1978 – Hard Works Pays as Sommerfeld Wins at Alta

Bruce Sommerfeld is joined by trophy girl Jean Barnoske and his father Bob, after his late model win at the Buena Vista County Fairgrounds. – Margaret Gardner Photo

Alta, Iowa (July 30, 1978) – It was a hectic Sunday for Bruce Sommerfeld. The night before, the strong runner from Fort Dodge had run over some errant parts from another race car, puncturing his oil pan and damaging his radiator.

All day Sunday, Sommerfeld and the rest of his pit crew worked feverishly in an attempt to get the car ready for that evening’s racing action.

The hard work didn’t prove futile as Sommerfeld bested a 16-car field to score his first feature victory of the season at Buena Vista Raceway.

Sommerfeld, driving a Camaro, started the 20-lap event on the outside of the front row, and moved into the lead at the onset. Following a lap 4 restart, Sommerfeld found smooth sailing, and by the seventh go-round, had pulled to a straightaway lead over second-place Dale Light.

Sommerfeld coasted to take the checkered, followed by Light and Bob Hill.

Denny Hovinga overcame Denny Sherrill for a fourth-place finish, with Bob Shryock finishing sixth.

The track’s current point leader, Arnie Braland, could muster no better than a seventh-place finish.

Heat races were won by Sommerfeld, Hovinga, and Braland, with Bob Hill winning the trophy dash.

Denny Sherrill took top honors in the handicap, while Bob Harris won the B-main.


Results –


Heat #1 – Bruce Sommerfeld
Heat #2 – Denny Hovinga
Heat #3 – Arnie Braland
Trophy dash – Bob Hill
Handicap – Denny Sherrill
B-main – Bob Harris
Feature –
1. Bruce Sommerfeld
2. Dale Light
3. Bob Hill
4. Denny Hovinga
5. Denny Sherrill
6. Bob Shryock
7. Arnie Braland
8. Roger Tapper
9. Kenny Braasch
10.Bob Harris