Tipton - 1967

By Kyle Ealy

Tipton, Iowa - Fred Horn of Marion would kick off the 1967 season at the Cedar County Fairgrounds with a feature victory on Sunday, May 21. In addition to the feature, Horn would grab the checkered in the B-semi and third heat.

Newcomer Dale Peters of Mechanicsville would finish second to Horn in the main event, beating out Pat Blake of Clarence at the finish line. Twenty-nine cars provided action as drivers shook down opening night nerves and mechanical difficulties.

Arlo Becker of Atkins won the first heat and Jim Gardner of Tipton was the second heat winner. Bill Beckman of Monticello won the consolation.

The May 28 program was washed out as was the Memorial Day special scheduled for Tuesday May 30.

Racing got back underway on June 4 as Larry Schulte of Cedar Rapids captured his first feature win of the young season. There was no catching Schulte as he ran away from the rest of the field. Larry Sheldon of Cedar Rapids was a distant second and Chuck Lukemyres of Tipton was third.

Ed Osborn of Ely nipped Rusty Fall of Olin by mere feet to capture the first heat. Rick Sawyer of Clarence was the second heat winner and Fred Horn scored the victory in the third heat. Horn was also victorious in the B semi while Jim Gardner was the A semi winner. Duane Sayre of Marion copped the consolation.

Larry Kemp was substituting as flagman at Tipton when an out-of-control race car hit the flagman's platform knocking Kemp into the mud. He was uninjured but a little dirty. - Claire Schreiber Photo

 
Fred Horn would put on a driving display on Sunday, June 11, as the Marion hot shoe came from his 18th starting position to win the 20-lap feature. Horn made it look easy, winning over Jim Gardner and Rick Sawyer.

Ben Huber of Solon, Ed Osborn of Ely and Gardner were heat winners. Gardner would also win the B semi while Rusty Fall was the A semi winner. Ed Schulte of Cedar Rapids was the consolation victor.

Rick Sawyer would dominate the action at Cedar County Fairgrounds on June 18, as the 20-year-old from Clarence would top a field of 34 super stocks by sweeping to victory in the feature, semi, and heat.

Sawyer, who enjoyed his finest night of racing in his young career, staved off hard-driving Fred Horn for the win. In the 18-car feature Horn was involved in an early three-car pileup, placing him in the rear of the field for the restart. From there he mounted a tremendous charge through the field, but Sawyer denied him the win.

Bob Coiner and Dave Lovell, both of Rochester, won heats along with Sawyer. In addition to Sawyer’s B semi victory, Bill Beckman won the A semi. Pat Blake won the consolation.

All off his hard work would pay off as Horn would get his second win of the season on Sunday, June 25. Horn would duel side-by-side with Larry Curley of Oxford Junction for 18 laps before finally securing the feature victory. Curley would settle for second while Jim Gardner was third.

In addition to his third place showing in the main event, Jim Gardner was a double winner, taking the second heat and B semi. Perry Beckler of Iowa City and Arlo Becker of Atkins were the other heat winners while Lynn Ricklefs of Lisbon won the A semi. The consolation went to Stan Woode of Tipton.

Chuck Lukemyres would pick up his first super stock feature win of the season, nosing out fellow townsman Jim Gardner by five feet on Sunday, July 2.

Ron Hemsted of Lone Tree had his clean sweep bid spoiled when his car lost a wheel while well out in front of the feature event. Hemsted won the first heat and A semi earlier in the evening.

Dick Bragg of Cedar Rapids won the third heat while Jim Gardner was a double winner, scoring the win in the second heat and B semi. Larry Schulte grabbed the win in the consolation while Duane Sayre won the trophy dash.

A huge 4th of July card was planned for the Cedar County quarter mile with a 30-lap feature and a holiday trophy dash comprised of the top eight point leaders.

 

Fred Horn receives the checkered flag from starter Larry Svoboda after another feature win at Tipton. - Claire Schreiber Photo

It appeared that Tipton’s Jim Gardner was well on his way to his first feature win of the season, having led from the start. But on lap 28, Fred Horn would power past Gardner and go on to his third feature win of the season. In addition to his feature win, Horn would win the trophy dash for the top-eight point leaders.

