1969 – Tattersall wins; Kenyon crashes

Bob Tattersall

 

 

Knoxville, Iowa (July 23, 1969) – Bob Tattersall, the high flying point leader for the USAC National Midget Championship, once again increased his lead for the crown as Mel Kenyon experienced more bad luck. Tattersall would score the victory in the 30-lap feature at the Marion County Fairgrounds on Wednesday night.

For Tattersall, it was his second win this week and his fourth in five races. Kenyon’s bad luck came in the first heat as he was attempting to pass Danny Frye. Frye’s engine quit momentarily and Kenyon’s car bounced off the right rear and sailed into the fence head-on. The car then spun taking out the front end and damaging the rear end as well.

In the main event that evening, Merle Bettenhausen chased Tattersall across the finish line some four car lengths behind and just ahead of Dave Strickland. Les Scott held down fourth with Kenyon taking fifth behind the wheel of Sonny Ates’ car.

Les Scott took the lead on the green as “Tat” jumped from his sixth starting position to fourth. Strickland moved into the top spot on the second lap with Tattersall second and Scott dropping back to third. Tattersall would sail past Strickland down the backstretch and would lead the rest of the remaining laps. The victory tied him with Kenyon for career wins with Bob Wente one victory behind.

Bill Englehart went to the pits on the third lap as Kenyon moved through traffic. With 10 laps in the books, Merle Bettenhausen had moved into second behind Tattersall but was unable to close the gap. Strickland was third with Scott, Rob Greentree and Bob Wente fighting for fourth. Arnie Knepper, Mel Cornett and Kenyon fought for seventh.

Tattersall was lapping slower cars by the 12th circuit and when the checkers flew, the Streator, Ill., veteran was well in front, with Bettenhausen and Strickland separated by five lapped cars. Kenyon would get by Wente on lap 27 for his fifth place finish.

Wente set fast time, clocking in at 24.38 seconds on the big half-mile, well off the mark he set himself a year ago at 2.22 seconds.

Tattersall led every lap of the trophy dash and also scored the win in the second heat, while Wente got the win in the first heat. Dick Jones took top honors in heat number two and Englehart grabbed the win in heat number four. Willard Yates won the semi-main.

Results –

Fast Time: Bob Wente (24.38)

Trophy Dash: Bob Tattersall

Heat One: Bob Wente

Heat Two: Bob Tattersall

Heat Three: Dick Jones

Heat Four: Bill Englehart

Semi-Main: Willard Yates

Feature:

1. Bob Tattersall
2. Merle Bettenhausen
3. Dave Strickland
4. Les Scott
5. Mel Kenyon
6. Bob Wente
7. Arnie Knepper
8. Chuck Amati
9. Mel Cornett
10. Willard Yates
11. Bill Renshaw
12. Chuck Weyant
13. Dick Jones
14. John Deering
15. Joe Demko
16. Rob Greentree
17. Charlie Masters
18. Bill Englehart