1979 - Schiltz Wins Pepsi Special

 

Dick Schiltz won the 35-lap late model feature during the Pepsi-Mountain Dew Special at the Wapello County Fairgrounds. Schiltz is joined by sportsman feature winner Jack Dunne and trophy girl Candi Niner. – G&J Photo

By Jeanne Niner

Eldon, Iowa (June 30, 1979) – Dick Schiltz of Waterloo really fought hard all 35 laps to take the checkered ahead of a great field of late models to win the Pepsi-Mountain Dew Special at Eldon Raceway on Saturday night.

Polesitter Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, setting a blistering pace, leading the first five circuits before losing power in his car momentarily and dropping back to third. At this point, Lem Blankenship of Keokuk inherited the top spot followed closely by Schiltz.

Just before the halfway point, Blankenship, who was far out ahead of the field, suddenly lost all power and steered his car to the pit area.

Schiltz was in the right place at the right time and took over the lead with Roger Dolan of Lisbon a car-length behind. With new life for both drivers, Schiltz and Dolan would fight side-by-side, bumper-to-bumper for the remaining 15 laps with Schiltz crossing the finish line with Dolan hooked to his rear fender as the checkered flag waved over them.

The sportsman feature winner was Jack Dunne of Keokuk. Dunne brought the fans to their feet, starting mid-pack and earning a hard-fought win over Tony Stewart of Washington, a multiple feature winner this season at the “Super Half-Mile.”

Late model heat wins went to Niffenegger, Schiltz, and Dan Ludwig of Keokuk. Don Hoffman of Des Moines was the consolation winner. Sportsman heat winners were Jim Dorothy of Keokuk, Tony Stewart, and George Koontz of Memphis, Mo. Mel Messer of Ottumwa won the consolation.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo
2. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
3. Dan Dickey, Packwood
4. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
5. Denny Banks, Washington
6. Jim Brown, Ottumwa
7. Ron Boyse, Kalona
8. Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo
9. Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville
10.Johnny Babb, Ottumwa


Sportsman –

1. Jack Dunne, Keokuk
2. Tony Stewart, Washington
3. Jim Dorothy, Keokuk
4. George Koontz, Memphis, Mo.
5. Larry Hanna, Batavia

1973 – Lawley Grabs 200 Victory

 

Jerry Lawley

Nashville, Tenn. (June 30, 1973) – Jerry Lawley of Birmingham, Ala., is good at playing the waiting game, and it paid off Saturday night as he won the Union 76 200 at Fairgrounds Speedway.

Lawley arrived at the track Saturday afternoon, just in time to qualify. There wasn’t time to practice. Still, he managed a 10th starting position. On the 191st lap, he shot past Neil Bonnett, another Birmingham driver, and moved out front, putting distance between himself and the second-place car.

There was rarely any doubt that a Birmingham driver would take the race. Bonnett led the first 60 laps before pitting. Then Lawley took over until the 99th circuit, until he pitted.

Only L.D. Ottinger of Newport, Tenn., was able to take over the top spot from the “Alabama Gang”. He led for 19 laps before Red Farmer took over.

Farmer looked unbeatable with his Torino running away from the field. However, trouble came on lap 149 when Bobby Baucom lost control in the fourth turn, leaving his car sideways on the track. It was Farmer’s misfortune to be at the wrong spot.

Farmer tried to go high and miss Baucom, but the Baucom car did not slide down the banked turn as quickly as Farmer had anticipated and he slammed into the side of the stalled car, putting him out of the race.

Farmer’s misfortune put the leadership in the hands of Bonnett, and it looked like the young up-and-coming driver would hold it. But Jerry Lawley was ready to make his move.

As Bonnett faded, Sam Ard, the current national Sportsman point leader, eased past. Ard was driving a car that in the building process was so new, the final touches had been made at the track before qualifying.

Alton Jones, another Birmingham driver, finished fourth, behind Lawley, Ard, and Bonnett. Ottinger, who was penalized for passing a stop sign coming out of the pits, finished fifth, one lap down.

A crowd of more than 15,000 saw the race run in 1 hour, 36 minutes and 59.20 seconds for an average of 77.333 miles per hour. There were nine caution flags for a total of 62 laps.

One unhappy non-participant was Dave Marcis. He drove here from North Carolina, however, the truck transporting his race car had trouble en route and arrived minutes after qualifying had already been completed. He was not permitted to qualify or race in the event.


Results –


1. Jerry Lawley
2. Sam Ard
3. Neil Bonnett
4. Alton Jones
5. L.D. Ottinger
6. Don Smith
7. Jack Ingram
8. Charlie Binkley
9. Flookie Buford
10.Darrell Waltrip

1984 - Kinser Captures Eagle Nationals

Steve Kinser won the One-Third Mile National Championships at Eagle Raceway. – Lynn Ballard Photo

Eagle, Neb. (June 29, 1984) – Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind., stared right into the eyes of adversity and overcame it Friday night.

Kinser captured the 40-lap feature at the One-Third Mile National championships at Eagle Raceway.

Sammy Swindell, Bartlett, Tenn., occupied a most familiar position, setting fast time, finishing second in his heat, and following it up with a runner-up finish behind Kinser.

Kinser shot from his fifth starting position into the lead on the 9th lap and led the remainder of the historic event. Promoters John and Marty Beecham revived the One Third Mile National Championships after nearly a decade of non-activity. The event was sanctioned by the World of Outlaws sprint car series.

Kinser’s victory earned him $6,850. Swindell collected $4,075 for his efforts.

Kinser suffered engine woes in Thursday’s preliminaries, but crew chief Karl Kinser made the necessary repairs and had the mount in peak performance.

Swindell pushed his car into the runner-up spot on lap 24. Kinser used lapped traffic to perfection and kept those cars between himself and Swindell most of the time.

Brad Doty, Wooster, Ohio, led the first eight laps from his pole starting position. He ended up third and won $2,500.

Shane Carson, Oklahoma City, Okla., put in his best performance of the season to finish fourth and earn $2,015. Rocky Hodges of Des Moines rounded out the top-five and took home $1,540.


Results –


1. Steve Kinser
2. Sammy Swindell
3. Brad Doty
4. Shane Carson
5. Rocky Hodges
6. Danny Smith
7. Jeff Swindell
8. Rick Ungar
9. Bobby Davis Jr.
10.Tim Gee

1978 - Sorenson Wins Olmsted Invitational

Dick Sorenson

Rochester, Minn. (June 29, 1978) – Dick Sorenson of Rochester, took home $1,000 for winning the 40-lap late model invitational at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds on Thursday night.

On lap 33, Sorenson was running behind Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa, and Phil Prusak of Eau Claire, Wis., when Sanger’s engine let go. This put Sanger out of competition while Prusak ran into oil spewed from Sanger’s engine and lost his vision enough to allow Sorenson to sneak by for the lead.

Sorenson would run untouched the remainder of the way while Prusak held on to take runner-up honors. Red Steffen of Eau Claire, Wis., finished third followed by Jack Harder of St. Paul, Minn., and Tom Bartholomew of Waterloo, Iowa.


Results –


1. Dick Sorenson, Rochester, Minn.
2. Phil Prusak, Eau Claire, Wis.
3. Red Steffen, Eau Claire, Wis.
4. Jack Harder, St. Paul, Minn.
5. Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo, Iowa
6. Steve Egersdorf, St. Paul, Minn.
7. John Foegen, Winona, Minn.
8. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
9. Leon Plank, Mondovi, Wis.
10.Mert Williams, Rochester, Minn.

