Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Famer Bill Wrich of Kennard, Neb., whose successful racing career that included Late Models spanned seven decades after his first race in 1954, died over the weekend, according to the Hall of Fame. He was 80.

Wrich, who competed in IMCA and USAC action, won championships at several tracks including Sunset Speedway in Omaha, Neb., Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, and Crawford County Speedway in Denison, Iowa. He won a legends race at Sunset Speedway in 2005, 10 years after his last track championship in the Grand National division.

Wrich's career continued in recent years on the Good Old Time Racing Association, winning a feature as late as 2012. He was inducted in the Nebraska Hall of Fame in 2008.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Joyce. Their son Dwight Wright died in a fiery racing accident at Crawford County Speedway in 2000. — Lee Ackerman and other reports