1955 - Tiny Lund scores first career IMCA victory

Tiny Lund

Grand Forks, N.D. (July 31, 1955) – Dewayne "Tiny" Lund, a stock car driver who won his share of races several years ago before going into the Air Force, is now starting to climb the ladder of success in late model stock car racing.

Piloting a 1955 Chevrolet, which had been driven with widely varying success earlier this season by Marvin Copple of Lincoln, Neb., Lund of Harlan, Iowa, won the 200-lap IMCA stock car finale at the fairgrounds track in Grand Forks, N.D., on Sunday afternoon.

The win was Lund's first under the IMCA banner. A crowd of 3,500 watched the Auto Racing, Inc., promotion.

Lund trailed Herschel Buchanan of Shreveport, La., throughout the first 99 laps, but took over the lead with his 1955 Chevrolet on the 100th lap and continued on to victory.

The huge Hawkeye drove most of the way without a hood on his car. He literally "blew his bonnet" on the 30th lap of the only 100 miler to be staged in North Dakota this season.

Apparently this had little effect, however, because Lund wound up more than a lap ahead of the pack at the checkered flag.

Lund finished second in an IMCA stock car feature race in Minot, N.D., on Thursday, July 28th. Friday, July 29th, at the same track, Lund was fourth fastest in time trials but could only manage a 12th place finish.

July 30, 1987

1988 - Separate disputes broiling at 34 Raceway, Donnellson

Burlington, Iowa (July 29, 1988) - A rift has developed between the International Motor Contest Association and Clinton driver Duke Jackson. Unfortunately, 34 Raceway, owner/promoter Larry Kemp and the state’s other late model pilots are also being devoured by the chasm.

At issue is an IMCA late model Summer Series race in Vinton July 14, won by Darrel DeFrance. Upon completion, Red Dralle indicated he wanted to claim Jackson’s engine for the $1,525 fee. Jackson refused the claim, and all hell broke loose. Kemp, co-promoter of the race, told Jackson he would lose his Summer Series points but retain his points at 34 Raceway, where he led a season-long battle with Burlington’s Ron Jackson.

Several days later, IMCA office manager Rick Haefner informed Duke Jackson he was suspended from racing at IMCA tracks for 21 days (his eligibility will return next weekend) and would lose both his Summer Series and local track points.

Kemp chose to stick to his original edict, and let Jackson compete at 34 Raceway the following week. The IMCA then sent letters to all late model drivers, telling them they would be penalized for competing in any race with Duke Jackson.

When Jackson once again participated at 34 Raceway last Saturday, six others - Lem Blankenship, Kevin Cale, Ron Jackson, Jeff Johnson, Frank Springsteen and Dave Warth - all left their late models on the trailers and did not compete.

On Sunday, promoters from the IMCA’s five sanctioned late model tracks - Kemp, Eldon’s Dale Gegner, Independence’s Jerry Blue, Marshalltown’s Barry Nuese and Steve Priske, and Webster City’s Bill Rice – met with the IMCA in Amana. There, they were told the original ruling stands.

“All we’re doing is enforcing the rule as it is written,” said IMCA executive secretary Bill Haglund. “Those rules were mailed to all 1987 members before the season began. Jackson was a member in 1987 and was aware of the penalty.”

Kemp and the other promoters maintain they were told, when the IMCA added the late model class last year, they would be allowed to determine the rules.

“I’m going to resign from IMCA because I'm just burned out on the late model thing,” he said.

One final note: All may not yet be resolved. It appears several technicalities in the IMCA rules were not followed when Dralle made the claim.

“I got a call from the guy that owns Duke Jackson’s car, and they have retained an attorney,” said Kemp. “They’re pursuing their rights.”

There won’t be racing in Donnellson, and nobody really realizes just how close the Lee County Speedway came to shutting down for the season.

This past week has been truly hectic for promoter Deo Loney and the Lee County Fair board – currently at odds over the operation of the 3/8-mile clay oval.

The two no longer have a contract for the completion of this season. That was dissolved last Tuesday, July 19 - prior to the opening of the Lee County Fair. Loney and the fair board are scheduled to meet Wednesday to try and come to terms for the rest of the summer.

Right now, racing is in limbo at Donnellson - on that, both Loney and fair board president Wayne Hennies agree. When or if it will resume remains up in the air.

“We’ll take a breather this week, but we will have races starting August 5 and then every Friday at least through August,” said Loney. “We’ll make a big show out of our season championship.”

‘There’ll be no races this week,” said Hennies. “It is anticipated agreements will be negotiated to continue for the remainder of the season. Right now, we’ve got nothing."

