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
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