Tom Colella holds the checkered flag after winning the Pittsburgher 200 at Heidelberg.
Carnegie, Penn. (October 12, 1969) – Tom Colella of Whitehall, won the sixth annual Pittsburgher 200 late model stock car classic at Heidelberg Raceway on Sunday afternoon, beating Joy Fair of Pontiac, Mich., by just two car lengths in a hair-raising, see-saw battle.
Colella, who had just won the Tri-State 150 just two weeks ago, took over the lead on the 100th lap, but lost it twice to Fair before regaining it for the final time with just a few laps to go on the high-banked, half-mile speedway.
Harold Smith of Dayton, Ohio, the defending champion, was forced out of action with motor issues on lap 136. Bud Middaugh of Massillon, Ohio, the 1967 winner, went out on the lap 27 with rear end trouble while running second.
Middaugh had set a track record of 19.85 seconds in qualifying as he turned in the fastest time among 102 entrants who came from all parts of the Midwest and the East Coast vying for the $15,000 purse.
Middaugh was on the pole position, but it was Moose Myers of Detroit who sped out to the lead and held the top spot until lap 45 when Fair moved in front. Then the seesawing began.
Colella passed Fair on lap 100, then Fair passed Colella on lap 135. Colella passed Fair on lap 155, Fair passed Colella on the 172nd lap, and then Colella moved in front to stay on lap 195.
Results –
1. Tom Colella, Whitehall, Penn.
2. Joy Fair, Pontiac, Mich.
3. Donnie Roberts, Auburn, Mich.
4. Bob Senneker, Grand Rapids, Mich.
5. Don Gregory, Columbus, Ohio
6. Gus DeLong, Struthers, Ohio
7. Rich Senneker, Grand Rapids, Mich.
8. Jack Chambers, Northfield, Ohio
9. Ed Howe, Beaverton, Mich.
10.Ed Vanderlaan, Grand Rapids, Mich.
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