When Ramo Stott and Mopar Dominated ARCA

 

Ramo Stott poses next to his Plymouth SuperBird

By Lee Ackerman

Omaha, Neb. - Back in the 1960’s Chrysler Corporation race cars dominated the racing scene. The Chrysler racing program went on to unparalleled success with Chrysler-powered products winning national championships in five major stock car circuits and dominating the drag strips. In 1970 drivers for Plymouth and Dodge combined to win 77% of these races, winning 106 of 138 events. They won championships in NASCAR, USAC, ARCA and IMCA.

In ARCA, the main standard bearer for Mopar was Keokuk, Iowa’s Ramo Stott. Stott had competed in the old IMCA Stock Car series and had piled up a ton of wins but always came up short in winning a championship. In 1963 and 1964 Stott and his Plymouth finished second to fellow Keokuk native Dick Hutcherson. From 1965 through 1968 he finished runner-up each year to fellow Mopar driver and fellow Keokuk resident Ernie Derr.

Ramo Stott won the ARCA 100-lapper at Clay City (Ky.) Raceway on June 15, 1969.

In 1969, Stott changed directions and decided to take his Plymouth and compete in ARCA. Stott didn’t get rolling until he finally won the Tennessee 500 at Bristol on May 18. He added seven more wins in ARCA but came up short in the chase for the championship losing out to future NASCAR Champion Benny Parsons. Even so, Mopar dominated the victory lane winning 22 of 28 ARCA events with the help of Iggy Katona, Bobby Watson and Andy Hampton all posting multiple wins in Dodges and Les Snow posting two wins in a Plymouth.

As was often the case with NASCAR and ARCA back in the day, the racing season for a certain year may actually start before the start of that calendar year. Such was the case with the 1970 ARCA season which actually was supposed to start on October 5, 1969, at Bristol but the race was rained out. On October 26 at Talladega, they ran the Vulcan 500 with Jim Vandiver winning in a Dodge.

Ramo Stott reaps the rewards after winning the ARCA 300 at Daytona Speedway in 1970. 

The next race was the annual ARCA 300 at Daytona International Speedway and that’s when Ramo Stott and his Plymouth took control of the series. Stott led 89 of the 120 laps averaging over 142 miles per hour to take the win with Bobby Watson in his Dodge coming home second.

Then on April 11, Stott averaged over 154 mph in winning the ARCA 125 at Talladega with Watson in his Dodge once again coming home second. A week later, Stott won at Tri-County Speedway outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, with the Dodge’s of Iggy Katona, Bobby Watson and Andy Hampton giving Mopar drivers the top four spots. The following week at the Toledo Speedway, Bobby Watson’s Dodge held off Ramo and his Plymouth for the win. A month later he was back in the Buckeye state winning at Dayton Speedway with Watson and Katona finishing second and third.

May 30th at Lorain County Speedway in Ohio saw Andy Hampton bring his Dodge home first followed by the Dodge’s of Bobby Watson and Iggy Katona and the Plymouth of Ramo Stott. The next day at the Sharon Speedway still in Ohio Katona beat Stott in another short track event.

Ramo Stott celebrates his Vulcan 500 win at Talladega.

On June 14, it was back to the superspeedways and Talladega where Stott put his Plymouth on the pole and then led 154 of 188 laps in the Vulcan 500 in beating out Katona for the win. “I don’t know how much easier I could have had it,” Said Stott in victory lane. “I don’t like to run below 6000 rpm’s and if I’d have slowed down anymore, I would have been below that.”

On July 3 it was back to the short tracks and Berlin Speedway in Michigan where Stott won a 200-lap affair over Katona and Hampton. Hampton got the best of Katona and Stott the next day back at Lorain County Speedway.

On July 19, Katona at the Trumbull County Speedway in Ohio then six days later at the Golden Sands Speedway in Wisconsin it was Stott winning over Hampton and the next day at the Madison International Speedway still in Wisconsin Stott beat Hampton and Katona.

