1969 - Cannon claims first career USAC midget win

 

Springfield, Ill. (August 18, 1969) – Larry Cannon and George McBeath teamed up and won their first USAC midget race at Springfield Speedway.

Cannon took the lead on lap 24 of the 50-lap feature and was never headed. It was his first midget win and the first for the car as well.

The early leader, Bob Wente in the Elder Cadillac Offy, finished second after leading for the first 23 circuits. Dave Strickland brought the Shannon Offy from his eighth starting position to a third place finish in the quick paced event. Only two cars were off the lead lap when the checkers few.

Larry Rice was really moving after he slipped from third to seventh with a spin in turn four. The Linden, Indiana charger was back up to fourth at the finish. Johnnie Anderson, driving the King O’ Lawn Offy, moved from his ninth starting spot to round out the top five.

Mel Kenyon was the fast man on the evening, starting 13th and taking sixth and Tom Bigelow brought home the Bob Willy Chevy II in seventh over a pressing Don Vogler, Dick Jones and  Hank Butcher.

Bob Tattersall, piloting Merle Bettenhausen’s car, got into the feature as an alternate and settled for 13th in the main event.

Johnnie Anderson set quick time in qualifying, touring the quarter-mile dirt oval in 12.91 seconds.

Results –

Qualifying: Johnnie Anderson (12.91)

Trophy Dash: Tom Bigelow

First Heat: Mel Kenyon

Second Heat: Bob Tattersall

Third Heat: Bill Englehart

Fourth Heat: Bob Lithgow

Semi: Bob Tattersall

Feature:

1. Larry Cannon
2. Bob Wente
3. Dave Strickland
4. Larry Rice
5. Johnnie Anderson
6. Mel Kenyon
7. Tom Bigelow
8. Don Vogler
9. Dick Jones
10. Hank Butcher
11. Bill Englehart
12. Mike McGreevy
13. Bob Tattersall
14. Chuck Arnold
15. Roger Branson
16. Bill Renshaw
17. Larry Kirkpatrick
18. Roger West