1984 - Senneker Edges Martin in ASA Winchester 400

 

Bob Senneker rolled up another Winchester 400 victory at Winchester Speedway. Involved in the post-race ceremony is, from left to right, Bobby Batson of Silver Creek, the series’ sponsor, Senneker’s wife Patty, and Miss Winchester 400 Jody O’Brien. – Don This Photo

Winchester, Ind. (September 30, 1984) – Bob Senneker edged Mark Martin by .65 of a second to capture the 15th annual Winchester 400 for American Speed Association stock cars for the sixth time on Sunday afternoon at Winchester Speedway.

An overflow crowd of 10,197 seldom used their seats during the last 35 circuits as Martin took advantage of the final caution period of the race to set up a late race charge to the wire.

“Fortunately, my last set of tires were the best ones I had all day,” Senneker said after his ninth ASA win of the season. “But Mark really had me worried when he got his new tires.”

Dick Trickle from the beginning that the race would be a flat out dash rather than a pacing game as he exploded from his pole position to easily lead the first 128 laps of the race.

Choosing to make a pit stop during a caution at that time, Trickle surrendered the lead to Senneker. Martin, who stopped earlier, pressured Senneker to continue the relentless pace.

Running consistently in the top-five early on in the race, Jim Sauter suffered steering problems which caused him to spin on lap 222 that saw all the leaders come into the pit area for service.

Back to all-clear conditions, Senneker again resumed the lead following a superb pit stop but went back to the pits during a lap 242 caution to select a set of tires with “stagger” more to his liking.

Martin then took the lead and demonstrated the considerable power of the lone Ford in the field, staying out front until pitting during a caution on lap 305.

At that point, Bobby Dotter, driving a perfect race, took the lead but relented to Senneker on lap 317 as thee “Bluebird” began his patented late race move exactly on schedule.

Going a lap down midway in the race when a tire went down, Mike Eddy, the defending champion of the event fought back to the leader’s lap, but a broken shock absorber caused him to spin on lap 341 and necessitated the caution that Martin utilized for his bold four tire pit stop.

On several occasions during the final 30 rounds, Martin was able to draw even with Senneker and race side-by-side but couldn’t generate the extra steam required to complete the pass.

With Senneker and Martin only four-car-lengths apart under the checkered flag, Trickle was 12 seconds back in third and Butch Miller also was on the lead lap to take fourth.

Dotter was finally lapped in the final 15 circuits but registered a strong fifth-place effort.

Senneker’s 56th career ASA win earned him $11,710 for the weekend out of a total of $67,100 in posted awards.


Results –


1. Bob Senneker
2. Mark Martin
3. Dick Trickle
4. Butch Miller
5. Bobby Dotter
6. Harold Fair
7. Doug Klein
8. Kent Stauffer
9. Muttly Kurkowski
10.Dave Jensen
11.Steve Christman
12.Alan Kulwicki
13.Tom Jones
14.John Wilson
15.Tom Harrington

1956 – After 28,000 Fans, ‘500’ May Be Annual Affair

 

Winners of the first “Gopher 500” at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds – Marvin Panch, Don White, Charles Magnison, and Johnny Beauchamp. – Star Sportsphoto

St. Paul, Minn. (September 30, 1956) – No sooner had the roar of 500 laps of racing died down at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Sunday than the 28,312 fans in attendance were asking if the Gopher 500 stock car race would be an annual affair.

The answer wasn’t immediately forthcoming from Minnesota State Fair officials and the promotion of Auto Racing, Inc., but everyone agreed that it was tremendously successful.

Frank Winkley, the race promoter, said, “I’ve never seen such excellent driving in my 30 years in the business” after Johnny Beauchamp, Marvin Panch, Don White, and Charley Magnison walked off with most of the $10,000 purse.

Beauchamp, of Harlan, Iowa, won the first half of the 500-lap event, set five world stock car records and pocketed $955 with his powerful 1956 Chevrolet. Panch, the 30-year-old Gardenia, Calif., pilot who competes in long-distance races all over the United States, was the winner of the second half in his 1956 Ford. Although he established no records, he walked away $1,120 richer.

White, of Keokuk, Iowa, and Magnison, of Minneapolis, who retired from racing two years ago to devote himself full-time to selling real estate, were the most consistent of the talented field. Magnison finished fourth in both races while White picked up a third and fifth-place finish to tie for the overall title. Both drivers piloted 1956 Chevrolets. White collected $915 while Magnison earned $875.

Panch staged a great comeback in winning the second 250-lapper after finishing 24th in the field of 33 during the first half due to a faulty cooling system. Beauchamp was riding in second place in the last half of the contest when he burned out a piston 40 laps from the checkered flag and ended up in 15th place.

Panch thundered home in the time of 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 15.94 seconds, several laps ahead of runner-up Don Haeg of Bloomington. Panch led the first 50 laps, lost it to Beauchamp for the next 15, then took over for good on lap 65.

In the first half, Beauchamp, the International Motor Contest Association champion, set records for 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 laps to go with new world half-mile mark of 27.39 seconds he established in time trials Saturday.

He took the lead on the fourth lap and then spent the remaining 246 laps passing everyone in his path, lapping the complete field on the 142nd turn.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan, Iowa
2. Sonny Morgan, Beaumont, Tex.
3. Bill Amick, Portland, Ore.
4. Chuck Magnison, Minneapolis
5. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
6. Frank Schneider, Vineland, N.J.
7. Chub Liebe, Oelwein, Iowa
8. Don Schisler, Detroit, Mich.
9. Tubby Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
10.Jim Martin, Richmond, Mo.
11.Jerry Kaufmann, Minneapolis
12.Dick Johnson, St. Paul
13.Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
14.Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
15.Chris Skadal, Des Moines
16.Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
17.Shorty Eberts, Avondale, Mo.
18.Bucky Wagner, Manitowoc, Wis.
19.George Allison, Keokuk, Iowa
20.Jerry Draper, Moline, Ill.


Feature #2 –

1. Marvin Panch, Gardena, Calif.
2. Don Haeg, Bloomington
3. Don White
4. Chuck Magnison
5. Lenny Funk, Otis, Kan.
6. Harold Burns, Minneapolis
7. Frank Schneider
8. Dick Johnson
9. Darrell Dake
10.Short Eberts
11.Bob Hardy, Beaumont, Tex.
12.Ernie Derr
13.Bob Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
14.Harry Daubenspeck, St. Paul
15.Johnny Beauchamp
16.Dick Jepson, Hoxie, Kan.
17.Don Schisler
18.Frank Selisker, Brainard
19.Tubby Harrison
20.Chris Skadal

1984 – Burlington ‘Fall Jamboree’ is Dolan’s

Roger Dolan captured the late model feature at the Fall Jamboree at 34 Raceway in Burlington. Promoter Larry Kemps presents Dolan with the trophy and winner’s check. – Dick Kleindolph

Burlington, Iowa (September 29, 1984) – It’s been a few years, but Roger Dolan proved that he still knows his way around 34 Raceway as he captured the late model feature during the first annual Fall Jamboree on Saturday evening.

Dolan was nearly unstoppable in the late seventies on the 3/8-mile dirt oval, winning numerous features, but this may have been one of his toughest wins ever here as he had to overtake a speedy Gary Webb to capture the $2,000 top prize.

Webb jumped to the early lead in the 50-lap contest from his front row starting post, but he had company early on as Tom Hearst moved quickly into contention. The two battled for a few laps before Hearst slipped by to take the lead on lap 10. The former NASCAR Grand American national champion’s lead was short-lived, however, as the engine let go just five laps later and he coasted to a stop in turn four.

On the restart it was Webb at the point once again but now it was Dolan knocking on his back door.

