West
Liberty, Iowa (April 16, 1977) – An all-time record crowd of 9,000 race fans
saw stock car racing at its best at the Spring Championship opener at the West
Liberty Fairgrounds.
With ideal
weather, a track that was in excellent shape, and 81 drivers on hand, all eager
for their share of the $5,000 plus purse, the evening was jam-packed with
action and excitement.
Drivers from
all over Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Canada made the
call for the season opener. But it was Duane Steffe of Colona, Ill, who took
home the big money by winning the 25-lap late model feature.
Heading the
list of thrills was seeing the track record broke, not just once, but four
times, during qualifying. Three drivers broke the record of 24.21 seconds set
by Curt Hansen of Dike, Iowa, in 1975.
Ken Walton of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, lowered Hansen’s time twice, and now
holds the new track record at West Liberty. He toured the half-mile in 23.90
seconds in his first lap and then bettered his mark the second time around, in
23.69 seconds. Also breaking the record was Ray Guss Jr. of Milan, Ill., who
timed in at 23.98 seconds and Tom Hearst of Wilton, Iowa, with a time of 24.11
seconds.
Steffe has
been a regular racing contender at West Liberty for several seasons. Last
season he finished third in points. He would start the feature on the outside
of the first row and take the lead on the first lap. He would successfully hold
off charges from polesitter Gary Webb of Davenport, Iowa and Steve Keppler of
Marion, Iowa, who were both on his heels in the early laps.
After
several laps, Ray Guss and Tom Hearst would move into the third and fourth
spots, joining the battle for the lead. Doing superb driving in only his second
time out in his new Camaro, Steffe held off his challengers and kept the lead
throughout.
Ken Walton’s
new Camaro, in its premier appearance, became overheated towards the end of the
race and he would lose several positions before the checkered flag waved. Mike
Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa, the 1976 point leader, didn’t finish at the front
of the pack, as he was having mechanical issues as well with his new Camaro.
Late model
heat winners were Jim Burbridge of Delhi, Iowa, Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo,
Iowa, Ron Hemsted of Lone Tree, Iowa, Gary Crawford of Independence, Iowa and
Don Hoffman of Des Moines. Hemsted also won the consolation.
Results –
Fast time –
Ken Walton, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (23.69)
Heat #1 –
Jim Burbridge, Delhi, Iowa
Heat #2 –
Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa
Heat #3 –
Ron Hemsted, Lone Tree, Iowa
Heat #4 – Gary
Crawford, Independence, Iowa
Heat #5 –
Don Hoffman, Des Moines
Consolation
– Ron Hemsted
Feature –
1. Duane Steffe, Colona, Ill.
2. Steve Keppler, Marion, Iowa
3. Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.
4. Tom Hearst, Wilton, Iowa
5. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley, Iowa
6. Bill Zwanziger
7. Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
8. Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo, Iowa
9. Ed Mellecker, Iowa City, Iowa
10. Red Dralle, Waterloo, Iowa
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