1974 – Opperman Nips Snider at Eldora

 

Jan Opperman drove the Bogar Special to victory in the 40-lap USAC sprint car feature at Eldora Speedway. - John Mahoney Photo

Rossburg, Ohio (March 31, 1974) – Jan Opperman of Beaver Crossing, Neb., roared into the lead from his third starting slot and went on to win the 40-lap United States Auto Club sprint car feature at the half-mile, high-banked Eldora Speedway.

Opperman led for the first 23 laps until George Snider, driving last year’s second place point winner Lee Kunzman’s car, took the lead when Opperman drifted high in turn three. The hard-charging Opperman recaptured the lead again on the same turn three laps later.

Midway through the race, Opperman was hit by a flying rock on the upper lip. The blow loosened some teeth and split his lip, but the injury failed to slow him.

The race was run in front of approximately 6,500 fans that braved the 40-degree temperatures. Hot laps and qualifications were delayed three hours because of the track. Rains and heavy snow flurries caused the track to be on the muddy side and caused the track crew to work from 7am to 3pm before any of the cars were able to get on the track.

The damp conditions caused the track to be rough in spots with the roughest section on turn two where several cars lost their belly pans and various other parts.

However, much to the credit of the track crew and the drivers, there were no yellow flags for accidents.

Opperman owned the day, however. The relative newcomer to the USAC circuit grabbed the season point lead upping his total to 81 points.


Results –


1. Jan Opperman
2. George Snider
3. Bruce Walkup
4. Lee Osborne
5. Duane Carter
6. Sam Sessions
7. Jerry Nemire
8. Rollie Beale
9. Johnnie Parsons
10.John Toth

1970 – Pelican 200 Still Property of Derr

 

To the victor went the spoils; Ernie Derr returns to the winner’s circle at Shreveport. – John A. Moore Photo

Shreveport, La. (March 22, 1970) – Yes, Ernie Derr won Sunday’s 17th running of the Pelican 200 at State Fair Speedway. Did you really expect someone else to roll into the winner’s circle?

The dapper 47-year-old veteran from Keokuk, Iowa, not only won his seventh Pelican 200, and fourth in a row, he left the combined opposition – 18 other cars that showed up for a Sunday afternoon drive – strewn at least eight laps back of the exhaust pipes of his ’69 Dodge Charger.

It was a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon for Ernie. He pocketed $1,066 of the $5,000 in prize money put up by the International Motor Contest Association and promoter Bud Carson.

Derr’s Dodge, rolling effortlessly under the power of a 426 cubic inch hemi engine, covered the 100 miles around the paved half-mile oval in 1 hour, 20 minutes and 21.54 seconds. That will stand as a new Pelican 200 record of sorts since this was the first of the breed run on the newly-laid asphalt.

Gene Newsome of West Monroe, La., surviving gamefully in a ’66 Chevelle as one by one the field of pursuers dragged back into the infield, nabbed the $500 second-place prize although only on the 192 lap when Derr took the checkers. A close third, also on the 192nd lap, was Irv Janey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in a 1970 Plymouth.

Derr and Janey were two of the three factory-backed entries in the 19-car field that made it to the starting lineup. The other driver, Ron Hutcherson of Keokuk, Iowa, in a ’70 Ford, was running a comfortable third when he creamed the wall coming off of turn two on lap 124, tearing up the front end.

Grabbing fourth and fifth place while spinning into their 189th laps were two Louisianan’s, Royce Whitlock of Monroe and Freddy Cook of West Monroe, both driving older models Chevelle’s.

But it was another Louisiana contender who made the only serious run at Derr, who was to win his 275th race of his career with faultless precision.

Baton Rouge’s Freddy Fryar, in a ’66 Chevelle, ran bumper-to-bumper with Derr for 136 laps – actually taking over the lead on four different occasions – before retiring with a smoking engine.

Earlier in the day, Fryar and Janey tied for the best time in qualifying with identical clocking’s of 22.56 seconds. Derr was content with his 22.65 second spin. All times were far off the track record of 21.58 seconds set by Derr at last fall’s State Fair.

