1985 – Raymond Wins ARCA Southern Illinois 200

Lee Raymond (1) passes Gary Bettenhausen (99) en route to winning the ARCA-sanctioned Southern Illinois 200. - Bob Mays Photo

Du Quoin, Ill. (September 1, 1985) – Lee Raymond, the season long ARCA Supercar Series point leader, took a major step towards locking up the title by winning the Southern Illinois 200 Sunday at Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.

Some late race drama unfolded when Raymond, who had a full lap on second place Dean Roper and third place John Prior, cut a tire and was forced to pit on the 185th lap under green. Roper made up enough ground on the one-mile dirt oval to get back on the lead lap, but Raymond’s crew serviced his Monte Carlo quick enough to hold the point position.

“The crew won this one,” Raymond said afterwards. Despite leading the series’ points since early in the season, it was Raymond’s first victory of the 1985 season.

“It’s been a long dry spell for us this year,” Raymond said of his fifth career ARCA win. “This gives me a little breathing room in the point race. (Car owner) Jim Doyle has been through these point races before, but it’s a new experience for me.”

Bobby Jacks posted pole qualifying speed for the third consecutive year at Du Quoin and led through lap 32. Raymond took over on lap 33, but Jacks regained the top spot on lap 47. When Raymond, who seemed to get stronger as the 200-mile race wore on, took command on the 51st circuit. He gave up the lead only to Roper from lap 104 to 123 during pit stops. 

An estimated 9,000 Du Quoin State Fair spectators saw Raymond take the checkers 12 seconds ahead of Roper. They then gasped as John Prior beat Bob Brevak to the finish line for third, lost control, smashed the first turn guard rail and flipped. Prior, who was uninjured, and Brevak were followed by defending race champion David Goldsberry.

Results –

1.    Lee Raymond

2.    Dean Roper

3.    John Prior

4.    Bob Brevak

5.    David Goldsberry

6.    Terry Pearson

7.    Bill Venturini

8.    Mike Fry

9.    Dick Taylor

10.  Emmett Groves

11.  Jim Jeffrey

12.  Dave Simko

13.  Don Marmor

14.  Steve Drake

15.  Jerry Huffman

16.  Bob Schacht

17.  Bobby Jacks

18.  Rolf Helland

19.  Gary Bettenhausen

20.  Roger Drake

21.  Jim Hall

22.  Tom Bigelow

23.  Rick O’Brien

24.  Butch Garner

25.  Bob Dotter

26.  Bosco Lowe

27.  Randy Huffman

28.  Ken Rowley

29.  Scott Stovall

30.  Davey Allison