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Y! MyWeblocal auto racing
4-Crown legend from Troy recalls his '98 sweep
Friday, September 19, 2008
ROSSBURG — Every sport has them: Those records that may never be broken or those accomplishments that may never be duplicated.
This weekend, Troy's Jack Hewitt celebrates one of those milestones. Hewitt became the first and only driver to sweep all four divisions at the 4-Crown Nationals back in 1998, taking the UMP Modified, USAC Midget, USAC Sprint and USAC Silver Crown features at Eldora Speedway.
For many drivers, winning four features makes a season. Hewitt did it in one night.
And in the 25 4-Crown events, no driver (besides Hewitt, of course) has ever won more than two features. That's been accomplished 11 times, including three times by Hewitt.
Hewitt talks about that historic sweep 10 years ago, being a role model and what today's sprint car drivers should know. In his own words:
• "I watch the tape every now and then. You still can't hardly believe it, but I look at it now and I don't know what the plan was from the man upstairs, but he had a hand in it. You don't bang off the walls and rub wheels with the other cars and don't have a flat tire or something like that. I was supposed to win all four. I just didn't know what it was all about. I told them the only thing I did wrong was I didn't play the lottery. It was definitely my night."
• "Tony (Stewart) and I have always been buddies. Eldora's been my home track. To me that's the greatest track in the United States."
• "I think the only difference I see (in today's younger drivers) is their brand of beer. And they don't do it on race day. It could be worse. It could be dope and all that stuff."
• "I've been called a lot of things, but I don't know if a role model has been one of them. If I am, it's an honor to think that. We're just the guys that set the bar for them to reach. Now they have to beat me like I tried to beat my dad. As long as they've got a goal."
• "The fans knew they could come down to me win, lose or draw. These big haulers have killed racing. There's only one winner and the rest of them go pout."
• "Always be there for your fans and when you sign your name make sure they can read it. Because one day when you become famous they can say they have your autograph. If it's a scribble job they'll just throw it in the trash eventually or their mom will. The racing is the easy part. It's not just about being on the track anymore. You're selling yourself."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991 or gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.
4-Crown Nationals
Where: Eldora Speedway
When: Today — World of Outlaws, UMP Modifieds. Gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps at 6, racing at 7:30. Saturday — USAC Silver Crown, Sprint and Midgets. Gates open at 11 a.m., hot laps at 3 p.m., racing at 7:30.
2007 winners: Joey Saldana (WoO), Chad Ruhlman (modifieds), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (midgets), Robert Ballou (sprints), Jerry Coons Jr. (Silver Crown).
Local racing schedule
Kil-Kare Dragway
Saturday: NHRA-sanctioned racing. Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Pro Bike, High School, Jeg's Ohio Junior Dragster Super Series. Gates open at 10 a.m.
Shady Bowl Speedway
Saturday: Late Models, Modifieds, Pro-4s, Sports Stocks, Compacts, Ohio Valley Dwarf Cars, Detroit Iron. Gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps at 4, qualifying at 5, racing at 7.
