Denny Pittman won IMCA Modified National Series race at Thunderbird
Speedway in Muskogee, Okla. With Pittman is IMCA executive secretary Bill
Haglund. – Margaret Gardner Photo
Pittman and Ray Cox Jr. of Davenport, Iowa, had spent 23 of 25 laps in the feature race chasing down Curt Hutchens, a Muskogee native now living in Herndon, Iowa.
Hutchens took an early lead and stretched it out despite three cautions periods. At the 23-lap mark, he had enough of a lead that both Pittman and Cox had lost sight of him in the turns.
Then, exiting turn two on the 24th lap, Hutchens rear end broke and he pulled to the infield out of harm’s way.
Neither Pittman nor Cox saw that Hutchens had pulled in and they raced side-by-side to the finish line with Pittman winning by half-a-car-length.
“I won?” asked Pittman afterward. “You mean, I won” What happened to Curt?”
“I would have been happy with second place,” he added. “Afterall, this was a homecoming for Curt, and I was really hoping he would win it – if I couldn’t.”
Cox was also surprised at the finish.
“I had no idea Denny, and I were racing for the lead,” he said. “I might have pushed it a little harder had I known that.”
Merv Chandler of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, finished third followed by Vernon Reese of Westville and Bruce Hascall of Murdock, Neb.
Rich Smith of Davenport, Iowa, won the C-main while Buz Kaster of Kansas City was the B-main winner. Heat wins went to Hutchens, Walt Schilt of Muskogee, Ted Beaman of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Pittman, Cox,, 19-year-old A.J. Cooper of Claycomo, Mo., and Hascall.
The event drew 60 cars from seven states.
Results –
1. Denny Pittman, Jefferson, Iowa
2. Ray Cox Jr., Davenport, Iowa
3. Merv Chandler, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
4. Vernon Reese, Westville
5. Bruce Hascall, Murdock, Neb.
6. Jimmy Carnell, Muskogee
7. Earl Muilenberg, Sparta, Mo.
8. Troy Stout, West Fork, Ark.
9. Buz Kaster, Kansas City
10.Kevin Larkins, Waverly, Neb.
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