It was a two-car race for half the grind as Derr and Fryar spent time drafting, tailgating and slingshotting past each other. Fryar caught Derr on lap 25 but Derr regained the lead one lap later. Fryar went back in front on lap 37 just before Tommy Taylor of Dallas, Tex., caromed off the fence.

Fryar later overhauled Derr on the 72nd lap - by now both were lapping Janey and Hutcherson in the third and fourth spots – as Ernie got boxed in a by a slower car. But Fryar’s mount began spewing smoke shortly thereafter and by lap 98, Derr was in front for good.

The clincher came when Derr required only a 25-second pit stop on lap 127 and Fryar needed over a minute and a half on lap 130. When Freddy went out for good on lap 136, Ernie eased back and coasted from there.

Thus, started the IMCA’s 55th season on the Midwest fair circuit; with a crowd of 6,600 looking on as Derr launched his campaign for his 11th IMCA stock car driving title.

He won’t test drive his 1970 Dodge Charge until April, but he didn’t need it Sunday. His ’69 model – one of two he’s been taking to the track – has done okay.

“This is 12 races for this car,” he grinned at the finish. “I’ve only lost me one race.”


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Gene Newsome, West Monroe, La.
3. Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
4. Royce Whitlock, Monroe, La.
5. Freddy Cook, West Monroe, La.
6. Butch Hall, Russell, Minn.
7. Moulton Story, Shreveport, La.
8. Chuck Arnold, Baton Rouge, La.
9. Ray Ingalls, Longview, Tex.
10.Mel Morris, West Liberty, Iowa
11.Phil Cronin, Houston, Tex.
12.Freddy Fryar, Baton Rouge, La.
13.Sandy Sandstrom, Kansas City, Mo.
14.Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
15.Bill Stark, Des Moines, Iowa
16.Jerre Wichman, Kansas City, Mo.
17.Gordy Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa
18.Tommy Taylor, Dallas, Tex.
19.Tony Barcelona, Houston, Tex.

Ernie Derr (1) goes neck-and-neck with Freddy Fryar (301) during the Pelican 200 late model stock car race. – John Moore Photo

1977 – McElreath Captures USAC Sprint Opener

James McElreath (left) is joined by his father Jim after winning the USAC sprint car season opener at Salem Speedway.

Salem, Ind. (March 20, 1977) – Young James McElreath led from start to finish to capture the United States Auto Club’s season opening sprint car show on the high banks of Salem Speedway.

McElreath, whose father, Indianapolis 500 veteran Jim McElreath, serves as chief mechanic, took the green flag from the inside of the front row and led all 50 circuits for his third career USAC sprint car win.

Pavement toughie Bob Frey followed McElreath across the finish line, while ’73 titlist Rollie Beale was third. Gary Irvin came home fourth and ’76 dirt champ Billy Cassella rounded out the top five.

The feature had only one yellow flag and that came on the 41st circuit when Sheldon Kinser, running third, lost control coming off the fourth corner and spun into the infield. Kinser and machine were okay and restarted.

Defending champion Duane “Pancho” Carter had fast time in qualifying but lost an engine in his heat race. Carter’s crew had the motor out and replaced in 35 minutes and Pancho went out and won the semi-feature. However, 10 laps into the feature, he dropped out with mechanical issues.

Gary Bettenhausen, who has been working all winter on a new upright design, got to run only hot laps before USAC officials disqualified his machine for having illegal fuel tanks.


Results –


1. Jim McElreath
2. Bob Frey
3. Rollie Beale
4. Gary Irvin
5. Billy Cassella
6. Bruce Walkup
7. Joe Saldana
8. Jerry Weeks
9. Bill Engelhart
10.Jim Hettinger

1967 – Pearson Cops Crown in Bristol

David Pearson wheeled Cotton Owen’s 1967 Dodge to victory in the Southeastern 500 at Bristol.

Bristol, Tenn. (March 19, 1967) – David Pearson of Spartanburg, S.C., seized the lead with only two miles from the finish to capture the $29,100 Southeastern 500 stock car race at Bristol International Raceway before a crowd of 23,000.

