Cedar
Rapids, Iowa (August 10, 1971) – Bill McDonough started his ’64 Chevelle on the
pole and then outraced IMCA champion Ernie Derr and ARCA champion Ramo Stott to
win the first annual Iowa Challenge Cup Tuesday night at Hawkeye Downs. The win
was worth $2,190 to the popular Cedar Rapids driver.
It was a
capacity crowd off over 8,000 in attendance at Hawkeye Downs, as more than
2,000 more race fans were turned away at the gate. Richard Petty, the NASCAR
“king” made a personal appearance, announcing, “Gentlemen, start your engines”
to begin the 50-lap main event.
The top 24
in time trials took the green with McDonough on the pole by virtue of his 25.00
second clocking on the half-mile. Jim Gerber of Mt Joy, Iowa, was second
fastest with 25.19 seconds and Roger Dolan of Lisbon, Iowa, was at 25.48
seconds.
Gerber would
jump off to a small lead at the start of the feature with McDonough, Ron
Hemsted of Lone Tree, Iowa, Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa, and Dolan in hot
pursuit. Gerber would lead for three laps before dropping out with mechanical
problems, giving the top spot to McDonough.
Ed Sanger
would settle into second by lap 11 with Derr running third and Hemsted dropping
back to fourth.
On a red
flag, Sanger pitted to gas up and was immediately disqualified drawing
unfavorable reaction from the sellout crowd. The show would be delayed almost
30 minutes to settle the issue with Sanger. He would eventually lose his
argument and load his car.
The feature
restarted, and Stott, back in eighth, started to move forward through the pack.
Ramo would get by Derr on the 48th lap but it would be too little, too late in
reaching McDonough as the checkers waved.
Derr would
end up in third, Roger Dolan would take fourth and Ron Hemsted would settle for
fifth.
Derr would
win the trophy dash while heat wins went to Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Lee
Kunzman of Guttenberg, Iowa, Ron Prymek of Iowa City, Iowa and Terry Ryan of
Davenport, Iowa. The consolation winner was John Moss of Iowa City, Iowa.
Results –
1. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2. Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Roger Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa
5. Ron Hemsted, Lone Tree, Iowa
6. Bob Hilmer, Dysart, Iowa
7. Dean Montgomery, Milan, Ill.
8. Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
9. Fred Horn, Marion, Iowa
10.
Lee
Kunzman, Guttenberg, Iowa
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