Legendary Jack Hewitt Named Grand Marshall Of The Dirt Derby
Legendary Jack Hewitt Named Grand Marshall Of The Dirt Derby
Jack Hewitt has won 43 races at Eldora Speedway, which makes him a fitting Grand Marsh
Eldora Speedway has just announced that Jack Hewitt will be the Grand Marshal for the Eldora Dirt Derby in Rossburg, Ohio, on Wednesday.
Hewitt is best known for his USAC racing career. Hewitt one of the most revered ambassadors of the sport and has stayed involved since he climbed out of the cockpit. Hewitt also finished 12th in the 1998 Indianapolis 500--his only start in that prestigious event.
As an Ohio local, he's raced Eldora numerous times and has taken home 43 wins across six divisions, including USAC midgets, sprint cars, and Silver Crown cars, All Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars, UMP late models, and modifieds.
One of the few divisions that Hewitt did not compete in at Eldora is with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Given the chance, he could have.
"I have won a few races here, I've had a few crashes here, and I've watched a lot of races here," he said. "I tell people all the time the best race I see all year long is the Truck Series at Eldora. They look like they are a lot of fun to drive. They don't ever get away from each other. They are always on top of one another, and they're beatin' and bangin'. They remind me of what it was like to run a modified around here I won a few of those races at Eldora, and I think I might have been able to win myself a truck race there too."
From 1998 to 2011, Hewitt held the honor of being the first and only driver to win all four legs of the USAC Four Crown Nationals. In 2011, Kyle Larson joined the list when he swept at Eldora. Larson was also the winner of this event last year.
"It's great to be mentioned in the same breath as a guy like Kyle," Hewitt said. "To see what he's been doing in NASCAR the last couple of years has been really fun. He put on a great show last year. It's great to see open-wheel guys like Larson and [Christopher] Bell do so well in the truck race. They're real racers, and they know how to get it done."
3 -- USAC Midgets
8 -- USAC Silver Crown Cars
16 -- Modifieds
2 -- All Star Circuit of champions Sprint Cars
1 -- Late Models
Hewitt is best known for his USAC racing career. Hewitt one of the most revered ambassadors of the sport and has stayed involved since he climbed out of the cockpit. Hewitt also finished 12th in the 1998 Indianapolis 500--his only start in that prestigious event.
As an Ohio local, he's raced Eldora numerous times and has taken home 43 wins across six divisions, including USAC midgets, sprint cars, and Silver Crown cars, All Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars, UMP late models, and modifieds.
One of the few divisions that Hewitt did not compete in at Eldora is with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Given the chance, he could have.
"I have won a few races here, I've had a few crashes here, and I've watched a lot of races here," he said. "I tell people all the time the best race I see all year long is the Truck Series at Eldora. They look like they are a lot of fun to drive. They don't ever get away from each other. They are always on top of one another, and they're beatin' and bangin'. They remind me of what it was like to run a modified around here I won a few of those races at Eldora, and I think I might have been able to win myself a truck race there too."
From 1998 to 2011, Hewitt held the honor of being the first and only driver to win all four legs of the USAC Four Crown Nationals. In 2011, Kyle Larson joined the list when he swept at Eldora. Larson was also the winner of this event last year.
"It's great to be mentioned in the same breath as a guy like Kyle," Hewitt said. "To see what he's been doing in NASCAR the last couple of years has been really fun. He put on a great show last year. It's great to see open-wheel guys like Larson and [Christopher] Bell do so well in the truck race. They're real racers, and they know how to get it done."
Jack Hewitt's 43 Major Victories at Eldora Speedway:
13 --USAC Sprint Cars3 -- USAC Midgets
8 -- USAC Silver Crown Cars
16 -- Modifieds
2 -- All Star Circuit of champions Sprint Cars
1 -- Late Models