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Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008

Moyer wins first-ever Baltes Classic race

By Jim Morrison
Photo by Jim Morrison/The Daily Standard

Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., works through traffic at Eldora Speedway on Sunday night en route to victory in the first-ever Baltes Classic. The event is named in honor of Earl and Bernice Baltes, the founders of the track now owned by Tony Stewart.

ROSSBURG - If Sunday night's Baltes Classic yields any indication, competitors for the 42nd annual World 100 this weekend at Eldora Speedway should be worried about Batesville, Ark., veteran Billy Moyer.
Moyer, a former winner of the classic dirt late-model event created by Earl Baltes more than four decades ago, dominated Sunday night's Baltes Classic, winning his heat race and leading all 25 laps of the main event.
Moyer worked his way cautiously through the lapped cars, something uncharacteristic of the Arkansas driver. He noted the big payoff is the World 100 in a few days.
"I was trying to get out of here in one piece," said Moyer. "You know next weekend is when the big story is. I just wanted to make sure that I did everything right without scruffing stuff up. We have to freshen up the body a little bit, but we don't have to do no framework."
Moyer is a five-time winner of the World 100, his last victory coming in 2000. He has more victories than anyone else in the history of the event.
Larry Boos, track co-manager, noted in victory lane that on about seven occasions whoever won the race on the weekend prior to the World 100 found themselves in victory lane for the track's biggest event just a few days later. Moyer said he also won a race in Illinois on Saturday night and the last time that happened he also won the World 100.
"I sure would like to get it one more time," said Moyer. "It would mean everything to me... probably as much as the first one. I would just like to get that one more as I am just about ready to hang my hat up, help my son race and sell some of these race cars."
Matt Miller, the night's quickest qualifier finished second with Aaron Scott third, Greg Johnson fourth and Chad Ruhlman fifth.
In the Moser UMP Modified feature, Doug Adkins led the entire distance, but fought back challenges from Jerry Bowersock, Kent Robinson and Chad Ruhlman throughout the race. Robinson attempted repeated slide jobs in the second turn only to have Adkins pull ahead down the back stretch. It was Adkins first victory at Eldora Speedway.
Jeff Babcock won the Advanced Auto Parts Stock Car feature, the sixth win in the division this season.
It was the final points race of the season for the modified and stock car divisions.
More than $50,000 in cash and product was distributed to the fans, including Earl Baltes bobbleheads. In addition to $15,000 in cash, race fans won product and gift certificates from The Home Depot, NIKE, MAC Tools, Armor All, Old Spice, Sunoco, Advance Auto Parts and Play Station. The prize winning numbers were announced throughout the night.
A life-size statue of Earl and Bernice Baltes, unveiled earlier this summer, has been permanently placed at the base of the scoring tower. When fans enter the grandstands, the bronze likeness of the coupe greets them.
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Fire heavily damaged the garage of a Celina home while the owners were away for the holiday weekend sparking an investigation into the cause.
Celina firefighters responded to the Robert Maddy home at 104 Fochs St. at 1:44 p.m. Monday after a passer-by spotted smoke and flames. [More]
NEW BREMEN - The Olentangy Orange Pioneers took advantage of sloppy play by the New Bremen Cardinals to post a 38-20 win Saturday night at Cardinal Stadium,
Orange, in their first year of varsity, moves to 2-0 while New Bremen falls to 1-1. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
DURBIN - For 110 years folks have gathered on Labor Day at John Rhodes' grove for bean soup cooked in huge caldrons on wood fires all day long. This year was no different.
FORT RECOVERY - Forty-four years of service and probably two million cookies later, Fort Recovery High School's 78-year-old cook and summer janitor Helen has no intention of quitting anytime.
Deadline to sign up for program developed by local officials is Sept. 20
A seven-month leadership program for persons interested in learning more about the agriculture community in the Grand Lake area will be held starting this fall.
Compiled by Ryan Hines
and Gary R. Rasberry
Marion Local captured its fifth straight Mercer Health Volleyball Invitational on Saturday, not dropping a game in three matches.
CANAL WINCHESTER - The Marion Local Flyers made a long bus trip to the east side of Columbus on Saturday night to take on the Harvest Prep Warriors, and though they didn't earn any style points, they took the win and headed back home.
NEW BREMEN - Saturday evening before the New Bremen-Olentangy Orange football game, the New Bremen Local Schools, and in particular the Cardinal Booster Club, broke ground for the Cardinal Athletic Complex.