The difference in the race may have come on lap 21 when Webb dove to the inside of a slower car entering turn one. The two made contact with Webb’s racer jumping into the air, tearing the right rear coil-over from the car. The Davenport star elected to stay in the race and not get repairs even though his car wasn’t handling nearly as well as his competitors.

Despite the handicap, Webb managed to hold off Dolan as the two veterans thrilled the crowd until lap 37 when Dolan took over coming out of turn two. Webb was not finished yet, as he made several attempts to make a move on the inside, but the horsepower wasn’t there as Dolan received the checkered with a five-car-length margin over Webb.

Ron Schreiner made a nice move on lap 48 to garner third place honors from Dale Fischlein and Johnny Johnson.

Wayne Noble of Morning sun continued his hot streak in the street stock division, winning the 20-lap feature win. Noble had won two features in a row at 34 in august, topped a strong field at the Mid-America Nationals in Memphis, Mo., and won the Hawkeyeland Challenge here last week.

Larry Beck of Danville held off John Crear to win the modified main event.


Results –


1. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
2. Gary Webb, Davenport
3. Ron Schreiner, Eleva, Wis.
4. Dale Fischlein, Davenport
5. Johnny Johnson, Wapello
6. Mark Keltner, Morning sun
7. Rollie Frink, Davenport
8. Dave Birkhofer, Muscatine
9. Ron Jackson, Burlington
10.Ron Gustaf, Moline, Ill.
11.Jerry Pilcher, Bloomfield
12.Steve Mullahy, Burlington
13.Dave Goble, Burlington
14.Steve Johnson, Low Moor
15.Mike Klinkkammer, West Branch
16.Bruce Hanford, Davenport
17.Dave Norton, Bloomington, Ill.
18.Mike Beuter, Tipton
19.Mike Kaller, Ottumwa
20.Bill Breuer, Wapello

1980 – ‘Clay Track Championship’ to Pohlman

Ken Pohlman (center) won the annual National Clay Track Championship 200. Arnie Gardner (left) finished second and White Harris (right) took third. – Vince Mayer Photo

Willow Springs, Ill. (September 28, 1980) – Ken Pohlman captured Santa Fe Speedway’s National Clay Track 200 on the track’s longer oval on Sunday afternoon.

It marked Pohlman’s first win in the annual contest and prevented defending titlist Jim O’Conner, and track champion Tony Izzo from winning the event a fourth time.

Only Pohlman completed the 200 laps, while runner-up Arnie Gardner finished 199 and third place Whitey Harris completed 198.

Pohlman started the 200-lap grind on the pole position by virtue of his victory in one of the two 25-lap qualifiers on Saturday night. Paul Schafer, who won the other main event Saturday, took the green flag from the outside front row. Larry Jackson and Gardner, the second-place finishers in the 25-lappers, comprised the second row. The rest of the 34-car field was determined through Sunday’s preliminaries.

Schafer put his starting berth to good use, grabbing the top spot over Pohlman at the outset. Schafer would keep his lead until Pohlman got around him on the fifth circuit. However, the pace quickly slowed when Kevin Hastings spun around and lost a wheel, bringing out the yellow flag.

Back under green, Pohlman paced the field and gained considerable distance over John Provenzano, Jackson and Schafer until lap 16when Dennis Erb and Butch Slager knocked each other around for the reappearance of the caution flag. One lap later, the yellow prevailed again for a spin, involving fifth-running Mike Melius and sixth place Whitey Harris. Both were sent to the rear of the field. Al Johnson, who elevated into fifth when Melius and Harris spun, pulled into the infield a few laps after the restart, with mechanical problems.

Meanwhile, as Pohlman encountered heavy traffic, Jackson pulled around Provenzano and quickly closed the gap on Pohlman.

The caution was necessitated again on lap 42 by Mike LeGros who spun into the wall. At this time, Pohlman and Jackson sailed into a race of their own, creating a large gap between themselves and the rest of the field. O’Conner overtook Provenzano on lap 60 to take over third place. Unfortunately for the defending champion, his rear-end gave way just six laps before the mandatory 100-lap pit stop. He would return 25 laps later but was only able to gain a 20th place finish in the race.

Tension grew after the start of the second 100-laps, when Pohlman took to the high side of the track, and Jackson kept to the lower portion.

The two encountered traffic on completion of 142 laps. Pohlman caught trouble on the high side, allowing Jackson the advantage of a clear track. Once Jackson took over the lead, the situation reversed itself, and slower traffic caught Jackson on the low groove, allowing Pohlman to regain the top spot on the very next lap. The next two laps brought the duel side-by-side in an all-out effort which ended with Jackson in front on lap 145.

When lap 161 came around, only Jackson and Pohlman were on the same lap, as they passed third-place runner Arnie Gardner. The caution prevailed three laps later just as Pohlman was gaining the lead advantage.

Disappointment struck Jackson on lap 176 when his engine blew and took away his chances of winning his first Clay Track 200 event. Pohlman found free track to the finish, with his only competition, Arnie Gardner, a lap down. Jackson would finish 18th overall.

Defending track champion Tony Izzo had a disappointing weekend when the veteran winner of the 200 was only able to qualify one lap in preliminaries, when his transmission gave way. Offered the ride in John Kennedy’s car, Izzo started at the rear of the field, and worked his way to a sixth-place finish in the end.


Results –


1. Ken Pohlman, Worth
2. Arnie Gardner, Batavia
3. Whitey Harris, Lake Villa
4. LeRoy Schneiderman, Woodstock
5. John Connolly, Delhi, Iowa
6. Tony Izzo, Bridgeview
7. Art Ziesmer, Joliet
8. Jack Aschenbrenner, Hales Corner, Wis.
9. Frank Smith
10.Art Fehrman, Clarendon
11.Denny Falkos, Aurora
12.Fred Lofgren, Bensenville
13.Al Schill, Franklin, Wis.
14.Butch Slager, Mokena
15.Ron Dwyer, Burbank
16.Larry Robb, La Grange
17.Dennis Erb, Carpentersville
18.Larry Jackson, Lyons
19.Kevin Hastings
20.Jim O’Conner, Kankakee
21.Mike Papp, Berwyn
22.Mike Melius, Random Lake, Wis.
23.John Provenzano, Bloomingdale
24.Mike LeGros, La Grange
25.Rusty Wallace, Valley Park, Mo.
26.Paul Schafer, Highland, Ind.
27.Chuck Ostergaard
28.Mike Gardner, Batavia
29.Jim Partipilo, Berkeley
30.Al Johnson, Justice
31.Bill Knippenberg, Hinsdale
32.Ted Ludas, Lemont
33.Bill Vloek, Downers Grove
34.Bill Davis, Chesterton, Ind.

1982 – Shear Claims Fourth Rockford NSTC Title

 

Joe Shear won his fourth National Short Track Championship 200 for late models at Rockford Speedway. Track promoters Hugh and Jody Deery join Shear in victory lane. – Dean Bentley Collection

Loves Park, Ill. (September 26, 1982) – After three consecutive second-place finishes, Joe Shear won the 200-lap late model feature for a record fourth time in the 17th annual National Short Track Championships at Rockford Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Driving a 1981 Camaro, the popular Shear started the 200-lap main event in the fourth row and quickly moved behind polesitter Conrad Morgan, John Ziegler, and Jim Sauter.

The top running foursome were bumper to bumper until the 82nd go-round, when Shear made one of his frequent moves into the low groove in an effort to get around Sauter.

Just as Shear overtook Sauter in the second turn, Russ Peterson looped his mount along the backstretch, causing the yellow to appear.

Shear, who was moved back into fourth place for the restart, got alongside Sauter’s Firebird on the 87th circuit. One lap later, Shear went past Sauter and Ziegler and four laps later, snared the lead away from Morgan.

