1968 – Hoag Wins Fifth Open at Langhorne

Dutch Hoag is joined by Langhorne Speedway co-promoters Irv Fried (left) and Joe Gerber (right) and Miss Langhorne Speedway in victory lane.

Middletown Township, Penn. (October 13, 1968) – A crowd of more than 40,000 watched Dutch Hoag of Bath, N.Y., streak to his fifth career victory in the National Open Championship for modified stock cars.

Hoag averaged 92.339 miles per hour for the 200-mile race. Six accidents held him below the record 105.509 miles per hour set by Will Cagle in 1966.

Hoag started in the sixth position after setting a track record of 113.332 miles per hour in Saturday’s time trials. He took the lead for keeps on lap 99.

Hoag drove a 1936 Chevrolet with a 427 cubic inch engine. Only once did he experience trouble. His right front tire began to blister early on in the contest, forcing him to make an unscheduled pit stop on lap 51.

Bobby Gerhart of Lebanon, Penn., was second, more than a lap behind Hoag at the finish.

Gerhart, the Reading champion, who also drove a 1936 Chevy, started 43rd in the 45-car field.


Results –


1. Dutch Hoag, Bath, N.Y.
2. Bobby Gerhart, Lebanon, Penn.
3. Chuck Boos, Lewistown, N.J.
4. Bugs Stevens, Rehoboth, Mass.
5. Gene Bergen, Manchester, Conn.
6. Don McTavish, Dover, N.H.
7. Sam Beavers, White House Station, N.J.
8. Bill Strosahl, Cando, N.Y.
9. Al Tasnady, Vineland, N.J.
10.Roger Treicher, North Tonawanda, N.Y.