1972 – ‘Injun Joe’ Leads Boone Charge

 

Joe Merryfield of Des Moines outdrove an impressive field of cars to win the Grand Nationals at Boone Speedway. Flagman Floyd Mitchell joins Merryfield in victory lane. – Beetle Bailey Photo

 

By Jerry Dickinson

Boone, Iowa (July 25, 1972) – “Injun” Joe Merryfield cut the pack off at the pass as he captured the Short Track Grand Nationals Championship for super late models at Boone Speedway on Tuesday night.

Running before a full house, Merryfield, of Des Moines, pressured Boone regular Denny Hovinga, Laurens, throughout most of the race, taking the lead for good with only two laps remaining.

Hovinga chose to run the tight inside groove on the dry track, which proved costly ($250 difference between first and second place to be exact).

Merryfield was challenging on the outside as he and Hovinga moved up to lap Dan Nesteby, Waterloo. Nesteby was given the “pull over” flag and he dipped to the inside of the track as ordered. Unfortunately for Hovinga, that was also where the Laurens driver was running, and Merryfield went to the outside in the first turn of the next-to-last lap to take over the lead.

Hovinga and Bill Barthelmes, Troy Mills, had staged a duel for the top spot midway through the 50-lap contest, pulling away from the rest of the talented field. Then, a yellow flag came out for a stalled car on the track, putting Merryfield and several others right behind the leaders for the restart.

When racing action resumed, Hovinga led with Dr. Al Mayner, Winthrop running second. Merryfield got by the “Flying Physician” into second and the race was on between him and Hovinga.

Often running side-by-side, the two continued their battle and Merryfield tried inside once as Hovinga broke out of his usual groove and the Des Moines driver was in the lead.

However, the yellow flew again just as Merryfield made his move, and the restart was lined up according to the last lap completed, putting Hovinga back in front.

Merryfield kept the pressure on Hovinga until the opportunity to pass presented itself when Hovinga got boxed in by Nesteby, then moved out.

The two cars came out of the fourth turn on the last lap side-by-side, but Merryfield had the power and the momentum down the frontstretch to win by two-car-lengths.

Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley, was third, Ed Sanger, Waterloo, was fourth, and Earl Tice, Ames, rounded out the top five.

Weedon won the 20-lap B-main over Arnie Braland, Boone.

Making it a championship sweep by Des Moines drivers, Glenn Woodard, Des Moines, grabbed the lead on the first lap of the sportsman feature and led all 30 laps and the $200 first-place money. Dennis Osborn, Cedar Falls, was second, followed by Rex Hill, Kanawha.


Results –


Super Late Models -

1. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
2. Denny Hovinga, Laurens
3. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
4. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
5. Earl Tice, Ames
6. Arnie Braland, Boone
7. Arlo Dorenbush, Boone
8. Joel Rasmussen, Ames
9. Henry Smidt, Cedar Falls
10.D. Arthur Nesteby, Waterloo
11.Ron Tilley, Council Bluffs
12.Ken Davidson, Des Moines
13.Ken Farrell, New Hampton
14.Bill Barthelmes, Troy Mills
15.Gordon Simpson, Marshalltown


Sportsman –

1. Glenn Woodard, Des Moines
2. Dennis Osborn, Cedar Falls
3. Rex Hill, Kanawha
4. Bill Tucker, Jefferson
5. Fred Van Cannon, Boone
6. John Reed, Webster City
7. Norm Carlson, Ames
8. Bill Hickey, Adel
9. Keith Conroy, Jefferson
10.Roger Tapper, Webster City