Ron Weedon is congratulated by promoter Homer Melton after Weedon won the season championship at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. Weedon also won the season championship at Quad City Raceway. - Roger Meier Photo
Davenport, Iowa (September 6, 1974) – “You tell everyone that Ronnie Weedon is the best damn driver in the Quad Cities.”
It was hard to argue with that statement from the Pleasant Valley driver.
After winning the Valley mid-season and point titles prior to last night, he sped to a start-to-finish victory in the 35-lap season championship before the largest crowd of the year, 4,500, at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.
“This has been a beautiful year,” an obviously elated Weedon remarked following the race. “Before we started the season, we figured it would be a real battle between Duane (Steffe) and I, and that’s exactly what it turned out to be.”
Steffe, who finished second to Weedon in points, didn’t get past the parade lap of the championship feature as his ignition system went stone cold.
“I don’t know exactly what happened,” Steffe said. “It’s certainly disappointing, but that’s the way it goes in this sport. I really hated getting this far and not having a shot at Ronnie. We just haven’t had much lady luck lately.”
Weedon didn’t need much luck Friday night, just a lot of driving skill which Weedon possesses perhaps more than any other in Quad Cities racing history.
Starting on the pole position, Weedon jumped into the lead at the green and led the entire 35 laps uninterrupted.
Veteran Don Bohlander of Glasford, Ill., finished second while Mel Morris of West Liberty was third. John Connolly of Delhi finished fourth and Pokey West of Westchester rounded out the top five.
Results –
Heat #1 – Herb Shannon, Peoria, Ill.
Heat #2 – Bob Schulte, Delhi
Heat #3 – Sam Reakes, Rockford, Ill.
Semi-main – Don Bohlander, Glasford, Ill.
Feature –
1. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
2. Don Bohlander
3. Mel Morris, West Liberty
4. John Connolly, Delhi
5. Pokey West, Westchester
6. Jim Gerber, Long Grove
7. Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.
8. Gary Webb, Davenport
9. John Simenec, Rock Island, Ill.
10.Mike Bardoel, Milan, Ill.
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