Pearson slipped past Cale Yarborough of Timmonsville, S.C., when the driver of the 1967 Ford had a tire go flat in the last 10 miles of the contest.

Pearson, driving a 1967 Dodge, earned $5,290 for the win in the 250-mile race. He had reached 75.93 miles per hour to give Chrysler Corporation their first major victory of the season.

Yarborough settled for second with while third place went to Darel Dieringer of Charlotte, N.C., in another 1967 Ford. Fourth place went to Neil Castle of Charlotte, N.C., in a 1965 Plymouth and Dick Hutcherson of charlotte, N.C., in a 1967 Ford.

Hutcherson, the defending champion of the race, appeared to have the race sewn up until his engine gave way on lap 482. Yarborough then took over and led until the flat tire gave Pearson his opportunity.

Only 10 of the 36 starters finished the grueling 500-lap contest.

Richard Petty of Randleman, N.C., who started in the third position in his 1967 Plymouth, went out after only four laps when he was involved in a collision with Joe Neubert and Fred Lorenzen. Lorenzen was able to continue but lasted only until 175 miles when his engine let go.

Dieringer, who set a qualifying record for the half-mile track in time trials, led on tree different occasions as the lead changed hands through the first 150 miles.


Results –


1. David Pearson, Spartanburg, S.C.
2. Cale Yarborough, Timmonsville, S.C.
3. Darel Dieringer, Charlotte, N.C.
4. Neil Castle, Charlotte, N.C.
5. Dick Hutcherson, Charlotte, N.C.
6. Elmo Langley, Landover, Md.
7. Donnie Allison, Hueytown, Ala.
8. Bill Seifert, Skyland, N.C.
9. Wendell Scott, Danville, Va.
10. Max Ledbetter, Charlotte, N.C.

The Corn Belt Clash

 

By Lee Ackerman

Omaha, Neb. - In 2009, Cam Granger started a new Super Late Model Series based in the Upper Midwest called the Corn Belt Clash (CBC). The purpose of the new series was to keep the tradition of open late model racing alive in the area. The West Union, Iowa based series sanctioned races through the 2017 racing season. This is a recap of the inaugural year in 2009 when the series held just five events.

The inaugural event was held on June 26, 2009, at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa, and what a race it was as Keith Foss of Winona, Minn., won by a nose over Cedar Falls, Iowa’s Jeff Aikey to pick up the win and a $2,000 paycheck.

At the start of the 40-lap feature Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, got by Lancaster, Missouri’s Chris Smyser to take the lead but it wasn’t long, and Keith Foss took control of the race. A yellow on lap 31 restacked the field and Jeff Aikey was all over Foss taking the lead on lap 32 and the two drivers battled it out for several laps and were neck and neck at the white flag. Foss went low under Aikey in a turn three slide job with Aikey driving back under Foss as they raced for the line with Foss winning by just inches. Lance Matthees of Winona, Minnesota was third, Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa fourth and Jason Rauen of Farley, Iowa fifth.

Chad Simpson won the 35-lap Corn Belt Clash feature at Highway 3 Raceway. CBC promoter Cam Granger is on the far left. - Mike Ruefer Photo

On July 2, the series was back in action at Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, and this time there was no doubt who was going to win as Chad Simpson dominated the event to pick up the win in the 35-lap feature. Jeff Aikey made a late lap pass of Kevin Kile of Nichols, Iowa, to take second with Kile third, Curtis Martin of Independence, Iowa, fourth and Kurt Kile of West Liberty, Iowa, fifth.

On July 16, the series visited the Independence Motor Speedway, racing before the beautiful new grandstand and this time it was Chris Simpson taking home the win in the 40-lap feature. Rick Wendling of Hazelton, Iowa, and Keith Foss shared the front row as the green fell on the field with Foss taking the early lead and led until a flat tire sent him pit side. Foss would rejoin the race and finish sixth in the event.

