About Len Seroka

Len Seroka’s Motorsports Career Milestones

Go Karts

Len’s Dad was an avid race fan and took him to see all time greats like AJ Foyt and Jim Hurtubise at Langhorne Speedway and Pocono International.Len knew then that he wanted to race and started go kart racing at a very young age in eastern Pennsylvania. By age 15, Len became the Pennsylvania State Go Kart Champion.

Stock Cars

Len wanted to move to the next level. At age 17, Len was already a builder, owner and driver of his own stock car. Len built his first stock car, a Henry J, and was the “kid” who joined the “big guys” on the oval. He only did this for a year. The Vietnam War came onto the scene and Len felt obligated to serve his country, even if it meant a hiatus in his early racing career.

US Navy

At age 18, Len joined the Navy. He went to Aviation School and was stationed at Patuxent River Naval Air Testing Center. Len always need to do as much as possible. While a member of a Navy Flight Team, Len worked as an instructor in the hobby shop on base in his spare time. As though this wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Len began to build a Sprint Car in the hobby shop. Four years later when he was discharged, he drove home to Ringtown, Pennsylvania with a sprint car in tow.

Sprint Cars

In 1972, Len, his Dad and friend, Karl Knelly towed the sprint car to Selinsgrove Speedway and entered into the race. They then went to Williamsgrove Speedway, where Len campaigned as a rookie. That year Len was awarded the “Rookie of the Year” award on the SelWil Circuit.

He went on to become a well respected, very likable competitor within the “Pennsylvania Posse”. He had many victories and held a track record at Selinsgrove Speedway for many years. He was one of the most popular drivers and was awarded a “Sportsmanship Award” on the circuit. Being very ambitious, Len raced at least 4 nights a week at tracks such as Selingrove, Williamsgrove, Lincoln, Bridgeport, Grandview and Reading.

Sprint Cars, Stock Cars, Midgets

Amidst his busy sprint car schedule, Len managed to campaign successfully in stock cars at Reading Speedway, midgets at Grandview Speedway and quarter midgets inside Convention Hall in Atlantic City.

Despite his busy racing schedule, Len also worked in research and development at Mack Truck World Headquarters in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The early 80’s was a bad economic era for Mack Truck and Len decided to GO WEST when staff cut backs became inevitable.

Nitro Funny Car

In 1982 Len and Anna moved to Colorado. Len met the Bandimere Family who convinced him to run their machine shops. Len was exposed to NHRA drag racing through Bandimere’s influence. Always open for a new challenge, Len decided to go “all the way” and built a corvette nitro funny. He achieved his license with the help of people like JR Kristic, Roger Guzman and Henry Valasco. His first sponsors were Meadow Gold Milk (Borden), MOPAR and Christopher Dodge. He ran his first national event against Ed McCullough in first round.

Len made as many events as possible, but sponsorship became a steep hill to climb. He was encouraged to work for the Kendall/Etchells Nitro Funny Car Team under Tim Richards. He also worked for Connie Kalitta with Tim Richards, Kim Richards and Dick LaHai. Len was always helping others move into motorsports career. He participated in many career days at Colorado schools and Bandimere Speedway. Len made long lasting friends in all forms of motorsports. In addition, Len built funny car, sprint car, antique indy car chassis and customized hot rods.

Life with Cancer

Len was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma at Christmas of 2004. Just as he lived his motor sports life, Len immediately entered into an aggressive National Cancer Institute Research Study. He and Anna moved to Seattle where Len underwent a stem cell transplant in 2005. While there, he managed to attend the Nationals when they came to town. The transplant was successful and Len returned to Denver four months later. He resumed building and customizing hot rods and antique race cars, skiing, racing his go kart and building a G2 Porsche which he intended to run in the Silver States Race.

In August of 2006, the multiple Myeloma unexpectedly returned along with a severe form of Leukemia. Len passed away three weeks later on September 8, 2006 leaving many friends and fans across the country shocked.

Len’s niece, Amber Seroka, wrote a scholarship program in memory of her uncle who always promoted motor sports career for kids. With the help of Sporty Bandimere, Tami Schrader, Mark Beatty, Tim and Kim Richards, Raul DeLattore the scholarship fund was launched at the Mile High Nationals, 2007.