1984 – Trickle’s ASA 200 victory isn't without some doubt

Dick Trickle

 

 

 

West Allis, Wis. (August 26, 1984) - Dick Trickle had a lot on his mind during the final 70 laps of the Milwaukee Sentinel 200-mile stock car race Sunday afternoon at State Fair Park.

After taking the lead on lap 130 of the 200-lap race, Trickle was not thinking victory as much as he was about just finishing the American Speed Association (ASA) race. You see, that has been a big problem of his during ASA competition.

It wasn’t a problem this time though; as the veteran stock driver held on to win the ASA-sanctioned race with an average speed of 96.997 mph. It was his fourth victory at State Fair Park, but only his second in ASA this season.

“We’ve had a bad year in ASA competition, so it’s nice to win here,” said Trickle, who picked up $10,440 in earnings from a purse of $73,170. “I’ve had a good year, but ASA hasn't been good to me.”

“We’ve been competitive (in ASA), but we haven't been able to finish a lot of races. We’ve had a lot of little things go wrong with the car. Toward the end of the race, I was thinking more about what could go wrong than winning.”

Nothing went wrong. In fact, Trickle’s victory netted him more than he had anticipated, because he and Bobby Allison were declared co-winners of the Milwaukee Championship.

They both compiled 1,110 points from their finishes in three races - the Red Carpet 200, Miller 200 and Sunday’s race. As co-champions, they collected $3,200 each.

Alan Kulwicki of Greendale held the lead going into Sunday's race, with 790 points - 40 more than Allison, the defending NASCAR champion.

All Kulwicki needed was a high finish to win the Triple Crown, but he was forced out of the race on lap 70 with engine trouble.

“I really didn't think I had a chance at it,” Trickle said. “I didn’t do well in the Miller 200, so I felt my chances were not very good. It’s nice to win the extra money.”

Trickle then added with a half smile, “I had the best finish today, so I should get the whole thing.”

Trickle definitely finished better than Bobby Allison (ninth) and the rest of the 40-car field that began the 16th race on the 20-race ASA circuit.

Harold Fair of Livonia, Mich., finished .8 seconds behind pole-sitter Trickle. Fair drove a Firebird also and earned $6,575 in second-place money. Bob Senneker of Dorr, Mich., was third.

Jim Sauter of Necedah, the ASA point leader, was sixth and was never a serious challenger.

Ken Lund of Madison had the best finish among rookies, taking eighth despite transmission problems late in the race. Jay Sauter, another rookie, finished 10th in a race that had seven caution flags and 12 lead changes among seven drivers.

That first lead change belonged to Kulwicki, who started in the second row and passed Trickle after the first lap. He held it until Martin passed him on lap 20. Kulwicki regained the lead after most of the leaders stopped at the pits on a yellow that came out on lap 49; but, 20 laps later he was knocked out of the race with engine trouble. Several drivers held the lead after that point, with Trickle taking over for good on lap 130.

Trickle pitted on lap 75 and again on 120, both times for fuel and tires. After the second stop, the Wisconsin Rapids resident had little trouble overtaking Mike Eddy for the lead.

“I was driving very conservatively at the end,” Trickle said. “Once I got the lead, I just kept a comfortable distance. I just wanted to win the race; I didn’t care by how much.”

“You have to give my crew a lot of credit. They changed all four tires both times and we still beat our competitors out.”

According to Trickle, his victory is a sign of what to expect in the remaining weeks of the racing season.

“I think we're going to finish strong,” he said. “I'm looking forward to the remaining ASA races. We should do well.”

 

Results –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
2. Harold Fair, Lavonia, Mich.
3. Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.
4. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
5. Butch Miller. Lawton, Mich.
6. Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
7. Mike Miller, Midland, Mich.
8. Ken Lund, Madison, Wis.
9. Bobby Allison, Hueytown, Ala.
10. Jay Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
11. Dave Watson, Milton, Wis.
12. Tom Reffner, Rudolph, Wis.
13. John Ziegler, Madison, Wis.
14. Ed Evans, West Allis, Wis.
15. Dave Simko, Clarkston, Mich.
16. Larry Conroy, Holland, Ill.
17. Don Collins, Antioch, Ill.
18. Doug Klein, Fairview Heights, Ill.
19. Tom Harrington, Loveland, Ohio
20. Kent Stauffer, Elyria, Ohio
21. Al Laufer, Hartford, Wis.
22. Danny Darnell, Waukegan, Ill.
23. Conrad Morgan, Dousman, Wis.
24. Dennis Vogel, Manitowoc, Wis.
25. Ken Christenson, La Crosse, Wis.
26. Scott Hansen, Green Bay, Wis.
27. Russ Peterson, Hartford, Wis.
28. Tom Jones, Northbrook, Ill.
29. Willie Goeden, Kewaskum, Wis.
30. Bobby Dotter, Chicago, Ill.
31. Don Gregory, Columbus, Ohio
32. Tom Musgrave, Glenview, Ill
33. Alan Kulwicki, Greenfield, Wis.
34. Davey Allison, Hueytown, Ala.