Vic Hill(right) and engine customer Donald McIntosh chat at Tazewell Speedway
Few drivers around the east Tennessee region have been as hot as Vic Hill since the beginning of July. The Mosheim, Tenn. competitor scored wins in a Southern Nationals Bonus race at Tazewell Speedway that paid $5,000 and a Southern Nationals feature at Wythe Raceway that dished out $10,000. He also added a runner-up result in the Southern Nationals event at 411 Motor Speedway and a third place in the Ultimate Super Late Models sanctioned ‘Scorcher’ at Volunteer Speedway.
And all of those podium finish came in only six starts since July 2nd. Now, the veteran racer and engine builder hopes to carry that momentum into Dirt Late Model racing’s biggest event when he heads to Rossburg, Ohio’s Eldora Speedway for the World 100 this weekend.
The 53-year-old racer understands the historic significance of the race referred to as the granddaddy off them all.
“The history of the World 100 obviously makes it special,” Hill declared in an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com. “It’s one of the most prestigious races that there has been through the years. It’s solid, it’s there every year, and it’s grown and grown.”
And Hill appreciates the fact that the format now in use for the World 100 weekend not only includes the big race itself but also a pair of $10,000-to-win features on both Thursday and Friday nights leading into the main event. Furthermore, the owner of Vic Hill Racing Engines realizes the importance of this as a business trip as well as a racing venture.
“With the format they’ve got you get to race a lot whether you make the World 100 or not,” the driver of the No. 1 Longhorn Chassis explained. “You get to race a couple of nights and you get a lot of track time. For me, I get to go up there and help customers and have a lot of fun. I like big race tracks and it’s a bigger race track. I haven’t raced a whole lot this year but I’ve had success when I have raced. I’m looking forward to going.”
This is a driver who has shown the ability to make headlines at the famed track now owned by former NASCAR star Tony Stewart. In 2006, Hill put his car on the pole for the World 100.
“I’ve set fast time there,” Hill recalled. “We’ve raced really good there. Last year was one of those years where we progressively got better and we won that last little dash thing they had and missed getting in the race by one spot. Hopefully we’ll be a little better this year.”
Vic Hill’s No. 1 Longhorn
The one time engine shop employee for NASCAR’s Richard Childress Racing believes that he has had success at Eldora Speedway because the track suits his style.
“That race track has so many different options,” he explained. “It’s wide and it’s a half-mile track, which we run on them at Wytheville and all that, but there’s so many different ways you can drive that thing that it takes me a minute or two to figure out where I do want to be. Just going to that event is big and it’s fun.”
And, he gets the opportunity to learn from others as well.
“Everybody’s got a different driving style and you just get to see a lot of different people do a lot of different things,” Hill said. “Honestly, getting to meet new people is great. Being in the engine business, if I meet some people who need some help that helps my business. It’s good for me to go all around and I have a good time doing it.”
So what would Hill consider to be a successful World 100 weekend in 2017?
“A top-5 would be real successful. I’m being a little greedy there, but like I said, I haven’t raced as much this year. I’ve tried to prepare my equipment so that when I get there I will be as good as I think I can be. A top-5 would be really good. Making the race is the first accomplishment but a real successful deal would be a top-5.”
