1974 – Unser makes it look easy in 150-miler at Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wis. (August 15, 1974) – Bobby Unser of Albuquerque, N.M., scored the easy victory with his 1974 Dodge Charger in the 150-mile USAC stock car race at Wisconsin’s State Fair Park on Thursday afternoon.

Unser averaged 97.770 miles per hour over the one-mile oval and pocketed $4,003 of a record $22,725 purse by finishing seven seconds ahead of Keokuk, Iowa’s Don White, who piloted a 1972 Charger.

Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids charged late in the race to finish third in a 1974 Chevelle while Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis., took fourth in a 1971 Plymouth. 

Butch Hartman of Zanesville, Ohio, who was aiming for a record sixth straight stock car victory there, finished seventh and fell into a tie for first in points with Nelson. Each has 1,950 points with seven races to go.

Hartman qualified third but was hampered by an oil leak from the 43rd lap until the end and had to make several pit stops. His car spewed out smoke as oil dripped on the manifold.

Jack Bowsher of Springfield, Ohio, who qualified first for the fifth time in the last six stock car races there, led until Unser grabbed the lead on lap 23. He would finish sixth.

Unser led from laps 23 to 33 while Irv Janey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, took over the point from the 34th circuit to the 57th go-round. Trickle briefly held the top spot for a couple of laps while most of the leaders pitted. Unser took the lead from Trickle on lap 60 and held it the rest of the way. 

Feature results –

1. Bobby Unser
2. Don White
3. Dick Trickle
4. Norm Nelson
5. Bay Darnell
6. Jack Bowsher
7. Butch Hartman
8. Irv Janey
9. Paul Feldner
10. Terry Ryan