1974 – Marshall Drives to Salem ASA Win

La Marr Marshall

Salem, Ind. (April 28, 1974) – La Marr Marshall of Louisville, Ky., the master race-car builder and master set-up man, finally tweaked his own car as expertly he does for others and annihilated a strong field in the 100-lap main for the American Speed Association “Circuit of Champions” late model stock cars.

Marshall, after 11 years of competing on the high-banked half-mile Salem Speedway, drove beautifully to his first win, lapping even second-place finisher Mike Eddy of Kawkawlin, Mich.

Marshall by no means had it easy in recording his first ASA victory as Don Wilbur of West Carrollton, Ohio, led the first 29 laps of the race with Marshall and Gene Payne of Owensboro, Ky., hanging on hi rear bumper. On lap 29, Wilbur’s engine expired, allowing Marshall to shoot into the lead still hotly contested by Payne. Payne’s transmission would break, and Marshall would enjoy a small lead over Don Higgins of New Castle, Ind.

Higgin’s Camaro appeared to have adequate power to pull Marshall down the straightaway, but the Louisville driver drove expertly and deeply into the corners to repel his charges. Higgins would have a ball joint snap on lap 37, sending him on a frightening reverse spin down the backstretch at over 100 miles per hour, bringing out the caution flag.

Charging Larry Clemons of Sellersburg, Ind., driving a 1973 AMC Javelin, prepared by his brother Bill, slashed his way into second-place and managed to keep the high-flying Marshall in his sights until his left rear axle broke on lap 66, causing him to part with a left rear wheel and spin violently into the infield.

With all clear conditions following Clemons’ spin, Eddy took over second-place, but Marshall still kept his foot to floor and lapped Eddy on lap 73. Marshall maintained his considerable advantage until the final flag and Denny Miles punctuated the final lap by blowing his engine coming down the main stretch as the checkers waved.

Stalled in the middle of the track, several pursuing cars had to take evasive action to miss Miles.


Results –


1. La Marr Marshall
2. Mike Eddy
3. Shorty Hinshaw
4. Dave Cope
5. Jim Hines
6. Dennis Miles
7. Don Keevin
8. Al Straub
9. Ray Fullen
10.Andy Vertrees
11.Larry Clemons
12.Harold Scott
13.Gene Christie
14.Wayne Pratt
15.Jackie Neal
16.Charlie Glotzbach
17.Don Higgins
18.Sheldon Bowser
19.Don Wilbur
20.Paul Cox
21.Gene Payne
22.Gene Fullen
23.Bill Kimmel
24.Clyde Brown