1968 - Derr Cops Memorial Day Main at Topeka

 

Topeka, Kan. (May 30, 1968) – “All I have to do to get more speed out of that car, is stand harder on the gas pedal.”

That what Ernie Derr, eight-time International Motor Contest Association stock car champion said prior to Thursday’s Memorial Day Classic late model stock car race at Mid America Fairgrounds. Derr made the statement in explanation of why he’s not too worried about losing three of his first four starts this season.

Thursday night he proved what he meant. Coming into the home straightaway of the half-mile track on lap 3 of the 50-lap feature, Derr saw an opening. It was a call for more speed…

He stood on it and the red 1968 Dodge Charger responded, and the Keokuk, Iowa, veteran was through the opening and in the lead. He was never in any danger of losing it for the remainder of the race.

Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa, piloting a 1968 Plymouth, made a good race of it, but there was no catching Derr. His performance would indicate there will be a lot more Derr victories in the race ahead.

The biggest stock car field ever to appear here, 32 cars, was greeted by one of the largest crowds in recent years, 6,500. Every man, woman, and child was electrified by the showing of a bespectacled young man from Wichita, Kan., Leon Bowman.

Bowman finished no better than seventh in the feature, but his drive in the heat race made him the hero of the night with the fans.

Bowman drove a 1968 Mustang, the first of that breed to race with the stock cars here. It was the first time on the track for him in that car. In the third heat, he passed 11 cars to gain a victory worthy of a standing ovation from the crowd. After that, his every move was greeted with a roar from the paying customers.

Results –

1.    Ernie Derr

2.    Ramo Stott

3.    Karl Stauffer

4.    George England

5.    Ron Larson

6.    Butch Hall

7.    Leon Bowman

8.    Ken Pankrantz

9.    Tom Gruenwald

10.   John Tiller

11.   Ken Christie

12.   Blaine Morrow

 

1973 – Goodwin in Eldon IMCA Win

Ray Lee Goodwin - Memorial Day Winner

Eldon, Iowa (May 28, 1973) – It was cold and damp at the Wapello County Fairgrounds on Memorial Day but the racing surface was perfect for the International Motor Contest Association sprint cars.

The track record was unofficially broke during hot laps but when it counted, Darryl Dawley of Sioux Falls, S.D., set quick time, touring the big half-mile dirt oval in 22.92 seconds, breaking last year’s record of 23.46 set by Dick Sutcliffe of Greenwood, Mo.

Dawley would claim a controversial win over Jerry Blundy of Galesburg, Ill., in the first heat. Blundy slowed on the backstretch with his arm in the air expecting a yellow flag to wave for Larry Cramblet of Macomb, Ill., who had spun into the ditch in turn two. The judges counted him in the clear and held green as Dawley shot by Blundy for the lead and the eventual win.

The second heat was marred by the only real accident of the program when Thad Dosher of Topeka, Kan., flipped into the wall in turn two, tearing out a section of corrugated steel and sending Dosher to a local hospital where he was treated and released. Bill Utz of Sedalia, Mo., took the win over Ray Lee Goodwin.

Larry Kirkpatrick, driving Jim Utt’s Chevy out of Algona, Iowa, started eighth, slipped through traffic to take the lead by lap 3 and went on to win the third heat.

Goodwin won the trophy dash in 1 minute and 58 seconds, a full 10 seconds faster than last year’s record of 2 minutes and 8 seconds set by Dick Sutcliffe.

The scheduled 30-lap feature was shortened to four laps when the rains came, turning the track surface to grease. The victory was given to Ray Lee Goodwin, the leader when the race came to a halt.

Results –

1.    Ray Lee Goodwin, Kansas City

2.    Larry Cramblet, Macomb, Il.

3.    Gene Gennetten, Gladstone, Mo.

4.    Buzz Rose, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

5.    Bill Utz, Sedalia, Mo.

6.    Larry Kirkpatrick, Wood River, Ill.

7.    Daryl Dawley, Sioux Falls, S.D.

8.    Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.

