Ted Horn
Arlington, Tex. (April 25, 1948) – Ted Horn, the national American Automobile Association champion from Paterson, N.J., repeated in the 100-mile race at Arlington Downs on Sunday afternoon.
Returning to the dirt track where he clinched the AAA national title last year, the handsome blond did a sprightly tune-up for next month’s Indianapolis 500-mile classic by taking the lead on lap 47 and never relinquishing it after that. He won by three laps over his nearest competitor.
Duke Dinsmore of Osborn, Ohio, was second and Duke Nalon of Los Angeles finished third, four laps better than Joie Chitwood of Reading, Penn., the hard luck man of the race.
Chitwood had led for 46 circuits when he developed trouble with his steering wheel, but he stayed doggedly in the race. He had to take the curves slowly because of the haywire steering gears.
Only eight of the 17 starters were running at the finish.
Paul Russo of Chicago, who was fast qualifier in time trials with 42.85 seconds on the one and one-sixteenth mile oval and therefore had the pole position for the race. He led until the ninth lap until motor trouble developed. He was in the pits three times before giving up all together.
In winning the race – his fourth straight this season – Horn won in a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes and 6 seconds. He averaged 81.25 miles per hour, 11.75 miles per hour slower than last year. However, a heavy rain the night before had made the track slushy and even the wild driving of the daredevil field failed to dry it out at the finish.
More than 20,000 turned out despite the bad weather.
Results –
1. Ted Horn, Paterson, N.J.
2. Duke Dinsmore, Osborn, Ohio
3. Duke Nalon, Los Angeles
4. Joie Chitwood, Reading, Penn.
5. Manny Ayulo, Los Angeles
6. Johnny Byrne, Indianapolis
7. Jack McGrath, Los Angeles
8. Les Anderson, Portland, Ore.
9. Rex Mays, Glendale, Calif.
10.Henry Banks, Lynwood, Calif.
11.Mike Salay, Chicago
12.Bill Scheffler, Los Angeles
13.William “Red” Hodges, Dallas, Tex.
14.Charles Rogers, Detroit
15.Billy DeVore, Indianapolis
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