By Larry Boos
ROSSBURG, OH (March 24) – With a rich heritage of 179 race meets, dating back to 1962, etching your name on the USAC (United States Auto Club) Sprint Car win list at Eldora Speedway is considered within the fraternity to be an honored fete. To date 69 drivers have done that and recent history has found three of the younger gentry – Jerry Coons, Jr., Robert Ballou and Levi Jones – moving up the win list, one step at a time.
They will be among those hoping to notch a win when the nationally recognized tour makes their Midwestern debut on Eldora’s famed high-banks over the weekend of April 8 & 9.
The legendary Jack Hewitt, amid his legendary “have no fear” driving style, sits high atop that win list with 13 triumphs to his credit, four more than that amassed by Hall of Fame driver Larry Dickson. Tracy Hines is the highest ranking active driver with 7 victories, placing him in a tie with the retired Pancho Carter.
Four drivers – Rollie Beale, Tom Bigelow, Bobby Jones and the late Rich Vogler – head up fourth place with their 6 checkered flags, while Eldora’s favorite ‘wild child’, Jac Haudenschild, has amassed five wins to hold down sole possession of fifth place. A bevy of drivers have accumulated four wins and sixth place, where Coons and Ballou would like to join company after having captured three wins each to date.
Coons picked up wins two and three in 2009 when he swept the USAC Sprint action at Eldora that season, while Ballou added his third win in last season’s opening event to join his pair of victories in 2007.
For Jones, the reigning USAC Sprint champion, his second Eldora USAC victory came during last season’s Four Crown Nationals. He is hoping that a winning drive during the opening weekend will move him up to, or ahead of, Coons and or Ballou.
A complete program of competition will be staged each evening, with the Eldora Stock Car division joining the Friday doubleheader, which has been tabbed the annual Don Larson/Jud Branson Classic. Saturday’s doubleheader contest will include the UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) DIRTcar Modifieds.