After years of trying, Lynn Paxton would nab his first career National Open title in 1982.
Mechanicsburg, Penn. (September 18, 1982) – Lynn Paxton made his first-ever Williams Grove National Open victory a personal high $6,800 payday as he completely dominated Saturday night’s season-ending 75-lap encounter for super sprints.
The 38-year-old Paxton, a Grove Open also-ran every year since making his initial start in the event in 1963, collected $5,000 for the win plus $1,500 in lap money for leading from flag-to-flag and $300 for having had fast time.Three-time Open winner Steve Smith gained second place at the expense of Randy Wolfe when Wolfe’s engine started to sputter with five laps to go.
Smith took home $2,250 while Wolfe held on for third and $2,200. Jimmy Horton was fourth and George Ferguson Jr. fifth. Rounding out the top-10 were Paul Lotier, Dave Blaney, Barry Camp, Jim Nace and George Bischof.
Earlier Saturday, Grove officials reviewed pictures of the finish of Friday’s 35-lap feature and declared Paxton a dead-heat winner with Blaney. Paxton pocketed an extra $500 as a result of that decision.
In a victory lane interview after his Open success, Paxton heaped praise on his mechanics, Davey Brown Jr. and Sr., for their work in preparing the Boop’s Aluminum #1 for the long-distance grind.
“When you start up front, you damned well better finish there,” Paxton said of his seventh Grove win of the season and the 37th of his career.
Paxton’s fastest of two laps as 53 cars took part in time trials was 20.82 seconds. That put him on the pole for the start of the race with Wolfe (20.84) on the outside of the front row. Lotier was third with a clocking of 20.94 seconds while Skeets Gamble turned in a 21.01 second effort and Ferguson did 21.14 seconds.
The new chassis which Smith had at his command was not up to snuff for the time trials, and the veteran driver had to run the 20-lap B-Main to make the show.
Smith came through in impressive fashion, leading all the way to beat Van May under the checkered. Dan Dietrich was third, Kramer Williamson fourth and Bischof fifth.
The 15-lap C-Main, which was first up after all cars had taken time, went to Keith Kauffman, who passed Allen Klinger with two to go. Kauffman was 11th in the B-Main, but Klinger failed to qualify.
World of Outlaws stalwart Bobby Allen was 14th in time trials with a clocking of 21.50 seconds but ducked for the pits shortly after the main event was waved off.
Results –
1. Lynn Paxton
2. Steve Smith
3. Randy Wolfe
4. Jimmy Horton
5. George Ferguson Jr.
6. Paul Lotier
7. Dave Blaney
8. Barry Camp
9. Jim Nace
10.George Bischoff
11.Cris Criswell
12.Scott Tobias
13.Dave Kelly
14.Daryl Winkler
15.Paul Kline
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