1953 – Keokuk’s Derr Clips Record in 125-Mile Race

Ernie Derr, winner of the 125-mile stock car race at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, receives a kiss from his wife Mary.

Des Moines, Iowa (June 28, 1953) – Ernie Derr, the 31-year-old auto parts manager in Keokuk, spent another profitable weekend, this time in Des Moines, winning the 125-mile stock car race Sunday at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

The slender stock car pilot who races only on weekends picked up $625 in cash in wheeling his 1953 Oldsmobile around the 250-lap course in the record-breaking time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 37.64 seconds.

The former International Motor Contest Association mark of 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 58.11 seconds was set by Dick Rathmann of Daytona Beach, Fla., at the 1951 State Fair.

Taking second place money in the $3,000 event was Ralph Dyer of Shreveport, La., driving a 1953 Nash, who assumed the lead briefly when Derr stopped at the end of the 169th lap for fuel and tire inspection.

The Keokuk driver had nearly a two-lap edge on Dyer when he interrupted his grind and reassumed command when Dyer halted for a tire change on lap 186.

Herschel Buchanan, another Shreveport pilot, went all the way without a pit stop in his 1953 Nash to finish third, with Chris Skadal of Des Moines fourth in a 1950 Olds.

There were only two minor crackups in the race, a tribute to the driving skill of the contestants over the track which dried fast once the cars began moving.

Sonny Helms, one of two Des Moines drivers among the Iowans entered, blew a tire, and slapped the wall at the end of 238 laps after making three stops because of an overheated motor.

The other mishap happened when Eddie Anderson of Grinnell lost a wheel after running 48 circuits. Anderson, originally scheduled to pilot a 1953 Dodge, was forced to race in a borrowed 1949 Oldsmobile after IMCA officials ruled his car was a hard-top convertible, banned from stock car racing for safety reasons.

Don White of Keokuk, brother-in-law of Derr, blew a tire on the 185th lap and finished out of the money although he got back into the race. He had previously halted for a tire change on lap 175.

Tubby Harrison of Topeka, Kan., the winner here last summer, was plagued with motor trouble and was the first to drop out of the race.

Some 10,000 fans paid to watch the event.


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk
2. Ralph Dyer, Shreveport, La.
3. Herschel Buchanan, Shreveport, La.
4. Chris Skadal, Des Moines
5. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
6. Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids
7. Mel Krueger, Anita
8. Shorty Ebert, Smithville, Mo.
9. Scotty Scovill, Kansas City
10.Walter Shy, Topeka, Kan.
11.Sonny Gross, Quincy, Ill.
12.Art Combs, Emporia, Kan.

1971 – Davis is Boone Mid-Season Champ

 

Greg Davis

Boone, Iowa (June 27, 1971) – Mechanical difficulties and mistakes wiped out the lead of two top drivers during the Boone Speedway mid-season championships Saturday night and Greg Davis, Boone, was waiting to take advantage.

Davis captured his first feature win of the season and the mid-season championship trophy.

Denny Hovinga, Laurens, the point leader for the year at Boone, had the pole position in the feature, and took the early lead. He held the top spot during the early part of the race which was marred by several restarts as drivers had control issues on the dusty, dry, slick track.

While waiting for the fifth restart, Hovinga’s fuel line separated, dumping alcohol on the track. His pit crew quickly corrected the problem, but track rules put him out of the race since working on cars while on the track is not allowed.

This gave Gene Schattschneider, Algona, the lead, and he held it until two and two-thirds laps remained in the 25-lap contest.

Coming out of the second turn on lap 23, Schattschneider almost lost it, and Davis, who had been riding the Algona driver’s rear bumper, scooted by and took the checkered flag.

David, currently fourth in the point standings, had not won a single event at the Boone oval until tonight, although he had consistently been a high finisher. He had finished in the top-five 18 times during the season.

During the middle of the race, one of the harder battles for position took place between Lynn Ballard, Ames, and Dwight Engleen, Ogden, who was the second heat winner.

Ballard, who had started on the outside of the sixth row, worked his way through the field during numerous restarts, then took third place from Engleen. However, Ballard was riding too high on the track and Engleen ducked under him to regain third, and Mike Keen, Marshalltown, also slipped by the Ames driver. By the checkered flag, another Ames pilot, Earl Tice, slipped by Ballard to take fifth.

Ballard also posted his second win of the night, winning the B-main. Del McDowell, Ames, was leading that event by a quarter of a lap but suddenly went into the pit area with engine problems with two laps to go.

Arnie Braland, Boone, had a new engine in his car for championship night but it didn’t help.

In the first heat he had the lead for the first five laps before Hovinga got by. He regained it on lap 6 but a lap later his car began to smoke, and he retired to the pit area on lap 9.

Coming out of the B-feature, Braland again had the lead but started backing off after six laps and pulled out two laps later when the oil pressure disappeared on his big Chevy engine.

Glenn Woodard, Des Moines, the point leader in the sportsman division, got back into his winning ways as he took first place in his heat and the 15-lap feature.


Results –


Heat #1 – Denny Hovinga, Laurens
Heat #2 – Dwight Engleen, Ogden
B-main – Lynn Ballard, Ames
A-main – Denny Hovinga
Feature –
1. Greg Davis, Boone
2. Gene Schattschneider, Algona
3. Dwight Engleen
4. Mike Keen, Marshalltown
5. Earl Tice, Ames
6. Lynn Ballard
7. Arlo Dorenbush, Boone
8. Rich Green, Webster City
9. Darreld Bunkofske, Algona

1977 - Trickle Capture I-70's Triple Crown

Dick Trickle is congratulated after winning the Triple Crown 300 at I-70 Speedway in Odessa. 

Odessa, Mo. (June 26, 1977) – The competition bordered on the fantastic Sunday in the Triple Crown 300 at I-70 Speedway, with unbelievably close finishes in two of the three 100-lap features. Neither of the first two 100-lappers was actually decided until the checkered flag was waving.

Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., won two of the three features, taking the first 100 in a tight race to the checkered with Joe Shear of South Beloit, Ill., then beating Larry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., by two and one-half seconds in the final 100.

Shear won the second 100-lapper in a finish that topped the first one.

Trickle, the fastest qualifier in 17.84 seconds, or 108.969 miles per hour for the banked .54-mile asphalt speedway, in his 1977 Firebird, jumped into the lead at the start of the American Speed Association program, but was overtaken by Dave Watson of Milton, Wis., on lap 4. It would be the first of eight lead changes.

Watson’s 1977 Camaro was in the lead until lap 10, when Trickle scooted back in front, only to have Shear’s 1976 Camaro ahead for the first time on the 20th circuit.

Trickle regained the top spot on lap 35 and stayed there until lap 69, dueling with Shear all the way.

Shear took over on lap 70 but Trickle got it back five laps later, this time staying there until Shear pulled in front on lap 98.

Going low, Trickle regained the lead as the pair came to the white flag, and things came to a climatic finish as the two cars approached the finish line with a slow car in front of them.

Under ASA’s no move over-flag rule, it was every man for himself, and Trickle dove for the inside and Shear went high.

