1979 – Dell’s Summer Nationals to Trickle

Dick Trickle is joined by promoter Larry Wehrs and ARTGO’s John McKarns after winning both 75-lap features of the Summer Nationals at Dells Motor Speedway. – Kurt Luoma Photo

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (August 25, 1979) – Dick Trickle won both 75-lap late model features in the first leg of ARTGO Racing’s third annual Summer Nationals at Dells Motor speedway on Saturday night.

Trickle won the opening 75-lapper over Bob Senneker, John Ziegler, Tom Reffner, and Randy Sweet.

Bob Gunn charged into the lead from his outside front row starting position but surrendered the top spot to Joe shear on lap 4.

Polesitter Mike Miller became the race’s third pacesetter shortly afterward and remained on top until Senneker claimed first on lap 25. One lap later, Trickle passed Miller to take second place.

The race’s lone caution occurred on lap 37 when a malfunctioning engine slowed Miller’s 1978 Olds Cutlass.

Following the resumption of green flag action, Senneker paced the field until the 44th circuit, when Trickle took charge for good.

The top 11 finishers of the first feature started at the front of the field in inverted order to open the nightcap and Jay Sauter, who started second, led the contest’s opening lap.

Polesitter Bobby Gunn grabbed the top spot on the second lap, but Sauter moved back in front on the fourth circuit.

Gunn yielded second to Joe Shear on the 10th round and then dropped out of the chase four laps later.

Sauter was still in front on lap 37, when Butch Miller spun in the fourth turn, putting the race under caution. By the time the yellow flag appeared, Trickle was up to second place with Mike Miller third, after replacing the engine between features. Mark Martin was running fourth and Shear was in fifth.

After all-out racing resumed, Trickle remained close behind Sauter until lap 57, when, despite not having the full power of his brakes, the Wisconsin Rapids pilot made a bold outside move to get around Sauter and took the lead.

Miller followed Trickle’s example a few laps later, passing Sauter for second place and the top three ran in that order for the remainder of the race.

Martin opened the show by setting a track record of 13.927 seconds in qualifying.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.
3. John Ziegler, Madison
4. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
5. Randy Sweet, Kalamazoo, Mich.
6. Butch Miller, Lawton, Mich.
7. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
8. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa
9. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
10.Jay Sauter, Necedah


Feature #2 –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids
3. Jay Sauter
4. Mark Martin
5. Tom Reffner
6. Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh
7. Joe Shear
8. Marv Marzofka
9. Pat Schauer, Watertown
10.Randy Sweet