1966 – Nelson, Hurtubise Finish 1-2 in Langhorne Race

 

Norm Nelson reveals his driving strategy to promoter Irv Fried after the Racine, Wis., driver won the USAC late model race at Langhorne Speedway. Jim Hurtubise, who finished second to Nelson, listens to his teammate. – Ray Masser Photo/Doug Schellinger Collection

Langhorne, Penn. (April 17, 1966) – Norm Nelson, the 1965 United States Auto Club national stock car champion from Racine, Wis., made his first start of the season on Sunday and wasted no time in taking up where he left off last season.

Nelson captured the 150-mile National Championship Classic at Langhorne Speedway on Sunday in a 1966 Plymouth and right behind him in second place – only one second behind, in fact – was Jim Hurtubise, who piloted Nelson’s second ’66 Plymouth entry.

Before the race Nelson had commented that Hurtubise was the man to beat, and it turned out he was right. Nelson had to set a record to beat out his teammate, whipping around the one-mile asphalt track in 1 hour, 27 minutes and 2.28 seconds for an average of 103.403 miles per hour. Hurtubise held the old record of 89.783 miles per hour when Langhorne was a dirt course.

Hurtubise, of North Tonawanda, N.Y., led from the start until he was forced to make an unexpected pit stop for a tire change on the 90th lap.

Nelson took charge for keeps on lap 136 but had to fend off a late charge by Hurtubise, who nearly made up the 1 1/2 lap deficit before running out of time.

“I had to pace myself so Jim wouldn’t catch me, but he was able to make up some ground and I really had to pour it on the last four or five miles,” Nelson explained.

Sal Tovella of Addison, Ill., was third in a 1965 Plymouth, Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, was fourth in a 1966 Dodge, and Billy Foster of Vancouver, B.C., was fifth in his 1965 Dodge.


Results –


1. Norm Nelson
2. Jim Hurtubise
3. Sal Tovella
4. Don White
5. Billy Foster
6. Hank Teeters
7. John Martin
8. Joe Burkhart
9. Mal Delameier
10.Roger Regeth
11.Eddie Meyer
12.Bob Phernetton
13.Bobby Wawak
14.Gary Bettenhausen
15.J.C. Klotz
16.Bay Darnell
17.Mac Vails
18.Roy Hallquist
19.Wally Dallenbach