Shear was in front of Sauter and Dave Watson when the mandatory pit stop on the 103rd revolution came up. When the race restarted, there was a three-car sprint between the trio of former NST winners. They ran nose to tail with Sauter and Watson frequently dropping out of line in an effort to improve their positions in slower traffic.

The complexion of the race changed on lap 157 when Sauter spun triggering a caution-producing tangle which also involved Watson and Mel Walen. Because of their involvement in the mishap, Sauter and Watson were relegated to the rear of the field for the restart.

Shear would continue his pace for the remaining 43 circuits and finish a comfortable five-car-lengths ahead of runner-up Ziegler. Ted Musgrave garnered third place while Watson made a valiant charge through the field to earn fourth.

In other Sunday afternoon action, Dave Fossum won the 100-lap Rockford Rules feature.


Results –


1. Joe Shear, Beloit, Wis.
2. John Ziegler, Madison, Wis.
3. Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh, Wis.
4. Dave Watson, Milton, Wis.
5. Al Schill, Franklin, Wis.
6. Conrad Morgan, Dousman, Wis.
7. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
8. Grant Wilson, Savage, Minn.
9. Don Biederman, Oakville, Ont.
10.Tracy Schuler, Lockport
11.Russ Peterson, Hartland, Wis.
12.Willie Goeden, Kewaskum, Wis.
13.Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton, Wis.
14.Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
15.Don Leach, Beloit, Wis.
16.Tom Cellini, South Chicago Heights
17.Terry Weatherford, Byron
18.Dave Klein, Madison, Wis.
19.Ken Lund, Madison, Wis.
20.Tim Cox, Wildwood

1965 - Liebe Wins Tunis Season Championship

Chub Liebe of Oelwein accepts the season championship trophy from Rae Lynne Findley of Waterloo after winning the 75-lap feature and the $500 check that went with it.

Waterloo, Iowa (September 25, 1965) – Chub Liebe of Oelwein, taking over when Verlin Eaker of Blooming Prairie, Minn., dropped out because of engine trouble on the 36th lap, won the 75-lap season championship at Tunis Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Charlie Moffitt of Stanwood came in second in the thrice postponed event that formally closed the racing season at the quarter-mile speed plant. Dick Krafka of Dysart finished third.

The crowd was officially listed at 4,019 with 818 paid plus 3,201 rain checks from the card that was rained out three Sundays ago.


Results –

1. Chub Liebe, Oelwein
2. Charlie Moffitt, Stanwood
3. Dick Krafka, Dysart
4. Gale Card, Waterloo
5. Joe Wurst, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
6. Tony Conrad, Greene
7. Roger Kruse, Independence
8. Bob Hilmer, Dysart
9. Dave Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
10.Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo

1961 – Derr Tops Field in Fair Races

 

Ernie Derr

Oklahoma City, Okla. (September 24, 1961) – Ernie Derr, the national IMCA speed king, won his third consecutive 150-lap late model stock car race at the Oklahoma Free State Fair on Sunday afternoon.

His time for the 75-mile contest was 17 minutes and 58 seconds.

It was “King” Ernie all the way as an overflow crowd of 6,000 fans jammed the grandstands – one of the best crowds in 15 years according to fair secretary Tom Conrady.

By the 90th lap, “Durable Derr” had lapped all of the 15-car field but second place Lenny Funk of Otis, Kan., and third place finisher Dick Hutcherson of Keokuk, Iowa.

Funk and Hutcherson were both behind the wheels of 1961 Fords and had to make pit stops for more fuel. Derr, in his ’61 Pontiac, made it all the way without a stop and finished with a good two gallons on gas in the tank.

Derr’s chief mechanic, after the race, said the winner’s car carried 22 gallons and could have kept going for a couple of more laps before reaching the danger point.

Oklahoma’s Bob Reynolds, of Edmond, finished 11th in his 1961 Ford. The Sooner champion displayed plenty of speed on the straightaways but experienced trouble holding the track on the south end.

Reynolds ran as high as fifth through the first 96 circuits, but his second pit stop, for minor repairs and replacement of an air cleaner, cost him valuable time and position.

Derr, starting on the pole position thanks to his 29.00 second qualifying run in time trials, was in front coming out of the first turn and from there on saw nothing but the back end of the man who is trying to capture his fourth International Motor Contest Association racing championship.

Funk challenge several times in the early going only to be outpowered in the turns and by the 42nd lap, Derr was well out front by six car lengths.

At the 64th mark, weaving through slower traffic, Derr had stretched his lead to over half a lap. By the 90th lap, Derr had passed everyone except Funk and Hutcherson in a show of too much car, and too much driving ability.

Hutcherson passed Funk on lap 112 and stayed in second until lap 140 when Funk slipped past Hutcherson to regain second place.

One of the tough-luck drivers of the day was Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa. Stott, who had finished second in last year’s point standings, and is high on the point list this season, was in the thick of the race when his motor began to overheat, and he had to make a pit stop on lap 49. He never got back on the track.

Gerry Harrison of Topeka, Kan., was the first casualty of the race when he slammed his 1960 Ford into the fence on the third lap of the race.


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Lenny Funk, Otis, Kan.
3. Dick Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Eddie Harrow, Corpus Christi, Tex.
5. Mickey McMahon, Keokuk, Iowa
6. Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle, Iowa
7. Ed Purkey, Peoria, Ill.
8. Roland Wilson, Bedford, Iowa
9. Jim Classe, Russell, Minn.
10.Boyce Whitlock, Monroe, La.
11.Bob Reynolds, Edmond, Okla.
12.Gerry Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
13.Ole Brua, Albert Lea, Minn.
14.Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
15.Bob Hodges, Springfield, Mo.

1979 - Late Charge Nets Trickle Third Rockford National

 

Two of the best ever – Joe Shear (36) and Dick Trickle (99) go wheel-to-wheel during the 1979 National Short Track Championships in Rockford. Trickle would score his third career win in the prestigious event. – Stan Kalwasinski Photo

Rockford, Ill. (September 23, 1979) – Dick Trickle took the lead from Joe Shear with less than three laps to go and hung on by less than a car length to win Sunday afternoon’s 200-lap National Short Track Championship late model feature at Rockford Speedway.

Dave Watson placed third, about a car-length behind Shear. Fourth place Bob Strait was the only other car to complete the event’s full 200-lap distance. Jim Sauter, who placed fifth, completed 199 circuits.

By virtue of his victory, Trickle joined Shear as the only three-time winners in the 14-year history of the prestigious event. Trickle’s previous triumphs were in 1966 and 1978. While Shear took titles in 1972, 1974, and 1975.

Shear started Sunday’s matinee from the outside of row one and charged into the lead at the drop of the green flag. Three caution periods and 105 laps later, Shear was still out in front as action was interrupted for the contest’s mandatory pit stop.

After racing resumed, close competition was the order of the day. At the 116-lap mark, shear was trailed by Watson, the 1976 National Short Track titlist, and Trickle. But on the following circuit, Trickle and Mark Martin got by Watson on the backstretch to claim second and third, respectively.

The lead trio battled at close quarters until the 159th round, when Martin, who had won the event in 1977, slowed and then withdrew from competition, after experiencing problems with the right front wheel spindle on his race car. His exit enabled Watson to regain third.

The final 41 laps saw an intense struggle between Shear and Trickle for the number one spot, with Shear maintaining a slim advantage until lap 198. Then Trickle, in one last desperation move, pass Shear coming out of the third turn.

Shear tried valiantly to regain the top spot during the final two circuits, but Trickle shut the door and led the rest of the way to ice the win.

The Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., chauffeur called the victory one the two toughest of his illustrious career.