Don Kessler of West Branch, Dick Bragg and Gardner would grab the heat win while Bill Beckman took honors in the consolation.

Racing at the Cedar County Fairgrounds would take the next Sunday, July 9 but they would be back in action on Sunday July 16 with new faces and a new winner.

Bob Helm of Rochester would put his “Gold Hawk” into an early lead and would stay out front the rest of the way to score his first win of the season. Helm would also win the B semi. Rick Sawyer, who qualified for the main event the hard way, by winning the consolation, came from the rear of the field to take second.

Ron Fisher of Cedar Rapids, Walt Carney of West Branch and Mike Niffenegger of Kalona were heat winners while Don Kessler of Iowa City copped the A semi.

 

Jim Gardner (right) won the mid-season championship at Tipton. Don Chapman (left) won the consolation. - Claire Schreiber Photo

Sunday, July 23 brought the mid-season championships to the Tipton quarter mile. Fred Horn of Marion, who had led in points throughout the season would start on the pole for the special 30-lapper.

It would be Jim Gardner of Clarence, second in points and starting alongside Horn on the front row, who would dart out to the lead at the drop of the green. Gardner would set a grueling pace which would prove to be too much for Horn. Both machines ran one-two for the distance and were never more than 10 feet apart the entire race. Horn would close the gap repeatedly but could never get around the pacesetter, and Gardner would capture top honors, winning his first-ever mid-season title at the track.

Another nail-biter took place in the consolation where Don Kessler of Iowa City and Don Chapman of West Liberty ran fender-to-fender for the entire 20 laps. Kessler took the initial lead only to see Chapman slide by on lap 4. Kessler would regain it on lap 7 and for the next dozen laps, do everything he could to fend off Chapman. But on the 20th and final lap, it was Chapman powering inside of Kessler on the third turn and finishing the winner.

Ed Osborn, Pat Blake, and Mike Niffenegger were heat winners on what was one of the best nights of racing at the Cedar County Fairgrounds thus far.

Succeeding rain showers at 7:15 and again at 7:45 washed away the track and the Sunday night program on July 30. There was no racing on Sunday, August 6 in preparation for the Cedar County Fair.

 

Bill Beckman

With the Fair in town, two nights of racing were scheduled. However, the Tuesday, August 8 program would be canceled because of rain, but the Thursday, August 10 card brought a capacity crowd and 34 super stocks.

Jerry Oberbroeckling of Cedar Rapids would pace the 20-lap feature for the first 13 circuits before Fred Horn took over the top spot. He would lead the final seven lap to secure his fourth feature win. Horn was also a winner in the B semi.

Heat wins went to Willie Dee of Atalissa, Rusty Fall of Olin and Pat Blake. Doug Wilson of Cedar Rapids won the A semi. Larry Curley of Oxford Junction was the consolation winner.

Sunday night weekly racing returned August 13 and fans saw a “wild and wooly” feature race which saw three restarts and two spinouts.

Jim Gardner of Tipton, seeking his third win of the season, appeared to be well on his way when a three-car mishap occurred with only three laps to go. On the ensuing restart, Gardner’s engine would let go, allowing Fred Horn to pick up yet another feature victory, his fifth of the season. Horn was also a heat winner.

In addition to Horn’s double-double, Gardner and Bob Helm of Rochester were double winners on the evening as well, with both drivers picking up a heat and semi win.

Sunday, August 20 saw Fred Horn pick up his sixth feature win of the season at the Tipton quarter mile. His win was by no means easy as he and Larry Schulte of Cedar Rapids traded the lead five times before the Marion pilot pulled away in the waning laps.

Bob Helm was a double winner, winning the third heat and B semi. Don Kessler and Rick Sawyer were the other heat winners. Perry Beckler of Iowa City was the A semi victor and Wat Carney scored the win in the consolation.

Roger Lacousiere of Cedar Rapids was enjoying a winning night of racing at the Cedar County Fairgrounds on August 27 when disaster struck in the feature event.

Lacousiere, who had already won his heat and the A semi, and was way out front of the feature, spun and sheared a light pole, causing the live wire to fall on the track. There were no injuries, but repair work could not be arranged, and the rest of the feature would be made up on next week’s card.

Perry Beckler and Pat Blake were also heat winners while Fred Horn won the B semi. Rick Sawyer was the consolation winner.

