1983 – Roper Cops Springfield’s American 100

Announcer Jack Biddison interviews a happy Dean Roper in victory lane at Springfield. – Bryan Gapinski Collection

Springfield, Ill. (June 5, 1983) – Dean Roper took the lead on the 59th lap at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon and held on to win the fourth annual American 100 for United States Auto Club late model stock cars.

Roper, of Fair Grove, Mo., started on the inside of the second row. He passed second-place finisher Bobby Jacks in the third turn of lap 59 to start up his victory.

It was the third American 100 triumph for Roper in his last four tries and gave him the USAC point leadership. He is the defending USAC stock car national champion.

Jacks was the fast qualifier of the day with a time of 35.48 seconds or 101.272 miles per hour on the one-mile dirt oval. Jacks led for the first 59 circuits before giving up the lead to Roper.

Rick O’Brien finished third while Terry Pearson was fourth and Jerry Churchill rounded out the top five.


Results –


1. Dean Roper
2. Bobby Jacks
3. Rick O’Brien
4. Terry Pearson
5. Jerry Churchill
6. Rich Hampton
7. Bobby Dotter
8. Butch Garner
9. Duane Pierson
10.Tracy Read
11.Tom Meinberg
12.Lee Raymond
13.Bill Venturini
14.Bay Darnell
15.Marvin Smith
16.Larry Nau
17.Rick Roland
18.Joe Wallace
19.Herman Huffman
20.Jiggs Lindhorst