1989 – Pittman Wins 7th Annual Super Nationals

 

Kevin Pittman took the lead off the final corner of the final lap to win 40-lap modified championship at the Super Nationals in Boone. Grand Marshall Eddie Thrap of the U.S. Tobacco Co., and IMCA President Keith Knaack join the newly crowned champion in victory lane. – Gunilla Haglund Photo

Boone, Iowa (September 10, 1989) – Kevin Pittman of Waterloo was a surprised and happy winner Sunday night of the seventh annual IMCA Modified Super Nationals feature race.

Pittman took the lead in the 40-lap feature race coming off turn four of the final lap to pocket $2,000 and score the biggest win of his five-year career.

Also held for the first time was the Ron Efkamp Memorial Race of Champions, named for the late IMCA director of competition. The 10-lap event paid $500 to win and $100 to start with Wayne Larson of Ames taking the initial event.

The 40-lap finale for the IMCA modifieds bordered on the incredible as, seemingly, nobody wanted to lead more than a few laps.

Defending Super Nationals champion Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie, Minn., led but had a tire go flat; Mike Smith of Ellsworth led, but also had a tire go flat. Then, Wayne Larson, the ’87 Super Nationals winner, led before breaking a axle.

Rex Merritt of Billings, Mo., was ready to take the lead when he too, suffered a broke rear axle. Rookie John Logue of Boone was in shape to lead but spun off turn four. Then, veteran Tom Bartholomew of Huxley took command about midway through the contest and appeared headed for victory.

On the final lap, however, Bartholomew had a tire go flat. Still, he kept the lead through the final turn. Off turn four, Pittman ducked low and Denny Schwartz of Ashmore, Ill., went high around the slowing Bartholomew and it was a rag race to the finish with Pittman winning by a car length.

Kelly Shryock of Story City was third, Dave Erpelding of Algona fourth, fifth went to Doug Hillson of Blooming Prairie, Minn. Bartholomew held on to finish sixth.

More than 140 modifieds, some from far away as Arizona, participated in the event, which was plagued by rain all week.

Greg Kastli of Waterloo won the IMCA late model 30-lapper, holding off Craig Jacobs of Des Moines in the feature. Mike Smith of Ellsworth was third, Danny Breuer of Ames was fourth and Kevin Larkins of Greenwood, Neb., was fifth.

Kastli and Smith both drove cars in the modified and late model divisions, and each qualified for the features.

Bobby Thompson of Des Moines found a cushion on the high side and won the IMCA sprint car feature over Walt Esch of Des Moines, Gary Zitterich of Sioux Falls, S.D., Dean Chadd of Lincoln, Neb., and Mike Twedt of Huxley.

The IMCA stock car feature was a real barn-burner with Jeff Havlik of Madrid taking the victory with his brother Randy, edging Doug smith of Marshalltown for second.

Terry Schroeder of Sigourney led all the way, but a timing chain broke on the next-to-last lap and Havlik was there to take the lead as a disappoint Schroeder, who had dominated the racing action, coasted to the pit area.

Despite the weather, nearly 250 IMCA race cars from 11 states participated in the $50,000 event.


Results –

Modified –

1. Kevin Pittman, Waterloo
2. Denny Schwartz, Ashmore, Ill.
3. Kelly Shryock, Story City
4. Dave Erpelding, Algona
5. Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
6. Tom Bartholomew, Huxley
7. Bill Davis, Des Moines
8. Dave Farren, Des Moines
9. Dr. Kent Kaplan, Ankeny
10.Denny Anderson, Dodge Center, Minn.


Sprint Car –

1. Bobby Thompson, Des Moines
2. Walt Esch, Des Moines
3. Gary Zitterich, Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. Dean Chadd, Lincoln, Neb.
5. Mike Twedt, Huxley
6. Terry Alexander, Knoxville
7. Lyle Sylvester, Newton
8. Jeff Jones, Des Moines
9. Ed Perryman, Des Moines
10.Chris Walraven


Late Model –

1. Greg Kastli, Waterloo
2. Craig Jacobs, Des Moines
3. Mike Smith, Ellsworth
4. Danny Breuer, Ames
5. Kevin Larkins, Greenwood, Neb.
6. Todd Steuber, Fairmont, Minn.
7. Randy Krampe, Baxter
8. Gary Pedersen, Rolfe
9. Jon Schwartz, Omaha
10.Roger Tapper, Webster city


Stock Car –

1. Jeff Havlik, Madrid
2. Randy Havlik, Madrid
3. Doug Smith, Marshalltown
4. Mark Steuber, Fairmont, Minn.
5. Fred Van Cannon, Ames
6. Todd Stensrud, Madison, Minn.
7. Ron Ray, Boone
8. Ron Berna, Green Bay, Wis.
9. Blake Hanel, Boone
10.Billy Allen, Des Moines