1959 - Barton a winner at Grand Forks

Grand Forks, N.D. (July 25, 1959) – Two dozen eager big car drivers were on hand for Frank Winkley’s North Dakota Big Car Opener at Grand Forks, and the field reeked of power as the big Offenhauser dominated the entry list.

A rather heavy track with long chutes and tight turns presented just about every problem in the book for the field as they rode wide, low, and in the middle, looking for that groove that would give them their money’s worth.

Canny Buzz Barton grabbed the lead on the second lap as he dove below Pete Folse in turn one and then stood off the challenges by Folse, Jack Rounds and Arnie Knepper to romp in the big winner.

Veteran IMCA drivers found a new threat in Parnelli Jones of Torrance, Calif., with this Chevrolet sprinter. Though the track was heavy, Jones managed to stay with the front-runners until a spinout on the 10th lap of the feature.

Promoter Frank Winkley stated that it was as sharp a field of big car drivers that he had ever seen in action on one track. “The large number of Californians in the lineup added color and speed,” Winkley was quoted.

Results –

1. Buzz Barton
2. Jack Rounds
3. Arnie Knepper
4. Pete Folse
5. Jim Hurtubise
6. Colby Scroggins
7. Bill Horstmeyer
8. Parnelli Jones

1979 – Sanger wins “Cheater” special at Aberdeen

Aberdeen, S.D. (July 24, 1979) – Drawn into the Dakotas by some high-purse specials, Iowans ran strong in the special “Cheater’s” race at the Brown County Fairgrounds track in Aberdeen.

The pay off was something else in itself, with heat wins worth $55.55 and the feature winner taking home $999.99 – and so on and so forth throughout the card.

Fastest of the Iowans was veteran Ed Sanger of Waterloo, who went home $1,000 richer by taking the feature race and one of the heats - $1,055.54 richer to be more precise.

Don Hoffman of Des Moines was second and Dick Schiltz of Waterloo was third, making it a clean sweep for the Iowans.

Results -

 

First Heat: Don Hoffman, Des Moines, Iowa

Second Heat: Ron Anderson, Webster, S.D.

Third Heat: Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa

Consolation: Bill Wilson, Jamestown, N.D.

Feature:

1. Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
2. Don Hoffman, Des Moines, Iowa
3. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo, Iowa
4. Bill Wilson, Jamestown, N.D.
5. Al Nordstrom, Aberdeen, S.D.

1965 – Larson Drives to First Place

Jud Larson

 

Kansas City, Mo. (July 23, 1965) – Jud Larson, a former Kansas Citian now living in Indianapolis, Indiana, took the lead on the third lap and won going away in the 30-lap feature of the United States Auto Club sprint car races last night at Lakeside Stadium in Kansas City.

Larson moved in front after Greg Weld of Kansas City and Johnny Rutherford of Fort Worth, Texas, locked wheels and both spun out. Carl Williams of Kansas City made an early challenge, but Larson refused to give up the lead spot.

A. J. Foyt of Houston, Texas, and Mario Andretti of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, did not appear for the races.

A crowd of about 7,500 saw 17 cars compete for purse of $6,350 and in the process rewrite the record list.

Weld, the point leader in USAC competition, set a lap record of 22.88 seconds in time trials and a heat race record of 3 minutes and 5 seconds in the first heat. He bettered times of 23.44 by Don Branson in 1963 and 3 minutes and 8 seconds by Jim Hurtubise the same year.

Larson eclipsed another Don Branson mark with his feature time of 12 minutes and 40 seconds. The old standard was 12 minutes and 49 seconds. Johnny White's semi-main mark of 4 minutes and 11 seconds in 1963 fell to Ronnie Duman of Dearborn, Michigan, who timed in at 4 minutes and 4 seconds.

Ray Lee Goodwin, Kansas City’s super modified race champion, got a chance to drive because of the shortage of drivers. Goodwin placed second in his heat race after leading for four laps. He finished a very creditable ninth in the feature.

Results –

First Heat - Greg Weld
Second Heat - Johnny Rutherford
Third Heat - Jerry Daniels
Semi-Main - Ronnie Duman
Feature - 
1. Jud Larson
2. Jerry Daniels
3. Carl Williams
4. Roger McCluskey
5. Don Branson
6. Bobby Unser
7. Red Riegel
8. Ronnie Duman
9. Ray Lee Goodwin
10. Bobby Black

1969 – Renshaw Robbed by Tattersall

Davenport, Iowa (July 22, 1969) – Bob Tattersall won the opening night of a six-night swing for the USAC midgets as he took the lead from Bill Renshaw on lap 22 and soared home to victory. Renshaw, driving the best race of his career, was the early leader and enjoyed a three-car length lead for awhile.