Results –


1. Dick Trickle
2. Joe Shear
3. Dave Watson
4. Bob Strait
5. Jim Sauter
6. Pat Schauer
7. Bobby Gunn
8. Frank Gawlinski
9. John Speer
10.Mel Walen
11.Ken Lund
12.Rich Bickle
13.Alan Kulwicki
14.Fran Prestay
15.Mike Barlass
16.Johnny McPartlin
17.Mark Martin
18.Bobby Dotter
19.Dave Evans
20.Ed Hoffman
21.John Knaus
22.Jim Blount
23.Leonard Reimer
24.Bart Reinen
25.Ray Young
26.Larry Hicks
27.Mike Miller
28.Tom Reffner

1979 - All Star 10,000 Title to Crawford

Gary Crawford won the annual “All Star 10,000” at Fairmont Raceway. Pictured, from left, are promoter Jim Edgington, Crawford, second-place finisher Clayton Petersen of Grand Island, Neb., and Dick Schiltz of Waterloo, Iowa, who finished third.  – Bill Haglund Photo

Fairmont, Minn. (September 22, 1979) – Fairmont Raceways’ All Star 10,000 was a huge success with more than 110 cars in attendance. The large crowd and field increased the payout to about $12,500, and there was some hard, fast, close racing by some of the Midwest’s finest drivers trying to win a share of the purse.

The man who took home the lion’s share pf the purse was Gary Crawford of Independence/ He had run second in all three of his preliminary races over the two nights but when it came down to the big-money event, he completely dominated the40-lap feature.

Jerry Wancewicz and Bill Martin, both from the Omaha area, had earned front row spots for the feature, and exchanged the lead in the early laps. But Crawford, who had started on the inside of the fifth row, worked the inside of the track to his advantage while the rest of the field ran the high side and took the lead with less than 10 laps down.

From there on, he was never challenged, running in front by himself all the way to the checkered.

There was some extremely good racing behind Crawford, though, with Wancewicz and Martin rarely more than a car length apart throughout the early and middle stages of the race.

The intense racing between the two, however, would eventually put wear and tear on their cars.

Clayton Petersen Jr., of Grand Island, Neb., who started alongside Crawford in the fifth row, would get by the Omaha pair and take off in pursuit of Crawford. But with only five laps to go, Crawford had built up an insurmountable lead and won by almost a straightaway’s length over Petersen.

Dick Schiltz of Waterloo, Iowa, was a story in himself for the weekend. He broke during heat action on Friday night. He repaired his car and started on the fourth row in Saturday’s second consolation. He would win that race easily. He would finish second to Bob Hill in the B-main to qualify for the feature.

Starting last in the 24-car field, Schiltz would slice and dice his way to the front only to run out of laps and time, finishing an impressive third. Wancewicz and Martin would round out the top-five.


Results –


Heat #1 – Bill Martin, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Heat #2 – Arnie Braland, Boone, Iowa
Heat #3 - Jerry Wancewicz, Omaha
Heat #4 – Jim Bruggeman, White Bear Lake
Heat #5 – Em Fretheim Decorah, Iowa
Heat #6 – Steve Egersdorf, St. Paul
Heat #7 – Denny Selting, Huron, S.D.
Heat #8 – Al Druesdow, Omaha
Consolation #1 – Dwain Hanson, Lakefield
Consolation #2 – Dick Schiltz, Waterloo, Iowa
B-main – Bob Hill, Story City, Iowa
Feature –
1. Gary Crawford, Independence, Iowa
2. Clayton Petersen Jr., Grand Island, Neb.
3. Dick Schiltz
4. Jerry Wancewicz
5. Bill Martin
6. Jim Bruggeman
7. Dan Nesteby, Waterloo, Iowa
8. Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
9. Bob Shryock, Estherville, Iowa
10.Randy Sterner, Blair, Neb.

1970 – Harlan Race to Wrich

Bill Wrich accepts the huge trophy after winning the Iowa-Nebraska Championship from trophy girls Reggie Wright and Shari Schreiner after winning the 50-lap feature. Flagman Larry Cook holds the checkers. 

Harlan, Iowa (September 21, 1970) – Bill Wrich of Kennard, Neb., passed Bud Burdick of Omaha on the 41st lap en route to winning the Iowa – Nebraska Championship. The first annual event was held at the Shelby County Speedway and paid $1,100 to win.

A total of 62 cars competed in the two-day event.

Finishing second the in the 50-lap championship feature was Don Davidson of Des Moines with Stan Stover of Reinbeck taking third. Those three cars completed all 50 laps.

Only 11 cars were running at the conclusion of the event which started 24 cars. The race was started “Indy-Style,” with the field starting three abreast.

A crowd estimated at 3,200 for the Sunday afternoon program.

Winner of the last qualifying event, a 20-lap race, was Earl Tice of Ames. Stan Stover won the semi-main and George Barton of Ankeny won the consolation race.

Wrich started the main event on the inside of the fourth row. He moved into contention rather quickly and by lap 10 was right behind Burdick and challenging him for the top spot. The battle between the two drivers continued for the next 30 circuits.

Wrich would get by Burdick as the two cars were lapping Lloyd Jorgenson of Audubon. Burdick would retire a few laps later with a blown motor.

Wrich would then fend off Davidson and Stove for the remaining few laps to grab the victory. Wrich’s car is owned by Tom Gawley of Irwin, Neb. It was the second big money win for the pair as they also teamed to win the Sunset Speedway Invitational in July which earned them $750.

The track got dusty as the afternoon wore on. Never had the Harlan track have so many cars competing on it. Twenty-three cars started the semi-main and 24 started the feature.

Ed Sanger of Waterloo, the track champion at Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, possibly staged the best show of the day in the semi. He started in the middle of the pack and spun out, going to the back of the field. He stormed back and by the end of 15 laps, had taken second to qualify for the main event. He would finish 10th in the 50-lapper.


Results –


1. Bill Wrich, Kennard, Neb.
2. Don Davidson, Des Moines
3. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
4. Lloyd Jorgenson, Audubon
5. Joe Stewart, Blair, Neb.
6. Arlo Dorenbusch, Boone
7. Phil Reece, Des Moines
8. Ken Davidson, Des Moines
9. John Beaman, Council bluffs
10.Ed Sanger, Waterloo
11.Randy Sterner, Blair, Neb.
12.Gary Jones, Des Moines
13.Bud Burdick, Omaha
14.Jerry LeCroy, Des Moines
15.Rich Lyons, Jefferson
16.George Barton, Ankeny
17.Bob Bonzer, Liscomb
18.Joe Schaefer, Waterloo

1963 – White Captures ‘Lost-Lap’ Race at Allentown

Johnny White

Allentown, Penn. (September 21, 1963) – Johnny White of Warren, Mich., drove his Fike Plumbing Special to first-place money in the United States Auto Club sprint car race at the Allentown Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon.

Due to a mistake by the starter, the scheduled 30-lapper was stopped after 29 circuits. Steve Stapp spun on lap 27 and starter Nick Farono accidently waved the white flag instead of the yellow flag.

Stapp was able to continue and his was the last car on the track.

White led from start to finish and held a comfortable 5-second margin over runner-up A.J. Foyt of Houston, Tex., at the finish.

White and Jim McElreath of Arlington, Tex., tied for fastest qualifying time with a matching time of 29.96 seconds.

A crowd of 7,000 provided a purse of $6,500 of which $1,250 went to White.


Results –


1. Johnny White
2. A.J. Foyt
3. Roger McCluskey
4. Bob Harkey
5. Chuck Arnold
6. Jim McGuire
7. Jiggs Peters
8. Don Branson
9. Jim Hurtubise
10.Bob Mathouser
11.Bobby Marshman
12.Steve Stapp

1964 – Milwaukee 250-Miler Won by Jones

 

Rufus "Parnelli" Jones

West Allis, Wis. (September 20, 1964) – Parnelli Jones lengthened his United States Auto Club stock car point’s lead Sunday by winning the 250-mile auto race, his seventh successive late model stock car win on the Wisconsin State Fair Park 1-mile paved oval.

