifth place in MACS series points. At Thunder Valley Raceway, he tallied enough points to finish third in 2003, and in 2004 he placed ninth at the Rock Speedway.
After decades of racing Wright has shown no signs of slowing down, especially at the track that considers Wright to be a legend: Bedford Speedway.
Bedford first saw racing action in the early 1030s, but according to promoter J.R. Keifer, no racer has captured the attention of its fans better than Wright.
"Larry is an original. He's a legend. It's the nostalgia of seeing his car fly around the track that embodies Bedford Speedway," Keifer said. "With Larry around the pits and the stands, the excitement of racing is back. He just gives everything he can."
The popularity of Wright is evident, he has been voted most popular driver three times at Bedford Speedway. His racing skills have placed him eighth in all-time wins.
"It feels great when fans come up to me and say how happy they are that I'm back," Wright said. "There's a big follwing in Beford and I think that so far this year we all are enjoying it."
"It's just not the fans that love Larry," Keifer added. "Every driver that comes here respects him and what he's done in local racing."
Even with Wright struggling to find the winner's circle this year, he continues to climb the points ladder, running in seventh after last week. He finished just behind Scott Rhodes in last week's race, his 22 career second-place finish. Wright's last victory at Bedford came on July 1, 1994.
"Larry has been moving and passing drivers each week," Keifer said. "He never gives up and is so close to a victory.
"When Larry does get a win, which I know he will, it'll be like Dale Earnhart Jr. winning at Daytona. Everyone will be celebrating."
Not even Wright himself can say when he'll throttle down.
"Not long ago at the track a few guys came up to me and said I was too old to be doing this," Wright said. "I just looked at them and smiled, saying to get used to it because I don't plan on quitting anytime soon."
When he does put the Imler Racing car in the garage for the final time it won't be the end of Wright racing.
Larry's son T.J., has been competing in the super late model division fo two years now. His 270 points place him 20th in the points standings.
Overall, the younger Wright has been racing for four years. In 2003 he finished seventh at Thunder Valley, four places behind Larry, and in 2004 his slick racing resulted in him being named Super Late Model Rookie of the Year at the Rock Speedway.
"Having T.J. racing has made things better for me," Wright said. "It's fun to help out on his car and just have a great time together."
Larry and T.J. will return, with the rest of the field, to Bedford Speedway next weekend for the fair week racing.

Larry Wright Joins Jennerstown Hall of Fame
By Dennis Blucas
Bedford Gazette Sports Writer