Written by Dave Ondo

BILLY “THE KID” WILKERSON

You are in Southern California, and you find yourself in the grandstand at Ascot Park in Gardena California, Nov. 8th, 1969. There is coolness in the air as the sun is beginning to set behind you in the west, casting shadows on the front straight, but still highlighting the back straight of the tacky clay oval. Pushing onto the track is the Ernie Duncan Chevy driven by Billy “The Kid” Wilkerson, from El Monte, for his first qualification attempt for the CRA Sprint Car show. Over the P.A., you hear “and it’s a new track record at 21.26 seconds”. And there you have it, a new real life action hero. As an 8 year old, to witness the fastest man to ever turn a lap at Ascot, elevated the name Billy Wilkerson into Superman status. Who is that guy? What does he look like? How tall is he? What does he eat for breakfast? How high can he fly?

On August 5th, 2009, Superman lost his battle with Cancer and California lost a role model of what a real man was. First it was John Wayne, then Ronald Reagan, and now Billy Wilkerson. The rest of the world may not recognize Billy in the same breath as Wayne and Reagan, but for those of blessed to have witnessed Billy Wilkerson the driver, Billy Wilkerson the car owner, Billy Wilkerson the board member, and Billy Wilkerson the man/father/husband, we know we lost this week.

1970, 21, 24, 09-05-1965, 08-03-1973, 4, 2004:
1970 was the year that Billy won his CRA Championship.
21 was the number of CRA main event wins Billy enjoyed.
24th, is where Billy ranks all time in CRA main event wins.
09-05-1965 was the date of Billy’s first victory (Clovis Speedway)
08-03-1973 was the date of Billy’s last victory (Clovis Speedway)
4 – The number of tracks that Billy won at: CLOVIS/ASCOT/IRWINDALE/PACOIMA
2004 – Billy’s induction into the NATIONAL SPRINT CAR HALL OF FAME and named to the class of 2004 LEGENDS OF ASCOT.

Perhaps Billy was an even better car owner than he was as a driver. If you doubt that, just ask Ron Shuman, who owns the most CRA championships of all time, what kind of ride Billy put under his drivers.

So, the Checkered flag waves yet again, for another of our racing hero’s. Billy add’s his name to the tribute page on the Legends of Ascot page at http://www.legendsofascot.com/tributes.html

It was an honor and a privilege to have watched you race, Billy.
Thanks for the all the wonderful memories. May you rest in peace…in life’s victory lane.