Bob Slater
Des Moines, Iowa (September 4, 1954) – Bob Slater, the nation’s #1 dirt track racer, proved it here Saturday night by capturing his second straight big car sweepstakes before record night throng of 21,000 at the Iowa State Fair.
The Kansas City driver, who emerged from obscurity as a midget driver to become the International Motor Contest Association point leader in a span of three seasons, won the 25-lap, crash interrupted Gus Schrader Memorial.
The race was halted on lap 14 when Ken Rubright of Lyndon, Ill., skidded into Stan Calloway on the west turn. Calloway spun his racer to avoid a serious mishap and finished going down the straightaway in reverse position.
At the time, Slater was well out in front with Bobby Grim, the Indianapolis veteran, and Jimmy Campbell, Bates City, Mo., pilot battling for second place followed by Herschel Wagner, Hickman Hills, Mo., in fourth and Jud Larson, Kansas City, in fifth.
After the restart, in which both Campbell and Larson were forced to the pits with limp motors, Calloway came from his eighth position to finish third behind Grim, who was apparently content to hold his second position behind the lightning-fast Slater.
Wagner finished fourth with Andy Anderson of Hastings, Neb., fifth and Don Branson of Champaign, Ill., driving a brand new Offenhauser, taking sixth.
The All-Iowa Sprint Championship, reduced to a four-car field because of scratches, went to Orange City’s Earl Bonnema with Ken Higginson of Des Moines coming in second.
Slater, Wagner, and Larson were heat winners with Campbell winning the 3-lap trophy dash.
Results –
Time trials – Don Branson, Champaign, Ill. (25.91)
Heat #1 – Jud Larson, Kansas City
Heat #2 – Bob Slater, Kansas City
Heat #3 – Herschel Wagner, Hickman Hills, Mo.
Trophy dash – Jimmy Campbell, Bates City, Mo.
Iowa Championship – Earl Bonnema, Orange City
Consolation – Curt Lehman, St. Louis
Feature –
1. Bob Slater
2. Bobby Grim, Indianapolis
3. Stan Calloway, Miami, Fla.
4. Herschel Wagner
5. Andy Anderson, Hastings, Neb.
6. Don Branson
7. Curt Lehman
8. Bob Cleburg, Rio, Wis.
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