1982 – Darnell wins Crowe 100, Ends Springfield Drought

 

Bay Darnell hoists his trophy after winning the Allen Crowe Memorial 100 stock car race at the Illinois State Fair. ESPN announcer Larry Nuber gets ready to interview the winner. – Mike Dunn Photo

Springfield, Ill. (August 15, 1982) – Veteran Bay Darnell gave his young adversaries a driving lesson as he won Sunday afternoon’s Allen Crowe Memorial 100-mile USAC stock car race at the Illinois State Fair.

Darnell crossed the finish line four seconds ahead of onrushing Butch Garner, who claimed runner-up money.

One of five drivers to figure in the contest’s six lead changes, Darnell was forced to make a early pit stop on the green when a screen protecting his car’s radiator had become clogged with dirt, causing his 1982 Pontiac LeMans to overheat.

But the home state pilot got a break on lap 51, when Jeff Schwister spun and hit the wall in turn three, prompting a seven-lap caution period. When the other frontrunners pitted during the slowdown, Darnell took over the lead for the first time on the 54th round.

Marv Smith had ruled the opening 27 trips around the one-mile dirt oval before experiencing overheating troubles. Smith last 10 more miles before having to park his Buick Regal.

Defending division titlist Dean Roper led laps 28 through 45, Bob Brevak paced the next seven miles, and Rick O’Brien was in the lead for one circuit before Darnell moved on top.

The day’s second yellow, required when the engine in Steve Drake’s Magnum let go, forced slowdown conditions to prevail for laps 58 through 63.

Brevak got the jump on Darnell as the field came down for the ensuing green and took command on lap 63. However, Darnell got back around Brevak on the 65th mile and led the rest of the way.

Brevak eventually finished third with O’Brien fourth to complete the list of lead-lap finishers. Larry Nau, who finished fifth, was two circuits in arrears.

The victory was Darnel’s first in 20 years of trying at Springfield and was his fourth USAC stock car triumph overall.

Roper, the winner of the circuit’s last three Springfield outings, wound up 12th Sunday, dropping out because of engine problems after 80 laps.


Results –


1. Bay Darnell
2. Butch Garner
3. Bob Brevak
4. Rick O’Brien
5. Larry Nau
6. Jiggs Lindhorst
7. Herman Huffman
8. Rick Benson
9. Joe Wallace
10.Len Baran
11.Terry Pearson
12.Dean Roper
13.Jeff Schwister
14.Herb Shannon
15.Steve Drake
16.Marv Smith
17.Tom Meinberg
18.Cleve Smith
19.Ken Schrader
20.Ken Rowley