The night was full of action as the super midgets appeared 36 strong. Feature action started on the second lap as Chuck Amati went of the bank and Sonny Ates and Les Scott were locked bumper to bumper in a scramble of cars.

Bill Renshaw was leading the event and really moving with Merle Bettenhausen following and Tattersall along with Bill Englehart beginning a great battle. Chuck Weyant was on the move along with Mel Kenyon from the back of the pack.

The real battle for the first 20 laps was between Renshaw, Tattersall, Bettenhausen and Englehart. Tattersall was in second on lap 15 after a great battle with Merle. Englehart was always pressing throughout.

Lee Kunzman sailed off the embankment early in the race as Clark Templeman headed to the pits. At the halfway mark it was Renshaw with Tattersall pressing. Bettenhausen and Englehart fought for third and Weyant was up to fourth with Dave Strickland right behind. Don Vogler and Mel Kenyon had a good battle going behind Strickland as Larry Rice, Bruce Moore and Mel Cornett trailed.

Steve Troxell retired as did Templeman and they were followed to the pits by Rice, Cornett, and Vogler.

Tattersall took the lead and sailed to victory, never getting far from Renshaw. Bill Englehart caught and overtook Merle Bettenhausen for third and Weyant finished fifth. Mel Kenyon got by Strickland with only a few laps to go to take sixth and Dick Jones and Bruce Moore rounded out the running field.

Chuck Weyant won the first heat in grand style as he set a new 8-lap record of 2 minutes and 5.77 seconds. Les Scott, driving the Turner Offy, led every lap in winning the second heat. Sonny Ates took the lead from Bill Englehart on lap three to win the third heat. Bill Renshaw sailed by Dave Strickland for the lead to take the fourth heat.

Results –

Fast Time: Dave Strickland (15.21)

Trophy Dash: Bob Tattersall

Heat One: Chuck Weyant

Heat Two: Les Scott

Heat Three Sonny Ates

Heat Four: Bill Renshaw

Semi: Les Scott

Feature:

1. Bob Tattersall
2. Bill Renshaw
3. Bill Englehart
4. Merle Bettenhausen
5. Chuck Weyant
6. Mel Kenyon
7. Dave Strickland
8. Dick Jones
9. Bruce Moore
10. Don Vogler
11. Mel Cornett
12. Larry Rice
13. Steve Troxell
14. Clark Templeman
15. Lee Kunzman
16. Sonny Ates
17. Les Scott
18. Chuck Amati

2001 - An awful lot of wrenching; Hughes hits milestone

Monticello, Iowa (July 18, 2001) - Gus Hughes is a typical race car driver in a lot of ways. He’s friendly, easy to talk to, eager to get people involved in the sport he loves, and tends to discuss his race endeavors in terms of “we” instead of “I.”

There is nothing typical about Hughes’ race record, which includes a remarkable 101 feature victories (through July 14), in the Modified car division alone. Hughes recorded Modified feature win No. 100 on Thursday, July 5 in Davenport. Two nights later, in West Liberty, he picked up No. 101.

“It was great,” Hughes said. “Not a lot of guys get 100 feature wins.”

Hughes is quick to deflect the credit. “Mike Stoneking deserves to be mentioned. Without him we would not have known how many feature wins I had.”

Stoneking, who like Hughes is a Monticello native, best summarized the 100-win achievement. “He said, ‘That’s an awful lot of wrenching.’ A lot of work went into those feature wins,” Hughes said.

 

Hughes is the son of two race car drivers. Tom Hughes raced for more than 25 years. His mother, Aletha, still gets behind the wheel on occasion, and last year won the Powderpuff race at the Great Jones County Fair. He has six brothers and six sisters, many of whom are involved in racing. Gary and Russ Hughes are regular members of Gus’ crew, along with pit crew members Jeff and Jerry Hinrichs. Odis Hughes, Gus' sister, works for Simmons Promotions, Inc., which promotes racing at West Liberty and Farley, two of Gus’ regular haunts.

Hughes’ racing career dates back to the late 1960s. In 1967 he won his first trophy, in bike racing. His first race car was a ’68 Pontiac, which also brought him his first win.

“We demo’ed the same car the next day in Vinton,” Hughes recalled.

Hughes drove a Rambler, then a Mustang, then a Camaro, racing in the Pro Stock division until 1985. That year, he switched to Modified.

His first Modified feature win was May 17, 1985 at Hawkeye Downs. He went on to win 11 more Modified features that year, and the march toward 100 was under way.