9.    Harvey Grooms, Ottumwa, Iowa

10.  Tom Nordstrom, White Bear Lake, Minn.

1974 – Harrison Nabs IMCA Main at Topeka

Gerry Harrison

 

Topeka, Kan. (May 26, 1974) – It was a good day for drivers who hadn’t had much time in their cars they drove in the IMCA Memorial Day Classic at the Mid-America Fairgrounds on Sunday.

Gerry Harrison, in just his second race in his 1972 Chevelle, led the 50-lap feature green to checkered to score the victory over Bill Schwader of Pleasant Valley, Iowa, who was three car lengths back at the finish.

It was Schwader’s second race in his 1971 Ford Torino he purchased from Ron Hutcherson of Keokuk, Iowa, a former IMCA competitor.

Finishing fourth was Jim Dreasher of Topeka, driving the Dean Anderson 1974 Chevelle for the very first time. Shorty Acker of Windsor, Mo., slipped by him in the waning laps to take third.

One of the smallest crowds to watch a IMCA-sanctioned stock car race at the fairgrounds was on hand for the program that had been rained out Saturday night.

Harrison dealt with a variety of drivers in claiming his second Memorial Classic. He won the event in 1972.

Galen Schaefer of Topeka, the evening’s fast qualifier, was persistent through the first half of the race. Then his 1969 Chevelle got sick, started slowing, and finally retired after 45 laps, finishing tenth.

Defending IMCA national champion Gordon Blankenship of Keokuk, Iowa, was the next pursuer. He closed the gap and seemed to be getting within striking position when his 1970 Dodge started misfiring. He had to retire after 39 circuits and finished out of the top-10.

Schwader then took over and slowly cut the margin of Harrison, but was never able to get close enough to muster a pass. He would settle for second while Acker and Dreasher were the only other competitors to finish the 50 laps. Of the 21 starters, there were 12 cars left at the end of the race.

Results –

1.    Gerry Harrison, Topeka, Kan.

2.    Bill Schwader, Pleasant Valley, Iowa

3.    Shorty Acker, Windsor, Mo.

4.    Jim Dreasher, Topeka, Kan.

5.    Jim Anderson, Kansas City

6.    Bill Myers, Grand Island, Neb.

7.    Tommy Taylor, Irving, Tex.

8.    Vern Mondry, Lake Elmo, Minn.

9.    John Oswalt, Kansas City

10.   Galen Schaefer, Topeka, Kan.

1976 – Ziegler Holds Off Challengers for WIR Spring Opener

Kaukauna, Wis. (May 23, 1976) – John Ziegler of Madison, Wis., out battled Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., and Dave Watson of Milton, Wis., to win the Spring Opener 50 late model race at Wisconsin International Raceway on Sunday afternoon before more than 5,000 spectators.

Ziegler took the lead from Watson on lap 21 and held off challenges by Watson, Trickle, and Joe Shear of South Beloit, Ill., to chalk up the victory.

Al Schill of Franklin, Wis., came off his front row starting spot to pace the 24-car field for the first six laps before Beloit’s Gary Hemmerling took over the number one position. Watson then moved to the front on lap 12 with Ziegler close behind.

Ziegler then worked the inside and outside, looking for an opening, and found a gap on lap 21 as he slipped to the inside of Watson on the front stretch.

Watson would stay glued to the bumper of Ziegler until three lap from the finish when his engine soured. Trickle, the winner of the race last year, held down third position for most the race. On several occasions, he would pull even with Watson, but dropped out on lap 41 with mechanical problems.

With Watson and Trickle slacking their pace, Shear moved into the second spot to give chase to Ziegler, but was six car-lengths short at the checkered flag.

Following Ziegler and Shear to the finish line were Jim Sauter of Necedah, Wis., Watson, Tom Reffner of Rudolph, Wis., and Hemmerling.

In other action, Alan Kulwicki of Milwaukee won the accident-marred 15-lap semi-feature. Pete Parker of Kaukauna, Wis., and Marv Marzofka of Nekoosa, Wis., won 20-lap qualifying races.

Feature results –

1.     John Ziegler, Madison, Wis.

2.     Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.

