By Ben Deatherage
LOVELAND, Colo. (Jun. 24, 2025) — For Josh Schweitzer, racing isn’t just a sport — it’s a continuation of rhythm, precision, and passion. A third-generation racer with deep family ties to Colorado dirt tracks, Schweitzer’s story winds through stock cars, symphonies, and stadiums, driven by a love of competition and connection.
“My grandpa (Don Schweitzer Sr.) raced Stock Cars and owned a couple of Midget and Super Modified teams in the 70’s. My dad began racing in 1984,” Schweitzer said. “I started racing in high school but stepped away to focus on music and teaching. Eventually, I knew I had to get back in the car.”
His car number — #ONE17S — is a nod to his roots. His father raced as 117S, later changing to 17S when rules restricted car numbers to two digits. When father and son raced together, Josh adopted “ONE17S” to preserve the family connection.
His dad, Don Schweitzer Jr., handed down not just a car number but a legacy of racing. On his mother’s side, his grandfather Ronald Becker — a Navy veteran stationed in Newport, Rhode Island — learned to play the trumpet while in the service, a skill that would eventually inspire Josh’s own musical journey.
From Loveland’s Past to Present
Schweitzer hails from Loveland, where sugar beets and sour cherries defined the town’s early economy, with the Spring Glade Orchard becoming the largest cherry orchard west of the Mississippi by the 1920s. At its peak, the cherry industry brought in over $1 million a year — a staggering figure for the 1920s economy. Though droughts, blight, and freezes eventually ended large-scale cherry farming, Loveland’s agricultural identity endures.
Today, the city still carries the small-town charm Schweitzer treasures. Henry’s Pub, a downtown staple, has been one of his longtime supporters. Lake Loveland sits at the heart of town, while Boyd Lake — the largest of several nearby reservoirs — offers a scenic escape just northeast of the city.
From Trumpet to Tour Bus
At just eight years old, Schweitzer stumbled upon his grandfather Ronald’s trumpet in a closet — a discovery that sparked a lifelong passion. Becker drew out a scale and taught him to play by ear. Josh never looked back. Through high school at Legacy High, Schweitzer immersed himself in every musical opportunity: marching band, jazz band, mariachi, orchestra, and theater. Marching band soon became his focus and led him into the elite world of drum corps.
“I was the drum major for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in 2007, then horn sergeant and lead trumpet in 2008 and 2009,” he said. “Drum corps is like the professional level of marching band — no woodwinds, just brass and percussion, and it’s nonstop intensity.”
With the Blue Knights, he toured 42 U.S. states, performing field shows that required memorizing over 200 individual drill coordinates — each paired with choreography, physical movement, and nonstop music. Practices stretched up to 14 hours a day in the summer heat, culminating in nightly performances.
“You’ve got to know exactly where to stand, when to move, how to move — and do it all while playing music. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But it shaped who I am.”
Josh Schweitzer (third from the right) poses with fellow members of the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps. Schweitzer spent multiple seasons with the Denver-based corps, touring across 42 states and performing precision marching programs at venues nationwide. (Courtesy Photo)
He studied music performance at both Mesa State College and for two years at the University of Northern Colorado, then transitioned into teaching. Schweitzer became a decorated instructor, helping lead Legacy High School in Broomfield and Loveland High School to state marching band championships. Over five years, he estimates he’s worked with more than 2,500 students through band and drum corps.
“I taught the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in Dubuque, Iowa, for a few years,” he said. “That part of my life meant everything. Music gave me the chance to travel, to mentor, to grow. But eventually, I started to feel that pull again — back to racing.”
Back to the Driver’s Seat
Eventually, racing called Schweitzer home.
“After I aged out of drum corps, I had time again,” he said. “Getting back into racing gave me that drive I was missing. And even though I’m not teaching full programs anymore, I still love helping other racers — we grow together as a team.”
He returned to racing in 2013 and planted roots at I-76 Speedway in Fort Morgan, where he’s spent most of his career. He won the track championship at the facility last year. His current dream is to compete at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s — the biggest event in dirt track racing. To get there, he’s been traveling more, chasing stronger fields and new sponsors in hopes of earning both recognition and resources.
“To compete at that level, I knew I had to travel more, get my name out, and pick up sponsors,” he said. “So far it’s been working. Will Alvarado with Alvarado Fabrication and Machine has been instrumental in keeping us on the track and moving forward.”
Anthem with a Purpose
Schweitzer’s presence at the track isn’t limited to racing. Before the engines fire, he often steps onto the frontstretch with trumpet in hand to perform the national anthem — a tradition born from a simple frustration.
“At I-76, they used to play a recording that didn’t sound very good, or sometimes someone would sing and go way off key,” he explained. “I told the promoter, ‘I can do this,’ and that’s how it started.”
What began at his home track has grown into something special. Schweitzer has since performed live renditions of the anthem at marquee events including the IMCA TV Winter Nationals in Arizona, Eagle Raceway, the Whole Hog 50 at Stuart International Speedway, and he’s slated to play at Dawson County Raceway in Nebraska.
“I love doing it for the kids,” he said. “If it makes one kid think, ‘Hey, I could play trumpet and be a race car driver,’ that’s what makes it worth it.”
Josh Schweitzer performs the National Anthem on his trumpet beside his racecar at Stuart Speedway earlier this season. The Loveland, Colo., native blends his passions for music and motorsports every chance he gets. (Photo by Zipps Photos)
Mr. Raceday: Bringing the Fun
Schweitzer also brings his creativity to social media with his lighthearted alter ego, Mr. Raceday — a project that merges his musical talent with racing culture. Across TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, he posts racing-themed song parodies, transforming hit tracks into clever tributes to dirt track life.
“It’s about fun,” he said. “There’s so much seriousness at the track. If I can get a song stuck in someone’s head or make them smile, that’s a win. I’ve had fans come up and sing the lyrics back to me — that’s the best part.”
Through it all, Schweitzer credits his parents and family for his opportunities, sacrifices, and success.
“My mom and dad have made everything possible. I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done for me,” he said. “From music to racing to everything in between, their support has never wavered.”
Whether it’s at centerfield conducting a championship marching band or coming out of turn four chasing a checkered flag, Josh Schweitzer thrives in performance, in passion, and in purpose. A racer. A musician. A teacher. A showman.