Labor Day Weekend brings out race fans and race drivers and Sunday night, September 3 was no different. A capacity crowd and 33 super stocks plus 10 events of racing added up to one of the best shows of the year.

Ron Fisher of Cedar Rapids would have a great night individually by winning last week’s postponed feature and then earning a runner-up finish in the main event after waging a terrific battle with Pat Blake of Clarence, who took the 20-lap feature win. Blake also was a winner in the consolation.

Fred Horn was a double winner, copping the holiday trophy dash and B semi. Don Chapman and Walt Carney would grab heat wins while Lynn Ricklefs of Lisbon won the A semi.

Cedar Rapids’ Jerry Oberbroeckling would capture his second feature win of the season on Sunday, September 10. Oberbroeckling had all he could handle in the 20-lapper with Fred Horn attached to his rear bumper throughout the contest. Despite several attempts to get by, Horn would have to settle for runner-up honors.

Larry Curley, Don Chapman, and Pat Blake were heat winners. Doug Wilson of Cedar Rapids on the A semi while Walt Carney was the B semi victor. Rick Sawyer won the consolation.

 

Bob Helm holds his trophy after winning a thrilling season championship race at Tipton. 

Jim Gardner was within 300 feet and a half gallon of gas of winning the 35-lap season championship on Sunday, September 17, when the unbelievable happened.

Gardner took the white flag for the last lap followed closely by Rochester’s Bob Helm. As both drivers exited turn two, Gardner, running on fumes, was passed by Helm who came on to take the victory and the championship. It was a stunning loss for Gardner, who had led the race for the last 21 circuits.

As Gardner crawled to the finish line, Larry Schulte, Walt Carney, Pat Blake, and Fred Horn all passed Gardner in the final quarter mile. He settled for a disappointing sixth place.

Curt Long of Marion, Arlo Becker and Larry Curley were heat winners on the final night of racing at Tipton. Curley also won an exciting consolation race over Jack Bliss of Cedar Rapids.

Fred Horn of Marion, Iowa, would be crowned point champion at Tipton for the 1967 season.

The Herald & Review 100

 

By Lee Ackerman

Macon, Ill. - The Macon Speedway in Macon, Illinois was built by a gentleman named Wayne Webb on the site of a brick factory on the west side of Macon. While many upgrades have occurred at the facility over the years, the size of the track has never changed.

The track’s length has been stated at different times as 1/4-mile and 1/5-mile. I think must who have attended races at the bullring would tend to favor the 1/5-mile version. Actually, for many years it has been touted as “the World’s Fastest 1/5-mile dirt track.

Over the years Macon’s signature event has been the Herald & Review 100 which has been held at the Macon Speedway since 1981. For most of that time the event has been part of the annual UMP Summernationals or Hell Tour. We decided to take a look at the event starting in 1990 when national stars started showing up for the event.

Bob Pierce and Scott Bloomquist speak with Ken Schrader at the 1990 Herald & Review 100. 

On July 12, 1990, the Hell Tour visited the Macon Speedway for the Herald & Review, and it was defending race winner Jim Leka of Illiopolis, Ill., setting fast time with a lap of 11.384 seconds. Leka then won the trophy dash over Greg Babb, Bob Pierce, and Rick Standridge.

1988 World 100 winner Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., won heat one over Denny Schwartz and Kevin Gundaker. Joe Ross, Jr. bested Jim Harter and Jim Rarick in heat two with Kevin Weaver taking heat three over Butch Garner and NASCAR’s Ken Schrader. Butch Smith won heat four with John Gill and Scott Ford challenging. Ken Schrader won the first semi with Roger Long and Kevin Gundaker following, and Mike Bechelli won the second semi over Jim Rarick and Buffy Clark.

Jim Leka started on the outside pole and took the lead. By lap 26, Leka was in a battle with Bob Pierce when Scott Bloomquist spun in turn one bringing out the yellow flag. Bloomquist headed pitside and had a new tire put on that gave him a better setup.

When racing resumed, Bloomquist was still on the lead lap with Leka, Pierce and Kevin Weaver putting on a three-way battle for the lead and going three abreast on a number of occasions. Leka broke a right rear brake caliper but managed to keep the lead until lap 44 when Pierce dove to the inside and went to the front.

