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Jeff Gordon (1) battles Jimmy Sills during the USAC midget portion of the 4-Crown Nationals at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway in 1991. (Steve Frayre photo)

GLORY DAYS: Jeff Gordon Wins At Eldora

Jeff Gordon’s days racing a midget were becoming few and far between, but with a burgeoning NASCAR career, he returned to Eldora Speedway for the 11th annual 4-Crown Nationals at the Ohio half-mile race track.

Driving Rollie Helmling’s familiar No. 1 midget, Gordon put on a dazzling performance, setting the fast qualifying time and racing from sixth to victory.

Jimmy Sills led the first 22 laps from the pole, but Gordon grabbed the lead on lap 23 and paced the final three laps to secure the victory. Sills finished second, with Johnny Heydenreich third.

Jack Hewitt claimed both the USAC sprint car and Silver Crown features, while Billy Moyer won the late model main event.

 

This story appeared in the Oct. 18 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.

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