How tough was Robbie Dean, the veteran race car driver honored by Kil-Kare Speedway tonight?

He once told Woody Hayes no.

Grove City’s Dean was recruited by Ohio State out of his Columbus high school, but turned down a scholarship offer from Hayes. When asked why, the story goes, Dean responded, “I just want to race.”

Dean — a popular driver known as Big Bird who stood 6-foot-4 and weight 250 pounds — raced his popular yellow and black No. 94 at Kil-Kare, Shady Bowl Speedway and Columbus Speedway. He died in 2008 after a battle with cancer. He was 55.

Kil-Kare honors Dean with the Robbie Dean 94 tonight, a 94-lap race for late models. In an effort to boost the car count, Ed Yoak of Ed & Co. Racing Supplies is offering a $100 contingency program for new late models. Eligibility requirements are:

1. Racer must not have raced at Kil-Kare more than once in

the 2012 season.

2. Racer must buy at least two (2) Tires the night of the race*

3. $100 can be applied to Tire bill

4. All contingency payout will be handled by Ed Yoak of Ed & Co.

Stewart wins agin

If his day job doesn’t work out, Tony Stewart can fall back on a career with the World of Outlaws. The Eldora Speedway track owner won his third career WoO winged sprint race, defending his victory at Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario. It was his second consecutive WoO victory.

“Last year we won the thing running through the middle and tonight we were really good right on the top edge of the race track,” Stewart said. “It wasn’t really anything consistent between the nights. It’s just a neat, little race track. It’s a lot of fun. You can race all over the place.

“And what an honor it is to stand here with this group of guys. To win with the World of Outlaws is awesome.”

Hot laps

The Main Event late model racing series visits Shady Bowl Speedway on Friday for a special 75-lap feature. Michigan’s Harold Fair returns to defend his win in June. … Eldora Speedway announced monster trucks will return to the schedule in 2013. The U.S. Hot Rod MONSTER JAM featuring Grave Digger will put on a show in August. Additional details will be announced at a later date.