The August 7 race at Toledo was rained out and then something strange happened. After 14 straight Mopar wins, another brand won the International 500 at Louisville Fairgrounds Speedway in Kentucky on August 25. Four days later Mopar was back in victory lane at Flat Rock in Michigan with Andy Hampton. September 7 at Toledo it was Tom Bowsher and a Ford going to victory lane. Iggy Katona won six days later on the Salem High Banks in Indiana with the 1970 ARCA season coming to a close on September 20 at Tri-County with Ross Smith winning in a Chevy.

When the season came to an end Mopar had won 16 out of 19 races with Ramo Stott winning the championship in his Plymouth taking home eight wins. Andy Hampton and Iggy Katona had both posted three wins in Dodges with Bobby Watson and Jim Vandiver getting single wins in Dodges.

Ramo won the pole at Daytona for the 1971 ARCA 300

The 1971 season actually began on October 11, 1970, with Stott piloting his Plymouth to victory in the Salem 500. Two weeks later the legendary Red Farmer won at the Nashville Fairgrounds in a Ford. Then it was time for the ARCA 300 at Daytona with Stott sitting on the pole with Katona outside in a Dodge. Stott lost an engine after 83 laps and Katona posted the win.

Back at Salem on April 4, Stott set fast time at 19.92 second and won the 100-lap event with Katona and Hampton chasing in their Dodges. After Tom Bowsher won the next two races at Tri-County and Toledo in a Ford, Ken Reiter won the 100 lapper at the Louisville Fairgrounds in Kentucky with Stott finishing second.

Stott rallied to win back-to-back races. First, at the Nashville Fairgrounds on May 15 in taking a 200-lap event with Andy Hampton following then eight days later at Tri-County Speedway by leading 465 of the 500 laps to dominate the event. The following weekend the series ran twice in Wisconsin with Tom Bowsher and his Ford winning both.

Ramo Stott at Tri-County Speedway. - Wayne Doebling Photo

Stott then set fast time and led the entire 100 laps to win at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Bowsher then put the competition back in victory lane at Wisconsin International Raceway, Toledo and Sharon Speedway.

On August 7 Stott won at Baer Field in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Ken Reiter now in a Chevrolet won the 500-lap International 500 at the Louisville Fairgrounds by holding off Stott. On August 21 at the Clarke County Fairgrounds a bit of a novelty happened as both Iggy Katona in a Dodge and Tom Bowsher in a Ford were declared joint winners of the 50- lap event with Stott trailing.

As the season came to a completion, Ramo Stott stamped his name on the championship trophy for the second year in a row, first by winning at Flat Rock, Michigan in a 100-lap race with Katona following and then by closely out the 1971 ARCA season by leading 87 of the 100 laps and winning at Toledo.

Ironically, the 1972 season kicked off at the Salem Speedway in Indiana on October 17 with Stott winning the 500-lap marathon. It would be the only Mopar win of the 1972 ARCA season.

With Mopar withdrawing much of its support of racing going into the 1971 racing season Mopar’s dominating run had come to an end.

This story is dedicated to the memory of Ramo Stott, who we lost four years ago, but his accomplishments on the racetrack will live on for a long time to come.

1961 – Veteran Driver Wins Southland 250-Miler

 

Ernie Derr won the MARC-sanctioned Southland 250 at Birmingham. 

Birmingham, Ala. (November 5, 1961) – Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, proved the old champions are dangerous competitors Sunday as he outdueled 31 Midwestern and Southern drivers and won the first annual Southland 250 at Birmingham Fairgrounds Speedway.

Derr, a four-time International Motor Contest Association stock car champion, became the third representative of a racing organization to triumph during a three-week tour of southern states by the newly formed group headed by Curtis Turner and John Marcum.

Harold Smith, who finished second to Derr at Birmingham, won the first race at Atlanta. Smith is the 1961 Midwest Association for Race Cars (MARC) champion. Turner, the NASCAR kingpin who is promoting races under the MARC banner, won at Columbia, S.C.