Pierce quickly opened up a straightaway lead on the field only to come to a stop on lap 51 with a broken frame. Leka reassumed the lead but a lap later Weaver went high and took the spot. Leka dropped off the pace, but Weaver opened a straightaway lead as his car started smoking. Later, sparks started flying from under Weaver’s B12 mount, but he held on.

As the leaders got into lapped traffic Bloomquist was closing gap and actually took the lead on lap 80 only to have Weaver take it right back. Then the caution waved for debris on the track. When racing resumed Weaver led until lap 84 when his lost his drive shaft and retired from competition.

From that point on it was all Bloomquist as he opened up a half lead over the rest of the field. Rick Standridge finished second, Greg Babb third, Ken Schrader fourth and Mike Bechelli fifth.

Kevin Weaver (left) has won the Herald & Review 100 four times (1991, 1992, 2002, & 2008) while Shannon Babb (right) is a five-time winner 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, & 2014) of the event. 

The 1991 version of the Herald & Review 100 actually took two weeks to complete. Gibson City, Illinois’ Kevin Weaver was the class of the field on the original date. Weaver had lapped several cars and was getting ready to lap seventh place Ken Schrader and sixth place and defending race winner Scott Bloomquist when the rains came.

Officials were faced with a dilemma of whether to call it an official race or set a rain date. They chose the latter and on July 25. Weaver now had 14 days to think about it and the competition had 14 days to adjust their set ups.

It did not matter; Weaver had the Macon Speedway figured out and led the remaining laps of the event to become only the second driver in history to lead the Herald & Review from start to finish. As some drivers were not able to return to complete the event the top five were Weaver, Doug McCammon, Mark Gansmann, Dick Taylor, and Gary Nettleton. Weaver received $4,000 for the win.

Weaver set fast time at 10.947 seconds then won the trophy dash. Heat race wins went to Doug McCammon, Dick Taylor, Brian Ater and Ed Bauman. Joe Ross, Jr., and Roger Long took semi event wins.

The 12th annual Herald & Review 100 had a little of everything. First, the first two attempts to run the event were rained out. Then, finally on September 17 the event was completed with Bob Pierce taking the checkered flag. But wait a minute, Pierce came up light at the scales and was disqualified giving the win to runner-up and defending Herald & Review race winner Kevin Weaver.

Under UMP late model rules, cars must weigh 2,350 pounds at the completion of an event. Pierce weighed in at 2,323 pounds while Weaver weighed in at 2,352. Track owner Bob Sargent said the scales – newly installed earlier in the year had just been certified.

“There is no way I was light,” said Pierce, who would have the first three-time winner of the race, having won in 1983 and again in 1985. “I had 18 gallons of fuel left in the car. If I had have had just 15 gallons maybe, but I couldn’t have been light with 18 gallons.”

The controversial ending wiped out a terrific performance by Pierce, who had made it into the feature by finishing second in the semi event. After starting 14th, Pierce immediately started moving through the field and by lap 14 he was running seventh. By lap 36, the Oakwood, Illinois driver was running second to only Springfield’s Dick Taylor.

Taylor and Pierce battled it out until lap 64 when Taylor paid a hard visit to the turn four wall. Taylor returned to the event but tagged the back of the field leaving Pierce and Weaver to battle it out for the win. But when the checkers fell Pierce was out front by the length of a straightaway.

“Bob (Pierce) really ran well, but he had tough luck all night long,” Said Weaver. Weaver had made a smart pre-race adjustment, adding 25 pounds to his car before the feature which certainly saved him at the scales.

With Pierce light at the scales, that made Kevin Weaver the first back-to-winner in the 12-year history of the Herald & Review 100. “It was a heckuva lot sweet last year because we won it.” Said Weaver after the race. “We actually ran second tonight but because of the rules they are going to pay us for first.”

The official top five was Weaver, Mark Gansmann (who also added weight pre-race), Ed Bauman, semi-feature winner Butch Smith and Billy Drake. Heats went to Marvin Burton, Drake, and Dick Taylor with Decatur’s Smith winner the semi over Pierce.

The "Tall Cool One," Bob Pierce, would win four Herald & Review 100's (1983, 1985, 1994, & 2001) in three different decades.  

