RIP..Bob

[dirtluver]

Robert “Bob” Shell, 77, of Clifton, passed away Tuesday (Feb. 12, 2019) at his home.

He was born Nov. 25, 1941, in Piper City, the son of Alvin and Elsie (Lang) Shell. Bob married Victoria Dohman, in Watseka, on March 6, 1971.

Bob worked for many years as a mechanic as the manager of Hobson Motors and later owned and operated Shell Auto Repair. His skills as a mechanic carried over into his leisure activities. He was an avid NASCAR fan who also enjoyed racing himself. Bob raced from 1962 to 1982 at many local tracks. He was a track champion twice at Kankakee Motor Speedway, twice at Fairbury American Legion Speedway and once at Mazon Speedway, where he also isin the Hall of Fame. Bob also dedicated his time to helping others as a firefighter on the Clifton Fire Department for many years.

Surviving are his loving wife of 47 years, Vicky Shell, of Clifton; his children, Gina Shell-Lamore, of Kankakee, Scott (Kristin) Shell, of Elmhurst, and Jason (Joella) Shell, of Bloomington; and four grandchildren, Will Lamore, Nathan Shell, Hannah Shell and Harrison Shell.

[Crash 4]

Condolences to his family. Didn't know him personally, but grew up watching him race at Fairbury in the mid-sixties. Bobby Shell and Lynn Wilson seemingly finished one and two almost every night for a few years. That was at a time when they had a standing start for the feature, and the fast cars started in the rear. Godspeed.

[CIRF]

Bobby Shell was a very popular driver in the east central Illinois area and a dam good one, too. Bobby was my mothers' favorite driver at Fairbury. We'd run into Bobby at Fairbury up until recently. Following Bugs Anderson's heyday at Fairbury and after they had phased out the old coupes Bobby Schell and Lynn Wilson were the top dogs with Janes & Addem's Chevrolet in nearby Lexingtion, Illinois as their sponsor while driving cars built by one of the best stock car builders of that era. Not sure, but I think the car builders' name was Kreighauser from Gridley, Illinois. Bobby drove #1, a red with a white top '57 Chevy, Lynn Wilson drove the yellow #44 '57 Chevy. Those two cars were always the sharpest race cars around in those days and they were the guys you had to beat to win at Fairbury in those days.

Crash is dead on about the standing starts at Fairbury. I was there to watch many of those chaotic starts. I was very young but remember it like it was just yesterday. Besides the standing starts, they did a full invert for the feature's. Fast qualifier started dead last!! Imagine the whining that would go on today if that was the case!

Rest in peace Mr. Shell. You were a great one and one of the nicest guys in the pit area.