Trickle’s margin as three cars flashed across the start/finish line was just about a half-car length.

“Man, Trickle said during the break, “that was racing.”

The same two drivers were involved in the finish of the second 100-lapper with the position reversed and no slower car being involved.

At the start, with the cars still running at the end of the first 100 inverted, Vester Cates of Lawson, Mo., got in front for the first six laps, when 18-year-old Mark Martin of Batesville, Ark., managed to take over.

The youngster’s lead lasted only a lap as David Goldsberry of Bolivar, Mo., took over and led until the 17th circuit, when Watson took over the lead.

Goldsberry got it back for one lap, the 42nd, when Shear powered his way to the top spot and Trickle moved into second place shortly afterwards. Trickle then took the lead on lap 69 and had his hands full for the better part of 30 laps as Shear repeatedly applied pressure to Trickle’s rear bumper.

When the 10-lap signal went out, Shear appeared to have resigned himself to another second-place finish, but he began a last push as the white flag came out, and he dropped the nose of his Camaro under Trickle’s Pontiac as they went into thee first turn.

The two cars roared down the backstretch side-by-side, and a slower car dropped down on the banking in the third and fourth corners, giving Shear the opening he needed.

Shear, a three-time Rockford National Short Track champion, won a drag race to the flag by two feet. Shear later explained that he literally had to “cool his tires” for a while, and felt the strategy paid off.

“My tires were heating up, so I let Dick lead for a while without pushing too hard,” he explained. “I think I almost waited too long, but because my tires had a chance to cool off, I was able to pass him.”

The third 100 might have provided another charge to the checkered if Shear hadn’t been eliminated in a spectacular accident which also took out four other cars.

The trouble started when David Hall broke a sway bar in his Torino entering the first turn just as the leaders were completing lap 18. Hall was just about to be lapped by Trickle, Watson, Shear and others. The high-speed traffic found it impossible to avoid the sliding car.

“I got there but had no place to go,” Shear said.

Trickle suffered slight damage, which resulted in his losing the lead to Watson. The cars of Goldsberry, Bill Sanders and John Behee were taken out in addition to Hall and Shear.

Most of the frontrunners were forced to change tires on the red flag stop, due to the broken glass from Hall’s broken windshield.

Watson had the lead on the restart and the current ASA point leader held on the top spot until Trickle worked his way around Watson on lap 60. From there to the finish it was relatively easy for Trickle, so much that he lit up a cigarette during the last caution five laps from the end.

“The only thing wrong with smoking on the track,” he said, “is you can’t bum cigarettes out there.”

Trickle’s two feature wins paid $2,425, while Shear collected $1,560. Watson, who faded to sixth in the final 100 with hub problems, made $1,150 for the day.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
2. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
3. Jim Pierson, Janesville, Wis.
4. Dave Watson, Milton, Wis.
5. Rusty Wallace, St. Louis
6. David Goldsberry, Bolivar, Mo.


Feature #2 –

1. Joe Shear
2. Dick Trickle
3. Dave Watson
4. Larry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
6. David Goldsberry


Feature #3 –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Larry Phillips
3. Mark Martin
4. Terry Brumley, Springfield, Mo.
5. Ron Jones, Muskogee, Okla.
6. Dave Watson
7. Bill Crane, Claycomo, Mo.
8. Raymond Pattison, Tulsa, Okla.
9. Jim Pierson
10.Vester Cates, Lawson, Mo.

1961 – Stott Wins Second ‘Badger 100’

 

Ramo Stott 

De Pere, Wis. (June 25, 1961) – Ramo Stott, winner of last year’s “Badger 100,” did a repeat performance Sunday night before an overflow crowd of 4,500.

The Keokuk, Iowa, speedster set a new track record for the 50-lap event on the half-mile of 24 minutes and 2.45 seconds. He also was the fastest in time trials, touring the dirt oval in 30.35 seconds.

Taking off like a rocket at countdown zero, Stott rocketed into an early lead and almost coasted to the 50-mile victory, leaving a four-car scramble for second place.

It was a scramble that never did unfold and gave Dick Hutcherson, also of Keokuk, second place, and Bob Reynolds of Edmond, Okla., third place.

It was strictly a showcase of speed in the trophy dash which was taken by Hutcherson. Stott finished second with yet another Keokuk driver, Jerry McCredie, taking third. Hutcherson’s winning time was 5 minutes and 11.10 seconds for the 10-lap race.

There was no room for error in the fast initial 10-lap heat which was won by Bob Reynolds in the time of 5 minutes and 9.08 seconds. Hutcherson, Stott, and Newt Bartholomew of Carlisle, Iowa, were right behind Reynolds as they roared over the finish line.

Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa, last year’s International Motor Contest Association champion, won the second heat in the time of 5 minutes and 17.74 seconds. Jerry McCredie, Bill Moyer of Des Moines, and Ron Snow of Red Wing, Minn., finished behind Derr.

The third heat winner was Dick Johnson of St. Paul, Minn. He won the 10-lap contest in 5 minutes and 53.24 seconds over Frank Dombrowski of Menasha, Don McDonald of Neenah, and Jerry Patterson of Two Rivers.

It was the only race in which the Green Bay area racers fared well. McDonald, who is the flagman here for the weekly races said, “It was an experience to compete with the drivers who can skin by your car by mere inches on every turn and never touch you.”

1979 – Top Pick Goes Home, Anderson First to Flag

John Anderson

Springfield, Mo. (June 24, 1979) – As the finish drew close in Sunday’s 100-lap American Speed Association stock car race at Fairgrounds Speedway, there was not a driver on the track who thought he was a winner.

Not Mike Eddy, the Midland, Mich., veteran, who was leading, yet praying because of a slowly failing right rear tire.

Not John Anderson, the Massillon, Ohio, driver who lost track of his laps and almost made the charge too late.

Not Mark Martin, the Batesville, Ark., youngster who led the first half of the race, only to be chased down by Eddy and Anderson.

And defintely not Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., a pre-race favorite who packed his bags after Saturday’s rainout and blazed highways to another race in Kaukauna, Wis.

For a race in which nobody felt good about their chances, both Eddy and Anderson tried darn hard to reach the checkered flag first. Anderson did it with a final lunge out of the fourth turn to clip Eddy by less than two feet in one of the most exciting finishes ever at the Fairgrounds.

Anderson got around Martin 25 laps from the end to move into second place but counted himself out of the finish before Eddy ran into heavy traffic.

“I thought with a little luck, I might get by him,” said Anderson, who tucked his third ASA victory of the season under his belt. “I needed that traffic to catch up, but it also hurt me a little. With all of traffic and battling with Mike, I did not even see the five to go sign. It surprised me to see the white flag coming out, and I thought it was all over then.”

It really looked bleak for Anderson when he dove deep into the first turn just after taking the lead on the last lap. His sleek Camaro slowly nosed its way towards the outside wall.

Anderson brought the slide under control and pulled to Eddy’s outside door down the back straightaway. He and Eddy race side-by-side around the third and fourth turns, and Anderson simply had enough power down the main straight to inch ahead at the wire.

Eddy was doing fine until he approached a battle for fifth-place between Ray Young and John Knaus. The two had been going at it all afternoon and they were not about to let Eddy slide by with five laps left.

“The traffic didn’t cost me the race,” said Eddy. “In fact, I was trying to use the traffic to save the race, but I had troubles the last 10 laps with my right rear tire. It was getting thin, and I was trying to stay on the bottom of the track.”