The Herald & Review 100 continues to be a signature event at the Macon Speedway. Bob Pierce got his third win in 1994 and added a fourth in 2001. Kevin Weaver added a third in 2002 and a fourth in 2008. Shannon Babb dominated from 2006 through 2014 winning five times and life went full circle in 2016 and 2017 when Bobby Pierce won the Herald & Review 100.

The Deery Brothers One-Win Wonders

 

Bruce Hanford is joined by promoter Larry Kemp after winning the Red Baron Summer Series for IMCA late models at Burlington in 1987. - Dick Kleindolph Photo

By Kyle Ealy

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – The Deery Brother Summer Series for IMCA Late Models was a Midwestern tradition, starting in 1987 and going until it’s 500th show concluded in 2020.

Numerous drivers have experienced great success in the series, Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls, Iowa, is far and away the all-time leader in wins with 70, followed by Ray Guss Jr. of Milan, Ill., with 31, Justin Kay of Wheatland, Iowa, with 28, Curt Martin of Independence, Iowa, with 27 and Mark Burgtorf of Quincy, Ill., with 26.

There are seven other drivers in double-digit totals with feature wins and 46 drivers with at least two or more victories.

But I want to talk about the drivers with one win…

Some of these drivers who have one Deery Brother Summer Series victory to their credit were with the series for multiple seasons while some only raced one or two races. Some driver’s Deery Brothers wins came at a weeknight show, while some won on racing’s biggest stages.

Let’s explore the Deery Brothers’ “One-Win Wonders” …

It all starts in the first year of the series (then called the “Red Baron Summer Series”) on May 19, 1987, in Burlington, Iowa. Bruce Hanford of Davenport, Iowa, the winner of the late model main event was a driver more associated with modifieds than late models.

 Denny Osborn is joined by Deanna Fretheim and the "Red Baron" Del Carolus after Osborn's victory at Independence in 1988. - Marnee Mackey Photo

The next season, two drivers would find victory lane for the “one and done”, veteran Sonny Findling of Kirksville, Mo., would tame the Mahaska County Fairgrounds’ big half-mile in winning the feature event on Memorial Day, May 30, and Denny Osborn of Cedar Falls, Iowa, would win the 40-lap “Mitch Fretheim Memorial” at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds in Independence on August 13, 1988.

Gary Pedersen is joined by Kris Tisor after winning the J&J Steel Summer Series at Mason City in 1989. - Kathy Root Photo

Two drivers would become one-win wonders in the 1989 season (now named the “J&J Steel Summer Series”). Gary Pedersen of Rutland, Iowa, would win a Deery Brothers feature at the North Iowa Fairgrounds in Mason City on July 3 and two weeks later, July 16, Kirk Shaw made the long trip from Batesville, Ark., to win the Deery Brothers only appearance at a paved track at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids.

A name long associated with the historic half-mile at West Liberty, Iowa, was the winner on August 8, 1990. Dave Birkhofer of Muscatine would be the first of the Birkhofer family to be a Deery Brothers one-win wonder.

The 1991 season would see a one-win wonder as well when Steve Watts of Jimtown, Iowa, grabbed the win in the 40-lap feature at the Wapello County Fairgrounds in Eldon, Iowa, on July 4.

Frank Shickel receives the checkers from flagman Doug Haack after winning the Deery Brothers Summer Series feature at East Moline in 1992. - Al Larsen Photo

The 1992 season (the Deery Brothers Summer Series) would see an explosion of one-win wonders, four in all. Frank Shickel Jr., of Bloomington, Ill., would start the hit parade, winning at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds in East Moline, Ill., on July 5. Three days later, Kevin Cale of Donnellson, Iowa, won the Deery Brothers main event at 34 Raceway in Burlington. As the season wound down, two other drivers would add their name to the list. Ed Kosiski of Omaha, Neb., would make the short trip to Corning, Iowa, to score a Deery win on September 12 and a week later Bryan Wanner of Winfield, Iowa, would win at Burlington on September 19.