Jones collected 500 points to put his season total to 2,784. Norm Nelson of Racine, who was second to Jones before Sunday’s race, finished third which was worth 305 points. He now has 2,285 points thus far.

Jones, of Torrance, Calif., set a record track speed of 93.70 miles per hour in finishing one full lap ahead of Rodger Ward of Speedway, Ind. Jones’ winning time was 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 4.88 seconds.

Jones and Ward both drove Mercury’s and Nelson piloted a Plymouth. Sal Tovella of Addison, Ill., finished fourth in a Ford and Len Sutton of Portland Ore., was fifth in a Dodge.

A.J. Foyt of Houston, Tex., provided Jones with his most serious challenge before developing car trouble midway through the contest and finally dropping out after 211 miles.

Jones, who started in the pole position, took the lead immediately and held it for nine laps when he surrendered it to Foyt. Foyt then led through the 73rd lap when he made a pit stop but regained the lead on lap 78. He dropped back on lap 89 when his car began acting up.

Jones took the lead on the 90th mile and maintained it all the way except for eight laps when he was in the pits. Ward never seriously threatened Jones, although he finished close when Jones slowed down on the homestretch on his way to the checkered flag.

A crowd of 20,400 paid a total purse of $22,725. Jones earned $4,350 for his victory.


Results –

1. Parnelli Jones
2. Rodger Ward
3. Norm Nelson
4. Sal Tovella
5. Len Sutton
6. Rich Kleich
7. Joe Leonard
8. Whitey Gerken
9. Bay Darnell
10.Bill Shoulders
11.Bobby Marshman
12.Ted Hane
13.Gordon Gorman
14.John Champlin
15.Leo Drollinger
16.Jack Knippel
17. Skeeter Wyman
18.Bob Christie
19.A.J. Foyt
20.Red Swanberg

Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum 2024 Inductees

 

Announces Upcoming Relocation to Algona, Iowa

Otho, Iowa – The Iowa Hall of Fame is honored to announce the 2024 Hall of Fame Class that will be inducted into the Iowa Hall of Fame during our 6th Annual Induction Ceremony in November. The 2024 Inductees include Harald “Andy” Anderson of Duncombe, Jeff Broeg of Mt. Pleasant, Rick Brown of Kellogg, Dave Chase of Bellevue NE, Doug Haack of Clinton, Ron Hutcherson of Keokuk, Steve Jackson of Des Moines, Bill Kirk of Salix, Karla Lampe of Fair Grove Mo., Lynn Richard of Mt. Pleasant, Hilbert Schram of Amarillo Tex., Jerry Smith, Randy Smith of Mt. Ayr, and Dale Suhr of Waterloo. 

These individuals represent drivers, owners, builders, car sponsors, promoters, motorcycle and drag racers and are well known in the racing community. Congratulations to all of this year’s inductees for their outstanding racing accomplishments and contributions to the sport of racing in the State of Iowa!

The 2024 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held Saturday, November 2nd at the Briggs Woods Conference Center in Webster City, Iowa. Social hour will begin at 5:00 p.m. followed by dinner and the program. This event is open to the public and advance tickets are required. Tickets may be purchased through the Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum website or by contacting Teresa Huffman at 515-835-2620.

The Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum will soon be moving to a new building located at the Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum in Algona. Interior work is being completed and our Otho location is currently closed as we pack and prepare for the move. This new location will allow both museums to give race fans access to an amazing collection of Iowa racing memorabilia and historical archives. A grand opening date will be announced at a later date.

For more information on past Hall of Fame members, nomination forms or the museum, you can visit the website at www.iowaracingmuseum.com or find us on Facebook. The Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to honor Iowa’s racing legends and to preserve Iowa’s racing history for future generations.

1977 – Capital City 150 Features Taken by Trickle, Reffner

Tom Reffner (left) and Dick Trickle 

Oregon, Wis. (September 18, 1977) – Wisconsin Rapids’ Dick Trickle had an almost perfect Sunday afternoon at the Capital Super Speedway. He won two of the three 50-lap late model features and set fast time in the Capital City 150 program that ended the season for the half-mile, high-banked, paved oval.

The only event that escaped his grasp was the trophy dash, which was claimed by Steve Arndt. Trickle could only enter two of the three 50-lappers, leaving the other half-century to Rudolph’s Tom Reffner.

In the initial 50, for the even-number qualifiers, the engine in Jerry Eckhardt’s mount let go on lap 9, causing Reffner and Ken Smith to spin. Reffner was able to restart at the rear of the field. On lap 18, Ray Kreyer’s engine blew, bringing out another yellow flag.

When action resumed, Reffner continued his march to the front which was completed on lap 28 when he took the lead. Once ahead, he built up a sizeable margin which he held to the finish. Following him across the finish line were Gary Hemmerling, Non Jusola, Arndt, and Richie Bickle.

In the second 50 for odd-numbered qualifiers, USAC star Ramo Stott started up front and took the early lead.

The yellow flag was unfurled when Rick Husted’s engine blew. When the green returned, Stott remained in front until lap 18 when he retired with mechanical issues in the Arnie christen car he was driving.

Trickle inherited the lead and held it to the finish ahead of Larry Detjens, Mike Miller, Terry Senneker, and Billy Kuhn.

In the final 50, Reffner grabbed the lead on lap 7. Ken Lund dropped oil on the track at about the same time and the yellow came out. Reffner didn’t last long after the green returned, as he dropped out on lap 12.

Arndt’s engine let go on lap 21, bringing out the yellow for the final time.

On the restart, Senneker took the lead. On lap 27, Trickle and Detjens both overhauled Senneker, and three laps later, Hemmerling and Miller also passed the Grand Rapids, Mich., driver.

That was the way they remained with Trickle, Detjens, Miller, Hemmerling, and Senneker rounding out the top five.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
2. Rich Bickle, Edgerton
3. Garry Hemmerling, Janesville
4. Bob Jusola, Mound, Minn.
5. Steve Arndt, Janesville


Feature #2 –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Larry Detjens, Wausau
3. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids
4. Terry Senneker, Grand Rapids, Mich.
5. Billy Kuhn, Blue Island, Ill.


Feature #3 –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Larry Detjens
3. Mike Miller
4. Gary Hemmerling
5. Terry Senneker

1960 – Foyt Captures Wreck-Strewn ‘100’

 

A.J. Foyt shows off his trophy and sporty new jacket after winning the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Sid Collins awaits to interview the winner. 

Indianapolis, Ind. (September 17, 1960) – A.J. Foyt, 25-year-old Texan, won the hairiest Hoosier Hundred on Saturday afternoon.

Three spectacular crashes marred the eighth running of the 100-mile auto races at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, but no one was seriously hurt.

In fact, more damage to drivers and cars was caused by a steady stream of rocks dug up by the churning wheels of the cars.

Foyt, of Houston, Tex., collected $10,225 out of a record purse of $39,905.

Tony Bettenhausen of Tinley Park, Ill., driving the Doward Special, finished 8.5-seconds behind Foyt. Don Branson of Urbana, Ill., piloting the Bob Estes Special, finished third.

The crowd set another record with 24,865 paying to see the event.

Wayne Weiler of Phoenix, Ariz., escaped unhurt in the day’s worse looking accident. The 25-year-old pilot of the John Zink Special flipped into the air on the main straightaway coming out of the west turn after it hit the Stearley Motor Freight Special of Jim Packard, the 28-year-old Indianapolis driver. The accident occurred on the 54th lap while Packard was running in sixth place.

Jim Hurtubise, who shattered Indianapolis Speedway qualifying records during the “500” and won rookie-of-the-year honors, steered his Bernco Engineering Special to a stop against the inside guardrail after the car threw a right front tire on the 95th lap.