Hughes has won 44 Modified features in West Liberty alone, 19 in Farley and 15 at Hawkeye Downs. He has won at tracks as near as the Great Jones County Fairgrounds, and as far away as New Smyrna, Fla. and Muskogee, Okla. He has also won them in Davenport, Dubuque, Tipton and at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.

Hughes has 67 additional wins in the Pro Stock division, giving him 168 in all.

Many race car drivers say they do it because of the speed. Hughes looks at it a different way.

“The thrill for me is starting toward the back, going through and passing all the cars. Sometimes you'll be going three or four laps against the same guy before you can pass him. That’s when it’s great.”

“A lot of it is the people you meet at the racetrack. I’ve got friends at all the racetracks, and I can stay at their places.”

Hughes also takes pride in building. His current WallyBilt machine was constructed mostly from scratch, starting with only a frame and a roll cage. He had some help, but did most of it himself. “It took us all season last year to build this car.”

Hughes said, standing next to the red and white No. 30 vehicle. “We started on Valentine's Day and didn't get done until August. It’s the satisfaction of building stuff and then going out and winning with it.”

This will probably be the last year of Hughes driving the car, as he has bigger plans for next year. Dan Burbridge, originally from Delhi and now living in High Point, N.C., is planning to work with Hughes on moving up to the Late Model division.

“Next year will be a good test for us,” Hughes said. “That will probably tell us how far we can go.”

Hughes is currently sponsored by H&H Homecrafters, along with Bard Concrete, Hughes Auto Restoration, D&S Sheet Metal of Cedar Rapids, Mi-T-M Corporation of Peosta, and Storm Steel of Cedar Rapids.

Next year, he said, “We’re going to have to get more sponsorship.”

He has another goal. Hughes is currently fourth in points in the Modified division at West Liberty. If he can take over the lead there, and accumulate enough victories, he can become the champion of the NASCAR Short Track Division Midwest Region, which would earn him $7,000 and some national recognition.

July 12, 1988

(Click on photo to enlarge)

1995 - For Miller, second best is a winner

Slinger, Wis. (July 11, 1995) - Gary St. Amant was so jubilant following Tuesday night’s Miller Genuine Draft Nationals finale at Slinger Super Speedway, he nearly put his fist through the roof of his car as he was celebrating.

The Columbus, Ohio, driver - a regular on the ASA circuit - looked like he had just accomplished the improbable in his first Nationals.

After recording a second-place finish in the last-chance race which he needed to even qualify for Tuesday’s 250-lap feature, St. Amant turned it on over the final 125 laps and held off Butch Miller of Vermillion, Ohio, to take the checkered flag.

Looks, however, can be deceiving. St. Amant’s car failed post-race inspection, giving Miller his second overall Nationals title. Miller, one of the top drivers on the NASCAR Super Truck circuit, also won the Nationals in 1988.

“When you win it’s a lot better to be the first one across the finish line,” said a happy but reserved Miller after the technical ruling and St. Amant disqualification was announced long after most of the fans had gone home.

“I feel bad for the (St. Amant) team because they raced hard and Gary’s a good racer,” said Miller, who won with 7,020 points and took home more than $8,000 in prize money. “But, on the other hand, you never turn down a win.”

After the ruling St. Amant was nowhere to be found. But his car owner and crew chief, Rich Wauters, admitted the tire tread width was found to be an inch too wide.

“Usually they don’t check anything after the race,” Wauters said. “This is one of them deals where they did, and we got caught.”

“There’s nothing you can do about it ... You’ve got to do what you can do to be competitive. It happens. That's why it’s called racing.”

ASA regular Scott Hansen’s second-place finish helped him to a fourth-place overall finish, and Lowell Bennett of Neenah was third to take fifth overall. St. Amant’s disqualification capped an entertaining race which featured additional controversy and more than its share of tough luck stories.

Only eight of the 24 cars which started the race finished, though there were no major incidents.

Shortly after the mandatory pit stop halfway through the race, Edgerton native Rich Bickle moved to the front and held the lead until lap 204, when he was black-flagged for spilling fuel on the track.

Bickle said a problem with the muffler caused the overflow hose from the fuel cell to melt, leading to a small fuel leak. Bickle came back to finish fourth in the race and second overall (5,400 points), but the penalty which took him out of title contention left him hot afterwards.

“(It) was just a little bit of fuel, it doesn’t make a difference,” Bickle said, adding his car didn’t handle well early. “We made adjustments to the car (and) it showed. I got in front and I was just cruising.”

First-round leader Bryan Reffner of Wisconsin Rapids ran in the top four most of the way until a tire went flat and he dropped out on lap 211. Reffner, who placed 11th, still managed to finish third overall (5,020 points).

