Frank Wilson photo

Longtime and successful western Pennsylvania Dirt Late Model team owner Joe Corrado, whose drivers captured a variety of championships and special events that included a 2022 World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory, died Tuesday. He was 71.

The Renfrew, Pa., resident’s death after a four-year battle with brain cancer was announced this morning by his daughter Angela Hoppe.

The orange-and-white Joe Corrado Racing No. 10 was fielded by several drivers including Renfrew's Bob Wearing Jr., Alex Ferree of Saxonburg, Pa., Jared Miley of Pittsburgh, Pa., and first-year driver Levi Yetter of Saxonburg, who captured a team-richest $20,000 payday Aug. 30 at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va., the last victory Corrado witnessed.

“We can’t thank all of those drivers and crew enough for their years of commitment and dedication — and for putting up with his ‘sometimes’ difficult self,” Hoppe wrote on Facebook in a tribute to her father. “He made his mark in the sports he loved, and his accomplishments are something to be proud of and he couldn’t have done it all without your additional talent, dedication and help.”

Ferree’s success with Corrado (pictured above with Ferree in 2012) included three consecutive Super Late Model championships at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (2013-15) and three ULMS victories. Miley, who upset WoO’s national touring drivers in 2022 at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway, captured that season’s ULMS title and seven ULMS victories overall in Corrado’s No. 10.

Corrado purchased his first race car in 1980 and also fielded cars for Dale McCandless, Larry Wright, Dave Hoffman, John Garvin Jr. and Michael Norris, who captured Lernerville’s 2023 title.

Corrado’s No. 10 was a carryover from the number he wore as quarterback at Deer Lakes High School in Cheswick, Pa., where he also played baseball. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1973 and had a brief minor league career.

Editor's note: Updates with age and other details.