Al “Cotton” Farmer of Dallas, Tex., was knocked unconscious when a rock hit him on the head on the backstretch of the 66th lap. He spun in the in the middle of the west turn. Bobby Grim, driving the Forbes Special, had to spin purposely to keep from hitting Farmer. Farmer was riding in second place at the time and Grim was ninth at the time of the accident.

Most seriously hurt was Gene Force of Richmond, Ind., who suffered a large gash over his right eye when a big rock struck him at about the 60-mile mark. Force hung on gamely and coasted across the finish line for fourth place after his engine quit.

Rodger Ward of Indianapolis, the defending USAC national driving champion, broke the track record in qualifying with a lap of 101.609 miles per hour in hiss Leader Card Special.

Ward led the first 68 miles before a magneto went sour, forcing him into the pits.

Foyt’s victory gave him 200 championship points and allowed him to move up on the heels of Ward in the battle for the USAC driving title. Ward has 1,200 points while Foyt now has 1,140.

Most seriously hurt was Gene Force of Richmond, Ind., who suffered a large gash over his right eye when a big struck him at about the 60-mile mark. Force hung on gamely and coasted across the finish line for fourth place after his engine quit.

The race started an hour and 22 minutes late because the track was so wet from water being poured on it Friday and the unusually high humidity.

Foyt, starting in the eighth position, moved up to sixth place on the first lap, to fifth on the fourth circuit, to fourth on the 12th lap, to third on the 48th lap, and took over second when Farmer had his accident.

Foyt was trailing Ward by half-a-lap when Ward’s magneto failed.


Results –


1. A.J. Foyt
2. Tony Bettenhausen
3. Don Branson
4. Gene Force
5. Johnny Thomson
6. Roger McCluskey
7. Len Sutton
8. Chuck Stevenson
9. Shorty Templeman
10.Leo Drollinger
11.Chuck Hulse
12.Jim Hurtubise
13.Eddie Sachs
14.Rodger Ward
15.Al Farmer
16.Bobby Grim
17.Parnelli Jones
18.Jim Packard

1973 – Ruttman Wins Dells’ 200-Lap Championship

 

Joe Ruttman, driving Joy Fair's Maverick, won the Midwest Championships at Dells Motor Speedway. – Kurt Luoma Photo

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (September 16, 1973) – Michigan’s Joe Ruttman led for all but 15 laps on Sunday to win the Midwest Championships 200-lap race at Dells Motor Speedway.

Ruttman, substituting for Joy Fair while he was out with an injury, picked up $1,500 for his feature win plus lap money for each lap led. The total purse for the weekend was $18,500.

Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids placed second in the feature and was the weekend’s fast timer in qualifying with a 14.548 second lap.

Tom Maier of Midland, Mich., placed third in the feature with Joe Shear of South Beloit, Ill., taking fourth. Wausau’s Larry Detjens rounded out the top five finishers.

Seven states and 113 cars were represented in the two-day spectacle.

Bill Gerrits of Waupun won the 40-lap semi-feature while Rib Lake veteran Marlin Walbeck closed out his long career with a second place showing. Jerry Eckhardt of Lake Mills won the consolation.



Results –

1. Joe Ruttman, Dearborn Heights, Mich.
2. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
3. Tom Maier, Midland, Mich.
4. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
5. Larry Detjens, Wausau
6. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
7. Jim Back, Vesper
8. Terry Bivins, Rolla, Mo.
9. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa
10.Jim Sauter, Necedah

1985 – Gawlinski Outruns Seligman in Bettenhausen 100

Frank Gawlinski shows off his collection of trophies after winning the Bettenhausen Memorial 100 at Illiana. 

Schererville, Ind. (September 15, 1985) – Frank Gawlinski outdistanced Steve Seligman by 12 car-lengths to capture the Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 late model feature for the third time in his career Sunday afternoon at Illiana Motor Speedway.

Larry Middelton grabbed the lead from polesitter Ted Musgrave on the opening lap and began to break away from the rest of the field. By lap 10, Middelton was lapping slower traffic. By lap 15, Middelton enjoyed a straightaway lead over Musgrave when the yellow flag came out

On the restart, Middelton again took the lead followed closely by Gawlinski, who had worked his way up from his fifth row starting position. Two laps later, Gawlinski powered past Middelton and into the lead. Soon after fading to second, Middelton pulled his car into the infield with a bad valve.

After another caution, Gawlinski retained the lead while al chill began to challenge for the top spt. The top duo remained unchanged until lap 61 when Schill dropped out of the race with a sour engine.

Gawlinski outran the field for the remainder of the event to breeze to a relatively easy victory while Seligman finished a distant second. Dave Weltmeyer finished third followed by Ted Musgrave and Rich Kleich.



Results –

1. Frank Gawlinski
2. Steve Seligman
3. Dave Weltmeyer
4. Ted Musgrave
5. Rich Kleich
6. Tracy Schuler
7. Mike Gentile
8. Larry Morris
9. Bill Kroneberg
10.Dan Odell

1968 - Weedon Puts Raceway Title Trophy on 'Car-For-Sale" Label

 

Ron Weedon beams as he clutches the trophy for winning the season championship at Quad City Raceway. He accepts congratulations from promoter Lloyd Chick (left) and starter Skip Chick (right). 

East Moline, Ill. (September 15, 1968) – Ron Weedon put his Ford on the auction block Sunday night at Quad City Raceway and the dented convertible went out as a champion.

Just prior to the 50-lap season championship, Weedon announced that the car was for sale – after the race.

The car, under Weedon’s guidance, finished it’s career in grand style as it crossed the finish line first in the late model finale at Raceway, and by beating Jim Gerber by a car length in the main event. Weedon also nailed down the point championship.

Pleasant Valley, Iowa, probably wasn’t named for Ron Weedon, but the veteran driver is a living testimonial for the bustling community after he completed the 50-lap affair. He was beaming and he said, “We’re asking $2,500 for the car.”

It has been a great car for Weedon, for he not only drove it to the season championship at East Moline but drove it to the season championship in Davenport one week ago.

“It’s a 1967 Ford,” Weedon said. “We got it last year and got it ready for the last two races of the season. Now, we just bought a 1968 Torino that we’ll have running next Spring.”

Weedon won the Raceway title by 45 points over Gerber, the veteran driver from Mt. Joy. He began the night’s competition trailing Gerber by 75 markers, but he won the second heat to slice off a little bit off Gerber’s lead, although Gerber won the semi-feature.

The start of the event was an exact replica of the July mid-season 50-lapper. Then, Weedon was point leader but elected to start on the outside of the front row, giving Gerber the pole position. Gerber beat him to the first turn and led the entire race to wrest the point led away from Weedon.

Last night, with Gerber leading the point standings, he elected to start on the pole position and put Weedon alongside him. This time, Gerber guessed wrong, because the groove on the track was high, the groove that Weedon was sitting in all along.

Gerber had a four foot lead as the field crossed the finish line, but he couldn’t maintain it as they entered the first turn. The two battled side-by-side heading into the fourth turn, then Gerber, riding the inside groove, fish-tailed on the hard-packed racing surface and Weedon sped into the lead by a car length. Weedon remained in the high groove and in front for good – except for one brief interlude.

On the 32nd lap, Gerber caught him and actually crossed the finish line in front, by the margin of a radiator cap.

But Gerber, who had installed a new hemi engine In his Dodge Charger the week before, was riding low – and directly into the path of Bob Stogdell, who acknowledged the layover flag but simply couldn’t get out of the way in time.

Weedon stayed as close as possible while lapping Stogdell, but Gerber was caught and had to slow down to get around Stogdell. Weedon came out of the turn 50 feet away ahead, and Gerber was never able to catch up, although he was within a car length at the end.

Weedon won season titles at East Moline and Davenport while Gerber finished hot to win the title in Peoria last week – by a point on the final night.