Martin, who led the first 50 laps from his pole position, had no excuses.

“I knew darn well we weren’t set to win this race,” said the former Fairgrounds Speedway champion and defending ASA titlist. “Those two guys just plain outran me. That is all there was to it.”

Few persons – especially the estimated 2,500 in the stands – knew that Trickle had departed. It wasn’t until the ASA late models were being lined up that most of the crowd noticed the popular Trickle was missing.

No announcements were made to the patrons – who paid $9 to $10 to see the race – until minute before the 100-lapper.

Trickle is part of the ASA Winner’s Circle Program, a series of nine races which guarantees promoters and spectators that the top-10 drivers in the ASA point standings will appear. Rain dates, however, aren’t included in the contract which the drivers sign prior to the season.

Martin and Bob Senneker of Michigan were also committed to the race in Wisconsin but elected to stay in Springfield.

“We found out about it (Trickle’s decision) at 6 o’clock Saturday night,” said ASA president Rex Robbins. “He (Trickle) knew there was no easy way out, because he’d be making race fans made here if he went and he’d be making fans mad there if he didn’t go.”


Results –


1. John Anderson
2. Mike Eddy
3. Mark Martin
4. Don Gregory
5. John Knaus
6. Randy Sweet
7. Terry Devine
8. Bob Senneker
9. Ray Young
10.Harold Scott
11.Jim Campbell
12.Bob Sensiba
13.Russ Phillips
14.Terry Shirley
15.Bobby Henzie
16.Doug Klein
17.Dave Jensen
18.Don Ely
19.Roger Chism
20.Rick Knotts

1973 – Jan, Kenny Give USACers ‘Lesson’

Jan Opperman

Mechanicsburg, Penn. (June 24, 1973) – It was another embarrassing night for the United States Auto Club sprint car regulars at Williams Grove Speedway on Sunday night as super sprint stars Jan Opperman and Kenny Weld gave a sterling 1-2 performance in the 40-lap main event.

Ironically, the best performance by any of the traveling USAC circuit drivers was by Billy Cassella, the young charger from Weirton, W.Va., who got his start on the mid-state super sprint circuit.

Opperman finished 5.7-seconds ahead of Weld, much to the delight of the area fans.

After Cassella came Rollie Beale of Toledo, Ohio, with Lee Kunzman of Guttenberg, Iowa, winner of last year’s Grove USAC race, finishing fifth.

Another Grove star, Lee Osborne of Lebanon, finished sixth.

It was the initial USAC success for Opperman, who passed Cassella on lap 14. One lap later, Weld got around Cassella foe second place and then gave Opperman a tough time until the lone yellow flag waved on lap 27. From there on, Opperman was in cruise control.

Opperman pushed his Bogar mount to a qualifying record of 23.73 seconds.


Results –


1. Jan Opperman
2. Kenny Weld
3. Billy Cassella
4. Rollie Beale
5. Lee Kunzman
6. Lee Osborne
7. Larry Cannon
8. Joe Saldana
9. Duane Carter
10.Don Nordhorn

1984 - Reffner Tops Dells 'Vacationland 50'

Tom Reffner

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (June 23, 1984) – Tom Reffner avoided all of the crashes in the 50-lap late model feature at the Dells Motor Speedway and took home the victory in the “Vacationland 50” on Saturday night.

Jim Back, Dave Klein, Bob Gunn, and Don Turner rounded out the top-five finishers in the annual event which had been postponed from the previous week’s rainout.

Steve Carlson set fast time, later to be one of the first four cars to drop out of the feature. Back won the trophy dash while Gordy Platt, A.J. Anderson, Doug Herbst, Jerry Eckhardt, and Klein were heat winners.

Perry Redeker won the 15-lap consolation event and Ron Beyer debuted his new Camaro with a victory in the 20-lap semi-feature.


Results –


Time trials – Steve Carlson, West Salem (14.187)
Trophy dash – Jim Back, Vesper
Heat #1 – Gordy Platt, Wisconsin Dells
Heat #2 – A.J. Anderson, Columbus
Heat #3 – Doug Herbst, Wausau
Heat #4 – Jerry Eckhardt, Watertown
Heat #5 – Dave Klein, Madison
Consolation – Perry Redeker, Wausau
Semi-main – Ron Beyer, Stevens Point
Feature –
1. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
2. Jim Back
3. Dave Klein
4. Bob Gunn, Madison
5. Don Turner, La Crosse
6. Bob Weiss, Montello
7. Conrad Morgan, Dousman
8. Jerry Eckhardt
9. Rick Wateski, Rudolph
10.Jim Johnson, Bangor
11.Axel Dahlberg, Mauston
12.Steve Holzhausen, Bangor
13.Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton
14.Tom Carlson, La Crosse
15.Gregg DeLapp, Mauston

1957 – Bryan Wins Detroit 100-Miler

Jimmy Bryan holds his trophy while chief mechanic Clint Brawner looks on after the Phoenix, Ariz., driver won the 100-mile USAC national championship race at Michigan State Fairgrounds. – Steve Noffke Collection

Detroit, Mich. (June 23, 1957) – Veteran Jimmy Bryan Sunday yielded the pole position to George Amick of Los Angeles, then came back to whip his west coast rival in the 100-mile national championship race at the State Fairgrounds.

Bryan turned in the fastest 100 ever recorded on the north Woodward track when he toured the distance in 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 47 seconds, for an average speed of 97.87 miles per hour.

A third-place finisher at Indianapolis this year, Bryan set his record in the Dean Van Lines Special, a car which was on the track only because his pit crew spent most of Saturday night putting it in racing condition.

Saturday, when the race was postponed due to rain, Bryan’s car burned out it’s engine in a trial run when the radiator hose became disconnected.

After having the necessary piston replacement rushed from Indianapolis, the overhauling and repairing took up most of the night and early morning.

Amick was on the pole Sunday as 12,500 fans watched from the grandstands, bleachers, and infield. The popular LA speedster had won the pole in his Hopkins Special with a nifty time of 39.24 seconds. Bryan’s qualifying lap, good for the second starting position, was 39.28 seconds.

Amick shot the front almost immediately, lost the lead briefly to Bryan on lap 8, then lost it for the remainder of the race on lap 10.

Amick did make a race out of it the entire distance. He was never worse than second and was never behind more than seven seconds behind Bryan, the defending United States Auto Club national champion.

Third place went to Andy Linden of Indianapolis, in the McNamara Special, with Jud Larson of Kansas City in fourth. Elmer George finished fifth in his wife’s H.O.W. Special.

The track, which had broken up in previous years, held together all day, a tribute to the money and time spent by Pete Spencer and Johnny Marcum, the co-promoters.

Bryan, Bob Veith, and Rodger Ward left immediately after the race for New York to join 10 other American drivers who were to fly to Monza, Italy for the “European 500”.


Results –


1. Jimmy Bryan
2. George Amick
3. Andy Linden
4. Jud Larson
5. Elmer George
6. Bob Veith
7. Billy Garrett
8. Don Freeland
9. Jimmy Reece
10.Don Branson
11.Chuck Weyant
12.Bill Cheesbourg
13.Ed Elisian
14.Bud Randall
15.Gene Hartley
16.Rodger Ward
17.Don Edmunds
18.Johnny Thomson

1975 - Stover Drops Radiator, But Wins

Stan Stover

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (June 22, 1975) - "Just lucky" was the way Stan Stover of Reinbeck paraphrased his victory, in the 25-lap late model stock car feature Sunday night at Hawkeye Downs.

