by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers’ Association

Monticello, NY — Some may have counted him out, but “Trader Bud” Hatfield is a fighter. The master auto dealer and excellent amateur driver has now moved within 10 points of the lead in the Midwest Region of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series with his resounding victory behind TGTIF at Delaware, Ohio on Sunday, September 17.

TGTIF started from the eight hole, and despite having to go an overland trip, Hatfield kept after his charge and finally made the front by the top of the lane and from there TGTIF cruised on to a two length victory over The Blue Baboon and driver “Lawbook Larry” Farley in a time of 2:01.1. Spring Glide, who came from eighth at the three-quarter pole, rallied and finished third for Terry “the Dairy Queen” Donnelly.

It was “the Trader’s” seventh Billings triumph this year and he is now just 10 points behind the perennial season’s leader, Dein “the Jupiter Gem” Spriggs, who himself had a second place finish in another Billings contest that day.

In all, four wild card divisions were contested that day but the most eye-opening contest of the four Billings splits was turned in by Dyno Trevor when Brent “the Zanesville Clipper” Davis guided him to a 1:57.2 victory. Davis and Dyno Trevor gained command after the quarter and went on to make every pole a winning one as they rebuffed a strong late challenge from Concetti and Dein Spriggs to score a 1-1/2 length triumph. Yobro’s Velagaye finished a distant third for “Croswell Steve” Oldford.

Davis’s 1:57.2 victory with Dyno Trevor is a new Billings record at Delaware, Ohio. It erased the former standard of 1:58.2 set by Doorbuster and driver “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo ten years ago.

Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer got the day rolling when he won the first contest of the afternoon with Candacraigh in a time of 2:01.1. The talented lumber broker from Middlefield, Ohio set sail with his trotter from post position six and found no sympathizers as his Billings buddies left him on the limb, but Troyer laughed last as Candacraigh wore down the inside horses, made the front after the three-quarters, and went on to a one length triumph, which was Troyer’s fourth of the year in Billings action.

“Howie the Horse” Gelfand sat in with Rose Run Freddie while Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon and Lord Langford parked Troyer, but when Gelfand showed his trotter daylight all he could muster was a second place finish. Dean “What Am I Bid” Beachy took home the show dough with Keystone Victory. Hunsdon’s trotter faded and finished fourth.

Larry “Overhand Serve” Steenbergen made a rare Billings appearance, but he made the best of it when he guided his own Roan Cody to a gate-to-wire victory over Primmarose Hotspur and driver Mike “the Mortgage Man” Mitchell in a 2:02.2 clocking. Chainsaw Sly and driver Mitchell “Sky” Walker ended up third after the boys never let “Steady Eddie” Ryan see the pylons (inside) with favored Bingham and parked him out the entire way. Still, the old warhorse, who has won an incredible 108 races, finished fourth.

A fifth amateur race was carded at Delaware that day but it was the Tim Fouts Memorial, a pacing event which annually brings together the club champions from many local amateur clubs throughout the country. And it was a barn-burner — a 1:58.1 dead-heat between Brad Rathbone and James Foley.

Rathbone, with Standing Happy, came from behind to catch and cross the wire simultaneously with Foley and JT Stena, who cut all the fractions. And it was nearly a triple dead-heat since Pretty Pacific and Dein Spriggs were just a head behind in third place.

Next Billings action will be on September 27 at the Red Mile in Lexington, Ky.