“It was real disappointing," Reffner said. “When that stuff happens early in the race it doesn’t bother you as much. If we’d have finished second we had the (overall) thing won.”

Then there was Clinton veteran Joe Shear, who entered Tuesday night’s finale in third place. On Monday, Shear’s car developed engine problems. Cambridge’s Jason Schuler let Shear, drive his car, but Shear’s hopes of a fifth Nationals title ended midway through the race because of brake problems.

Winston Cup driver Dick Trickle put on a strong showing, finishing fifth, but had to battle back from tire problems.

And defending Nationals champion Matt Kenseth of Cambridge was never a factor, falling out on lap 118 with a drive train problem. Kenseth loaned the car he runs regularly at Madison International Speedway to Winston Cup and Busch Grand National driver Kenny Wallace and the two battled side by side during much of the first half of the race.

At one point they even bumped fenders hard enough for Wallace to be flagged into the pits to have his car fixed. Wallace later dropped out with transmission problems and finished 15th.

Even Miller, who consistently ran in the top three all night, didn’t go unscathed. Late in the race he and St. Amant got together coming off turn two.

“When we caught him it bent something on the front end and we were never as quick after that,” he said. “We were pretty fortunate just to finish second."

Make that first, Butch.

Results -

1. Butch Miller (Vermillion, Ohio)

2. Scott Hansen (Franklin)

3. Lowell Bennett (Neenah)

4. Rich Bickle (Concord, N.C.)

5. Dick Trickle (Iron Station, N.C)

6. Tony Strupp (West Bend)

7. Rich Loly (Oregon)

8. Scott Wimmer (Wausau)

9. Conrad Morgan (Mukwonago)

10. Jim Lynch (Milwaukee)

11. Bryan Reffner (Franklin)

12. Brad Mueller (Random Lake)

13. Rich Loch (Holes Comers)

14. Al Schill Sr. (Franklin)

15. Kenny Wallace (Concord, N.C)

16. Ken Schrader (Fenton, Mo.)

17. Joe Shear (Clinton)

18. Fran Prestay (Twin Lakes)

19. Joel Laufer (Slinger)

20. Matt Kenseth (Cambridge)

21. Jim Weber (Roseville, Minn.)

22. Al Schill Jr. (Franklin)

23. Dennis Lampman (Oak Creek)

24. Gary St. Amant (Columbus, Ohio).

1971 - Dake Overcomes Collision; Finishes First Before 8,407

Des Moines, Iowa (July 10, 1971) - Wild! That's the way to describe the late-model stock car feature won by Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids at the State Fairgrounds Saturday night before 8,407 fans.

Dake, who won the 25-lap event for the first time, survived a head-on collision with Dave Chase of Council Bluffs and also had the advantage of early leader Butch Householder of Algona falling out.

The Dake-Chase encounter came during the sixteenth lap as they raced down the backstretch.

Chase, running second at the time, got crossed up in front of Dake's 1970 Ford Torino - third then - and he had no place to go.

“There wasn’t anything I could do,” Dake said. “I just hung onto the steering wheel and hoped I wouldn’t start spinning.”

He didn’t and the episode didn't even slow down the race. Stan Stover of Reinbeck finished second in a 1970 Nova and point leader John Connolly of Delhi was third in a ‘69 Mercury.

Householder took the initial lead in the race and led through lap 18, when he was sidelined with mechanical problems. At one point he had nearly one-third lap edge.

There were several other heartbreaks during the night and Don Davidson of Des Moines was a victim of some wild driving by Dan Dickey of Packwood.

Davidson had been runner-up to Householder for the first eight laps and Dickey was running third. On the ninth lap, Davidson spun - his crew claimed Dickey was the cause and he appeared to be – and Dickey slammed into him.

Both cars were able to continue the race, but they had to take positions back in the pack.

Bob Hilmer of Dysart also was involved in a scrape in the feature and he was sidelined for a couple of laps, long enough to keep him out of the money.

Don Hoffman of Des Moines, who had won last week's feature, was involved in a collision with Bill Green of Des Moines in the semi-main and did not compete in the main.

Dick Gustin of Des Moines was back in the winner's circle for the second consecutive week in the 15-lap sportsman feature.

He had been sidelined twice in preliminary events but won the main by nearly one-half lap over Billy Geil, also of Des Moines. Gustin was in a 1965 Chevelle and Geil drove a 1957 Chevy.

Joe Merryfield of Des Moines, victim of a first-heat crash when he was leading coming out of the fourth turn on the last lap and some mechanical problems in the semi-main, was third.

