1978 - Wire-to-Wire Win for Wallace in Capital ARTGO 75

Rusty Wallace is joined in victory lane by his brother Kenny after winning ARTGO special at Capital Super Speedway. 

Oregon, Wis. (July 3, 1978) – Rusty Wallace of Arnold, Mo., won the 75-lap ARTGO holiday late model feature Monday night at Capital Super Speedway before the largest crowd ever assembled at the half-mile paved oval.

Wallace was late in arriving at the track, after making a nine-hour drive from Springfield, Mo., where he had raced on Sunday.

However, the 21-year-old chauffer still managed to turn in the evening’s 11th fastest time in qualifications to earn the outside front row starting assignment.

Wallace then made good use of the starting berth, rocketing into the lead and going on to the checkered flag without having to face any serious challenge in the contest, which was slowed only one by a caution flag.

Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., the night’s fastest qualifier, moved into second place on lap 15 after a tough battle with Doug Strasburg of Johnson Creek, Wis., who would eventually retire after 31 laps when mechanical issues troubled his mount.

Larry Detjens of Wausau, Wis., passed Bob Senneker of Dorr, Mich., to claim third place on lap 47, but without the benefit of a caution period, Detjens was unable to close on the frontrunners.

At the finish, Wallace held a 1.7 second lead over Trickle with Detjens third, Senneker fourth and track point leader Mike Miller of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., in fifth.


Results –


1. Rusty Wallace, Arnold, Mo.
2. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
3. Larry Detjens Wausau, Wis.
4. Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.
5. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
6. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
7. Tom Reffner, Rudolph, Wis.
8. Chuck Acres, Dolton, Ill.
9. Dave Roahrig, Plymouth, Ind.
10. Ed Hoffman, Niles, Ill.