John Hampel won the Deery Brothers Summer Series race at Corning in 1993. - Doug Sheckler Photo

Three new one-win wonders would join the list in 1993. A driver with hall of fame credentials would surprisingly have only one Deery Brothers win to his credit, Gary Crawford of Independence, Iowa. He scored his only career Deery win at Marshalltown, Iowa, on Memorial Day, May 31. Another late model pilot with hall of fame credentials to win only one career Deery Brothers race was Steve Boley of Oxford, Iowa, when he led from start to finish in scoring the victory at Oskaloosa, Iowa, on July 28. John Hampel of Nodaway, Iowa, joined the exclusive one-win club when he grabbed the Deery Brothers feature win at Corning on August 12.

Dan Forsyth had a popular win at West Union in 1994. - Jim Stannard Photo

A pair of one-win wonders joined the list during the 1994 season. As was with our first-ever one-time winner, Bruce Hanford, Bob Dominacki of Bettendorf, Iowa, is more associated with racing modifieds than late models but he has a Deery Brothers feature victory to his credit after winning at Hawkeye Raceway in Blue Grass, Iowa, on June 29. Dan Forsyth of Oelwein, Iowa, is probably one of the least known of the one-win wonders, but he’s one of the few and not the many, winning practically in his own backyard, the Fayette County Fairgrounds in West Union, Iowa, on July 10.

The one-win wonders would seemingly slow to a crawl for the next four years with only one winner each season grabbing their only career Deery Brothers win.

Darin Burco of Hazelton, Iowa, would win his first race on asphalt and his first (and only) Deery Brothers Summer Series race, leading all 40 laps at Hawkeye Downs on August 1, 1995.

The second member of the Birkhofer family would join the exclusive one-win club when Brian grabbed the Deery Brothers feature win at Hawkeye Raceway in Blue Grass on June 25, 1996.

IMCA Super Nationals winner Dean Wagner is joined by Kathy Root and flagman Toby Kruse at Boone in 1997. - Margaret Gardner Photo

Dean Wagner II of Waterloo, Iowa, is one of those one-win wonders who saved his only Deery Brothers win for the big stage. On September 5, 1997, Wagner won the 40-lap feature at the IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa.

Todd Bennett of Peoria, Ill., would make the short trip to East Moline and tame the quarter mile for his only career Deery Brothers victory on May 24, 1998.

It would be a little over two years before another one-win wonder prevailed. Billy Tuckwell of Washington, Ill., would make his way across the Mississippi River and grab a Deery Brothers victory at Marshalltown, Iowa, on Memorial Day, May 29, 2000.

Dennis Erb Jr. won the Susan Pallister Memorial at Burlington in 2003. - Craige Gheer Photo

Almost three years would go by until another one-win wonder would prevail. The 2003 season would see two new one-win wonders. Brent Slocum of Burlington, Iowa, would win the 40-lap Memorial Day special at Boone, Iowa, on May 26. Dennis Erb Jr., of Carpentersville, Ill., who has had most of his late model success with United Midwestern Promoters (UMP), decided to give IMCA try and scored his only Deery Brothers win at one of the tour’s biggest races, the USA Late Model Nationals at 34 Raceway in Burlington on August 14.

2005 would see two new members to the club. Bobby Toland of Hillsdale, Ill., would score his only victory at 34 Raceway in Burlington on April 9 and Kevin Blum of Colona, Ill., would become a “members-only” when he took home honors at I-35 Speedway in Mason City on June 7, 2005.

 Johnny Spaw scored the hometown win at Cedar Rapids in 2007. - Chris Damitz Photo

It would take almost two years before another one-win wonder would surface. Mark Preston of Port Byron, Ill., would win the 50-lapper on the Davenport quarter mile on April 20, 2007. Johnny Spaw of Cedar Rapids would dedicate his only Deery Brothers feature win to Darrell Dake, who passed away a few days before. Spaw would lead all 35 laps to win at Hawkeye Downs on August 8, 2007.

Yet another season would see an explosion of one-win wonders as four new drivers added their names to the list. The Deery Brothers Summer series kicked off the 2008 season “out west” so to speak. Mike Collins of Council Bluffs, Iowa, won the Ice Breaker at Eagle, Nebraska on April 6 for his only Deery victory. Justin Reed of Quincy, Ill., would lead all 40 laps to win his first and only Deery Brothers race at Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, on May 21. Marty Diercks of Bettendorf, Iowa, scored his only Deery Brother win by default. Diercks finished second to Ray Guss Jr., at Davenport on July 22 but Guss was disqualified in post-race inspection, giving Diercks his only career Deery victory. Matt Strassheim of West Burlington scored what was probably one of the more stunning one-win wonders when he won the USA Late Model Nationals at 34 Raceway on September 28.

