1983 - Baldry Outruns Shear to Win WIR Bud 50

Terry Baldry receives congratulations from Jim Warmington, Budweiser Midwest representative, after winning the Budweiser Spring Classic 50 at Wisconsin International Raceway. – Tim Hannagan Photo

By Gary Vercauteren

Kaukauna, Wis. (May 15, 1983) – Terry Baldry, driving a 1983 Camaro, scored the biggest win of his career Sunday afternoon at Wisconsin International Raceway as he outraced Joe Shear to capture the Budweiser Spring Classic 50-lap late model feature.

With a crowd of 6,718 watching, Baldry came from deep in the field to pass Shear for the lead on the 36th round.

“I would have to say, this is the biggest win of my career,” the defending Fox River Racing Club champion said. Baldry had not won a late model feature on the half-mile Kaukauna paved oval until the end of the 1982 season,

“We’ve come a long way the last couple of years,” he continued.

Al Schill came from his second row starting spot to nail down the top spot for the first seven laps before surrendering the lead to Shear, who had started one row back.

Shear and Tom Musgrave pulled away from the rest of the pack. Meanwhile, Baldry worked his way to the front and moved into the third spot past Schill on the fourth lap, taking Californian Mike chase along with him.

Baldry, chase, and Jay Sauter then battled for the third position until lap 13 when Chase and Sauter collided in the fourth turn, bringing out the only yellow flag of the contest.

The restart tightened up Baldry, Chase, and fast qualifier Bob Iverson behind Shear and Musgrave.

Baldry then passed Musgrave for second on the 24th lap on the backstretch and closed up tight behind Shear on the 27th lap. From lap 29 through 36, Shear and Baldry ran door-to-door with Baldry finally getting by for the lead entering the first turn on the 36th circuit.

Iverson moved into third past Musgrave on lap 37 but was unable to get by Shear after waging a spirited tussle for that spot. Musgrave settled for fourth with Tom Reffner passing chase for fifth with four laps remaining.


Results –


1. Terry Baldry, Omro
2. Joe Shear, Beloit
3. Bob Iverson, Hyde, Mich.
4. Tom Musgrave, Glenview, Ill.
5. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
6. Mike Chase, Bakersfield, Calif.
7. Conrad Morgan, Dousman
8. Steve Burgess, Eau Claire
9. Jay Sauter, Necedah
10.Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
11.Rich Somers, Stevens Point
12.Gary Roehrborn, Kimberly
13.Arnie Christen, Mineral Point
14.Gordie Sannes Jr., De Pere
15.Bobby Weiss, Montello