|
Bill Waite Jr. to be remembered with Sprint Car Race Sunday
at La Salle
By: Betty Glynn
LA SALLE, IL (Sept. 24) - "Racing is a humble sport...One day you're a hero,
next day a chump... Everyone loves a winner!” Bill Waite Jr.
The above quote was taken from a website created for Bill Waite Jr. during
his racing days. They are words spoken by a hero himself. The internet site
remains forever frozen but the quote holds tremendous meaning for anyone who
knew Bill Waite Jr.
In 2008, Bill, a lifelong Illinois Valley resident and businessman, was
killed aiding a stranded motorist on I80 while working for his family’s
towing business. He left behind the love of his life Lynn Anderson and a
barrage of family and friends who still miss him tremendously.
If his tragic loss wasn’t enough, his family buried his sister Kathy Schmitt
shortly after his death. The mother of two lost her brave battle with
cancer. Recovering from the loss of two devoted family members back to back
rocked the strong family.
Not only did he come from a large tight nit family, he grew up in Cherry
where everyone is considered family. The small town embraces their own and
mourned the loss of a great contributor to a town where the Waite name can
be traced back for over 100 years.
Bill’s great grandfather, Walter, was deemed a hero for aiding fellow miners
during their entrapment in the famous Cherry Mine Disaster. It has been
historically documented that Walter kept the trapped miners spirits high
during their darkest days when the only source of water was a trickle
through the earth.
Ironically, the slag piles where Walter was trapped sit adjacent to the
Waite’s Service and Towing a place Junior grew up helping in his fathers
business. Junior, a nickname by which his friends and family knew him, was
much like his great grandfather without ever noticing that same amazing
trait in himself. He had the ability to make a smile shine on even the worst
of days for anyone who came in contact with the soft spoken sometimes
guarded guy. He took over the family business from his father and carried on
with the tradition of providing support for the community they loved.
Not only did he continuously help in his immediate community he branched out
to offer assistance to those in need. After Katrina, Junior felt compelled
to do his part and had to find a way to generate funds for the relief
effort.
“After Hurricane Katrina, Junior offered free oil changes to everyone,”
younger brother Mike explained. “The only thing he asked was a $10 donation
for the victims in Louisiana. He was just that type of person who always
wanted to help someone.”
Junior could be found either in the Cherry shop or his tow truck. No matter
what he was working on, someone was stopping by the shop for some laughs.
According to his brother, he had the ability to bring laughter without ever
even trying.
“I think one thing that anyone who really knew Junior would say is that he
had a really great sense of humor. He was sometimes a bit guarded but he was
so much fun and made us all laugh a lot,” Mike said with a chuckle.
Growing up in Cherry myself, I was lucky enough to share the memories of
stopping by their shop, which was then a gas station, with my own father. At
the time, it was his patriarch, Bill Sr., who was always willing to lend a
helping hand with Junior and other siblings close by.
Junior’s love of driving fast started with his racing karts as a child in
1974 then moving into stock cars during the 1980’s and eventually into his
true passion of sprint cars. His love of the sprints spanned over a fourteen
year stint taking him all over the Midwest until he retired from the sport
to run the family business.
“We were all extremely close. We’d work on the car during the week and
travel all over the countryside to race on the weekends. Usually, it was me,
my brother Kevin, brother-in-law Paul (Sandrolini), and sometimes Dave
Despain, Brian Raef and of course Junior. Oh boy we had a lot of hours in
the truck and we had a lot of fun. The stories seemed endless,” Mike laughed
just thinking about those 8 – 10 hours jaunts in the truck. “We were all so
extremely close.”
On Sunday, Junior will be remembered in the most suited fashion for the
former speedster. The 800 horsepower winged outlaw sprint drivers from
across Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Michigan will return
to the high banks of La Salle Speedway to honor the fallen racer. The Bill
Waite, Jr. Memorial Outlaw Sprint Car Race promoted by PACE Promotions and
presented by Interstate Batteries of Central Illinois tops the venue with
the victor claiming $3,000 to win the event. Associate sponsors are Central
Illinois Trucks, Inc. and the Phoenix Group.
It is quite fitting that a memorial race be held in his honor at the same
track that boasted so much meaning for the die-hard racer. He used to say
his most memorable race was qualifying for the World of Outlaw Sprint event
at La Salle. Like everything the Waite family does, it will be a family
affair. His parents, Toni and Bill, along with their entire family are ready
to honor their hero.
“My Mom is so happy and excited about the race on Sunday,” Mike said. “I
just wish he was here with us.”
The outlaw sprint cars will be sanctioned by the Bumper to Bumper Interstate
Racing Association, and as of this date, will be next to the last point’s
race for the series. Supporting classes will include the UMP Modifieds and
the UMP Hornets. The purse for each division has been added to by the
sponsors with several thousand dollars.
The IRA sprints will have a $16,000 purse, $3,000 to win and $300 to start.
The UMP Modifieds will race for UMP points, $5,000 purse, $800 to win and
$125 to start. The UMP Hornets will race for UMP points as well, $300 to win
and $50 to start.
The event will start in the late afternoon with pit gates open at 1:00 p.m.,
grandstands at 3:30, hot laps at 4:30 and racing at 6:00. Admission will be:
Adults $16, pit gate $30, high school students (with ID) $5, and age 13 and
under with paying adult—FREE. Individual skyboxes (now only 4 available)
(seating for 15) and individual skybox seats may be reserved (only 60 seats
available) by contacting PACE Promotions. Skybox seats may be available on
race day if not sold out.
For additional information contact: PACE Promotions: 630-279-3006; IRA
Series: 815-759-9269 and the IRA Series website:
www.irasprints.com
 |