The drivers put on one of the finest shows ever witnessed at the half-mile track. Derr drove a 1961 Pontiac while Smith piloted a 1961 Chevrolet. Third-place finisher Clyde Parker of Detroit, Mich., also competed in a 1961 Chevrolet.

Turner had won the pole position and had lapped the field in his 1962 Ford, when his car developed differential trouble and was forced to drop put.


Results –

1. Ernie Derr
2. Harold Smith
3. Clyde Parker
4. Jerry McCredie
5. Jerry Douglas
6. Phil Cronin
7. Emory Mahon
8. Iggy Katona
9. Charlie Glotzbach
10.Bill Erhardt

1974 – Bettenhausen Memorial 100 to Reffner

 

Tom Reffner took top honors after capturing the 13th annual Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 stock car race at Illiana Motor Speedway. Presenting the trophy are starter Art Kelly (right) and assistant starter Bob Adams. – Stan Kalwasinski Photo

By Stan Kalwasinski

Schererville, Ind. (October 27, 1974) – Tom Reffner of Rudolph, Wis., captured the 13th annual Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 at Illiana Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

The 32-year-old driver was crowned the North American Short Track Champion in September.

Reffner drove a 1970 Ford Mustang to victory in the 100-lap late model stock car event which had previously been postponed three times. Reffner collected $1,500 of the $8,500 purse.

On lap 20, last year’s winner, Tom Jones, crashed through the outer guardrail at the end of the backstretch, flipping his Camaro several times and landing in a wooded area outside the track. Jones’ car was demolished but he escaped injury.

It was a highly competitive race with numerous lead changes. Six different drivers – Joe Shear (1-4), Ray Young (5-6), Larry Schuler (9-19), Tom Musgrave (20-37), Dick Trickle (38-72), and Tom Reffner (73-100) – took turns leading the talented field.

On the final lap, Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., drove hard into turn three to overtake Reffner, but Trickle’s Mustang slid high in the corner, letting a fast-closing Larry Schuler of Lockport, Ill., take over second at the finish.

Reffner paced a field of 66 entries during time trials with a 22.00 second clocking around the half-mile.

A large crowd was on hand for the program, which was held in conjunction with the Whitey Gerkin-Dennis Shelton Memorial Benefit program. Over $3,000 was collected for the families of the two men who lost their lives at the speedway last year.


Results –

1. Tom Reffner
2. Larry Schuler
3. Dick Trickle
4. Rick Knotts
5. Don Axtmann

1969 – Derr Claims #10 at Shreveport Finale

 

Ernie Derr receives congratulations from International Racing, Inc., promoter Verna Winkley after winning the IMCA stock car season finale at Shreveport. Joining them is announcer Nick Nachias. – Bill Causey Jr. Photo

Shreveport, La. (October 26, 1969) – Now that Ernie Derr has wrapped up his fourth straight International Motor Contest Association national point title after winning Sunday’s 150-lap feature at State Fair Speedway, the 10-time champion can now take a well-deserved rest since the racing season is over – right?

Wrong…

Even though Ernie Derr could probably take a long vacation after capturing the IMCA stock car division title by well over 1,200 points, he has something more important to take care of – like getting ready for next season.

“I plan to start building another Dodge Charger like the one I have now,” said Derr, moments after he drove his 1969 Dodge Charger across the finish line, beating his nearest competitor, Bill Ries of Shakopee, Minn., by over a lap.

Derr, who may be labeled the Babe Ruth of the racing world with the distinction of winning more feature races (250) than any other driver, not only setting an world IMCA record in winning the 150-lapper, but he also rewrote the IMCA record book with a record-setting time in the preliminary 10-lap race before a thrilled crowd of 6,800.

In the 10-lap STP run by the eight fastest qualifiers, the Keokuk, Iowa, native dashed to a record 3 minutes and 51.92 second clocking. He nipped the previous mark of 3 minutes and 52.29 seconds set by Freddy Fryar of Baton Rouge – a record that lasted exactly one week as Fryar set his record at State Fair Speedway a week ago Sunday.

Derr then took the checkered flag for the feature in 1 hour, 51 minutes and 54 seconds, to set a new 150-lap record. Through the two-weekend racing activity, Derr came within $10 of $1,700.


