David James accepts his trophy from IMCA's Al Sweeney after the Garland, Tex., driver won the 19th annual Missouri Futurity in Sedalia.
Sedalia, Mo. (August 27, 1972) – Running sure and steady throughout the race while those ahead of him dropped out, David James of Garland, Tex., drove to victory Sunday afternoon in the International Motor Contest Association’s 50-mile Missouri Futurity sprint car feature at the Missouri State Fair.
James went virtually unnoticed for the first 25 laps around the fairgrounds one-mile dirt oval. All eyes were on Eddie Leavitt of Kearney, Mo. And Ray Lee Goodwin of Kansas City, as they dueled for the lead in the early going while James fought to move up from his outside seventh row starting position.
Leavitt dropped out early, putting Goodwin in command through the 38th lap. Between the leader and James stood Roger Larson of Solomon, Kan., and Chuck Amati of Greenfield, Tenn., when the long haul began to take its toll.
On lap 39 Amati blew his engine; on lap 41 Goodwin ran out of fuel; and on lap 42 Larson also came up short on gas.
The 28-year-old James then fought off a late surge by Kansas City’s Jay Woodside for the last 4 laps to notch his first career IMCA victory.
Finishing in order behind James and Woodside were Thad Dosher of Topeka, Kan., Steve Shultz of Chillicothe, Mo., Bill Utz of Sedalia, Mo., Gordon Woolley of Waco, Tex., Wib Spalding of Granite City, Ill., Goodwin; Earl Wagner of Pleasantville, Iowa, and Larson.
Heat races were won by Goodwin, Utz, Wagner and Del Schmidt of Topeka, Kan. Shultz captured the consolation, and in the process, set State Fair track records for 5 and 10 laps. Larson set quick time at 35.90 seconds.
Results –
1. David James, Garland, Tex.
2. Jay Woodside, Kansas City
3. Thad Dosher, Topeka
4. Steve Shultz, Chillicothe, Mo.
5. Bill Utz, Sedalia, Mo.
6. Gordon Woolley, Waco, Tex.
7. Wib Spalding, Granite City, Ill.
8. Ray Lee Goodwin, Kansas City
9. Earl Wagner, Pleasantville, Iowa
10. Roger Larson, Solomon, Kan.
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