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Sad news for the racing community. Verlin Eaker, the winner of the second running of the World Hundred back in 1972 passed away a few days ago at the age of 86.
As a young boy I had the honor of watching Mr. Eaker drive racecars late in his career. Mr. Eaker drove stock cars at a time when every car on the race track was identifiable by make, model & year from the grandstands at a glance.
In addition to winning the World Mr. Eaker was a 2 time champion of the Midwest Invitational (1967 & 1968) at the long gone Sterling Speedbowl Park in Sterling, Illinois. According to everything I've been told and have read Sterling was a bad ass 1/3 mile that was nearly perfectly round. At the time Mr. Eaker won the Midwest Invitational it paid $1000.00 to win. That was BIG money in those days and way before the World Hundred was thought of. The MI was a big, high dollar event well before there were big high dollar short track dirt events and Mr. Eaker won it twice against the best teams and drivers in the Midwest at that time.
Mr. Eaker had a successful USAC Stock Car career, as well. He drove a factory Dodge back in the days when USAC rivaled NASCAR in quality of competition and driver star power.
Rest in Peace Verlin Eaker. You were as good as anyone who ever drove a stock car on dirt!
As a young boy I had the honor of watching Mr. Eaker drive racecars late in his career. Mr. Eaker drove stock cars at a time when every car on the race track was identifiable by make, model & year from the grandstands at a glance.
In addition to winning the World Mr. Eaker was a 2 time champion of the Midwest Invitational (1967 & 1968) at the long gone Sterling Speedbowl Park in Sterling, Illinois. According to everything I've been told and have read Sterling was a bad ass 1/3 mile that was nearly perfectly round. At the time Mr. Eaker won the Midwest Invitational it paid $1000.00 to win. That was BIG money in those days and way before the World Hundred was thought of. The MI was a big, high dollar event well before there were big high dollar short track dirt events and Mr. Eaker won it twice against the best teams and drivers in the Midwest at that time.
Mr. Eaker had a successful USAC Stock Car career, as well. He drove a factory Dodge back in the days when USAC rivaled NASCAR in quality of competition and driver star power.
Rest in Peace Verlin Eaker. You were as good as anyone who ever drove a stock car on dirt!
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