Roger Dolan won the final Busch All-Star Tour race for 1985 at I-70
National Speedway. Flagman Jim McMurray makes the trophy presentation. – Dean
Malone Photo
Odessa, Mo. (October 13, 1985) – Dolan vs. Kosiski; Iowa vs. Nebraska; veteran vs. youngster – all three modes of competition came from Roger Dolan and Steve Kosiski as they competed for the final time Sunday afternoon in the NASCAR/Busch All-Star Tour finals at I-70 National Speedway.
To set the background –
Steve led the special NASCAR/Busch series point standings coming into the event by 37 markers over Dolan. Steve turned in fast time during Saturday’s time trials, .13 of a second faster than Dolan.
But to qualify for the big event on Sunday, all cars had to qualify through qualifying heat races.
Dolan won his heat, Steve didn’t. In fact, his engine blew on lap 2 of his heat race and put his machine out of operation. Had he finished in the top-three spots, he would’ve started front row pole, as he set fast time on Saturday, and the main event lined up straight. Front row pole? Roger Dolan. Steve, able to line up a ride from Bill Baldwin, who had already qualified for the feature, had to start dead last – 24th.
At the wave of the green flag, Dolan jumped into the lead with Gene Claxton, the I-70 track champion on his rear bumper. Claxton challenged Dolan and set up a side-by-side battle until lap 4 when Gene used a high groove maneuver and got past Dolan as the pair entered the front straightaway.
Bob Hill, who started on the outside of the third row, moved into third on lap 13. The crowd stayed on their feet for the next 10 laps as the Claxton/Dolan battled see-sawed back and forth.
Showing up from way back in the pack at the start, Bill Martin moved into fourth on lap 19 and on the next lap, moved past Hill to take over the third spot as the race started to wind down.
On lap 22, Dolan made a surprising move to the top and moved past Claxton. Claxton, with just a few laps left, tried low and then went high but neither move could move him back into first place.
Dolan would stay in the top groove for the last lap to take the checkered flag with Claxton a car-length behind.
“I was watching Gene from the low side for quite a few laps,” Dolan said after the race. “Gen knows the best way around the track. I though the high side would be too muddy, but it was really fast up there.”
The biggest charge of the night was put in by who else? Steve Kosiski…
Kosiski drove the unfamiliar car to an impressive eighth place finish. However, after tallying the points, Dolan was declared the first Winston/Busch All-Star Tour champion over Steve Kosiski – by 1 point (960-959).
Winning the feature ($3,000) and the series’ title, the Lisbon, Iowa, ace went home with $5,000 in his pockets. Kosiski took home $1,000 for his Busch All-Star runner-up finish.
Friday’s late model qualifying heat wins went to Dolan, Greg Moyer, Dick Schiltz, Mike Wallace, Keith Acton, and Dave chase. B-mains were captured by Bob Hill and Steve Fraise.
Results –
1. Roger Dolan
2. Gene Claxton
3. Bill Martin
4. Bob Hill
5. Steve Fraise
6. Keith Acton
7. Johnny Saathoff
8. Steve Kosiski
9. Dave Chase
10.Mike Smith
11.Bobby Goulden III
12.Terry Gallaher
13.Jamie Hager
14.John Barnes
15.Ed Kosiski
16.Dale Fischlein
17.Dick Schiltz
18.Greg Webb
19.Donnie Cooper
20.Tom Svoboda
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