Topless 100

Moyer not putting on brakes yet

A year ago at this time, the sport of dirt late model racing was heaping praise upon Billy Moyer, lauding his long list of accomplishments as the Batesville driver prepared to his end his legendary career and enter retirement.

But here he is, a year later, still racing.

25th Topless 100

WHAT 25th annual Comp Cams Topless 100 for late models with the roofs removed; sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

WHERE Batesville Motor Speedway, Locust Grove

WHEN Tonight and Saturday night. Gates open at 3 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m.

PURSE $40,000 to win, $2,000 to start

FORMAT Tonight: Time trials and qualifying heats. Saturday: Last-chance qualifiers and the 100-lap main event

TICKETS Reserved seating is $30 each night. General admission seating is $25 each night. Children aged 6-11 get in for $5 each night.

PAST WINNERS

2016 Rained out

2015 Shannon Baby, Moweaqua, Ill.

2014 Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.

2013 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Ill.

2012 Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.

2011 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Ten.

2010 Jared Landers, Batesville

2009 Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.

2008 Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.

2007 Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.

2006 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, Tenn.

2005 Billy Moyer, Batesville

2004 Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.

2003 Shannon Baby, Moweaqua, Ill.

2002 Billy Moyer, Batesville

2001 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.

2000 Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.

1999 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.

1998 Wendell Wallace, Batesville

1997 Billy Moyer, Batesville

1996 Bill Frye, Greenbrier

1995 Billy Moyer, Batesville

1994 Tony Cardin, Greenbrier

1993 Freddy Smith, Kings Mountain, N.C.

That wasn't his plan, he said, although a complete retirement probably wasn't either.

"I just wanted to slow down and not plan on going as far away from home as I usually would," Moyer said earlier this week as he prepared for this weekend's 25th annual Comp Cams Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway.

Then he chuckled before adding, "I didn't stick to that plan very well."

Moyer, who turns 60 in October, has been anything but retired in 2017. He has competed in 51 events with 2½ months of the racing calendar still ahead.

As far his initial plan to cut down on travel? Moyer has raced at 40 tracks in 15 states this season. His six victories this season have come at Queen Creek, Ariz.; Independence, Iowa; Brownstown, Ind.; Maple Park, Ill.; Jacksonville, Ill.; and last month in the Rockabilly 45 at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock.

"Things didn't work out as we originally planned for sure," said Moyer, a member of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame who is nearing 900 career victories. "But we've got a lot of sponsors who have really helped us over the years, and I kind of figured we could give those guys one more good year as a way to thank those guys.

"I feel like next year we will slow down in earnest. But after 40 years of running down the road so much ... I guess we'll have to see. We may look at running a deal close to home like the [Comp Cams Super Dirt Series]. We'll see."

While grappling with his plans for next season, this weekend Moyer also will be fighting to overcome his slump in the Topless 100. In an event and at track where he once dominated, Moyer has struggled in recent years.

He has won the event a record four times, but his last victory came in 2005. He has only one finish better than 18th since, a second in 2007.

"Yeah, that place has really eluded me for a long time," Moyer said. "Racing has changed so much over the years. So many things have go right to even have a chance.

"When I ran the best [at Batesville], the track would smooth over nice and slick, and you would have three or four good grooves to race on. The track has narrowed over the years. They need new dirt there in the worst way. It's a tough track to get a handle on, at least for me."

Sports on 08/18/2017

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