1979 – Eaker Sails to El Kahir Victory

Verlin Eaker (right) won the 50-lap El Kahir Shrine late model special at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. Also shown (left to right), fast timer Leon Plank, trophy dash winner Mike Niffenegger and semi-feature winner Tom Hearst. – Earl Schwartz Photo

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 31, 1979) – Suggest to Verlin Eaker that he “owns” Hawkeye Downs Speedway when it comes to long-distant special races, and he might laugh.

But suggest it to a host of other drivers that compete at the Downs, and they’ll probably agree.

The latest in a string of special wins dating back to last season came Tuesday night when Eaker won the second annual El Kahir Shrine Directors Staff 50-lap late model race before 7,000 fans who spent much of the final 20 laps of the race on their feet as Eaker dueled for the lead.

The win on Tuesday was Eaker’s fourth straight in feature events at Hawkeye Downs of 50 laps or more of competition. His string began last fall when he won the 100-lap Yankee Dirt Track Classic and it continued this spring with a victory in the Miller 100, and again barely 10 days ago when he won the Winston 50.

Tuesday’s win, however, was anything but easy.

Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo, Iowa, led most of the way – 43 laps of the 50 laps to be precise. But Eaker was out front on the most important lap of all to take the checkered flag.

Zwanziger shot out to an early lead from his outside front row position and built a sizeable margin over the rest of the field. Eaker threaded his way through traffic, however, and moved in to challenge with 20 circuits to go. On the 32nd lap, Zwanziger and Eaker crossed the finish line in a virtual dead heat but it wasn’t until the 42nd lap that Eaker came across in front.

Zwanziger regained the top spot for the next two laps before Eaker took over for good on lap 45.

But it still wasn’t easy.

Although Zwanziger faded in the closing laps, Curt Hansen of Dike, Iowa, came on to challenge Eaker in the last couple of laps and finished second, his car partially sideways in a final vain attempt to catch the Mechanicsville, Iowa, veteran.

Tom Hearst of Wilton, Iowa, won the semi-feature, easily outdistancing the field.

Leon Plank of Mondovi, Wis., set fast time at 23.47 seconds while Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa, won the trophy dash.

Results –


1. Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville, Iowa
2. Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa
3. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa
4. Steve Keppler, Marion, Iowa
5. Leon Plank, Mondovi, Wis.
6. Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
7. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo, Iowa
8. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona, Iowa
9. Em Fretheim, Decorah, Iowa
10.Jim Burbridge, Delhi, Iowa
11.Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
12.John Connolly, Delhi, Iowa
13.Rollie Frink, Davenport, Iowa
14.Denny Hovinga, Pocahontas, Iowa
15.Jerry Holtkamp, Williams, Iowa
16.Bill Rice, Des Moines
17.Red Dralle, Evansdale, Iowa
18.Karl Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
19.Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls, Iowa
20.Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.
21.Gary Crawford, Independence, Iowa
22.Roger Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa
23.Don Hoffman, Des Moines
24.Gary Webb, Davenport, Iowa