1973 – Weld Wins Record Fourth Knoxville Title

Knoxville Nationals winner Kenny Weld (middle) is joined by, left to right, Doc Dawson (B-main winner), Jan Opperman (A-main runner-up), Bobby Allen (third in A-main), and Bob Moore (consolation winner). - Beetle Bailey Photo

Knoxville, Iowa (August 11, 1973) – Kenny Weld of York, Penn., driving the Weikert-Chevy, won the Knoxville Super Modified National Championship at the Marion County Fairgrounds for a record fourth time on Saturday.

Before an overflow crowd, Weld would take the lead from his pole position at the drop of starter Marion Robinson’s green flag and never be headed in the 30-lap main event.

Jan Opperman of Beaver Springs, Penn., the 1971 Knoxville champion, would take runner-up honors with Bobby Allen of McSherrytown, Penn., making it an all-Pennsylvania podium.

The entire feature was run green to checkered without a one single mishap.

The 24-car consolation was run with all cars timing in the 21-second bracket. A caution free event saw Bob Moore of Phoenix, Ariz., take the victory but the highlight off the race was watching Dick Forbrook of Morgan, Minn., race from his 22nd starting position to finish ninth, a gain of 13 cars in a 12-lap race.

The B-main was won by Doc Dawson of Lima, Ohio, while heat wins went to Dick Sutcliffe of Greenwood, Neb., Roger Larson of Solomon, Kan., Jan Opperman Bobby Allen, and Kenny Weld.


Results –


1. Kenny Weld, York, Penn.
2. Jan Opperman, Beaver Springs, Penn.
3. Bobby Allen, McSherrytown, Penn.
4. Rick Ferkel, Fostoria, Ohio
5. Sheldon Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.
6. Ted Wise, Hubbard, Ohio
7. Roger Larson, Solomon, Kan.
8. Earl Wagner, Pleasantville, Iowa
9. Bubby Jones, Danville, Ill.
10. Dick Sutcliffe, Greenwood, Mo.
11. Lonnie Jenson, Lincoln, Neb.
12. Don Maxwell, Lincoln, Neb.
13. Ray Lee Goodwin, Kansas City
14. Junior Parkinson, Kansas City
15. Leland McSpadden, Tempe, Ariz.
16. Bob Kinser, Bedford, Ind.
17. Bill Utz, Sedalia, Mo.
18. Bill Thrasher, Fort Worth, Tex.
19. Jerry Miller, Glendale, Ariz.
20. Ralph Parkinson, Kansas City
21. Buddy Cochran, Sharon, Penn.
22. Al Liskal, Gibsonville, Ind.