Editor’s Note: In this monthly photo essay feature, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame photographer John Mahoney shares his memories and images from some of the most amazing and historic sprint car and midget races.
4-Crown Nationals, Eldora Speedway, Sept. 26, 1998
The 1998 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, proved to be one of the most significant events in racing history.
After leading all 50 laps of the USAC Silver Crown feature, Jack Hewitt was absolutely mobbed in victory lane. He had just pulled off the most-improbable, most-impossible feat imaginable. He’d recorded a clean sweep of all four races.
Hewitt won the 25-lap midget feature, the sprint car 30 lapper, the UMP 20-lap modified event and finally the Silver Crown main event.
Qualifying 12th aboard the No. 24 Parker Machine Gaerte-powered entry in the 39-car midget car field, Hewitt chased down leader Tracy Hines with eight laps remaining. Hines held on for second, followed by Dave Darland, Tony Elliott and Jay Drake. Checkered flag No. 1 was delivered.
Hewitt dominated most of the 30-lap sprint car feature, leading all but six laps, although he had his hands full with Elliott. Behind Hewitt’s No. 16 BWB Racing/Hannig Construction Chevy at the finish line were Darland, Elliott, J.J. Yeley and Hines. The win was Hewitt’s 43rd in USAC competition, passing Pancho Carter’s 42, with only Tom Bigelow (52) and Larry Dickson (45) ahead. He had his second trophy of the day.
I usually take a break during the modified race, but when Hewitt took the lead, I figured something might be happening and climbed back on my ladder. Sure enough, Jack steered his No. 63 machine to victory and he was three-for-three.
After qualifying second in Silver Crown trials, Hewitt joined Jimmy Sills on the front row. Hewitt’s huge Eldora fan base cheered wildly on the pace lap. Fifty laps later, the Troy, Ohio, legend steered his No. 23 Parker Machinery/Hannig Construction mount into victory lane – and the history books.
As the late Dick Jordan wrote, “Winning more than one feature event in a single day is a remarkable achievement, but to win four back-to-back in four different race cars is absolutely incredible.”
Incidentally, Darland recorded his third runner-up finish of the night. Third through fifth were Todd Kane, Kevin Huntley and Sills.
What a night!
This story appeared in the July 19, 2023 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.