Stover was being modest in one sense, but in another he wasn't kidding. You see, just as the 35-year-old chauffeur picked up the checkered flag, the radiator dropped out of his 1972 Chevelle.

"I couldn't believe it; I guess I'm just lucky," said Stover, while sporting a wide grin loaded with satisfaction.

"The side mounts on the radiator broke and I noticed it smoking on the last lap."

Stover led the full 25 laps and earned $500. Stan was only the 14th fastest qualifier, but he was on the pole due to the draw that inverted the 14 fastest cars from time trials.

So Stan "was just lucky" to be on the pole, as he put it, "and all I had to do was hold off the rest of the drivers."

Well, that was no easy task, to be sure, as no less than four other drivers took shots at the leader during the tours on the half-mile dirt track.

Don White of Keokuk, the winningest stock car driver in United States Auto Club history, was a close second. White had the crowd of 3,842 on its feet as he charged from fifth place in the final five laps and his Chrysler Kit car was less than car length behind Stover at the finish.

Rounding out the top five were Fed Horn of Marion, Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, and Ed Sanger of Waterloo. Sanger, the current point leader, was the fastest qualifier with a 25.18 second clocking, but had to start the feature in the 14th spot due to the invert.

Sanger had captured three straight features at the Downs prior to Sunday night.

Stover's victory was his first in six years of racing at the Downs. He had finished second three times, but the big one had always eluded him. Until Sunday night…

"I've always wanted to win here," he said. "This is the fastest track, and the competition makes it the hardest place to make money."

Heat wins went to Dake, Tim McDonough of Cedar Rapids and Martelle's Bill Beckman, who also won the semi.


Results –


Heat #1 - Bill Beckman, Martelle
Heat #2 - Tim McDonough, Cedar Rapids
Heat #3 - Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
Semi-main - Bill Beckman
Feature - 
1. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
2. Don White, Keokuk
3. Fred Horn, Marion
4. Darrell Dake
5. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
6. Phil Reece, Des Moines
7. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
8. Lem Blankenship, Keokuk
9. Ron Hemsted, Lone Tree
10.Mike Frieden, Fairfax

1968 – White Finishes First; Booed by Record Crowd

Don White waves to the crowd after winning the "Indiana Classic" for USAC stock cars at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Car owner Ray Nichel joins White in victory lane. - Wayne Bryant Photo/Doug Schellinger Collection

Indianapolis, Ind. (June 22, 1968) – Don White’s winning streak at the Indiana State Fairgrounds is still intact. 

His popularity is not...

White emerged victorious in a thundering duel of Dodge Chargers in Saturday night’s “Indiana Classic” as Al Unser spun out in the fourth turn of the 99th lap while running head-to-head with the defending USAC national champion.

A record crowd of 18,813 thought that Unser’s spin might have been assisted by a nudge from White. Don said it wasn’t and several witnesses confirmed that.

They said that Unser was running too high, too fast, and lost it.

This did not help White with the fans. They booed so loudly afterwards that his victor remarks were completely drowned out.

White didn’t care. He just smiled, accepted his trophy for his fourth consecutive victory at the one-mile dirt oval and thought about the $5,473 he just won.

Unser, who led 82 of the 100 miles, was about as unhappy with White as the crowd was – but not over the spin. The object of his wrath was the beginning of the 99th lap.

The 98th lap, like the 10 before, was run under the yellow after Bob Robbins parked his Chevelle on the inside fence of the first turn.

When the green flag waved on the 99th lap, White took it side by side with the previous leading Unser. Al thought White was a little ahead, in fact, which happens to be illegal, immoral, and most unfattening to the pocketbook under the USAC rules.

Unser discussed the matter afterwards with chief steward Billy Taylor. Al was ready to protest but left he decision to car owner Rudy Hoerr because he had to leave immediately for Langhorne, Penn., for Sunday’s championship race.

Hoerr decided not to protest.

As it was, lap 99 was the most memorable in any race. White nabbed the lead heading into the first turn, but Unser was back in front as they entered the backstretch.

White nosed in front on the inside as the pair entered turn three, but Unser was a radiator ahead midway through the turn. Then White had a little advantage as they entered the fourth and final turn – that’s where Unser spun out.

That was it.

White led the last lap and third and then smiled as he was pelted with boos from the grandstand.

It was a tough one to lose for Unser, who had been in command for most of the day.


Results –


1. Don White
2. Al Unser
3. Butch Hartman
4. Roger McCluskey
5. Roger Regeth
6. Dave Hirschfield
7. Gene Marmor
8. Dave Whitcomb
9. Gordon Gorman
10.Tom Klippel
11.Glen Bradley
12.John Kennedy
13.Tom Jones
14.Len Blanchard
15.Frank Freda
16.Paul Sizemore
17.Bob Haack
18.Paul Feldner
19.A.J. Foyt
20.Bob Robbins
21.Fred Zack
22.Sal Tovella
23.Elmer Davis
24.Parnelli Jones
25.Jim Nusbaum

1970 - Action Reigns Supreme as McElreath Wins

Jim McElreath

Terre Haute, Ind. (June 21, 1970) - Jim McElreath of Arlington, Tex., the third leader of the race, grabbed the top spot on the 23rd lap and sped to victory in the 40-lap feature sprint car race at the Action Track yesterday.

The United States Auto Club show was marred by one mishap, as veteran Tom Bigelow flipped his car between turns three and four late in the race. He was not seriously injured.

A.J. Foyt grabbed the lead in the feature and kept it for 15 laps until the engine in his new racer overheated. Greg Weld then jumped into the top spot and held it until McElreath made his move eight laps later.

Weld held on for runner-up honors while Don Nordhorn, who challenged McElreath for a short time, finished third. Dick Tobias grabbed fourth and Gary Bettenhausen rounded out the top five.

Larry Dickson, the current point leader in the sprint car division, took seventh.

McElreath said, “We had a little trouble with the engine missing at the beginning…the track was in good condition.”

Tom Bigelow, the fast qualifier on the day, came from his seventh starting position to win the first heat while Carl Williams held off McElreath to win the second heat.

Jimmy Oskie, one of the hottest drivers in California sprint car racing, set a new track record in winning the third heat, touring the eight laps in 4 minutes and 9.89 seconds.

The new record would not last for long, however, as Greg Weld would lower the mark to 4 minutes and 1 second in the fourth and final heat.

Larry Dickson won the 12-lap semi-main.

Bigelow’s time of 23.21 seconds on the half-mile copped fast time honors. McElreath was second with 23.30 seconds followed by Greg Weld at 23.32 seconds.

The second largest crowd of the year contributed to the purse of $10,119.


