1972 - Bad luck continues to plague Shryock team at Fairmont track

Fairmont, Minn. (May 28, 1972) - Dave Bjorge of Austin won the accident-marred feature race of the late model stock car races here at the Fairmont Speedways on Friday night. Bjorge started in the pole position with his '69 Plymouth and then outlasted Mert Williams of Rochester.

Involved in the 4-car were Ole Brua of Albert Lea, Mike Enter of St. Peter, Joe Salner of St. Cloud and Bob Shryock of Estherville. Brua hit the back wall during the backstretch of the fourth lap, rolled with the other three cars piling in. Brua somehow got out of his safety harness, escaped through the car’s safety cage and got off the track. He suffered second and third degree burns on his hands and arms with burns also on his legs. The other drivers escaped with minor injuries. Brua’s car was totally burned up.

Only two drivers cracked the 27-second mark over the half-mile track. Bob Weber of Lone Rock, Iowa, driving a ‘64 Chevelle was the pacesetter in 26.22 seconds. Joe Salner of St. Cloud, driving a ‘65 Studebaker with a 350 Chevrolet engine was clocked in 26.97 during the time trials.

Mert Williams, point leader at the start of the race program of the late model division, won the first heat while Ole Brua of Albert Lea took top honors in the second heat. Williams, of Rochester, starting the night’s program with 500 points in two nights of racing, took the lead on the second lap after starting on the second row inside. Williams was driving a ‘70 Monte Carlo. Brua, in a ‘69 Torino, started on the third row inside, fought his way through heavy traffic during the first four laps but then won by a comfortable margin over Bob Weber of Lone Rock, Iowa. Al Jackson set the early pace in the second heat but fell to the back of the pack after spinning out during the fourth lap.

Joe Salner of St. Cloud outlasted Brua in the late model dash event. Salner, starting on the pole position took the lead on the second lap and then held off Brua. Brua nosed past Salner briefly on the back stretch of the final lap but then Slaner regained the lead when Brua went high on the number three corner. Salner then stayed low on the track and won by less than two feet.

Jim Calverley of Albert Lea took advantage of the pole position in the late model consolation race to outrace five other drivers for top money. Jack Piver of Mason City was second. Calverley was driving a ‘69 Camaro while Piver was in a ‘65 Chevelle.

Top honors in the street model class went to Bill Hawker of Alden and Bob Wohlford of Fairmont. Hawker, driving a Dodge won the first heat after starting on the first row outside. Wolford, in a Ford, started on fourth row inside and took the lead on the sixth lap when Gary Saathoff, the pace setter since the second lap, blew a tire and was forced out of the race.