Bob Crace Sr Memorial Saturday At Atomic Speedway

By Scott Wolfe

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO- This Saturday, May 9, Atomic Speedway will pay tribute to one of its loegendary drivers with the running of the 1st Annual Bob Crace, Sr. Memorial. On the race card are 803Fire.com AMRA Late Models paying $3,023 to win, Precision Grading AMRA Modifieds racing for $1,023 to win, C & M Racing Equipment Sport Mods, and Back Burner Smokatorium Enduro cars.

Robert D. “Bob” Crace, Sr. of Chillicothe, passed from this life on Sunday evening, March 23, 2014. Bob was a retired electrician and an avid race fan. He was the co-owner of C & M Racing Equipment and was a race car builder and driver for 54 years.

Always a fixture at Atomic Speedway in some capacity, as a driver he was known as “Rapid Robert”. He was the original “Fireball” and is a member of the Atomic Speedway Hall of Fame. Bob Crace, Sr. won 10 features in one season at the Saltcreek Valley Speedway and won the track championships at Atomic Speedway in 1971 in a Buick-powered Late Model.

Besides winning numerous big races he was one of the legends of the Ohio Valley, and a staple of the dirt track racing community, where after his driving career he served as mechanic and engine builder for Bob, Jr.

Many knew him only as a friend serving the racers with the C & M Racing Parts truck, where he greeted everyone with a smile and firm handshake.

Showing no fear of the sometimes crudely made open wheelers of the 1950’s, Crace drove supermodifieds and open wheelers long before his Late Model days. Bob Crace, Sr. was an innovator and a daredevil. He was a former track record holder at Atomic Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s and was a fan favorite in all divisions.

Additional prizes to drivers in the Late Models are a fast car dash paying $223, Late Model Fast time $223 compliments of Reno and Sons Lawn Care, Late Model and Modified Hard Charger $123 each. The ’23’ in each of the amounts noted are a tribute to Crace’s #23 racing number.

Pit gates open at 2, main gates at 4 p.m., and hot laps at 6 p.m. One low price for one of the Spring’s biggest races in the Late Models, plus three other divisions of action packed racing is an incentive to get out and support the memory of one of the area’s most notable drivers. General Admission is only $12 for Adults age 13 and over, while children 12 and under are free. Pit admission is $30 and $15 for kids 12 and under.

For more Atomic Speedway information, please call 740-703-9749 or visit << www.atomicspeedway.net >>

Atomic is located 12 miles South of Chillicothe, Ohio off SR 23, two miles out Blain Highway between Chillicothe, Ohio and Waverly, Ohio at Alma.

Coming Events…

Saturday May 9th – Bob Crace Sr Memorial – AMRA Late Models $3,023 to win, AMRA Modifieds $1,023 to win and Sport Mods $523 to win plus Enduro

Saturday May 16th – Fan Appreciation Night #1 – $5 General Admission – AMRA Late Models, AMRA Modifieds, Sport Mods and Race Saver 305 Sprints

Saturday May 23rd – Hall of Fame Night – OVSCA Sprints, AMRA Late Models, AMRA Modifieds and Sport Mods

Saturday May 30th – Triple Crown Kids Night – OVSCA Sprints, AMRA Late Models, AMRA Modifieds, Ohio Valley Roofers Legends and Enduro