Dick
Trickle won his second consecutive Slinger Nationals title at Slinger Super
Speedway. Joining Trickle in victory lane is Ms. Slinger Speedway, Monica Rundell,
and track promoter Wayne Erickson. – Russ Lake Photo
Slinger, Wis. (July 20, 1983) – Not even a one-night rain delay could prevent Dick Trickle from scoring his 35th late model feature win of the year in the 166-lap main event which concluded Slinger Super Speedway’s Nationals on Wednesday evening.
The triumph gave Trickle the overall title in the two-event series and was the second straight Slinger Nationals crown for Trickle, making him the first two-time winner in the four-year history of the event.
Trickle earned more than $6,000 in awards and contingency money.
Trickle began his domination of the final round of action on Tuesday when he turned in the fastest time in qualifying. However, rain forced a 24-hour postponement in the running of the feature.
When the main event finally got underway, Fred Winn grabbed the lead. The yellow waved on lap 3 when Gary Balough, Mike Eddy, Jim Weber, and Jerry Eckhardt tangled in turns three and four. All were able to continue except Eddy, who along with Trickle won a 75-lap feature in the series’ June 15 show.
When racing resumed, Alan Kulwicki would get by Winn on lap 7 to take the lead with NASCAR star Bobby Allison claiming second place on lap 12.
Trickle entered the top five by passing Jim Sauter on lap 29. Trickle then took fourth from Mark Martin on lap 30, third from Joe Shear on lap 35, and second from Allison on lap 45.
A caution flag on lap 54 permitted the field to bunch up behind Kulwicki for the restart.
Kulwicki would maintain the lead when the green dropped but Trickle would eventually gain the upper hand and pass the Greenfield charger on lap 62. When the race was halted for the mandatory 15-minute pit stop on lap 83, Trickle remained on top, followed by Kulwicki, Allison, Martin, and Sauter.
After action resumed, Kulwicki shadowed Trickle, waiting for an opportunity to regain the lead. Kulwicki got his chance on lap 99, when Trickle was forced into the upper groove attempting to lap Tony Strupp. Kulwicki chose the low road and easily came away with first place.
However, Trickle retook possession of first place three laps later and proceed to open up a sizeable lead he wouldn’t relinquish. Even a caution on lap 142 didn’t help his competitors. He pulled away on the restart and went unchallenged to the checkers, finishing ahead of Kulwicki, Allison, Conrad Morgan. Martin charged back to claim fifth place.
Martin appeared to have the fastest car on the track during the second half of the race. Shortly after passing Allison for third on lap 138, he was closing in on Kulwicki for second when he and a slower car tangled, sending them both into a spin and Martin to the rear of the field for the restart. He would start his charge back through the field for his top-five finish.
Although he didn’t place among the leaders, Rusty Wallace turned in one of the night’s top performances. After having his own Camaro extensively damaged in Tuesday night’s heat action, he jumped into Al Schill’s backup car and drove to a top-10 finish.
Results –
1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Alan Kulwicki, Greenfield
3. Bobby Allison, Hueytown, Ala.
4. Conrad Morgan, Dousman
5. Mark Martin, Charlotte, N.C.
6. Jim Sauter, Necedah
7. Joe Shear, Beloit
8. Al Schill, Franklin
9. Al Laufer, Hartford
10.Rusty Wallace, Valley Park, Mo.
11.Jerry Eckhardt, Watertown
12.Russ Peterson, Hartland
13.Dean Bares, Belgium
14.Tony Strupp, Slinger
15.Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton
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