Results –


Heat #1 – Benny Hofer, Rock Island
Heat #2 – Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley, Iowa
Semi-main – Jim Gerber, My. Joy, Iowa
Feature –
1. Ron Weedon
2. Jim Gerber
3. Dean Montgomery, Milan
4. Shorty Bennett, Moline
5. Ray Guss, Milan
6. Don Bitner, Peoria

1956 – Bryan is Winner of ‘100’ for Third Time

 Smoking his trademark victory cigar, Jimmy Bryan is surrounded by well-wishers after winning his record third straight Hoosier Hundred at the State Fairgrounds. 

Indianapolis, Ind. (September 15, 1956) – Jimmy Bryan, the hard-driving cowboy from Phoenix, Ariz., took the lead in the national auto racing standings Saturday as he won his third straight Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Bryan, driving the Dean Van Lines Special to its fourth straight victory in the 100-mile race, was less than one car length ahead of Pat O'Connor of North Vernon, Ind., at the finish.

Bryan's 200 points brought his season total to 1,560 and pushed him ahead of injured Pat Flaherty of Chicago, who has 1,500.

The race was slowed repeatedly in the early laps by accidents, but there were no injuries. The purse totaled $29,510.

Jud Larson of Tulsa, Okla., set a record of 37.4 seconds for the one-mile track -in the time trials. Starting on the pole position, he led the race for 70 miles. Bryan caught him on the 71st and led the rest of the way.

Larson finished fourth, behind third-place Rodger Ward of Los Angeles. Al Keller of Green Acres City, Fla., came in fifth, the first five finishers all being on the same lap.

The time of the race was 1 hour, 14 minutes and 19.48 seconds, more than 5 minutes off the record.

About one-fourth of the race was run under the yellow light because of the accidents.

Tony Bettenhausen of Tinley Park, Ill., the winner at Syracuse, N.Y., last week, cracked up his Schmidt Special on the fifth lap. Jim Rathmann of Miami hit the rail on the 25th lap. Van Johnson of Burbank, Calif., wrecked his car in the time trials.

Earl Hotter of Oakland, Calif., spun out on the first turn of the first lap, and Johnny Thomson of Springfield, Mass., spun out on the 21st.

The race was delayed more than an hour by the muddy condition of the track, soaked by an early morning downpour. The going seemed to be especially sticky on the southeast turn, and all the spins and crashes occurred there.


Results –


1. Jimmy Bryan
2. Pat O’Conner
3. Rodger Ward
4. Jud Larson
5. Al Keller
6. Gene Hartley
7. Bob Veith
8. Andy Linden
9. Don Freeland
10.Mike Magill
11.Johnny Boyd
12.George Amick
13.Earl Motter
14.Elmer George
15.Jim Rathmann
16.Johnny Thomson
17.Tommy Hinnershitz
18.Tony Bettenhausen

1985 - Van Deest Takes Boone 'Short Track' Title

Duane Van Deest won the IMCA modified feature during Boone Speedway’s Short Track Nationals. Judy DeFrance, who doubled as a driver and the trophy girl, joins Van Deest in victory lane. – Margaret Gardner Photo

Boone, Iowa (September 14, 1985) – It looked like Dennis Pittman was going to walk away with a wire-to-wire victory in the IMCA modified main event at the Boone Speedway Short Track Nationals on Saturday night.

However, Conrad’s Duane Van Deest was following close behind and passed Pittman on lap 20 of the 25-lapper, holding it the rest of the way to the checkers.

Dave Farren of Des Moines was third with Tony Askamit of Fremont, Neb., fourth and Randy Krampe of Baxter fifth.

Judy DeFrance of Marshalltown claimed the sportsman feature win over Denny Hegdahl, also of Marshalltown.

DeFrance took the early lead only to lose it to J.A. Skinner of Indianola. Hegdahl also got by DeFrance for second. Skinner led until lap 10 when he went to the pits with a flat tire on lap 10, giving Hegdahl the lead. DeFrance would regain the top spot on lap 16 and hold on for the win.

Skinner would charge back to finish third followed by Doug Smith of Albion and Chris Jensen of Des Moines.

Des Moines’ Larry Wieland took top honors in the thunder car feature. Wieland led all but the first two laps of the 15-lap event, when he slipped under Ankeny’s Kendall Sather. Sather challenged Wieland the entire way but settled for second place. Brian Efkamp of Perry was third.

Jeff Schroyer of Laurel walked away with the street stock feature. Shroyer’s car was claimed afterwards but when he refused to sell, Ron Ray of Boone was awarded the win.

A field of 108 cars – 35 modifieds, 28 sportsman, 19 thunder cars, and 26 street stocks – participated in the Saturday night program.


Results –


Modified –

1. Duane Van Deest, Conrad
2. Dennis Pittman, Jefferson
3. Dave Farren, Des Moines
4. Tony Askamit, Fremont, Neb.
5. Randy Krampe, Baxter
6. Carl Albee, Grand Junction
7. Danny Wallace, Des Moines
8. Kevin Larkins, Fifth, Neb.
9. Jack Miles, Des Moines
10.Jeff Ross, Nevada


Sportsman –

1. Judy DeFrance, Marshalltown
2. Denny Hegdahl, Marshalltown
3. J.A. Skinner, Indianola
4. Doug Smith, Albion
5. Chris Jensen, Des Moines
6. Curt Flack, Jefferson
7. Greg DeFrance, Marshalltown
8. Joe Bervid, Des Moines


Thunder Cars –

1. Larry Wieland, Des Moines
2. Kendall Sather, Ankeny
3. Brian Efkamp, Perry
4. Gary Busch, Jefferson
5. Ken Scott, Webster City


Street Stock –

1. Ron Ray, Boone

Judy DeFrance won the sportsman feature at the Short Track Nationals at Boone Speedway. Race sponsor Duane Davis (left) and Ivey DeFrance (right) join Judy in the winner’s circle. – Margaret Gardner Photo

1962 – Oklahoman Set Spencer Marks

 

Bob Reynolds receives his trophy and the plaudits of the Clay County Fair after his IMCA stock car victory. IMCA brass Gene Van Winkle (left) and Al Sweeney (right) join the Oklahoma chauffeur in victory lane.

Spencer, Iowa (September 14, 1962) – Bob Reynolds of Edmond, Okla., driving the last 17 laps without brakes, won the 100-lap International Motor Contest Association late model stock car contest in record time at the Clay County Fair on Friday afternoon.

Reynolds, driving a 1962 Ford, was clocked in 47 minutes and 18.81 seconds, better than two minutes faster than the old record set by Keokuk’s Ernie Derr two years ago. Derr finished second to Reynolds in the long-endurance race.

Reynolds also set a new standard in qualifying, touring the half-mile dirt oval in 28.08 seconds, bettering Derr’s old mark of 28.68 seconds.

1986 – Guss Late Model King in Springfield USAC Show

Springfield, Ill. (September 13, 1986) – Ray Guss Jr. outran Mike Wallace to win the 35-lap USAC late model Bill Day Tire Winner’s Challenge Saturday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Jeff Purvis paced the first seven laps of the contest before Guss moved into first place for the first time. Guss maintained a lead for the next 17 circuits until Wallace overtook him on lap 25.

Four laps later, Guss regain the lead for good and took command of the race, winning handily over Wallace. Larry Moore, Dick Taylor, and Steve Barnett rounded out the top five finishers.


Results –

1. Ray Guss Jr.
2. Mike Wallace
3. Larry Moore
4. Dick Taylor
5. Steve Barnett
6. Terry Messenger
7. Rick Standridge
8. Dick Phillips
9. Jim Satterfield
10.Darrell McGee
11.Darrell Marmor
12.Lee Hoffman
13.Pat Walsh
14.Glenn Andrew
15.Don Duncan

1963 – Stock Car Title to Peoria Ace

Don Bohlander

Davenport, Iowa (September 13, 1963) – Don Bohlander of Peoria, Ill., drove to an impressive victory in the 50-lap season championship at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds Friday night.

