Jack
Farris receives congratulations from Dayton Speedway president Blair Ratliff
after winning the 250-mile stock car race. Farris drove a 1955 Oldsmobile in
his triumph. – Clem Hamilton Photo
Dayton, Ohio (September 11, 1965) – Jack Farris, the New Paris, Ohio, speed whiz, won the 250-mile late model stock car race at Dayton Speedway on Sunday afternoon before a record-breaking crowd of nearly 19,000.
Driving a 1955 blue Oldsmobile, the 29-year-old winner led the field for 486 laps of the 500-lap event. His victory was worth $2,000 in purse money.
The likeable winner, who operates his own speed shop when he’s not racing, started fifth in the 36-car field.
He took the lead on lap 3 around the half-mile, high-banked “Farris Wheel,” and held it until a pit stop for fuel on lap 267. Farris regained the coveted top spot on lap 283 and breezed home seven laps ahead of second-place finisher Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, who was driving a 1954 Oldsmobile.
Iggy Katona of Willis, Mich., was third in a 1955 Ford; Russ Hepler of Clarion, Penn., took fourth in a 1955 Chevrolet; and Ray Duhhig of Toledo was fifth in a 1955 Oldsmobile.
After the race, Farris, who showed no signs of wear and tear, quipped, “No, I’m not tired, not too tired anyway. You know you can never relax in one of these things.”
Sunday’s race marked the third “500” Farris has stated here. “I was never able to finish before. I think the other two races I ran about 10 laps or so and dropped out with engine trouble.”
The opening late model race earlier this season saw Farris win the 200-lap event only to be disqualified when car owner Ralph Potter of Indianapolis refused a post-race engine inspection. In the other late model race – June 5 – Farris finished second to Derr.
Duhhig, who led for the first tow laps, and for the other 12 laps while Farris was pitted, limped across the finish line with both front wheels wobbling on his car.
He battled most of the way with Derr and Hepler for second place. Finally, on lap 459, his right front wheel began to sag, and he was forced to ride out the remainder of the race at a reduced speed.
Farris, Derr, and Duhhig held out the longest before making their first pit stop. Farris came in on lap 267 for a 1 minute and 51 seconds, while Duhhig made his first stop on lap 275 for 1 minute and 53 seconds. Derr held out until the 351st circuit when he was in the pits for 1 minute and 45 seconds.
A five-car wreck on lap 26 slowed the action for 11 minutes. Mike Klapak of Warren, Ohio, driving a 1954 Thunderbird, and Ed Mitchell, also of Warren, piloting a 1955 Cadillac, saw their cars eliminated in the smash-up.
Bill Rexford of Dayton, driving a 1955 Buick Century, Rex Craig of Richmond, Ind., driving a 1955 Buick Century convertible, and Tommy Smith of Dayton, in a 1955 Chevrolet, were also involved in the accident but were able to continue.
Farris’ time of 3 hours and 55 minutes gave him an approximate average speed of 69 miles per hour. Last year’s winner, Jack Harrison of Indianapolis, drove the race in four hours flat.
Results –
1. Jack Farris
2. Ernie Derr
3. Iggy Katona
4. Russ Hepler
5. Ray Duhigg
6. Paul Wensink
7. Frank Utterback
8. Dick Freeman
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