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.