Results –


1. Jim McElreath
2. Greg Weld
3. Don Nordhorn
4. Dick Tobias
5. Gary Bettenhausen
6. Lennie Waldo
7. Larry Dickson
8. Jimmy Oskie
9. Rollie Beale
10.Chuck Booth
11.George Snider
12.Johnny Capels
13.Andy Brown
14.Carl Williams
15.Tom Bigelow
16.Johnny Parsons
17.Karl Busson
18.Ralph Liguori
19.Bill Puterbaugh
20.A.J. Foyt

 

1958 – Derr Defeats White in Burlington 100-Miler

 

Ernie Derr won both ends of twin 50-milers for IMCA stock cars at the Tri-State Fairgrounds in Burlington. - Ernie Derr Collection 

Burlington, Iowa (June 21, 1958) – Ernie Derr of Keokuk dominated the Hawkeye Fair Speedway’s 100-mile late model stock car races on Saturday night.

Derr thrilled a crowd of 5,000 spectators by driving to a new half-mile time trial record and to victory in the two 50-mile events.

Derr, who trails IMCA point leader Don White of Keokuk by only a few points, streaked around the fast track in 31.10 seconds to erase the 31.16 seconds set last year by Bob Burdick.

White posted the second fastest time in qualifying – 31.34 seconds. He and Derr shared the front row as fans anticipated a red hot duel between the two daredevils.

However, the fireworks failed to develop. White developed motor trouble on the very first lap and was forced to watch the remainder of the race from the sidelines. Track officials said that White withdrew after a broken valve spring had cut the power of his 1958 Ford.

Derr had it easy sailing until the final laps when he was pressed by Johnny Beauchamp. Derr took the checkered flag some five or six car lengths ahead of Beauchamp after touring the event in 24 minutes and 1.84 seconds.

Sonny Gross of Quincy, Ill., was third followed by Bob Burdick of Omaha, Neb.

Heat winners were Derr, Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Bob Potter of Duluth, Minn., and Dick Santee of Gardenia, Calif.

1965 - The Finish Line

 

By Les Burianek

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (June 20, 1965) - Aut Swenson of Thrillcade thrill shows wrote some interesting info regarding his new shows that will hit the road July 1st from the winter headquarters in Springfield, Mo.

The shows winter months were spent getting the equipment ready for the wild, grueling, punishing maneuvers that Swenson's Hollywood stuntmen will put the new fleet of Ford Cars through.

The Thrillcade drivers spent some time testing tires and have found the US Royal Tiger Paw tires will stand the test. Kenny Blaine, long a stuntman in the US and Europe, will drive a new Mustang in a thrill act that will be a crowd pleaser. Blaine will run the Mustang up High Side ramp, bring the car over on two wheels and continue on as far as the condition of the track will let him.

Swenson will bring his full show to the All-Iowa Fair on August 16 and 17 for matinee and evening performances. We sure won't miss it.

Greenwood Roadway

Last week we said that the drivers at the USAC race would get an education driving the three-mile sports car track. Well, a few of them slipped in a few practice laps last week and were led away talking to themselves. The word challenging has been changed to dangerous.

Tony Dean's KHAK Pit Stop

We stated last week that Tony had developed into one of the Midwest's best announcers. Well, we didn't miss, the little big mouth will step to the mike at the Paul Bunyan 200 race at Minneapolis and again this fall at the Minnesota State Fair race program.

New track?

From out of the toolbox came a hat rumble about, a track to be built 20 minutes out of Cedar Rapids. Any of you fence jumpers having info on this deal, give us a call.

The Quarter Midgets at Hawkeye Downs are drawing good crowds to their 20th mile, banked asphalt track every Sunday night at 7:30. If you haven't been out, plan to take the family out soon.

MCRA Press Party

We spent an enjoyable evening at the Roosevelt the other night. Our hosts, Homer Melton and Perry Luster royally entertained the local and area press.

The corner table discussion on racing today and yesterday was the best. Perry Luster, the man who insures the Midwest race tracks, talked on the problems that face the racing world today.

Ray Wernimont, president of the All-Iowa Fair, threw a bomb and announced that a new grandstand would be built in '66. Let's get our tools; Kay's going to need help!

Billings, Montana

We received a note from our old friend Andy Hanson, the new Empire State Fair manager out Montana way.

Andy, who was always an auto race man here, now is a horse race man. But out there you can drop a buck on a nag’s nose, which always fills the seats. Hanson, who was for many, many years, the All-Iowa Fair manager, sends a loud "hello" to his many friends that he left here in Cedar Rapids.

If any of you guys and gals get out near Andy's fair August 8-14, go through the gate and yell for Andy, he'll hear you.

Lots of luck, Andy.

1977 - Detjens Holds Off Trickle in Grundy ARTGO

ARTGO Racing's Art Frigo presents the trophy to Larry Detjens after the Wausau driver won the 100-lap late model feature at Grundy County. 

Morris, Ill. (June 19, 1977) – Larry Detjens of Wausau, Wis., withstood a frantic last-lap challenge from Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., and Bob Senneker of Dorr, Mich., to win the ARTGO-promoted 100-lap Father’s Day Classic for late models at the Grundy County Speedway on Sunday evening.

The stage was set for the close finish on lap 92 when Woody Church’s Mustang blew as he raced through turn one. Church spun in the oil spewing from his engine and then smashed into the pit wall. Both Trickle and Ed Hoffman also skidded into the wall in the ensuing chain reaction mishap which brought out the red flag.

When action resumed, Detjens, Trickle, Senneker, Jerry Kemperman and Joe Shear, running first through fifth, respectively, were tightly bunched. However, shortly after the resumption of the race, Ed Hoffman spun in turn two, bringing out the yellow flag.

When the green came back out again for the final time, Detjens, Trickle, and Senneker pulled away from the rest of the field, with Trickle inching ahead of Detjens with two laps remaining.

However, Detjens retaliated moments later to establish a narrow lead which he made stand up to the finish. Trickle settled for second with Senneker right behind in third.

Kemperman, who was running second on lap 93, collected fourth place money and Shear, who set a new track record in time trials, took fifth.

Earlier in the program, Larry Schuler won the 50-lap feature for odd-numbered qualifiers over Senneker, Kemperman, Shear and Larry Phillips of Springfield, Mo.

Dick Trickle won the 50-lap feature for even-numbered qualifiers over Detjens, Mike Miller, Gary Hemmerling, and Hoffman.


Results –


1. Larry Detjens, Wausau, Wis.
2. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
3. Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.
4. Jerry Kemperman, Blue Island, Ill.
5. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
6. Bob Strait, Flossmoor, Ill.
7. Gary Hemmerling, Beloit, Wis.
8. Tom Jones, Northbrook, Ill.
9. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
10.Tony Izzo, Bridgeview, Ill.

1983 – Kinser Sweeps to Missouri Nationals Title

Steve Kinser was $3,000 richer after winning the annual Missouri Sprint Nationals on the half-mile oval at Sedalia. – Ken Simon Photo

Sedalia, Mo. (June 18, 1983) – Steve Kinser pocketed over $4,000 en route to winning the ninth annual Missouri Sprint Car Nationals on the Missouri State Fairgrounds’ half-mile dirt oval.

The Bloomington, Ind., driver won both Friday and Saturday night’s 25-lap features.

Doug Wolfgang watched the tail of his former sprint car mount in Saturday’s action as Kinser was temporarily driving the C.K. Spurlock #18. Wolfgang, driving the Nance #1, claimed second ahead of Ricky Hood, Randy Smith, and John Sernett.

The Saturday night program was rain-delayed with a starting time of 10 p.m. The activities were also set back when National Speedways Contest association promoter Robert Lawton of Des Moines, Iowa, was run down by a sprint car during the packing of the track. Lawton was signaling the car involved to move to a lower groove on the track when the driver lost a wheel, hitting Lawton, resulting in a broken leg, and cut shoulder.

