Huron, S.D. (September 7, 1961) – International Motor Contest Association champion Ernie Derr, driving a 1961 Pontiac, swept honors in the late model stock car races at the South Dakota State Fair Thursday as a small but powerful field competed.
Thirteen cars competed as 7,000 race fans looked on.
Derr won the 25-lap feature race in the time of 12 minutes and 56.48 seconds, outdueled Ramo Stott to win the first heat, and then took a special match race as well.
Stott, who is currently second in the IMCA point standings, was scratched from the feature lineup because of mechanical issues in the preliminaries.
Dick Hutcherson, also of Keokuk, finished second to Derr, about three car lengths behind at the checkers. Jerry McCredie, another Keokuk driver, finished third in a 1960 Pontiac. McCredie’s car is the one Derr drove to rack up the national championship in 1960.
Taking fourth was former IMCA national champion, Johnny Beauchamp of Atlantic, Iowa, driving a 1961 Chevrolet.
Newt Bartholomew of Carlisle, Iowa, won a special novelty race In his 1960 Plymouth. The race included pie-eating and soda pop drinking contest.
Consolation honors went to Johnny Jones of Russell, Minn., driving a 1960 Ford while Hutcherson won the second heat.
Results –
1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Dick Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Jerry McCredie, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Johnny Beauchamp, Atlantic, Iowa
5. John Jones, Russell, Minn.
6. Gerry Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
Piston Pops – Gerry Harrison experienced difficulty with his tow truck coming to Lincoln, Neb., on Wednesday. Harrison worked frantically to get his truck repaired but when it became evident that his truck would be unable to haul his race car, he hopped into his race car and drove it to Huron (360 miles). Despite the strain caused by highway travel, Harrison and his 1960 Ford finished an impressive sixth.
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