Des Moines,
Iowa (July 27, 1977) – Sammy Swindell of Bartlett, Tenn., proved once again
that racing talent comes in all sizes, when he galloped to victory in the
25-lap Elder-Forrester Invitational feature win at the Iowa State Fairgrounds
on Wednesday night.
The
diminutive 21-year-old came on like a bolt of lightning. He started in the
fourth row, shot past the pack, and beat an all-star field in an impressive
way.
He had such
stalwarts as Doug Wolfgang of Des Moines, Ron Shuman of Tempe, Ariz., and Bobby
Marshall of Dallas, Tex., all playing catch-up.
Swindell was
the third leader in the race. Butch Bahr of Grand Island, Neb., led the first
four laps, then local standout Doug Wolfgang took the lead going into lap 10
and that was the end of that.
Wolfgang,
whose car was belching blue smoke most of the way, ran second to Swindell until
lap 24, when he crashed into the wall on the first turn. He was not injured
when either a tie rod or right front radius rod broke.
It was
definitely a night to remember. Corn Belt Racing Inc., promotions are becoming
record-breaking events. The more than 5,000 fans saw a new one-lap record fall
before sunset. Rick Ferkel of Findlay, Ohio, raced around the half-mile dirt
oval in 22.162 seconds, eclipsing the old mark set just four weeks ago by Ron
Shuman at 22.569 seconds.
Swindell
gave an early indication as to his plan of attack early in the evening when he
dominated the third heat. Like a slingshot, he zipped by five cars before the
first lap was even completed. He also set a new record in the heat, circling 8
laps in a scorching time of 3 minutes and 8 seconds.
Wolfgang,
the golden boy of sprint car racing now a days, got his act together early in
the evening by winning the trophy dash.
Results –
Fast time –
Rick Ferkel, Findlay, Ohio (22.162)
Trophy dash
– Doug Wolfgang, Des Moines
Heat 1 –
Jimmy Sills, Sacramento, Calif.
Heat #2 –
Don Vogler, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Heat #3 –
Sammy Swindell, Bartlett, Tenn.
Heat #4 –
Roger Rager, Mound, Minn.
B-main – Jim
Riggins, Lincoln, Neb.
Feature –
1. Sammy Swindell
2. Ron Shuman, Tempe, Ariz.
3. Leland McSpadden, Phoenix
4. Jimmy Boyd, Dixon, Calif.
5. Bobby Marshall, Dallas, Tex.
6. Jimmy Sills
7. Rick Ferkel
8. Mike Shaw, Northridge, Calif.
9. Butch Bahr, Grand Island, Neb.
10. Ralph Parkinson Jr., Kansas City
11. Lloyd Beckman, Lincoln, Neb.
12. Jerry Blundy, Dahinda, Ill.
13. Doug Wolfgang
14. Mike Thomas, Des Moines
15. Mike Pinckney, Des Moines
16. Jan Opperman, Noxon, Mont.
17. John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn.
18. Lenard McCarl, Des Moines
19. Randy Smith, Norwalk, Iowa
20. Jim Riggins
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