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Bill Ries, Shakopee, Minn.
3. Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
4. Phil Cronin, Houston, Tex.
5. Lewis Taylor, Shawnee, Kan.
6. Gene Newsome, West Monroe, La.
7. Bob Perry, Springfield, Mo.
8. Butch Hall, Russell, Minn.
9. Leon Bowman, Wichita, Kan.
10.Tony Bettenhausen Jr., Houston, Tex.
11.Dick Johnson, St. Paul, Minn.
12.Fred Horn, Marion, Iowa
13.Larry Jones, West Monroe, La.
14.Sonny Brown, Corpus Christi, Tex.
15.Jerre Wichman, Kansas City
16.Howard Hart, Kansas City
17.Tony Barcelona, Houston, Tex.
18.Sandy Sandstrom, Kansas City
19.Kent Stouffer, Independence, Mo.
20.Gordon Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa
21.Vic Elson, Ash Grove, Mo.
22.George Brooks, Dallas, Tex.
23.Ole Brua, Albert Lea, Minn.
24.John Tiller, Fridley, Minn.
25.Ray Putnam, Baton Rouge, La.

1989 – Heroics by Holzhausen Highlight Racefest ‘89

 

Steve Holzhausen is congratulated by promoters John McKarns and Harry Molenaar after winning the ARTGO-style late model headliner at Illiana Motor Speedway. – Al Fortner Photo

Schererville, Ind. (October 22, 1989) – Steve Holzhausen made a dramatic pass of four-time track champion Frank Gawlinski on the 121st circuit and went on to win Sunday afternoon’s 129-lap ARTGO-style late model feature that highlighted Racefest ’89 at Illiana Motor Speedway.

Gawlinski, who had scored a dozen regular feature wins at the 1/3-mile paved oval this year, charged past early pacesetter Tony Raines to take the lead on lap 39 of the ARTGO-style late model headliner, which was scheduled for 125 laps.

With no yellow flags to slow them, Gawlinski and second-running Raines opened up a substantial lead over their closest pursuers, Dave Weltmeyer, Len Nowosel, and Holzhausen.

The fireworks began on lap 89, when Nowosel and Weltmeyer bumped in turn two, dropping Weltmeyer all the way back to eight position and resulting in a stop-and-go penalty for Nowosel. The incident necessitated a restart in which Holzhausen got around Raines for second.

Another yellow on lap 113 put the leaders in single-file once again with Gawlinski shaking up the field with a lightning-fast restart. But, within five circuits, Holzhausen had closed the gap and was nipping at Gawlinski’s heels.

Holzhausen finally got around Gawlinski on lap 121 then outran his rival to the checkers, which was extended to 129 laps by a caution period that regrouped the field on lap 124. Tracy Schuler came in third followed by Steve Carlson, Weltmeyer, and Raines.

In other action, Joe Witowski won the 50-lap sportsman feature Steve Christman was the E-mod winner. Kevin Cywinski took the NASCAR late model feature and David Dotter grabbed street stock honors.


Results –

1. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis.
2. Frank Gawlinski, Lynwood, Ill.
3. Tracy Schuler, Lockport, Ill.
4. Steve Carlson, La Crosse, Wis.
5. Dave Weltmeyer, Harvey, Ill.
6. Tony Raines, LaPorte
7. Tony Hertko, Joliet, Ill.
8. Tom Jones, Northbrook, Ill.
9. Lem Nowosel, Grayslake, Ill.
10.Dale Hirschfield, Alsip, Ill.

1972 – Cronin Tops in IMCA

Phil Cronin of Houston is joined by trophy queen Ms. Ann Wallace after winning the trophy dash and the 50-lap feature at State Fair Speedway. – Farris Baughman Photo

Shreveport, La. (October 21, 1972) – Phil Cronin of Houston Tex., made a clean sweep of the International Motor Contest Association late model stock car program at State Fair Speedway, winning the trophy dash, heat and the 50-lap feature on Saturday afternoon.