3.     Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.

4.     Dave Watson, Milton, Wis.

5.     Tom Reffner, Rudolph, Wis.

6.     Gary Hemmerling, Beloit, Wis.

7.     Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa, Wis.

8.     Tom Musgrave, Friendship, Wis.

9.     Larry Detjens, Wausau, Wis.

10. Bill Oas, Bloomington, Minn.

11. Fred Bender, Sun Prairie, Wis.

12. Al Schill, Franklin, Wis.

13. Wally Jors, Fond du Lac, Wis.

14. Ted Musgrave, Friendship, Wis.

15. Bill Retallick, Marshall, Wis.

16. Rich Somers, Stevens Point, Wis.

17. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

18. Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.

19. Axel Dahlberg, Mauston, Wis.

20. Roger Lund, Mondovi, Wis.

21. Steve Arndt, Janesville, Wis.

22. Arnie Christen, Mineral Point, Wis.

23. Doug Strasburg, Johnson Creek, Wis.

24. Roger Regeth, Kimberly, Wis.

1969 – Stott Wins at Bristol

Ramo Stott waves at the crowd while take the checkered at Bristol.

 

Bristol, Tenn. (May 18, 1969) – Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa, twice ran out of gas at the Bristol International Speedway, but still managed to win the second annual Tennessee 500 stock car race by 10 laps. The race was sanctioned by the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA).

Stott guided his multi-colored 1969 Plymouth to a first-place finish as rain halted the 500-lap contest at the 412-lap mark. Stott was 10 laps ahead of second-place finisher Andy Hampton of Louisville, Ky., in a 1969 Dodge.

Stott average 73.163 miles per hour as three caution flags slowed the pace for 43 laps. The last 21 circuits were run under caution as a steady drizzle slowly soaked the approximately 6,000 race fans in attendance.

Pole-sitter Benny Parsons of Detroit, Mich., driving a 1969 Ford, was 11 laps behind in third place. Bobby Watson of Prestonsburg, Ky., the 1968 Tennessee 500 winner, was fourth in a 1969 Dodge and Iggy Katona of Willis, Mich., was fifth, 16 laps behind in a 1969 Dodge.

Results –

1.     Ramo Stott

2.     Andy Hampton

3.     Benny Parsons

4.     Bobby Watson

5.     Iggy Katona

6.     Dave Dayton

7.     Bill Clemons

8.     Louis Wusterhausen

9.     Bill Kimmel

10.   Wayne Trinkle

1976 – Hartman Hard Charging at Tri-County Speedway

Butch Hartman

West Chester, Ohio (May 16, 1976) – Butch Hartman, four-time United States Auto Club (USAC) stock-car champion, handily won the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) 100-lap Grand National race Sunday at Woody Fisher's Tri-County Speedway, leading from start to finish, and taking the checkered under the caution flag and raindrops. He drove a 1974 Dodge Charger for the win and was followed by LeMarr Marshall, A. Arnold, and Bob Dotter, on the same lap.

Fast time went to Marshall at 19.464 seconds in the ARCA Grand National Division, but Woody Fisher powered his making 1976 Chevelle to the trophy dash victory over Marshall, Hartman, and Arnold. Luther Burton notched a 10-lap heat victory over Kenny Black, Larry Scott, and Willard Googe; while the second heat was won by Bruce Gould over Moose Myers, Ralph Jones, and Charlie Moore.

 

Race favorite Woody Fisher was eliminated from the contest before one lap is completed when Marshall, after receiving a push start from Fisher, lost power again on the green flag and Fisher was obliged to bump him. Marshall's car continued but Fisher pitted with a broken gear.

The race saw for caution periods for total of 23 laps the first flew after the Fisher – Marshall brush, lasting three laps. The second appeared on the 11th circuit when Cleve Smith spun on the main stretch. Caution number three was shown on lap 16 when Larry Scott blew an engine. The final yellow bunting flew on the 91st counter for oil on the track from Tony Schiller’s mount and was compounded several laps later by showers.