Matt Bailey was #1 at Quincy in 2011. - Hulett Photography

Matt Bailey of Quincy, Ill., decided to win his first and only Deery Brothers feature win before his hometown crowd, on April 10, 2011.

The 2012 season would see two more one-win wonders added to the list. Kevin Kile of Nichols, Iowa, would lead all 40 laps in winning at the Cedar County Fairgrounds in Tipton, Iowa, on June 12, 2012. Luke Goedert of Holy Cross, Iowa, would win his first and only Deery feature at his hometown track of Dubuque, Iowa, on July 15, leading all 35 circuits.

Chad Simpson won the Yankee Dirt Track Classic for his lone Deery Brothers victory in 2013. - Dan Busch Photo

Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, was another late model driver who hadn’t raced IMCA much, preferring the super late model shows. But Simpson decided to give it a try, and at the Yankee Dirt Track Classic on September 13, 2013, Simpson earned his only victory of the series. He truly earned the “one and done” victory as he had to win the B-main and then come from the rear of the field to win the A-main.

The 2015 season would have a trio of first (and last) timers. Corey Zeitner of Bellevue, Neb., won the Deery Brothers series opener at Crawford County Speedway in Denison, Iowa, on April 4. Jason Rauen of Farley, Iowa, won his first and only Deery Brothers feature at Marshalltown on June 2 while Tyler Droste of Waterloo led all 50 laps to score his only Deery win at East Moline on July 22 (Note: Droste would become the youngest Deery winner at age 19).

Richie Gustin is joined by flagman Grant Oskvig at Independence in 2017. - Scott Swenson Photo

Three more drivers would join the few and not the many for the 2017 season. Richie Gustin of Gilman, Iowa, would split time between his modified and late models that season and on April 22, he would score his only Deery Brothers win at the Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway. A little over one month later, Jesse Sobbing of Malvern, Iowa, would win his one and only Deery feature at a Memorial Day special on May 29. Ironically, Sobbing would go on to win Rookie of the Year and the Deery Brothers Summer Series championship for 2017.

Chad Simpson had a Deery win so why shouldn’t his brother Chris not have one as well. On September 3, 2017, Chris, like his brother, won his only Deery feature at the big arena, the Yankee Dirt Track Classic at Farley, Iowa. Simpson earned $10,000 with his 100-lap victory on September 2, 2017.

Two drivers would achieve wonderous one-win status during the 2019 season.

Eric Pollard won the 40-lapper at West Union in 2019. - Zakzry Kriener Photo

Eric Pollard of Peosta, Iowa, would lead all 40 laps in winning his only Deery Brothers feature at West Union, Iowa, on July 24, while the very last Deery Brothers Summer Series one-win wonder would save it for the biggest stage of all. Ricky Thornton Jr., of Adel, Iowa, borrowed Todd Cooney’s late model and won the 50-lap IMCA Super Nationals on September 3.

All totaled, there were 500 Deery Brother Summer Series events with 43 one-time winners.

Gary Crawford is all smiles after winning at Marshalltown in 1993. Toby Kruse joins him in victory lane. - Dale Danielski Photo

Bob Dominacki scored the win at Blue Grass in 1994. - Rick Haefner Photo

Bobby Toland won at Burlington in 2005. - John Vass Photo

Kevin Blum celebrates his one and only Deery Brothers Summer Series victory with Toby Kruse at Mason City in 2005. - Chad Meyer Photo

Mike Collins won the "Ice Breaker" at Eagle, Neb., in 2008. - Barry Johnson Photo

Corey Zeitner is joined in victory lane by his family and flagman Grant Oskvig after his Deery Brothers win at Denison in 2015. - Dave Schraeder Photo

Chris Simpson joined his brother Chad as "One and Done's" after winning the Yankee Dirt Track Classic at Farley in 2017. - Tom Macht Photo

Ricky Thornton Jr.  was the last of the "One-Win Wonders" of the Deery Brothers Summer Series. He's shown here after winning at the IMCA Super Nationals in Boone in 2019. - Tom Macht Photo