This week in history

1994 - Dennis Er Jr. survived challenges from John Provenzano, Fred Lofgren and even less than ideal lighting to win his fourth late model feature of the season at Kankakee (Ill.) Speedway on July 29. Provenzano was the first to test Erb as he outran him to take the lead at the start. Engine problems forced Provenzano from competition by the 10th lap however. Erb inherited the lead at that point and Lofgren was the next to challenge the youngster. Erb kept Lofgren back but the next obstacle to victory presented itself when several lights went out on the track forcing a yellow. After a short delay, the drivers agreed to finish out the race under less than perfect lighting and Erb would finally call victory lane his own.

1988 - With a near capacity crowd and the temperature hovering over the 110 degree mark on the newly re-exposed asphalt racing surface, Bill Deckman of Riverside, Mo., piloted his IMCA modified to victory in the "Asphalt Nationals" at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Mo., on Sunday afternoon, July 31. Most of the 54 drivers that checked in were inexperienced racing on asphalt, however, it was only Deckman's fourth week behind the wheel of a modified. Deckman passed J.L. Cooper on lap 19 and held strong the rest of the way. Cooper, Gene Claxton, Dean Roper and David Issac rounded out the top five.

1983 - Touring World of Outlaws regular Doug Wolfgang made the most of Rick Ferkel's ill fortune in capturing the 40-lap A main of the Wilmot Winged Open Sprint Series before a near capacity crowd on July 30. Ferkel had his second series victory within reach as the Tiffin, Ohio veteran led the event's initial 37 tours around the 1/3-mile oval. However, a broken steering mount cut short Ferkel's drive to the $2,000 prize as the Paul Morgan #0 sprinter came to a halt on the backstretch on lap 38. Wolfgang maintained a two second cushion over Gib Wiser to the checkered flag.

1977 - Ken Walton of Viola, Iowa won the third leg of the Wisconsin Super Stock Car Series at Paul's Super Speedway in De Pere, Wis., on Sunday, July 31. It was Walton's fourth victory out of the series's first six features. Walton didn't move into first for good until lap 42 of the 50-lap late model event, passing Tom Steuding of Altoona, Wis. Walton grabbed the early lead from fast qualifier Roger Regeth on lap 10 and held it until Steuding grabbed the point on lap 34. The two front runners dueled for eight laps until Walton got back on top to stay. Steuding, Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo, Iowa, Johnny Reiser of Allenton, Wis., and Roger Paul of New London, Wis., were the top five finishers.