1976 – Wallace Captures Knoxville Fall Jamboree

Knoxville, Iowa (September 11, 1976) – Joe Wallace of Kansas City, Mo., returned to the Knoxville Fall Jamboree this year after a disappointing showing last year and walked off with the $4,000 late model payday after leading green to checkered in the 50-lap late model stock car main event on the half-mile dirt oval on Saturday night.

Steve Keppler of Marion, Iowa, held second place throughout the race and took home $2,000 for his efforts. Don Hoffman of Des Moines, who started way back in the field, moved his way through traffic to take third place, after he ran a flawless qualifying heat on Friday night, winning by a quarter lap over the remainder of the field.

“Injun” Joe Merryfield of Des Moines, who won the late model trophy dash on Friday night, placed fourth in the feature followed by Thursday’s fastest qualifier, Dave Schrock of Ramey, Penn.

Gary Crawford of Independence, Iowa, copped the $2,000 first place money in the sportsman feature, leading from the sixth lap until the drop of the checkered flag on lap 35.

Finishing second was Denny Osborn of Cedar Falls, Iowa, followed by Herb Shannon of Peoria, Ill., Rocky Hodges of Des Moines, and 12-time IMCA national champion Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa.

Among the remaining late model heat winners were Ken Walton of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Doug Kenimer of Dahlonega, Ga., and Fred Knapp of Des Moines.

Sportsman heat winners were Jack Mitchell of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Rick Merryfield of Des Moines, Red Dralle of Evansdale, Iowa, Wayne Lensing of Rockford Ill., and Ken Davidson of Des Moines.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Joe Wallace, Kansas City, Mo.
2. Steve Keppler, Marion, Iowa
3. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
4. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
5. Dave Schrock, Ramey, Penn.
6. Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa
7. Dave Chase, Council Bluffs, Iowa
8. Bill Rice, Des Moines
9. Kent Tucker, Aurora, Neb.
10.Jerry Wancewicz, Omaha, Neb.

Sportsman –

1. Gary Crawford, Independence, Iowa
2. Denny Osborn, Iowa
3. Herb Shannon, Peoria, Ill.
4. Rocky Hodges, Des Moines
5. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
6. Larry Embrey, Grimes, Iowa
7. Bob Kinsella, Dubuque, Iowa
8. Red Dralle, Evansdale, Iowa
9. Jack Mitchell, Cedar Falls, Iowa
10.Gail Brenner, Wilton, Iowa