The driver from Muscatine, Iowa, made history late Saturday night as the seventh driver to win at least two World 100 titles — this one coming with a $50,000 payday — after rocketing away from the field on three restarts over the final nine laps. Wondering if he should even make the trip just weeks ago, Birkhofer might be one of the first to arrive next year, if only to get in line for a souvenir World 100 T-shirt.
“I’m in awe that I’ve got my name on this shirt the second time,” said Birkhofer, who also denied Scott Bloomquist a World 100 victory in 2002 with a stunning final-turn pass dubbed ‘The Slide Job Heard Around the World.”
“I’ve got a new globe to put right by my big TV when I watch the (Pittsburgh) Steelers (play Sunday night).”
Birkhofer, who started eighth in the 30-car field, inherited the lead on lap 35 of the 100-lap grind when mechanical issues forced Don O’Neal to the pits. Birkhofer then set sail. His lead soon grew to a straightaway and increased to nearly a half-lap advantage by lap 70. Bloomquist, who owns three World 100 globed trophies, started closing the gap with 15 laps to go. A caution flag with nine laps to go and a pair of cautions with seven left packed the field behind Birkhofer for the double-file restarts.
Birkhofer held them off each time, to the delight of about 20,000 roaring spectators at Eldora. Bloomquist, meanwhile, settled for his eighth runner-up finish in 23 World 100 starts.
“Make one mistake and he’s beside you and takes the lead,” Birkhofer said of being the hunted on those pressure-packed restarts. “The crowd is walking away hopefully thinking they saw an awesome race and the place will be packed again next year. That’s all that matters.”
Birkhofer said the track has changed since that 2002 win. Instead of slowing down to laps of 19 seconds late in those 100-lappers, it now keeps its speed. That’s what had Birkhofer thinking about staying home.
“The race track is different than it was 10 years ago. It’s definitely faster,” Birkhofer said. “I’ve had to kind of bring my level up. … How I used to approach this place, I would wait for 20 laps to go. Now you hustle the whole time. It’s all about racing hard.”
Birkhofer joined Bloomquist, Billy Moyer, Donnie Moran, Jimmy Owens, Jeff Purvis and Dayton’s Larry Moore as multiple winners.
“I look at each driver and I’m in awe of the talent levels of certain guys. O’Neal, Bloomquist, Moyer. I’m like, ‘Man I can’t do that,’ ” Birkhofer said. “As far as confidence, I have enough confidence that I can come and compete. I may never win this race again. I’m just going to sit here and enjoy this. This is pretty awesome.”
About the Author