Billie Harvey

William J. "Billie" Harvey, 57, of Weston, FL passed away on September 13, 2007. He is survived by mother Charlotte Harvey; 4 children, William J. Harvey, Jr. "Bill", (Kerri), Jeannie (Michael) Harris, Kristin (Douglas) Backhus, Bryan (Becky) Leiman; 2 sisters Marilyn Swank, Kathy (Felix) Diaz; 7 grandchildren: Tyler S., Tyler Y., Robert, William, Ryan, Raylee, and Mark. He is predeceased by father Robert W. Harvey and wife Marlene N. Manning Harvey. Viewing will be Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 5-8 p.m. at the Joseph A. Scarano Pines Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 9000 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cremation to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Harvey's Memorial Fund in c/o Washington Mutual Bank, 1040 Weston Rd., Weston, FL 33326.
Published in the Sun-Sentinel on 9/16/2007.

For those of you who don't know it's with much regret my dad, Billie Harvey #31 passed on 9/13/07. The viewing is on 9/18/07 at Scarano's funeral home located @ 9000 Pines blvd. in Pembroke Pines Florida from 5-8. He was a great guy who lived life to it's fullest. He never met a stranger nor has a stranger gone unmet. His amazing spirit and dynamic personality has made this a true tragedy. I have recently read a poem called the dash, that when you pass there's your birth date a dash and your passing date. Having a whole life summed up in a dash I wish that everyone talk of his dash. Share your story's and memory's, keeping in mind that everyone is within 6 degree's of each other. Find a friend, laugh, and cry whatever you do it's up to you to keep him alive.

Jeannie Marie Harvey
Temporary: Legacy Obituary Message Book

From Race Historian Marty Little:
Harvey enjoyed great success in the ARCA series in the early 80s. He has three poles (one at Daytona and two at Talladega) and two race victories, on at Talladega (8-2-80) and Michigan (9-20-80), 200 mile events on superspeedways.

He enjoyed race victories at several Florida short tracks including Hialeah and Palm Beach Fairgrounds.

Billie Harvey's cars almost always carried the number 31 and were painted a medium or "Petty" blue in color.

Harvey's varied business interests over the years included a marine supply company and a towing business, both when he lived in Delray Beach, Fla. In recent years he was involved with a large landscaping business and more recently as the manager of a nightclub in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.

Billie Harvey Grant King Modified driven by Gary Balough

Here's a shot of Billie Harvey's Grant King built dirt modified, driven by Gary Balough, at the Syracuse (NY) mile for Super DIRT Week in October 1979.

From Marty Little collection.

South Alabama Speedway - 1984 Rattler
The track was closed in 1983, so no Rattler was held. In the 1984 Skoal Rattler 100, Mickey Gibbs, fresh off a victory in the Snowball Derby, continued his winning ways. Donnie Anthony set a new track record in qualifying with a time of 16.40. Gibbs stayed in the top 5 all day before pitting just past the halfway point. He steadily worked his way back to the front, taking the lead on lap 70. Gibbs then held off Mitch Fowler the rest of the way for the win. Billie Harvey took third, with Red Farmer fourth and '77 winner Russell Nelson fifth. 7,500 fans witnessed the event. Another 1,500 had to be turned away.

Most folks know of Billie Harvey's involvement in Florida late model racing and also his success in ARCA, but few know that he had one Indy car start for owner Grant King. The event was at the Milwaukee Mile in June 1980 aboard King's King-Chevy No. 97. Harvey started 19th, had a solo spin without contact and finished 19th. He's shown here being passed by Gordon Johncock in the No. 20.
Armin Krueger photo from Marty Little collection.

Billie Harvey saw success in the ARCA series, taking two victories. He also posted the first ever 200 mph qualifying run with a 200.642 mph at Talladega Alabama in 1981. Billie is ranked 14th overall with 4 ARCA Superspeedway Poles. Harvey led 8 races of competition with a total 101 laps led.
Talladega was his favorite track, winning one race and getting the pole 3 times in '80, '81 and '83.

Talladega's Paving Project 2006 marks the first time since 1979 that the racing surface has undergone such a drastic transformation.

The first time the series competed on the former racing surface was August 2, 1980 when Billie Harvey rocketed to the pole award that weekend, with a speed of 191.466 mph, then earned a trip to Victory Lane at what was then known as Alabama Motor International Speedway.

Harvey also has an ARCA victory at what is considered ARCA's home track, Michigan International Speedway.