Results –

 

1.     Butch Hartman

2.     LaMarr Marshall

3.     A. Arnold

4.     Bob Dotter

5.     Dave Dayton

6.     Charlie Paxton

7.     Tom Meinberg

8.     Kenny Black

9.     Luther Burton

10.   Willard Googe

1989 - Hansen Tops ASA Badgerland 150

Scott Hansen

 

West Allis, Wis. (May 14, 1989) - Scott Hansen of Green Bay, Wis., captured the Badgerland 150 at Wisconsin State Fair Park to become the first rookie to win an American Speed Association event on Sunday.

Never before in the history of ASA had a rookie won a race until the Wisconsin short track veteran of seven years took the checkered flag in front of Canadian Junior Hanley on the famed “Milwaukee Mile”.

Hansen drove the Baker Motorsports Chevrolet, which is prepared only 10 blocks away from the track, to the biggest win of his stock car racing career. The rookie of the year contender became the second different winner in two ASA races.

Hansen averaged 84.149 miles per hour and won $8,650 from a $83,600 purse.

In his first full season with ASA and winning in only his 16th career start, Hansen said, “I didn’t expect to win so quickly in ASA. This is my biggest win so far and it means a lot to win here in Wisconsin.”

Hanley held the lead for 26 laps before the first and only flurry of pit stops for the lead pack on lap 66 and dropped to 10th before working his way through the field to finish second.

Butch Miller, the ASA point leader, was among the top-eight before making his late-race charge from sixth and challenging Hanley side-by-side for several laps. He would settle for third place.

Wisconsin veteran Dick Trickle made his 1989 ASA debut and finish fourth while Mike Eddy, driving a V6 Buick, rounded out the top five.

NASCAR Winston Cup veteran and former ASA champions Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin did not finish. Wallace grabbed the lead from Hansen on lap 12 and held it for 27 circuits before retiring with transmission issues. Martin’s return to Milwaukee was marred by a broken axle sustained in a mishap on a restart.

Fifteen cars completed the full 150-mile distance and 27 of the 41-car field were running at the finish of the 18th ASA sanctioned race on the Milwaukee Mile since 1978.

Results –

1.    Scott Hansen, Green Bay, Wis.

2.    Junior Hanley, Oakville, Ontario, Canada

3.    Butch Miller, Coopersville, Mich.

4.    Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

5.    Mike Eddy, Midland, Mich.

6.    Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.

7.    Joe Shear, Lake Villa, Ill.

8.    Tom Jones. Northbrook, Ill.

9.    Kent Stauffer, Elyria, Ohio

10.  Steve Seligman, Northbrook, Ill.

11.  Ed Howe, Beaverton, Mich.

12.  Art Sommer, Mt. Clemens, Mich.

13.  Tony Raines, LaPorte, Ind.

14.   Jay Sauter, Necedah, Wis.

15.   John Wilson, Springfield, Ohio

16.   Gary St. Amant, Columbus, Ohio

17.   Mike Wallace, Fenton, Mo.

18.   Dick Barker, Port Huron, Mich.

19.   Glenn Allen Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio

20.   Doug Drook, Cincinnati, Ohio

21.   Jeff Neal, Grayslake, Ill.

22.   Robbie Reiser, Allenton, Wis.

23.   Kenny Wallace, Valley Park, Mo.

24.   Dennis Vogel, Manitowoc, Wis.

25.   Harold Fair, Detroit, Mich.

26.   John Olson, Stoughton, Wis.

27.   Ray Skillman, Greenwood, Ind.

28.   Buddy Schrock, Plain City, Ohio

29.   Tom Harrington, Hendersonville, Tenn.

30.   Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh, Wis.

31.   Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.

32.   Bruce VanderLaan, Grand Rapids, Mich.

33.   Lonnie Rush Jr., Pickerington, Ohio

34.   John Gerhart, Angola, Ind.

35.   Ed Evans, Dousman, Wis.

36.   Dennis Lampman, Oak Creek, Wis.

37.   Rusty Wallace, Charlotte, N.C.

38.  Todd Forbes, Bryan, Ohio