George Barton of Ankeny drove Matt Moro’s 1957 Chevy - Moro was out of town – and finished fourth.


Results –


Late Model - 

1. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
2. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
3. John Connolly, Delhi
4. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
5. Larry Embrey, Grimes
6. Dan Dickey, Packwood
7. Bob Helm, Andalusia, Ill.
8. Ken Davidson, Des Moines
9. John Meyers, Brooklyn
10. Don Davidson, Des Moines

Sportsman - 

1. Dick Gustin, Des Moines
2. Billy Geil, Des Moines
3. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
4. George Barton, Ankeny
5. Phil Reece, Des Moines
6. Chuck Berg, Des Moines
7. Bill Holder, Ames
8. John Hutchinson, Des Moines

1972 - Fred Horn wins Iowa 300

Des Moines, Iowa (July 9, 1972) - The "Old Fox" wasn't on hand for Iowa's longest stock car race on Sunday, but his tactics still proved to be the winning way.

 

For six years in a row, Ernie Derr, Keokuk, had dominated the Iowa 300, run on the State Fairgrounds one-half mile track under the sponsorship of the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA).

That left the field in Sunday's race open to a new winner, and Fred Horn, Marion, came through in steady fashion to win the 150-mile event.

“I pulled an Ernie Derr on them,” Horn quipped after the race, adding, “I just took it easy and kept a steady pace, while other drivers pushed their equipment beyond its limit.”

That style of driving, while it is far from spectacular, has been the trademark of Derr and earned him the “Fox” nickname.

Although Horn said his engine was operating with a cracked piston, the 1970 Plymouth kept going while the others fell by the wayside.

With 40 laps to go, Horn was running more than a lap behind leader Gerry Harrison, Topeka, Kan. He passed the Kansas driver on the 261st lap to cut the lead to less than one lap and began to cut away at the Kansas driver’s margin.

In the next 17 laps he had slashed almost half a lap off Harrison's lead, and then got the break he needed. Harrison's car blew a tire and he had to come into the pits on the 288th lap.

Horn was short of tread on his tires when he finished the race, but he made it all the way through without a tire change - a major accomplishment on the concrete-like dirt surface.

Harrison got back out in time to take second, with Gordon Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa finishing third. Blankenship was forced into the pits twice on unscheduled stops when he had tires go flat, and finished five laps behind the leaders. Horn and Harrison were the only drivers to complete the full 300 laps.

Last year's IMCA rookie of the year, Jim Hager, Liberty, Mo., finished fourth and Vern Mondry, Lake Elmo, Minn., was fifth.

Carl VanderWal, Ames who ranked 10th in IMCA stock car points going into the race, completed 251 laps of the race by the time the checkered flag came out for a 16th-place finish.

The IMCA point leader, Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids, was touted as the favorite in the race, but as has happened several times before, mechanical failure put him out of the running. He went out of the race with a transmission failure before the halfway point of the endurance run.

 

Results –

1.    Fred Horn, Marion, Iowa

2.    Gerry Harrison, Topeka, Kan.

3.    Lem Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa

4.    Jim Hager, Liberty, Mo.

5.    Vern Mondry, Lake Elmo, Minn.

6.    Blackie Wangerin, Cascade, Iowa

7.    Tom Frazier, Jefferson City, Mo.

8.    Don Cooper, Sedalia, Mo.

9.    Thurman Lovejoy, Kansas City, Mo.

10.  Jim Still, Topeka, Kan.

11.  Jerry Covert, Topeka, Kan.

12.  Bill Stahl, St. Paul, Minn.

13.  Shorty Acker, Windsor, Mo.

14.  Verne Covert, Topeka, Kan.

15.  Jim Anderson, Kansas City, Mo.

16.  Carl Vander Wal, Ames, Iowa

17.  Ernie Shirley, Kansas City, Kan.

18.  Larry Sponsler, Des Moines, Iowa

19.  Roy McClellan, Kansas City, Mo.

20.  Roger Brown, Waverly, Iowa

1979 - NASCAR legend Pearson left an impression during visit to Golden Hawk Speedway

David Pearson (second from left) poses with Golden Hawk Speedway promoter Floyd Lenoch (second from right) and some fans prior to racing action on “David Pearson Night” in Mason City, Iowa, on July 8, 1979. 

 

 

 

Mason City, Iowa (July 8, 1979) — He was known as the “Silver Fox.” We can all remember watching the 1976 “Daytona 500” when he crashed with Richard Petty on the last lap and then limped across the finish line to score a dramatic victory.

