By Pete Pistone
Wilmot, Wis. (August 3, 1988) – Billy Moyer Jr. set a new track record in qualifying, then went on to win Wednesday’s 50-lap NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour feature at Wilmot Speedway.
Moyer’s 16.86-second tour of the flat, 1/3-mile dirt oval set the new mark, easily besting the field of 39 late models who gathered for the Tour’s first-ever visit to the state of Wisconsin.
A field of 26 answered the bell for the 50-lap headliner with Dick Taylor of Springfield, Ill., jumping into the lead. Terry Liebentritt’s spin on lap 2 slowed the pace but Moyer, who started in the fifth row on the inverted lineup, was already on the move.
When the green flag reappeared, Taylor maintained the top spot until the ninth circuit when Moyer took command. A Tom Hearst – Tony Izzo tangle in turn two brought out the yellow once more, and the field, including hard-charging Jim O’Conner, and Minnesota pilot Rick Egersdorf, closed in behind the leader.
Moyer had his hands full on the restart, as O’Conner, who won one of the twin 20-lap qualifiers, kept his car on the Batesville, Ark., speedster’s rear bumper. A red flag appeared on lap 24 as the track’s emergency vehicle attended to a corner worker who was not seriously injured by a flying rock.
The final 25 laps saw Moyer and O’Conner put on a ferocious duel, weaving through lapped traffic in their battle for the lead. O’Conner tried several times to pass on the low side, pulling even with Moyer on numerous attempts, but Moyer’s car performed perfectly on the high groove, and he held on for the win.
The win, worth $3,000, was Moyer’s second of the season on the All-Star Tour. He had won the Miller 100 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in June.
At the finish, Moyer and O’Conner were followed by Taylor, Egersdorf, and Ray Guss Jr. of Milan, Ill.
Omaha’s Joe Kosiski won the other 20-lap qualifier while Lake Villa, Ill., star and former Wilmot weekly competitor Whitey Harris won the 10-lap consolation.
NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour point leader Steve Kosiski of Omaha broke an axle during the 50-lpper, relegating him to a 21st place finish. His brother Joe took over the series’ point lead.
Results –
1. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
2. Jim O’Conner, Kankakee, Ill.
3. Dick Taylor, Springfield, Ill.
4. Rick Egersdorf, St. Paul, Minn.
5. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.
6. John Provenzano, Elk Grove, Ill.
7. Joe Kosiski, Omaha
8. Jeff Hinkemeyer, St. Cloud, Minn.
9. Gary Webb, Davenport, Iowa
10.Al Atkinson
11.Tony Izzo, Bridgeview, Ill.
12.Charlie Sentman, Waveland, Ind.
13.Dennis Erb, Carpentersville, Ill.
14.Whitey Harris, Lake Villa, Ill.
15.Tim Routson, West Chicago, Ill.
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