On the restart, Jason Rauen took the lead and started pulling away from the field. Justin Mitchell held second with Chad Simpson the man on the move. Simpson started moving in on Mitchell and with ten laps to go took the low groove and moved into second. By this point Rauen had opened up nearly a full straightway led, but then the caution flag waved putting Chad Simpson on Rauen’s rear bumper.

On the restart, Rauen and Simpson battled for the lead and on lap 31, the two made contact with Rauen spinning out. Both drivers were sent to the back of the pack.

This gave the lead to Chris Simpson with Jason Utter of Columbus Junction, Iowa, second. Weekly Independence driver Travis Smock of Independence was on the charge and as Chris Simpson pulled away from the field Smock took second from Utter. At the checkers it was Chris Simpson, Travis Smock, Jason Utter, Curt Martin and Terry Neal of Ely, Iowa, in finishing in the top five.

Keith Foss became the first two-time winner of the Corn Belt Clash Series with a victory at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in West Union. Foss also captured the inaugural race at the 3/8-mile track. - KC Rooney Photo

On July 28, the series returned to the Fayette County Speedway and Keith Foss used his pole starting position to good advantage as he became the first two-time winner in the Corn Belt Clash Series. Eighth starting Gary Webb of Blue Grass, Iowa, charged through the field to finish second, Lance Matthees was third, Jason Utter fourth and Chris Smyser fifth. Curt Martin finished sixth and took the points lead after Chad Simpson who had a two-point lead going into the event skipped the race to race in another event.

The final race of the Corn Belt Clash’s inaugural season was held on August 12, once again at the Fayette County Speedway and a newcomer to the series stole the show. Tenth starting Adam Hensel of Barron, Wis., charged to the front and passed race-long leader Terry Neal on the low side in the closing laps of the race to pick up the win and a check for $3,500. Neal held on for second, Keith Foss finished third and claimed the first CBC Championship, Lance Matthees was fourth and Chad Simpson fifth.

At the outset of the race, Neal used the high side and built and early lead over Chris Smyser and Lance Matthees. Matthees grabbed second from Smyser and started to reel in Neal with Justin Mitchell, Jeremiah Hurst, Chad Simpson and Keith Foss battling it out to stay in the top five.

By the hallway point of the race, Hensel was up to fourth and then the caution waved and tightened things up. On the restart, Neal led Foss and Hensel with Hensel using the low side to get by Foss for second. Then the caution waved again, and, on that restart, Hensel once again used the low side to challenge Neal and then take the lead and the win.

Adam Hensel was a surprise winner at the Corn Belt Clash Series finale at West Union. 

The final tally for the Corn Belt Clashes inaugural season was Keith Foss taking the championship and a $2,000 check with 226 points followed by Chad Simpson at 206, Curt Martin at 202, Jason Rauen at 186 and Kurt Kile 182. It was the start of a decade long run for the Corn Belt Clash Series which provided fans in the Upper Midwest with some great open competition late model racing.

RIP - Dennis Piefer

A great friend of Midwest Racing Archives and of dirt track racing in general, Dennis Piefer of Freeport, Ill., passed away February 18. His photos were seen here as well as Hawkeye Racing News, Midwest Racing News, Facebook and other social media websites. 

Our sincere condolences to his family on his passing. He will be sorely missed. 

Here are just some of the great photos Dennis took over his 50-plus years of traveling and visiting racetracks all over the Midwest and the United States. 

RIP Racer

Obituary | Dennis M. Piefer | Schwarz Funeral Homes

Bill Beckman - Cedar Rapids - 1978

Bill Rice - Eldora Speedway - 1978 

Bill Zwanziger - Cedar Rapids - 1976

Billy Moyer Jr. - Eldora Speedway - 1985

Jack Boggs - Eldora Speedway - 1982

Curt Hansen - West Liberty - 1979

Denny Osborn - Cedar Rapids - 1985

Ed Sanger - Cedar Rapids - 1976

Gary Webb - Dubuque - 1989

Jimmy Mars - Davenport - 2001

Ken Walton - Freeport - 1979

Willy Kraft - Eldora Speedway - 1992