David Pearson of Spartansburg, S.C., was one of the winningest drivers on NASCAR superspeedways yet for one evening he chose to race on a half-mile dirt track on the North Iowa Fairgrounds in Mason City.

“I love to race,” Pearson was quoted. “I cut my teeth on dirt in the Carolina’s, so this is nothing new to me.”

Pearson had lost his long-time ride with the Wood Brothers/Purolator Mercury earlier in the season following an incident at Darlington Raceway that was viewed by millions on national television. Pearson left the pit area early only to have his two left side tires fall off before he even reached the track. There had been a huge mix-up in the pits that caused Pearson to leave before the lug nuts were put on the tires.

Some blamed the crew. Some blamed Pearson, Whatever it was; it broke up the Pearson-Wood team that had dominated NASCAR for many years.

With no ride, Pearson chose to make special appearances around the nation racing on dirt tracks and it was during that period he found himself at Floyd Lenoch’s Golden Hawk Speedway in Mason City on July 8, 1979.

A capacity crowd turned out to see this veteran and he didn’t disappoint. He started dead last in his heat race and ran right near the tail the whole distance. “I wasn’t too concerned about racin’ in the heat — I jus’ wanted ta get the feel o’ the car,” he said in his lazy southern drawl. It was Pearson’s first time in the car owned by Bruce Busho of Owatonna, Minn.

Come feature time, it was obvious to everyone that Pearson had found the feel. From the back of the pack, he flew through the field like he had been in the same car and had driven the track a 100 times. He soon moved to the front of the race and eventually finished fourth behind winner Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa, Bill Rice of Des Moines and Kenny Farrell of New Hampton, Iowa. That he didn’t win didn’t seem to bother the race fans, they left that night knowing that Pearson could indeed drive a racecar.

Feature Results:

1. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona, Iowa
2. Bill Rice, Des Moines, Iowa
3. Kenny Farrell, New Hampton, Iowa
4. David Pearson, Spartansburg, S.C.
5. Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines, Iowa
6. Jerry Holtkamp, Williams, Iowa
7. Lynn Idler, Ionia, Iowa
8. John Allinson, Williams. Iowa
9. Ted Zieman, Mason City, Iowa
10. Bill Davis, Des Moines, Iowa

1980 - One-handed Hansen wins

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 6, 1980) - Curt Hansen, still feeling a little "tender" from the injuries he suffered nearly a month ago in a five-car pileup at Mason City Speedway, blew by Kalona's Ron Boyse on the backstretch of the second lap and literally drove one-handed the rest of the way to capture the Lou Shepard Memorial Classic 25-lap feature race Sunday night at Hawkeye Downs.

Hansen, who replaced his totaled, familiar No. "9" blue Olds body with a white Camaro body, shook off a torn shoulder muscle, a tender right hand and a pesky Mike Frieden to gain his first Hawkeye Speedway feature win of 1980.

"All of a sudden, I feel a little bit better," said a smiling Hansen after acknowledging a host of "glad to see you back" well-wishers.

"I still feel very sore and I'm still having trouble sleeping comfortably at night," added the 35-year-old Dike resident while signing autographs for some of his younger fans. "But this (the win) sure helps dull the pain a bit. I had my arm in a sling for about two weeks to hold it (the injured shoulder) in place and it wore some of the skin down on my right hand so my left hand was doing most of the steering."

One hand or two, the 12-year Downs vet, now in his 17th year of auto racing, had set the pace through the first 20 laps, opening up a very comfortable lead. It was at this point that Cedar Rapids' Gary Duggan, a little farther back in the pack, went sailing into the raceway's back wall, carrying 18 feet of upper fence with him. Duggan escaped serious injury and while his car was less fortunate, Downs’ officials restarted the race.

Hansen then fought off a continuous challenge by Frieden of Cedar Rapids on the last five laps to take home the Lou Shepard trophy.

Viola's Kenny Walton took third, followed by Kalona's Ron Boyse, Wilton's Tom Hearst (the Downs season point leader) and Cedar Falls veteran Larry Wasserfort. Marion's Steve Keppler came home in seventh place and West Liberty's Mel Morris finished eighth.

Scotch Grove's Jerry Naylor, hot on the comeback trail, took the five-lap Street Stock heat, while Cedar Rapids' Jim Stodola and Monticello's Jay Iben each won six-lap Sportsman heats.

Hansen, Frieden, and Boyse all won eight-lap Late Model heats before Naylor fought off a strong challenge from Chopper Safley of Cedar Rapids to win the Street Stock main in what proved to be the most exciting race of the evening.

Naylor and Safley ran neck-and-neck through the first five laps of the 12-lap race before the two of them tangled on the first turn of lap six. Safley was sent to the rear by Downs’ officials for causing the mishap but even that ruling didn't stop him.

