DeGRAFF — Shady Bowl Speedway will honor a living legend in local short track racing by hosting the “Waco Wayne Watercutter Night” Saturday night. The main event will be a 100-lap feature, paying $1,900 to win. Watercutter started his career in a 1953 Mercury in 1963. It was a figure 8 car.

He went on to drive cars owned by Denny Shatto, Mike Meeker, Ward Brothers and the Poling Brothers. The Sidney driver ran all the local ovals plus the super speedways. He was third in an ARCA race at Michigan International Speedway in a blanket finish that saw six cars reach the finish line at the same time.

Although he prefers dirt track racing, he lists Shady Bowl Speedway as his favorite track to race on. An Oldsmobile fielded by Ward Brothers was his favorite car.

The crew ran a limited NASCAR schedule. Shatto and Meeker were his favorite car owners. He was voted USAC rookie of the in 1976. He dominated an ARCA race at 411 Raceway in Tennessee, lapping all but the second place car. Columbus drivers Don Gregory and Bud St. Amant were among his favorite competitors.

He stated that watching his late son Larry win his first race in a mini stock at Shady Bowl was his biggest thrill in racing. He picked up his final win five years ago in a car owned by Meeker.

He has taken several drivers under his wing to provide his racing knowledge to them. Quincy driver Josh Smith credits his success to Watercutter.

In addition to the late models, the modifieds, street stocks, pure stocks, compacts and spectator drags will be on the schedule. The street stocks only will be non-points. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.