1963 – Daniels On Top Again at Fair

Jerry Daniels is congratulated by his attractive wife, Renee, after winning the IMCA big car 25-lapper at the Minnesota State Fair.

St. Paul, Minn. (August 25, 1963) – A 25-year-old plumber’s assistant, Jerry “Scratch” Daniels of St. Paul, raised his sights towards total domination off this year’s Minnesota State Fair speedway car program.

Already with four victories under his belt in the first two days of State Fair racing action, Daniels swept to the 25-lap victory on Sunday afternoon.

Daniels’ ultimate ambition is to win all five feature races of the speedway car schedule and then repeat for the state championship for Minnesota drivers next Saturday.

Not in 35 years has a local driver so dominated State Fair racing action. Tommy Milton of St. Paul was the last to do it during the 1928 State Fair.

Sunday, Daniels came from a starting spot in the third row of the 20-car field, moved quickly through the pack, and went on to win by a straightaway margin before 24,580 fans.

The victory, in addition to a heat win and two victories on Saturday, raised his total prize money already to $1,910.

Sonny Helms of Avon Lake, Iowa, barely beat Red Amick of Muncie, Ind., for runner-up honors. Bill Horstmeyer of Stoughton, Wis., finished fourth and Carl Williams of Kansas City rounded out the top five finishers.

Harvey Shane of Coffeyville, Kan., won the first 5-lap heat; Daniels the 10-lap second heat; Horstmeyer the 10-lap third heat and Dean Mast of Sugarcreek, Ohio, the 10-lap fourth heat.

Jerry Richert of Forest Lake, Minn., won the 10-lap semi-main.

Dick Gaines of Mitchell, Ind., was the victim of the first accident of the 1963 State Fair racing program. He was holding third-place in a nine-car pack when his car apparently hit a rut, flipped over and landed on its wheels.

Gaines, shaken up was taken to a local hospital with an injured neck.


Results –


Heat #1 – Harvey Shane, Coffeyville, Kan.
Heat #2 – Jerry Daniels, St. Paul
Heat #3 – Bill Horstmeyer, Stoughton, Wis.
Heat #4 – Dean Mast, Sugarcreek, Ohio
Semi-main – Jerry Richert, Forest Lake
Feature –
1. Jerry Daniels
2. Sonny Helms, Avon Lake, Iowa
3. Red Amick, Muncie, Ind.
4. Bill Horstmeyer
5. Carl Williams, Kansas City
6. Dean Mast
7. Dale Reed, Wichita, Kan.
8. Harvey Shane
9. John Leverenz, Hollywood, Calif.
10.Ted Ready, St. Paul
11.Bill Burdick, Omaha
12.Al Sherman, Van Nuys, Calif.