Quincy Herald Whig

Raceways honors track photographer

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Published: 8/13/2012 | Updated: 6/17/2013

By STEVE EIGHINGER
Heald-Whig Staff Writer

The evening was more for remembrance than racing.

Quincy Raceways fans, drivers and officials paid tribute Sunday night to the late Charles "Photobilly" Haffer, the popular track photographer who was killed about 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, in a two-vehicle crash neat Ottumwa, Iowa. Haffer, 44, was returning from races in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Track officials stood as one along the start-finish line in Haffer's honor prior to the invocation and national anthem, and at intermission drivers from all six classes worked their way through the stands collecting donations for Haffer's family. Some drivers also donated their winnings.

Before the start of all four features -- two of the main events were rained out -- the drivers honored Haffer with four-wide parade laps with the pole position left open in his honor. Haffer's daughter, Danielle, and other family members were in attendance.

"He was an awesome dude," late model driver Justin Reed said of Haffer. "You never heard a foul thing from him or about him. I wish everyone had the outlook Billy did."

Sport mod driver Tony Dunker felt he was probably the last person connected with Quincy Raceways to talk with Haffer, who was one of two people killed in the crash. The other was Haffer's best friend, Tony Pemberthy, who often traveled with him to race tracks.

"We talked on the phone about 2:30 last Monday before he left for Oskaloosa," Dunker said. "He had some pictures for me and said he would call me after he got back. He did a lot of traveling and he didn't do it for the money. He loved racing and everyone respected him."

Late model and modified driver Vance Wilson knew Haffer for "six or seven years" and was still shaken Sunday night by what had transpired several days earlier.

"He was just a nice guy and never said anything bad about anybody," Wilson said. "He was everywhere. I was at Eldora (the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio) and I even ran into Billy there. His death just blew me away, it was a terrible thing.

"It's like losing a family member. It just sucks."

Jack Walbring was arguably Haffer's closest friend in Quincy. Walbring, who coordinates many of the off-track activities at the Bullring, attended Haffer's funeral Saturday in Steelville, Mo.

Walbring told of Haffer's cousin, Rod Haffer, showing up at the funeral in a dress shirt and tie after requesting all those attending wear a racing-related shirt to honor Billy's love of the sport.

Walbring said when Rod Haffer's turn came to address the turnout he ripped off his shirt and tie to reveal the hidden racing attire underneath.

"I wouldn't want Billy to be mad at me," Rod Haffer said.

On the track, feature winners were Dustin Griffin in late models, Steven DeLonjay in modifieds, Dunker in sport mods and Terry Houston in stock cars.

The hobby stock main event was halted by rain six laps after starting. That will be completed next Sunday. The sport compact feature never got started and will also be run next Sunday, meaning double features for both the hobbies and wild things.

Griffin led the final 27 laps for his first late model checkered flag since June 10 and series-best fourth of the season. Jason Perry was second for the third time in four weeks and built his points advantage over defending champ Justin Reed to 36 points (855-819). Jim Moon, Michael Long and Reed filled out the top five.

DeLonjay capitalized on then-race leader Michael Long's blown engine with eight laps to go in the mod main event. DeLonjay, running second at the time, moved into the lead and held on for his fourth victory in the last five weeks. He also moved one week closer to a second straight track title, opening up a 67-point margin (1,029-962) over new runner-up Dave Wietholder, who finished second and overtook fifth-place Jared Schlipman (959) in the series standings.

Dunker became the second driver to win 10 features this season, matching the total of stock car competitor Abe Huls. Dunker got past eventual runner-up Bobby Anders to lead the closing eight laps and pick up his track-best 19th overall win of the season. Brad Holtmeyer finished third for the third time in the last five shows.

Houston continued his recent run of success with his third feature victory of the year and built his division lead over Jerry Jansen to 17 points (547-530). Houston has produced four straight main-event finishes of third place or higher. Huls was runner-up, ending his string of six straight wins when he was at the track. He missed a week due to vacation in the middle of that run.

-- seighinger@whig.com/221-3377