1974 – Dake Wins WL Title Race - Weedon is Point Champ

Darrell Dake 

West Liberty, Iowa (September 7, 1974) – The “old veteran,” started on the outside of the front row for the feature event, held the lead to the end of the 30-lap event, and won the season championship at West Liberty Raceway on Saturday night.

Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, who holds the all-time track record of 24.40 seconds on the half-mile and finished the year second in points at the track, held off season-point leader Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley; Curt Hansen of Dike, who is practically winning every event he enters, and another veteran driver, Ray Guss of Milan, Ill., to capture the last race of the season.

Only 16 cars timed for the late model event with Curt Hansen turning in quick time on the half-mile dirt oval in 24.58 seconds.

Ron Prymek of Iowa City and Dake won the first two heats with Ray Guss winning both his heat and the Australian Pursuit race. The West Liberty hard-charger, Mel Morris, won the semi-main.

Ron Weedon went home the season point champion with 5,875 points. Dake finished second with 5,610 points.


Results –


1. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
2. Curt Hansen, Dike
3. Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.
4. Ron Prymek, Iowa City
5. Mel Morris, West Liberty
6. Duane Steffe, Colona, Ill.
7. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
8. Steve Keppler, Marion
9. Ron Hemsted, Lone Tree
10.Larry Rummelhart, Riverside