1978 – Sanger Triumphs in Night of ‘Losers’

Ed Sanger

Independence, Iowa (June 3, 1978) – Red Dralle of Evansdale lost the front end of his car Saturday night and Duane Bentley of Fairbank lost his beard, but veteran Ed Sanger of Waterloo was a winner, as usual, during a wild night of stock car racing at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds.

The late model feature saw five different leaders before Sanger took the checkered flag with Joe Schaefer of Waterloo close on his heels.

John Weers of Readlyn led in the early going but an accident near the end of the second lap eliminated Weers, Dralle and hometown driver Gary Crawford. In addition to losing the front end of his car, Dralle suffered facial cuts in the accident but was released from the hospital later.

Bob Kinsella and Roger Bruggeman, both of Dubuque, took turns leading after the restart before Schaefer grabbed the top spot on lap 12, only to see Sanger take the lead seven laps later and claim his third feature win of the young season.

Mike Mauer of Janesville, Bruggeman and Bob Schulte of Delhi won heat races while Kinsella Dubuque’s Carl Severson won semis.

Bentley had promised his father, Gordon, he would get a haircut and shave when he won his first feature race, and perhaps to his regret, was forced to make good on his vow after edging Dick Chapman II of Dubuque in the sportsman main event.

Bentley and Gary Henderson of Independence won heat races while Jim Reidl of Dubuque won the semi-main.

The roadrunner feature went to Roger Fisher of Vinton while Dave Wilson of Cedar Rapids finished second.


Results –


Late Model -

1. Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
2. Joe Schaefer, Waterloo, Iowa
3. Roger Bruggeman, Dubuque, Iowa
4. Glen Martin, Independence, Iowa
5. Bob Schulte, Delhi, Iowa
6. Dan Nesteby, Waterloo, Iowa
7. Carl Severson, Dubuque, Iowa
8. Tom Fitzpatrick, Gilbertville, Iowa
9. Dick Chapman, Dubuque, Iowa
10.Skip Kennedy, Dubuque, Iowa


Sportsman -

1. Duane Bentley, Fairbank, Iowa
2. Dick Chapman II, Dubuque, Iowa
3. Gary Henderson, Independence, Iowa
4. Jim Reidl, Dubuque, Iowa
5. Gene Ehlers, Independence, Iowa
6. Jim Stodola, Shellsburg, Iowa
7. Denny Ansel, Dubuque, Iowa
8. Tim Swope, Raymond, Iowa
9. Steve Uhlenhopp, Kelsey, Iowa