1975 – NASCAR Wins go to Smith, Simmons

Larry Smith

Falcon Heights, Minn. (August 22, 1975) – Larry Smith of Shakopee and Buck Simmons of Baldwin, Ga., raced to feature wins in the opening of the Minnesota State Fair’s NASCAR late model sportsman program on a cool, and sometimes misty Friday afternoon.

Simmons drove a 1969 Chevelle to the first 20-lap feature win for the 10 fastest cars after setting a one-lap qualifying record of 20.61 seconds on the half-mile paved speedway.

Smith took the lead on the 39th lap of the 50-lap second feature. He led the rest of the way, holding off John Boegeman of Shakopee and Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids.

Simmons earned $300 for his feature win plus an additional $100 for being the fast qualifier. Smith picked up $375 of the $2,150 offered in the second feature. Cars started in inverted order for both features.

Simmons wiped out the qualifying mark of 20.77 seconds set by Neil Bonnett in 1974. Finishing six car lengths behind Simmons in the 20-lapper was Harry Gant of Taylorsville, N.C., in a Nova. Simmons took the lead from Gant on lap 7.

Smith, a veteran Twin Cities area driver, started 35th in the second feature, behind the wheel of his 1973 Mustang. Boegeman took second in a 1975 Camaro. Boegeman, another Twin Cities area driver, started 32nd and finished second. Trickle finished third driving a 1970 Mustang.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Buck Simmons, Baldwin, Ga.
2. Harry Gant, Taylorsville, N.C.
3. Larry Detjens, Wausau, Wis.
4. Rich Somers, Stevens Point, Wis
5. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa, Wis.


Feature #2 –

1. Larry Smith, Shakopee
2. John Boegeman, Shakopee
3. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
4. Mike DeMars, Minneapolis
5. Bill Oas, Bloomington
6. Dave Roahrig, Inwood, Ind.
7. Jim Derhaag, Shakopee
8. Mike Fegers, Wayzata
9. Dan Prziborowski, Savage
10.Pat Griffith, Galesville, Wis.