1961 – Late Model 100 to Goldsmith

Paul Goldsmith

Dayton, Ohio (April 23, 1961) – Paul Goldsmith of St. Clair Shores, Mich., won his third USAC late model stock car race of the season, taking the 100-lap feature with an average of 89.87 miles per hour. Goldsmith, who had won previously at Phoenix and Los Angeles, collected $750 for his efforts. 

Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, who holds the one-lap record at Dayton Speedway, which he set last season, chased Goldsmith across the finish line in a close finish. A lap behind were Bill Shoulders of Waukegan, Ill., Whitey Johnson of Hammond, Ind., and Les Snow of Bloomington, Ill.

Twenty-two cars started the feature with 18 finishing. Time for the 100-lap feature was 36 minutes and 2 seconds.

Goldsmith, driving a 1961 Pontiac, was in second place behind Bill Cheesbourg of Tucson, Ariz., from lap seven to lap 38. Cheesebourg started to slow and Goldsmith scooted by a lap later. Cheesbourg would retire four laps later with a broken axle. Goldsmith was never headed after that.

Results –

1.     Paul Goldsmith, St. Clair Shores, Mich.

2.     Don White, Keokuk, Iowa

3.     Bill Shoulders, Waukegan, Ill.

4.     Whitey Johnson, Hammond, Ind.

5.     Les Snow, Bloomington, Ill.

6.     Gene Marmor, Schiller Park, Ill.

7.     Don Oldenburg, Highland, Ind.

8.     Bill Lutz, Chicago, Ill.

9.     Sal Tovella, Chicago, Ill.

10.  Dave Lundman, Libertyville, Ill