Bobby Jacks, whose ARCA Menards Series career included four wins, seven pole qualifying awards and six top-10 finishes from 1979-1988, died at age 75 on Jan. 18, 2021.
Jacks raced out of the Dayton, Ohio, suburb of Huber Heights and drove primarily for owner Mike Redfern and the Combined Racing team, driving red, white and blue No. 71 Oldsmobiles that were meticulously prepared and winning numerous ARCA awards for best appearing car and crew.
Jacks won at Flat Rock Speedway in Michigan in 1982, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield in 1984 and at Pocono Raceway and Kil Kare Speedway in Xenia, Ohio, in 1986, a year in which he led 793 laps in 24 races.
In 96 career starts, he had 24 top-five and 44 top-10 finishes, plus finishes in the top 10 in ARCA Series points consecutively from 1981-1986 with a best points finish of fourth in ’82. His seven pole qualifying runs came at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville, Springfield, Zanesville Ohio and four poles at the mile dirt DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, including three straight from 1984-1986.
Jacks also raced ASA late models, SCCA sports cars and USAC Stock Cars, where he won in the 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway.
After retiring from driving, he built race engines for all disciplines including road course, drag and paved and dirt oval track, as well as antique engines. Jacks resided in Dayton, Ohio, at the time of his passing and is survived by children Robert “Robby” Jacks Jr. and Connie Jacks; 4 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren.
Burial will be at Forest Hills Memorial Gardens, Tipp City, Ohio. Memorial donations are encouraged to the Dayton Auto Racing Fan Club (DARF) Injured Drivers Fund c/o Vanessa Gibson, 1361 Edinburgh Drive, Troy OH 45373.
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