1972 – Eaker, Eastern Invaders Shine at Sunset

 

Verlin Eaker won the Cornhusker-Hawkeye Challenge at Sunset Speedway. Eaker led from start to finish in a dominating performance. 

Omaha, Neb. (October 7, 1972) – Sunset Speedway’s Cornhusker-Hawkeye Challenge was designed to determine whether Iowa drivers or Nebraska drivers were the better warriors on the dirt oval.

If Saturday night’s races were a good indication, it was a disappointing evening for local drivers and fans as three invaders from eastern Iowa took the top prizes in the $8,000 affair.

Far outclassing the field in every event – including the main event - was Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Eaker, one of the top drivers in the Midwest, sped to victories in his heat race, the trophy dash in which he grabbed the pole position for the finale, and then the big race with $1,500 accompanying the triumph.

Eaker led the entire 100 laps and was never seriously challenged as he finished a half-a-lap ahead of runner-up Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo, Iowa. Coming in third was another Iowan, Dennis Hovinga of Pocohontas. Finishing fourth was Bob Kosiski of Omaha. Kosiski was only one of four drivers (Bill Wrich, Dave Milbourn, and Paul Zdan) to be among the 19 finishers in the race that started with 30 pilots.

And Hovinga and Kosiski can share the award for most determined drivers. Hovinga, the track champion at Alta, Boone, and Webster City, weeded his path from his 27th starting berth, and Kosiski, from his 16th starting position.

Kosiski, who failed to qualify via his heat race but won the 25-lap consolation, zipped to second after only 25 laps and held that position until lap 52 when Zwanziger, driving a 1970 Nova, overtook him.

But nothing could Eaker, already a victor in the World 100 at Eldora, Ohio, and the Tri-State Championships in Davenport, Iowa.

The track conditions forced six restarts but on each occasion, Eaker quickly recovered his commanding lead in his 1970 Chevy Nova.

The affair drew 55 cars, 29 of which were driven by eastern Iowa drivers. Of that total, 28 were racing at Sunset for the first time.


Results –


Heat #1- Paul Zdan, Omaha
Heat #2 – George Barton, Ankeny, Iowa
Heat #3 – Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Heat #4 – Randy Sterner, Blair
Heat #5 – Bob Hilmer, Dysart, Iowa
Consolation #1 – Bob Kosiski, Omaha
Consolation #2 – Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa
Trophy dash – Verlin Eaker
Feature –
1. Verlin Eaker
2. Bill Zwanziger
3. Dennis Hovinga, Pocohontas, Iowa
4. Bob Kosiski