1975 – Hartman Has I-70 All to Himself

Butch Hartman was all smiles after winning the 150-lap USAC stock car feature at I-70 Speedway. 

Odessa, Mo. (June 1, 1975) – Butch Hartman, the four-time United States Auto Club stock car champion, finally got a chance to show Missouri race fans how and why he has won the titles by breezing to victory in the 150-lap late model feature at I-70 Speedway before 4,000 fans.

Hartman led 149 of 150 circuits on the half-mile paved oval and collected almost as much lap money as he did of the $10,000 purse. The victory paid the 35-year-old South Zanesville, Ohio, driver $1,662. And he also pocketed $1,490 of the possible $1,500 in lap money. His champion’s fee of $350 comes on top of that.

In addition to the 22 other feature starters, Hartman also had to battle the rain, which stopped the race twice and slowed it another time under the caution flag. Only twice did the caution flag appear for accidents as the field displayed a great agility in being able to stay out of each other’s way.

Hartman started on the pole position because his Dodge Charger was the fastest out of 24 qualifiers. Hartman timed in at 19.22 seconds.

Hartman pushed his 1974 Dodge into the lead immediately and held it despite a strong bid by Terry Ryan of Davenport, Iowa, in a ’75 Chevrolet. Rain stopped the action after 31 laps but after action got back underway, Ryan boldly challenged Hartman for the top spot and took the lead, but not command, on the 32nd lap. Hartman would wrestle the lead back on lap 33 and never relinquish it after that.

“I knew he was there all the time,” Hartman said of Ryan. “But I figured I could out-run him.” Ryan remained in second until the right front tire blew on lap 99.

Irv Janey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, went on to claim second while Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa, was third. Both were on the same lap as Hart man at the finish.

After Ryan dropped out, Janey made a couple of determined runs at Hartman but then admittingly settled for runner-up honors. Stott almost upset that plan with 10 laps to go when he made a charge, caught up, then had to slow his car after kissing the wall coming out of the fourth turn.


Results –


1. Butch Hartman
2. Irv Janey
3. Ramo Stott
4. Jim Bowsher
5. Harold Fair
6. Paul Feldner
7. Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
8. Gary Bowsher
9. Jerry Sifford
10.Gordon Blankenship
11.George Coonrod
12.Marcus Phelps
13.Larry Cope
14.Steve Drake
15.Jim Tobin