1975 - Trickle, Shear win Dells Twin-50's

Dick Trickle (upper) and Joe Shear won the twin 50-lap features at Dells Motor Speedway. Trickle won the first in his ’70 Mustang and Shear came back in his ’73 Camaro to take the second. – Bob Martin

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (August 2, 1975) – Ending their long dry spell, Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids and Joe Shear of South Beloit, Ill., took both ends of the special Twin-50’s on Saturday night at Dells Motor Speedway before a capacity crowd.

Trickle, the winningest stock car driver in America” had been unable to win any features in a while, but things were different, as he breezed home in the first 50-lapper. Likewise for Shear, who drove his 1973 Camaro to an easy win in the nightcap.

Trickle’s 1970 Mustang started 16th in the 20-car field in the first 50-lapper. Shear and Tom Reffner of Rudolph brought out a caution on lap 2, when the bumped each other. Both were able to continue, but another yellow flag came out just four laps later when Jerry Eckhardt of Lake Mills experienced a flat tire. Once again, the green flag waved and Larry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., took the lead.

Don Leach of Beloit, spun on lap 29, piling up Jim Back of Vesper, Reffner, Bob Senneker of Dorr, Mich., and Ed Howe of Beaverton, Mich. Leach, Reffner and Howe were unable to continue and Senneker was forced to restart at the back of the pack.

Just as Trickle passed Phillips for the lead six laps later, the caution flew again when Larry Detjens of Wausau slid into the infield and Tony Strupp of Slinger blew a tire.

Trickle then led the rest of the way, with Senneker making a valiant effort in the final 15 laps to take second. Doug Strasburg was third, followed by John Reimer, Shear and John Ziegler.

Thee second 50 was run non-stop with Bob Gunn the initial leader. Shear, who started ninth, took over for good on lap 17.

Ed Howe was back in the race, but was in and out with radiator issues, finally pulling out for good on lap 36.

By the 40th circuit, Senneker had moved into second place and was closing in on Shear, but the Illinois driver kept his cool on the final 10 laps to edge the “Michigan Bluebird” by two feet at the checkered. Trickle finished third, followed by Gunn and Ziegler.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.
3. Doug Strasburg, Johnson Creek
4. John Reimer, Caledonia
5. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
6. John Ziegler, Madison

Feature #2 –

1. Joe Shear
2. Bob Senneker
3. Dick Trickle
4. Bob Gunn, Madison
5. John Ziegler
6. Larry Detjens, Wausau