Sedalia, Mo. (August 29, 1954) - Jimmy Ward of Dallas, Tex., driving a 1954 Hudson, not only won the Missouri State Fair 100-mile stock car race here but also set a new International Motor Contest Association record. Ward drove 100 miles in 1 hour, 27 minutes, in 14.10 seconds.
The old record was set August 30, 1953, on the Missouri track by Bill Harrison of Topeka, Kan., in 1 hour, 29 minutes, and 21.24 seconds.
Ward also set a time trial record in the IMCA by circling the one-mile track in 50 seconds flat. The old record was set on the Missouri track by Ernie Derr, August 30, 1953, and was 51.15 seconds.
In the feature event Derr placed second and Bill Harrison was third. The last 15 miles was a seesaw exchange for first place between Ward and Derr.
An extra thrill was given to the more than 12,000 fans when Ward began swaying his car back and forth on the straightaways with only four laps left. Many thought he was having trouble as he waved to his pit crew he was coming in for a tire change. His crew signaled him to keep going, that he couldn’t afford to stop, and the race continued.
The swaying of the car was not because of tire trouble but to “swish” the gasoline back and forth so he could get as much fuel in his lines as possible. Ward was nearly out of gasoline when he crossed the finish line, went dry, and coasted into victory lane.
Larry Farr of Chicago, Ill., suffered a heat stroke and had to bring his car into the pits after 75 miles. He was treated at the hospital and released.
Dick Jepson of Hoxie, Kan., crashed into the north curve fence and was eliminated on the 21st lap. George Klug of Jefferson City, driving a 1954 Hudson, was checked out of the race on the 73rd lap when his car caught fire.
Results -
1. Jimmy Ward, Dallas, Tex.
2. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
4. Roxy Dancy, Shreveport, La.
5. Cecil Hayes, Chicago
6. Shorty Eberts, Smithville, Mo.
7. Chris Skadal, Des Moines
8. Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
9. Arnold Hudson, Ogden, Iowa
10.Bill Shave, Wausau, Wis.
11.Howie Hoffman, St. Paul, Minn.
12.Paul Newkirk, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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