The veteran Cronin gunned his Chevelle to new track records in both the 12-lap heat and 50-lap feature.

Vance Cook of Jonesboro, Ark., finished second in both the first heat and feature.

Cronin’s record-setting 12-lap time was 4 minutes and 29.63 seconds, less than a second faster than Norman Blythe’s winning time of 4 minutes and 30.15 seconds in the third heat.

Blythe finished second behind Cronin in the trophy dash but could only manage a seventh-place finish.


Results –

Heat #1 – Phil Cronin, Houston, Tex.
Heat #2 – Gerry Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
Heat #3 – Norman Blythe, Houston, Tex.
STP trophy dash – Phil Cronin
Consolation – Freddy Cook, West Monroe, La.
Feature –
1. Phil Cronin
2. Vance Cook, Jonesboro, Ark.
3. Tony Bettenhausen Jr., Houston, Tex.
4. Willie Crane, Springfield, Mo.
5. Gerry Harrison
6. Gordon Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa
7. Norman Blythe
8. Jim Hagar, Liberty, Mo.
9. Gene Newsome, West Monroe, La.
10.Warren Hughes, Houston, Tex.

1986 – Moyer Wins Pennsboro ‘World Championship’

 

Billy Moyer Jr. won the sixth annual Dirt Track World Championships at the legendary Pennsboro Speedway. – Ashley Ness Photo

Pennsboro, W.Va. (October 19, 1986) – Billy Moyer Jr., of Batesville, Ark., celebrated his 29th birthday by winning $40,000 at the sixth annual Dirt Track World Championships at Pennsboro Speedway.

Moyer, who led the final 46 laps of the 100-lap STARS-sanctioned race for late model stock cars, was followed under the checkered flag by Willy Kraft of Lakefield, Minn., Jeff Purvis of Clarksville, Tenn., Gary Stuhler of Westminster, Md., and two-time DTWC winner Freddy Smith of Kings Mountain, S.C.

Kraft, who battled his way into the main event by winning the 40-lap consolation, started 25th on the grid of 30 cars and earned $10,000 from a purse exceeding $100,000.

As the crowd of 7,000 settled on the golden hillsides of Pennsboro for the feature, they were as quickly on their feet as a first lap tangle on the backstretch eliminated two former DTWC winners, Charlie Swartz (1982) and Jack Boggs (1984) and banged up much of the field.

After repairs were made, the field was relined and the start saw Roy Miller of Quaker City, Ohio, running strongly in front for the first 36 laps before being overtaken by John Mason of Millersburg, Ohio.

A red flag stopped the action on lap 34, and the leaders pitted. At that point, Moyer may have made some race-winning decisions as he changed both tires and gearing on his race car while Mason settled for fuel and tire pressure changes.

When action resumed, Mason roared past Miller to lead laps 37 to 53. But Moyer was moving up from his 13th starting position and overtook Mason on lap 54. He would never relinquish the lead and win by a straightaway’s margin. Mason was eventually knocked out of the race when Mark Banal of Dillonvale, Ohio, bounced off the concrete stage of turn one, triggering a chain-reaction accident which brought out the second red flag on lap 79.


Results –

1. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
2. Willy Kraft, Lakefield, Minn.
3. Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
4. Gary Stuhler, Westminster, Md.
5. Freddy Smith, Kings Mountain, S.C.
6. Mike Duvall, Gaffney, S.C.
7. Buck Simmons, Cowpens, S.C.
8. Larry Moore, Dayton, Ohio
9. Donnie Moran, Frazeysburg, Ohio
10.Randy Boggs, Webbville, Ky.
11.Bob Wearing, Callery, Penn.
12.Steve Baker, Morgantown, W.Va.
13.Roy Miller, Quaker City, Ohio
14.Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.
15.Mark Banal, Dillonvale, Ohio
16.John Mason, Millersburg, Ohio
17.Tom Hearst, Wilton, Iowa
18.Paul Davis, Louisa, Ky.
19.Rodney Franklin, Winchester, Va.
20.Bob Adams Jr., Racine, Ohio