Bobby Layne of Kansas City, known as the “King of Wing,” gave new meaning to the name as he flew over the guardrail in the third turn in a rather unstable flight pattern. Layne’s crash landing totaled his race car and red-flagged the feature event on lap 5.

Kinser’s Friday night feature win was over Larry Gates of St. Joseph. Ind. Finishing third was early race leader Scott Ritchhart of Lincoln, Ill., while John Sernett of Tulsa, Okla., and Cliff Woodward of Kearney, Mo., rounded out the top five.


Results –


Friday –

Fast qualifier – Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. (19.883)
Heat #1 – Scott Ritchhart, Lincoln, Ill.
Heat #2 – Junior Parkinson, Kansas City
Heat #3 – Doug Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Heat #4 – Steve Kinser
B-main – Brett Lacey, Melbourne, Australia
Feature –
1. Steve Kinser
2. Larry Gates, St. Joseph, Ind.
3. Scott Ritchhart
4. John Sernett, Tulsa, Okla.
5. Cliff Woodward, Kearney, Mo.
6. Rick Hood, Memphis, Tenn.
7. Junior Parkinson
8. David Dwyer, Columbia
9. Danny Lasoski, Dover
10.Ricky Weld, Kansas City


Saturday –

Heat #1 – Randy Smith, Norwalk, Iowa
Heat #2 – Bobby Layne, Kansas City
Heat #3 – David Dwyer
Heat #4 – Rick Hood
B-main – Larry Gates
Feature –
1. Steve Kinser
2. Doug Wolfgang
3. Rick Hood
4. Randy Smith
5. John Sernett
6. John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn.
7. Danny Lasoski
8. Rick Weld
9. Dick Howard, Kansas City
10.Scott Ritchhart

1972 – Larson Cops Knoxville Supers

Roger Larson won the 25-lap super modified feature at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Starter Jack Thompson presents the checkers to Larson in victory lane. 

Knoxville, Iowa (June 17, 1972) – Roger Larson of Solomon, Kan., won the battle for the top money, and won his first-ever feature at the Marion County Fairgrounds, in a survival of the fittest 25-lap feature.

Larson started on the second row outside for the main event, and took the lead on the second lap, passing pole sitter Ralph Parkinson Jr., of Kansas City. Right behind Larson was Lonnie Jensen and Roger Rager, both of Lincoln, Neb., and the chase was on.

The trio easily pulled away from the rest of the field, with Larson still leading the way. On lap 9, Rager passed Jensen for second, but two laps later Rager’s car was coasting to a stop on the backstretch.

Larson continued to set the pace after the restart, and on lap 17, Jensen’s car stalled just off the second turn, leaving the way wide open for the Jayhawker.

Further back, Earl Wagner of Pleasantville, Iowa, was coasting in second and Ray Lee Goodwin of Kansas City and Junior Parkinson were battling for third, with Ray Lee getting the upper edge.

The night started with a track that got faster with each lap turned. Lonnie Jensen set fast time, he was the last man out, with a 21.51 second clocking. Roger Rager, next to last to qualify, was second fastest with a time of 22.06 seconds.

Rager won the trophy dash while Jensen, Rager, and Wager were heat winners. Steve Schultz of Chillicothe, Mo., was the consolation winner.


Results –


1. Roger Larson, Solomon, Kan.
2. Earl Wagner, Pleasantville, Iowa
3. Ray Lee Goodwin, Kansas City
4. Ralph Parkinson Jr., Kansas City
5. Ron Perkins, Des Moines
6. Johnny Babb, Ottumwa, Iowa
7. Stacy Redmond, Mason City, Iowa
8. Bill Hudson, New Sharon, Iowa
9. Dick Sutcliffe, Greenwood, Mo.
10.Steve Schultz, Chillicothe, Mo.

1976 – Tucker Tops Alta Race Days

Kent Tucker is presented his trophy by Ms. Alta Race Days after winning the 30-lap “A” feature for late models at the second annual Alta Race Days at Buena Vista County Speedway. Flagman Larry Cook presents the checkers. 

Alta, Iowa (June 16, 1976) – Kent Tucker of Aurora, Neb., won the 30-lap late model feature at the second annual Alta Race Days at Buena Vista County Speedway on Wednesday night.

Tucker fought off persistent challenges from Bob Kosiski of Omaha throughout the main event to collect $900. He earned $600 for the victory and another $300 in lap money for leading start to finish. Tucker also won his heat race and the trophy dash.

Defending race champion Bill Rice of Des Moines was hampered with engine problems and finished seventh.

The $4,000 late model special lured some of the top drivers in the Midwest. Those “big city” drivers overshadowed most of the weekly competitors with Estherville’s Bob Shryock the only driver to finish in the top five.

Shryock, in fact, helped fuel the exciting main event pushing Tucker and Kosiski to the very end before settling for third. Nearly all of the 20 cars were on the same lap when the checkered flag flew. Weekly racer Bill Christman of Bronson had been running third for most of the race before a spinout wrecked any chance of a top finish.

Ed Morris of Council Bluffs, Kosiski, Tucker, and Christman were heat winners with Tucker winning the trophy dash. Arnie Braland of Boone won the “B” feature.

Larry Pepper of Storm Lake won the roadrunner feature, edging points leader Duane Miller of Manson.


Results –


1. Kent Tucker, Aurora, Neb.
2. Bob Kosiski, Omaha
3. Bob Shryock. Estherville
4. Ed Morris, Council Bluffs
5. George Barton, Ankeny
6. Fred Knapp, Des Moines
7. Bill Rice, Des Moines
8. Arnie Braland, Boone
9. Denny Sherrill, Sioux City
10.Jerry Holtkamp, Williams

1968 – Bowsher Wins Twice at New Bremen

 

 

Jack Bowsher accepts his trophy after winning both 100-lap features at New Bremen Speedway. – Wayne Bryant Photo/Doug Schellinger Collection

New Bremen, Ohio (June 16, 1968) – Jack Bowsher of Springfield, Ohio, swept both ends of the twin 100-lap features for USAC stock cars and had the fastest qualifying time at New Bremen Speedway on Sunday.

Bowsher drove a 1968 Ford Torino to victory in each of the 100-lap, 50-mile features on the paved, half-mile oval. His qualifying time was 20.06 seconds.

Gene Marmor of River Grove, Ill., driving a 1967 Chevelle, took second in the first event and grabbed third in the second feature.

Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis., finished third in the first feature, piloting a 1968 Plymouth and Frank Freda of Elmhurst, Ill., was fourth in a 1967 Plymouth.

Al Unser of Albuquerque, N.M., was runner-up to Bowsher in the second contest in a 1968 Dodge Charger. Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, the defending USAC stock car champion, who was involved in a crash during the warmup period, was fourth in a 1968 Plymouth.

White and LaMarr Marshall of Louisville, Ky., crashed during trial runs but neither driver was injured.

Bill Behling of Milwaukee, Wis., was injured in the second race when his 1967 Ford crashed into a wrecker on the 50th lap. He lost control coming out of the fourth turn. Behling was admitted to a local hospital.

Also injured in the accident was the track physician, Dr. Charles Gerity, who was standing on top of the wrecker. He suffered a broken arm.