The Sunday races were named in honor of the late Lou Shepard, the outstanding past-president of the All-Iowa Fair and longtime chairman of the race committee.

Results – 

1. Curt Hansen, Dike
2. Mike Frieden, Cedar Rapids
3. Ken Walton, Viola
4. Ron Boyse, Kalona
5. Tom Hearst, Wilton
6. Larry Wasserfort, Cedar Falls
7. Steve Keppler, Marion
8. Mel Morris, West Liberty
9. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
10. Red Dralle, Waterloo

1975 - Weedon an easy winner at West Liberty races

West Liberty, Iowa (July 5, 1975) - Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley took the lead midway through the race and then walked away from the field for a feature racing triumph here Saturday night.

Weedon worked his way past West Liberty’s Mel Morris, who had led from the start, two laps after a multi-car pileup in turns three and four. From that point he had clear sailing to the checkered flag, but the next three positions were hotly contested.

Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids finished ahead of Morris in the feature race and also placed ahead of him in a heat race to take the point standings lead - the first time anyone other than Morris has led this year.

Dake now has 2,740 points to 2,650 for Morris, while Mike Niffenegger has 2,005, Fred Horn 1,985, Ron Weedon 1,725 and John Connolly 1,705. Niffenegger had the night’s fastest time, while Jim Gerber, Larry Jenkins and Jim Strube got heat wins and Ray Guss won the semi-main.

Jack Hall of Muscatine won the sportsman feature after earlier winning a heat race. The other heat went to Ken DeGood, while Paul Dickey copped the semi-main.

The sportsman feature race also was halted after a three-car pileup that occurred after Mike Thiecker’s gas tank split open, spilling gas on the track.


Results - 


Late Model –

1. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
2. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
3. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
4. Mel Morris, West Liberty
5. Ron Prymek, Iowa City
6. Jim Strube, Peoria, Ill.
7. Ed Mellecker, Iowa City
8. Larry Rummelhart, Riverside
9. Larry Jenkins, Wilton
10. Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.
11. Gail Brenner, Wilton
12. Dave Birkhofer, Muscatine

Sportsman –

1. Jack Hall, Muscatine
2. Bill Douglass, West Liberty
3. Tom Rock, Atalissa
4. Gene Hearst, Muscatine
5. Steve Becker, Norway
6. Russ Wieland, Riverside
7. Roy Reece, Iowa City
8. Ken DeGood, Hills

July 3, 1975

(Click on photo to enlarge)

1974 - Melvin nabs coupe win at Mt. Vernon

Mt. Vernon, Ill. (July 2, 1974) - Race car owner Bernie Williams of Johnston City was all smiles last Friday night at the Williamson County Speedway when his driver Bob Melvin of Logan scrambled his way into the lead and captured the 20-lap modified coupe feature.

Williams, who recently acquired Melvin to drive his newly constructed coupe stated, “After 12 years of car building and a $7,000 investment, I am very pleased with everything, especially with my driver.”

Melvin also won a heat along with the fastest qualifier Ron Dameron of Marion. John Kemp of Belle River and Ray Emling of Du Quoin were other heat winners.

In other Friday night action in the super sprint division, the teenager Sammy Swindell, Jr. of West Memphis, Tennessee, returned to the Speedway and captured the 20-lap feature event. Swindell, who is probably the youngest veteran sprint car driver in the nation, displayed brilliant performance as he out-muscled second and third place finishers Chuck Amati of Marion and Cliff Cockrum of Benton.

Jerry Wiggs of Benton Cockrum and Hooker Hood of Memphis won the heats. Hood nabbed the trophy dash and Amati was the fastest qualifier.

Saturday night the coupes returned to the Speedway and it was John Kemp holding off Jim Eaves of Lick Creek and taking the 20-lap coupe feature. Eaves challenged many times for the lead but the former Eastern National Micro Midget driving champion held a tight groove for 20 grueling laps to take the checkered flag.

Don Floyd of Mt. Vernon downed 27 other competitors to take the qualification honors. He also won a heat race along with Bob Melvin and Gary Easton of Murphysboro. Floyd was also the winner of the 4-lap trophy dash.

Bill Hale of Centralia became the new point leader in the late model stock division when he captured the feature event. Boomer Means, also of Centralia, and C. B. Champion of Steeleville followed in the feature.

Ron Fisher of Olney set the fastest qualification time for the late models in his Camaro. Heats were won by Fisher, Hale and Means with Hale also winning the trophy dash.

Late model action is rapidly growing as the speedway hosts many new cars and competitors each week.