Holts
Summit, Mo. (October 11, 1980) – The 1980 racing season came to an
action-packed end at Capital Speedway when over 65 late models competed in the
Goodyear Missouri Nationals.
Time trials,
qualifying heats, and a handicap race were held on Friday night. On Saturday
night, two consolation races were followed by twin 50-lap features.
Ken Walton
of Viola, Iowa, set a new track record, turning the 3/8-mile in 20 seconds
flat.
The six
fastest qualifiers, Ken Walton, Kevin Gundaker of St. Louis, Dick Schiltz of
Waterloo, Iowa, Leon Plank of Eau Claire, Wis., Ron Jackson of Burlington,
Iowa, and Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa, competed in a six-lap handicap race
with Niffenegger posting a flag-to-flag victory.
Ron Fisher
of Centuria, Ill., and Dalton Walker of Curryville, Mo., won their respective
consolation races on Saturday night, enabling them to enter the field for the
twin 50-lap features.
In the first
feature race, Ken Walton jumped to an early lead when the green flag dropped
with Kevin Gundaker right behind. Gundaker would take the lead on lap 4 and
maintained it for the next 15 circuits until bowing again to Walton. Gundaker,
charging hard, got together with Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, between
turns three and four and had to be towed to the pit area with front end damage.
Walton
continued to lead the field for the next 25 laps but the victory wasn’t to be
his. A broken spring would slow Walton with only five laps to go allowing Mike
Niffenegger to inherit the top spot and go home with the $1,000 paycheck and
trophy. Walton would settle for second with Billy Moyer Jr. of Des Moines in
third, Ron Jackson in fourth and Ken Schrader of Fenton, Mo., in fifth.
The second
feature saw the top six finishers of the first 50-lapper inverted in the front
of the field with the other late model competitors filling in according to
their finish in the first feature.
Ken Schrader
took the lead at the green with Ron Jackson a close second. Jackson would
charge ahead on lap 4 only to lose the top spot to Bill Martin of Council
Bluffs, Iowa, for one lap. Jackson would get by Martin on lap 6 and hold it for
the final 44 tours to take home the other $1,000 check and trophy.
For the second
time that evening, Ken Walton found himself finishing second with Niffenegger,
Schrader, and Larry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., rounding out the top five.
Results –
Feature #1 –
1. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona, Iowa
2. Ken Walton, Viola, Iowa
3. Bill Moyer Jr., Des Moines
4. Ron Jackson, Burlington, Iowa
5. Ken Schrader, Fenton, Mo.
6. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs, Iowa
7. Leon Plank, Eau Claire, Wis.
8. Vic Bentlage, Jefferson City, Mo.
9. Dick Taylor, Springfield, Ill.
10. Johnny Johnson, Morning Sun, Iowa
11. Ed Knaebel, Jefferson City, Mo.
12. Joe Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
13. Larry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
14. Gene Claxton, Kansas City
15. Brian Leslie, Hamilton, Ill.
16. Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
17. John Connolly, Delhi, Iowa
18. Len Gittemeier, St. Charles, Mo.
19. Dan Dickey, Packwood, Iowa
20. Ed Gray, Jefferson City, Mo.
21. Galen Schaefer, Topeka, Kan.
22. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
23. Mike Barbeau, Bridgeton, Mo.
24. Shorty Ackers, Windsor Heights, Mo.
25. Rick Kimberling, Slater, Mo.
26. Steve Keppler, Marion, Iowa
27. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo, Iowa
28. Dalton Walker, Curryville, Mo.
Feature #2 –
1. Ron Jackson
2. Ken Walton
3. Mike Niffenegger
4. Ken Schrader
5. Larry Phillips
6. Ed Knaebel
7. Steve Keppler
8. Galen Schaefer
9. Billy Moyer Jr.
10. Brian Leslie
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