Bobby Croop

High in the first turn · **Joined:** Mon Feb 13, 2006 7:45 pm **Posts:** 746

Last Saturday, Jeff Rine broke Bobby Croops win mark in the late models at Selinsgrove.
Here are some pictures I've taken through the years of Bobby Croop. I've also included some that I purchased and scanned.

Croops father Harlan Croop drove coupes in the 50's. I've spoken to him about racing at Selinsgrove, Rummages Grove, Brandonville, Parryville, Muncy amongst other tracks.

When his son Bobby got older he had a Kart track in his backyard. A track that Jeff Rine talked about racing at as a kid.

Bob was a Pontiac guy. The first car I can remember him driving was a GTO and there weren't many racing at that time. He later had a Firebird when everyone else went to Camaro's.

Here is Bob on opening day at Williams Grove in 1976. That was the first year for the pony cars on Jack Gunns track. Proudly taken with my first Pentax K1000.

Here is Bob at Hagerstown for the Hub City 150 probably in 78 or 79.

The early 80's were a neat time for late models. Every week the guys were trying something new as the wedges were starting to take over.

Here's one of his 69 wins

Bob made the successful transition to the store bought cars and probably would still have the win total had he not gone sprint car racing for a few years. If I remeber correctly he would race his sprinter at Clinton County on Fridays and the LM on Saturdays at Selinsgrove before going strictly to the sprints. He ran the sprint at Selinsgrove on occassion. He and Richie Jensen had some great battles back then.

Does anyone remember when he returned to the LM's full time?

Here is Bob's final victory picture taken on 6-28-08. Notice I didn't say victory lane? This picture was taken in his pit on the night of the big downpour that collected almost the entire field after a cloudburst hit the track. There was some confusion at the beginning of the race and Croop was put in the wrong position. When the scoring was straightened out Croop was announced the winner long after everyone went home.

This is probably Croops last race on 9-5-09.

I'm told by some of his old crew that he still has a car but most likely is done racing.

Have you hugged an oldtimer today?

supertc88 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:59 pm

DavidM · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:40 am

Thanks for the photos and story to go with them!

hotrodney · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:19 pm

I always liked Bobby Croop. I know he hasn't raced the last 2 years but I never heard that he was officially retired. I guess Rine will now go after Steve Campbell's all time combined win total. I believe Rine started out as a teamate to Campbell.

Scott Harro · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:03 am **Posts:** 1801

yep, 70 wins is nothing to sneeze at in one division and he did it by the time he was 34 but fear not i don't think he'll slow down much plus he's still got three things left to shoot at.

richie jensens 6 track titles in a row (1989-1994) (rine has 4 in a row)
bobby croops 8 track titles (rine has 6)
steve campbells 79 wins (43 LM's & 36 Limited LM's/Challengers)

3wracing · **Joined:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:45 pm **Posts:** 8

The neat thing about Bobby and Richie is they are both good machinists and they built and drove and won with a lot of the equipment that they built in thier oun garages . from chassis to engines both of them could do it well and still can. they were neighbors and competitors also being neighbors or relatives with dave robbins , Bob and robbie Smith all these guys were from the Nescopeck area . Alot of us guys who traveled with these drivers have a lot of great memorys from the 80s and 90s some at the track and some not!

poconoposse · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:31 pm

any pictures of bobby in his sprinter which i beleive he won at least one title at clinton county

Scott Harro · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:03 am **Posts:** 1801

Scott Harro · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:03 am **Posts:** 1801

this photo from Nazareth Speedway is of Jay Stong but it is the same car Bobby Croop drove in 1982 when the modifieds first visited Selinsgrove

supertc88 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:20 am

Pitside · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2010 2:21 pm **Posts:** 500

awsome pics and stories :broccoli:

Williams Grove Speedway Forums

Bobby Croop

Who is online