Joe Wallace
Sedalia, Mo. (August 22, 1976) – It was only a year ago when an irate Joe Wallace protested strongly that he should have won the International Motor Contest Association stock car race here at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.
“On a restart, I know they should have put the green flag in front of me,” said Wallace, who made up some of the things he felt he lost last year here when he won the opening IMCA new model stock car race of the season at the Missouri State Fair.
“I was positive I was in the lead, but I didn’t get the green flag and eventually was placed third in the finish (last year),” the Kansas City, Kan., driver said after his victory on the half-mile track In front of nearly 8,500 spectators.
Asked if Sunday’s win erased the memory of last year’s personal vengeance, Wallace replied, “No, that was last year…. this is this year.”
Wallace led nearly all the way, overtaking Larry Ball of Springfield on the sixth lap and lead the pack the rest of the way.
Ferris Collier of Lampe, who finished second, was right on the heels of Wallace the entire way. Collier made a strong bid for the lead on lap 32, moving alongside Wallace as the entered the frontstretch, but he was unable to overtake him in the 50-lap feature.
“I knew he was right behind me,” Wallace said. “I really knew it when I saw the numbers on his car about midway through the race.”
Despite a yellow flag on lap 19 which came out for the day’s fastest qualifier, Kevin Gundaker of St. Ann when he spun between turns one and two, Wallace cracked two, long-standing IMCA Fairgrounds’ records.
Wallace bettered the 25-lap record Ramo Stott set in 1967 with a time of 8 minutes and 27.95 seconds. Stott owned the previous mark which was 10 minutes and 5187 seconds. Wallace also broke the 50-lap mark with a winning time of 20 minutes and 55.67 seconds. Stott also set that previous standard in 1967 with a time of 22 minutes and 24.03 seconds.
Finishing behind Wallace and Collier, both of whom were driving Camaros, was Russ Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, who won last year’s 50-lap in the same race. Derr piloted a Chevrolet Nova to third place.
Fourth and fifth went to Gary Truelove of Trimble and Mike Dibben of Kansas City. Both drivers drove Camaros.
The victory was worth $700 to Wallace. He also picked up $75 for winning his heat and an additional $100 for breaking an IMCA record.
In addition to Wallace, other heat winners were Mike Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, and John Oswalt and Doyle Dowd, both of Kansas City. Mike Dibbed won the consolation.
Gundaker’s fast time in qualifying was 25.31 seconds. He went out for qualifying seventh from last in the 54 cars that took time trials.
Results –
1. Joe Wallace, Kansas City, Kan.
2. Ferris Collier, Lampe
3. Russ Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Gary Truelove, Trimble
5. Mike Dibben, Kansas City
6. Jim Campbell, Harrison, Ark.
7. Bill Wrich, Kennard, Neb.
8. Galen Schaefer, Topeka, Kan.
9. Mike Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
10.Larry Ball, Springfield
11.Bud Dibben, Kansas City
12.John Oswalt, Kansas City
13.Kevin Gundaker, St. Ann
14.Roy McClellan, Riverside
15.Shorty Acker, Windsor
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