Bohlander led all 50 laps although he was chased by Rock Island’s Will Franck in the highly competitive contest. Del Williams of Moline, the high point scorer the entire season finished third and Jim Gerber of Davenport was fourth.

A total of 18 cars started the 50-lapper and only eight were still on the track when the checkers waved.

John Moss of Iowa City raced to victory in the 25-lap Class B with Ernie Speth of Davenport finishing second. Dale Ahrens of Davenport and Lyle Behn of Moline fourth.


Results –


Class A -

Heat #1 – Tuffy Meyer, Big Rock
Heat #2 – Fred Strube, Peoria, Ill.
Heat #3 – Shorty Bennett, Moline, Ill.
Semi-main – Del Williams, Aledo, Ill.
Feature -
1. Don Bohlander, Peoria, Ill.
2. Willis Franks, Rock Island, Ill.
3. Del Williams
4. Jim Gerber, Long Grove
5. Charlie Moffitt, Stanwood
6. Fred Strube
7. Ernie Speth, Davenport
8. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
9. Shorty Bennett
10.Bruce Haack, Davenport


Class B –

Feature -
1. John Moss, Iowa City
2. Ernie Speth
3. Dale Ahrens, Davenport
4. Lyle Behn, Moline, Ill.
5. Gary Backett
6. Jim Hammill
7. Ralph Pleasant
8. Slim Prior
9. Bob Kerns

1976 – McCluskey Captures Governor’s Cup

Jack Bowsher (21) and Roger McCluskey (11) bring the field to green for the 1976 Governor’s Cup. McCluskey would go on to win the 250-miler.

 

West Allis, Wis. (September 12, 1976) — The pony cars made it a clean sweep Sunday when Roger McCluskey piloted Norm Nelson's 1976 Plymouth Volare to an easy victory in the Governor's Cup 250 at State Fair Park.

McCluskey’s victory Sunday plus a victory by Ramo Stott’s Volare in the State Fair 150-miler and two victories by Butch Hartman in a Camaro this season at State Fair Park effectively spelled the end of the big Hemi’s and other full-sized cars on the tracks of a mile and less on the United States Auto Club's stock car circuit.

Small cars took the top four places Sunday as Stott finished ii seconds back in second place, Hartman was third, more than a lap down, and Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids was fourth in Roy Darnell’s 1976 Camaro.

Trickle, well known in Midwest short-track circles, fought bad brakes for 200 of the 250 laps around the one-mile track, and finished about a lap and 13 seconds behind McCluskey.

Trickle was shaking his weary foot as he got out of his car in the technical committee’s impound area after the race. “I had to pump the brakes about 50 times a lap," he told Darnell. "I got such cramps I couldn’t do it sometimes.”

But though Trickle drove probably the best race of his spotty career at State Fair Park, neither he nor anyone else was a threat to McCluskey.

“The car ran better than any race car I’ve ever driven,” McCluskey said. McCluskey said Nelson's crew has done extensive work on the kit car, which was just built this season.

“We’ve done quite a bit of work on the chassis,” McCluskey said. “We were just trying to find out what it wanted. We haven't really run it that much. We got a late start this year.

“The guys just kept changing, changing, changing. Somethings helped, and some things didn’t help.”

McCluskey said his only worry Sunday was that changing track conditions as the race progressed would make the chassis setup handle poorly near the end of the race.

The only scare McCluskey had was around lap 200. He’d had a full lap lead on Stott on lap 190 but the yellow came out on lap 188 when Bob Brevak spun and McCluskey soon pitted. For 10 laps, until the 200-lap postings showed McCluskey to be just one second ahead of Stott, the Nelson crew thought there was still a lap difference. When they saw the two-second interim between McCluskey and Stott posted on the board, they ran back to Nelson’s pits and gave McCluskey the word.

“Go,” was Nelson’s command to McCluskey, and he went.

Gaining precious fractions of a second each lap, he put distance between him and Stott and won going away.

“When they gave me the signal that I was only one second ahead, I figured I’d better get hooked up and get out of there," McCluskey said.

When McCluskey decided to go, Stott, the defending USAC stock car division champion, said there was little to do but watch him go.

“He really had the superior car today," Stott said. "A couple of times, when I was running next to him, he’d gain about a quarter of a car length on me a lap. No matter what I did, he’d gain on me. My power was about right, and my handling was just about right, but I knew I wasn’t going to beat him if he finished."

Hartman, leading the point standings by 185 points over Stott (1850-1665) after Sunday’s race, said, “That was the hardest race I’ve ever run. Roger was running so well it would have been foolish to try to run him down. We really messed up when we pitted under the green."

Hartman, who finished a lap and 11 seconds behind McCluskey, lost a lap of that when his team gambled during an early yellow flag situation on the 90th lap of the race. Hartman passed up the stop hoping for a yellow about the 70th lap while McCluskey pitted. When Hartman finally couldn’t wait any longer, he pitted for fuel and right-side tires on lap 83. On the next lap the yellow came out.


Results –


1. Roger McCluskey
2. Ramo Stott
3. Butch Hartman
4. Dick Trickle
5. Sal Tovella
6. Terry Ryan
7. Harold Fair
8. Russ Peterson
9. Dean Roper
10.Gary Bowsher
11.Larry Nau
12.Johnny Parsons
13.Frank Cabrera
14.Wayne Watercutter
15.Ken Rowley
16.Fred Zack
17.Bob Brevak
18.Jack Bowsher
19.Rick Schmidt
20.Jen Backlund
21.Steve Drake
22.Larry Moore
23.Larry Phillips
24.George Giesen
25.Rich Sundling
26.Jerry Wolland
27.Dale Koehler
28.Dave Whitcomb
29.Ron Hutcherson
30.Ray Bolander
31.Herman Huffman
32.Bay Darnell
33.Boyce Sparkman
34.Dick Beinlich
35.Gary Cooper
36.Don White

1971 – Al Unser Captures Hoosier Hundred

 

Al Unser stands on the gas en route to winning the 1971 Hoosier Hundred. – Joseph Ramirez Collection

Indianapolis, Ind. (September 11, 1971) – Al Unser won the rich Hoosier Hundred auto race for United States Auto Club dirt cars on Saturday, but George Snider finished second and captured the first championship of the new circuit.

Unser, of Albuquerque, N.M., was unchallenged throughout most of the 100-miler, the last of the season on USAC’s new dirt track division.

He passed Mario Andretti the third time around the Indiana State Fairgrounds’ one-mile oval and led the rest of the way.

Snider, of Bakersfield, Calif., finished 5.3 seconds back. Unser’s winning average speed was 96.962 miles per hour on the damp track, which was short of his own track record of 97.887 miles per hour, set last year.

Andretti, of Nazareth, Penn., was stopped by an overheated engine on the 83rd mile.

The dirt track circuit was previously part of the USAC big car competition won last year by Unser. Snider won the dirt track event at Du Quoin, Ill., last Monday and grabbed runner-up honors earlier at Springfield, Ill.

A.J. Foyt, a six-time winner of the Hoosier Hundred, started 17th and finished fourth behind Larry Dickson of Marietta, Ohio.

Only Unser, Snider, and Dickson were on the lead lap at the finish.

Neither the attendance nor the purse was announced. Race director Joe Quinn said he was uncertain on how to handle the payoff because of the wage freeze. He said Unser would be paid at least $6,010; the amount guaranteed to the winner.


Results –


1. Al Unser
2. George Snider
3. Larry Dickson
4. A.J. Foyt
5. Billy Vukovich
6. Jim McElreath
7. Sam Sessions
8. Bill Puterbaugh
9. Arnie Knepper
10.Merle Bettenhausen