By Doc Lehman
Ohio dirt Late Model star driver Jeff Boyd, 46, passed away on Monday March 8 after a long hard fought battle with cancer. Boyd, the 2000 Muskingum County Speedway dirt Late Model track champion was known throughout Ohio for his hard charging driving style and his sense of humor. Boyd was a resident of Newark, OH and drove the #z28 dirt Late Model.
Funeral services for Jeffrey A. Boyd, Sr., will be at 11:00am Friday, March 12, 2004 at the Newark Chapel of Vensil-Orr & Chute Funeral Home with Bill Weaver officiating. Burial will be in Smith Chapel Cemetery. Mr. Boyd died at Monday evening, March 8, 2004 at Riverside Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
Jeff Boyd was born on May 2, 1957 in Newark, the son of the late John D. Boyd, Sr. and Doris Irene (McArtor) Boyd of Newark and was a 1975 graduate of Licking Valley High School. He was an Auto Estimator with State Farm Insurance of Newark and he was a member of the Moose Lodge #499 of Newark.
Surviving in addition to his mother, is his wife, Linda G. (Waters) Boyd, whom he married June 22, 1976; a son, Jeffrey A. Boyd, Jr. and his fiancé, Carrie Grigsby, of the home; two brothers, Jerry (Cherie) Boyd of Fallsburg, Ohio and John Boyd, Jr. of Newark; one sister, Cristy (Jeff) Martin of Newark; a half-brother, David T. Boyd of Newark ; a half-sister, Launa (Gary) Crego of Colorado; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Also surviving is a very close friend, Dr. Brett Behrens, who cared for him during his illness.
“Growing up, I watched Jeff Boyd race just about every week at R&R Speedway and even announced several of his races at R&R, Muskingum County and Midway speedways in the mid-late 90's,” commented Dustin Jarrett, a columnist, reporter and announcer who watched Boyd race for many years. “Jeff was the kind of guy who you would never really hear from most of the night. But, when the race was on the line, he was always running in the top three or five. He was a very solid, concrete racer. He was very consistent.”
“I remember a time back in 1995 or so Muskingum County got rained out one Saturday night and a bunch of their regulars like Jeff Boyd, Tye Long, Greg Baumberger and some others decided to go down to Tyler County. To my knowledge, this was the first time Jeff had ever raced at Tyler County. Of course, being a natural talent behind the wheel, it didn't take him long to master the 1/2-mile red clay oval. I believe he ended finishing second that night, behind Long.”
“That's the kind of driver Jeff Boyd was. It seems like he was a threat to win at every track on any given night. No matter how far back he started, no matter what the competition was like, no matter which race track, he was always running near the front when the checkered flag waved.”
One humorous incident that perhaps displayed Boyd’s infectious sense of humor was in 2000 when he won the Muskingum County Speedway dirt Late Model track championship. At the end of the season awards banquet when Boyd was asked to come to the podium to accept his championship trophy Boyd entered the room dressed as Elvis.
For those wishing to send cards or notes to the family send them to: 90 Resonant Drive, Newark, Ohio 43055.
For additional information, or to sign the Online Memorial Guestbook, visit www.vocfh.com and click the ‘obituaries’ link.
Ohio dirt Late Model star driver Jeff Boyd, 46, passed away on Monday March 8 after a long hard fought battle with cancer. Boyd, the 2000 Muskingum County Speedway dirt Late Model track champion was known throughout Ohio for his hard charging driving style and his sense of humor. Boyd was a resident of Newark, OH and drove the #z28 dirt Late Model.
Funeral services for Jeffrey A. Boyd, Sr., will be at 11:00am Friday, March 12, 2004 at the Newark Chapel of Vensil-Orr & Chute Funeral Home with Bill Weaver officiating. Burial will be in Smith Chapel Cemetery. Mr. Boyd died at Monday evening, March 8, 2004 at Riverside Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
Jeff Boyd was born on May 2, 1957 in Newark, the son of the late John D. Boyd, Sr. and Doris Irene (McArtor) Boyd of Newark and was a 1975 graduate of Licking Valley High School. He was an Auto Estimator with State Farm Insurance of Newark and he was a member of the Moose Lodge #499 of Newark.
Surviving in addition to his mother, is his wife, Linda G. (Waters) Boyd, whom he married June 22, 1976; a son, Jeffrey A. Boyd, Jr. and his fiancé, Carrie Grigsby, of the home; two brothers, Jerry (Cherie) Boyd of Fallsburg, Ohio and John Boyd, Jr. of Newark; one sister, Cristy (Jeff) Martin of Newark; a half-brother, David T. Boyd of Newark ; a half-sister, Launa (Gary) Crego of Colorado; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Also surviving is a very close friend, Dr. Brett Behrens, who cared for him during his illness.
“Growing up, I watched Jeff Boyd race just about every week at R&R Speedway and even announced several of his races at R&R, Muskingum County and Midway speedways in the mid-late 90's,” commented Dustin Jarrett, a columnist, reporter and announcer who watched Boyd race for many years. “Jeff was the kind of guy who you would never really hear from most of the night. But, when the race was on the line, he was always running in the top three or five. He was a very solid, concrete racer. He was very consistent.”
“I remember a time back in 1995 or so Muskingum County got rained out one Saturday night and a bunch of their regulars like Jeff Boyd, Tye Long, Greg Baumberger and some others decided to go down to Tyler County. To my knowledge, this was the first time Jeff had ever raced at Tyler County. Of course, being a natural talent behind the wheel, it didn't take him long to master the 1/2-mile red clay oval. I believe he ended finishing second that night, behind Long.”
“That's the kind of driver Jeff Boyd was. It seems like he was a threat to win at every track on any given night. No matter how far back he started, no matter what the competition was like, no matter which race track, he was always running near the front when the checkered flag waved.”
One humorous incident that perhaps displayed Boyd’s infectious sense of humor was in 2000 when he won the Muskingum County Speedway dirt Late Model track championship. At the end of the season awards banquet when Boyd was asked to come to the podium to accept his championship trophy Boyd entered the room dressed as Elvis.
For those wishing to send cards or notes to the family send them to: 90 Resonant Drive, Newark, Ohio 43055.
For additional information, or to sign the Online Memorial Guestbook, visit www.vocfh.com and click the ‘obituaries’ link.