Linus Hausfeld, the owner of the wrecker, was trapped inside his vehicle with his son and was forced to crawl through the window to escape. They both suffered bruises.

A bit crowd was on hand for the program, which was marked by the appearance of Bobby Unser, recently crowned Indianapolis 500 winner. Unser drove the pace car and was accompanied by Susan Philpot, queen of the New Bremen Woodman Festival.

 

1957 – Thomson is Reading Fairgrounds Winner

Johnny Thomson

Reading, Penn. (June 16, 1957) - Wresting the lead in the homestretch of the fourth lap, Johnny Thomson of Boyertown, Penn., roared to an easy victory in the third annual 100-lap Mike Nazaruk Memorial Big Car Race Sunday at the Reading Fairgrounds.

Thomson’s winning time for the 50-mile grind was 47 minutes, 20.64 seconds. He was at the wheel of Sam Traylor’s #2 Offenhauser.

He finished a good three quarters of a lap in front of Bill Randall, of Reading, Mass., who displaced Tommy Hinnershitz in the runner-up spot during the 92nd lap. Jim Packard, Indianapolis, finished fourth and Dutch Schaeffer, Floral Park, N.Y., fifth.

Eight of the 14 starters still were running when Thomson received the checkered flag.

The main event was run under the caution flag five times because of spinouts but there were no serious injuries. Thomson was treated for leg burns after the race.

Besides collecting $788.50 for first place, Thomson pocketed $970 in lap money. Randall’s monetary reward for second place was $664 while Hinnershitz collected third place money of $539.59 and $30 in lap cash.

Ernie McCoy, a Reading, Penn., driver, made a clean sweep in the 20-lap consolation for drivers who did not qualify for the Nazaruk. McCoy, picked up first place money of $150 and $200 in lap prizes, Jud Larson of Kansas City, finished second; Johnny Kay, New Britain, Conn., was third, and Eddie Sachs, Allentown, Penn., fourth.

1969 – McCluskey Wins at Tri-County

Roger McCluskey (2) moves up to pass race leader Jack Bowsher (21) en route to winning the 100-lap USAC late model stock car race at Tri-County Speedway. – Bowen & Robinson Photo

West Chester, Ohio (June 15, 1969) – Roger McCluskey picked up his first victory of 1969 in the United States Auto Club late model stock car division on Sunday at Tri-County Speedway.

The triumph gave McCluskey’s lead over A.J. Foyt in the stock car point standings a tremendous shot in the arm. Foyt, a pre-race favorite, dropped out on the 69th lap and went pointless for the evening.

McCluskey’s victory in the main event also shut off an attempt by Jack Bowsher, owner of the Ford Torino’s driven by himself and Foyt, who won the fast car dash and the first heat. Bowsher settled for a distant second place finish in the feature.

Defending stock car champion Foyt angled into the lead on lap 6, moving up from his 13th starting position, and began to pull away from the rest of the field. By lap 20, the engine in Foyt’s ’69 Torino was purring smoothly, he had built up a four-second lead over his teammate Bowsher, and the race appeared to be a runaway.

McCluskey, his ’69 Plymouth Roadrunner running in third place after his start in the ninth row, was having issues getting to the leaders as he battled with Don White.

By lap 30, Foyt, Bowsher, McCluskey, and White were all bunched up, within one-car-length of each other, in a scramble for the lead.

Bumping each other in the turns, Foyt and Bowsher ran side-by-side for three laps until the Springfield, Ohio, driver spurted into the lead and held it as Foyt suddenly started fading. McCluskey was right behind.

“I was having a fit with Bowsher,” said McCluskey, “Then he and A.J. started at it, and I didn’t want to get involved in that.”

McCluskey pulled even with Bowsher just after the halfway mark and accelerated into the lead on the inside groove of lap 54. He stretched his lead to over half-a-lap by the 75th circuit and coasted to the checkered flag.

Bowsher and White got into a battle for second place for the final 40 laps with Bowsher getting the nod. White had to contend with Butch Hartman who was shadowing him on the inside groove and could never get close enough for a shot at Bowsher. Hartman, who would lose five laps after a lengthy pit stop, would finish out of the money.

Ross Smith of Sayler Park led the local entrants with a fourth place finish. Dave Whitcomb would round out the top-five finishers.

Foyt pulled into the pits after 69 circuits when his overheating engine caused a radiator hose to break apart and he was through for the evening.


Results –


1. Roger McCluskey
2. Jack Bowsher
3. Don White
4. Ross Smith
5. Dave Whitcomb
6. Dick Trickle
7. Verlin Eaker
8. Paul Feldner
9. Glen Bradley
10.Terry Nichels
11.Jay Wyatt
12.Gene Marmor

1977 – Four Straight Mains for Smith

Jerry Smith of Medina would win four consecutive late model features on four different Wisconsin tracks. He’s shown here at Shawano County Fairgrounds. – Pete Vercauteren Photo

Oshkosh, Wis. (June 14-19, 1977) – It would be a profitable week for Jerry Smith of Medina as he would win all four late model features, he entered, starting at Leo’s Speedway in Oshkosh on Tuesday, Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna on Thursday, Shawano Speedway on Saturday, and ending at Seymour Speedway on Sunday night.

He would start the ball rolling at Leo’s Speedway on June 14, driving his 1977 Camaro to victory in the 25-lap feature. Smith would get off to a great start, breaking the track record in time trials, with a 17.042-second time on the 1/3-mile dirt oval.

In the feature, Smith started dead last in the 12-car field but steadily move his way through the pack, eventually passing Gary Roehrborn of Menasha on lap 22, to take the lead and the win.

On June 16, Smith would slip by Bob Abitz of Freedom on the last lap to win the 20-lap Fox River Club late model feature before a record crowd of 3,483 fans.

Smith and Abitz ran the final six laps nose-to-tail on the half-mile paved oval with Abitz in the lead behind the wheel of his 1973 Camaro. Abitz, a high school teacher, drove the finest race of his six-year career as he held back Smith until the final lap.

Smith nosed his car inside of Abitz as the two speeding racers entered turn one. As the cars roared down the backstretch, Smith pulled into a slight lead, but Abitz made a last-turn passing attempt on the final corner, only to spin his car around, dropping him out of the top-six finishers. The victory was Smith’s third of the year at WIR.

Smith would continue his week-long dominance of Wisconsin tracks with a 20-lap late model victory at Shawano speedway on June 18.

Being the night’s fastest qualifier, Smith started dead last in the 14-car field but wasted little time in advancing his position. With his Camaro running to perfection, Smith quickly dispersed of Pete Parker, Lowell Bennett, and Herb Iverson to take over third place. He then slipped to the inside of Al Presteen on lap 7 to take over second place, setting his sights on race leader Scot Hanson of Green Bay.

A caution on lap 12 would bunch the field and on the restart, Smith would roar past Hanson to take the lead. He would motor to a four-second victory over Parker and Roger Regeth for his third feature win of the season at the track.

Sunday, June 19 would see Smith as the fast qualifier and the fastest racer, as he won his third straight late model at Seymour Speedway. Smith would pass Russ Peterson of Milwaukee on lap 6 of the 20-lapper to take over the lead. Peterson would trial Smith for 10 more circuits before tire problems dropped him back. Larry Ninneman of Milwaukee would finish second to Smith with Cliff Ebben of Appleton taking third.