Wilber “Willie” Hecke lived in Central Nebraska throughout his driving years beginning in the early 1950s. He campaigned a number of cars including the “Mighty Mouse” for John Davisson. Willie won over 20 track championships, including five consecutive at Kearney and Hastings from 1967 through 1971. He raced in many special events over a four-State area. Hecke suffered a fatal heart attack in the seat of a race car while waiting for the start of a race on August 14, 1985. He was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1998.