1969 – Derr a Triple Winner at Wausau

 

Before a packed house at the Wisconsin Valley Fair, the IMCA stock cars compete in a preliminary heat race.

Wausau, Wis. (August 10, 1969) – With long time menace Ramo Stott racing on a different circuit – nine-time International Motor Contest Association stock car national champion Ernie Derr had things pretty much his own way Sunday in late model stock car races at the Wisconsin Valley Fair.

Derr, driving a 1969 Dodge Charger, captured first in a 25-lap heat race and the 100-lap feature that afternoon and then came right back and won the 50-lap feature in the evening program. The record-breaking veteran from Keokuk, Iowa, also placed second in the 25-lap Sunday night heat.

The stock car races, directed by National Speedways, Inc., was the final grandstand program of the 101st annual Wisconsin Valley Fair. Twenty-six cars timed in for the competition.

Leon Bowman of Wichita, Kan., driving a 1968 Mustang, won the second afternoon heat while Irv Janey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Bill Mueller of Minneapolis were the heat winners Sunday night. Janey drove a 1967 Dodge Charger and Mueller a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner.

In fact, Janey was the only driver to defeat Derr as he took the lead on lap 3 of the night’s first heat and weaved his way through heavy traffic to beat the Keokuk speedster.

Ole Brua of Albert Lea, Minn., turned in the fastest time of the day, circling the Marathon Park track in 27.07 seconds. Derr was second fastest with a time of 27.34 seconds. Brua piloted a 1969 Ford.

The most serious accident of the day took place during the afternoon’s 100-lap feature when Ron Hutcherson of Keokuk, Iowa, who was leading the race at the time, smashed into the west wall, overturned, and almost totally demolished his blue and gold Ford Torino. An ambulance was called but Hutcherson escaped unhurt.

Derr, who is leading the pack again this year in his bid for a 10th national championship, took over after Hutcherson’s accident and was never challenged the remainder of the way, In Sunday night’s feature, Derr became the third leader of the race on lap 15 and never relinquished the position on his way to a easy victory.


Results –


Afternoon –

Time Trials – Ole Brua, Albert Lea, Minn.
Heat #1 – Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
Heat #2 – Leon Bowman, Wichita, Kan.
Feature –
1. Ernie Derr
2. Ole Brua
3. Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
4. Bill Mueller, Minneapolis
5. Jack Brewer, Oak Creek
6. Dick Johnson, St. Paul, Minn.
7. Robert Blomquist, Minneapolis
8. Leland Cain, Miller, S.D.
9. Butch Hall, Russell, Minn.
10.Jay McIntosh, Willard, Mo.


Evening –

Heat #1 – Irv Janey
Heat #2 – Bill Mueller
Feature –
1. Ernie Derr
2. Ole Brua
3. Leon Bowman
4. Butch Hall
5. Leland Cain
6. Bill Wirtz, Wisconsin Rapids
7. J.P. Coonan, Appleton
8. Eldon Haseltine, Janesville
9. Robert Blomquist
10.Jay McIntosh