Shawn Swanstrom

Former NASCAR Winston Racing Series regional champion and multiple-track Hall of Fame racer Jeff Hinkemeyer of St. Cloud, Minn., died Sunday afternoon after a battle with lung cancer. The 67-year-old’s death was announced by his family.

In a Dirt Late Model career that spanned more than 30 seasons, Hinkemeyer racked up 21 track titles among nine tracks and more than 200 victories, including two Silver 1000 triumphs at Proctor (Minn.) Speedway, Hibbing (Minn.) Raceway’s Labor Day Shootout and the Thunderbird Open at Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn.

The first of his best seasons came in 1981, when he racked up 33 victories as a 21-year-old, including his first Silver 1000 triumph. He posted another standout campaign in 1990, capturing NASCAR’s Great Northern Region title with 18 victories in 22 starts in the Joe Salner-owned No. 4F while capturing one of his eight championships at Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Minn.

Besides Viking, Hinkemeyer captured track titles at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., along with Minnesota tracks in Hibbing, Proctor, St. Cloud and Fergus Falls.

Hinkemeyer, whose final victory came July 2, 2010, at I-94 Speedway, retired after the 2011 season following multiple spinal surgeries, but relished his long and successful career.

“I’ve met so many fabulous people,” Hinkemeyer told Tom Berg of the RaceChaser Blog in 2020. “I’ve got more memories than I can count. I had more fun than 10 guys should have.”

Hinkemeyer received Hall of Fame honors from several tracks, including Viking, Hibbing, Proctor and Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, Wis.

Editor’s note: Some statistical and biographical information from Tom Berg’s RaceChaser Blog and the Alexandria Echo Press.