1985 - Canadian Chapman Tops Burlington Sprints

 

Ken Chapman of Winnipeg, Canada, won the first-ever Midwest Region World of Outlaws sprint car 25-lap feature at 34 Raceway. Denny Decheine presents the checkers. – John Vass Photo

Burlington, Iowa (April 26, 1985) – An invasion from the north overwhelmed the field of winged sprint cars at 34 Raceway Friday evening as native Canadians finished one-two in the first event of the new Midwest Region World of Outlaws Series.

Ken Chapman of Winnipeg, Canada, held off the challenge of former Alberta resident Tim Gee to take the 25-lap main event.

Chapman shot to the lead from his front row starting position and had no trouble putting some distance between himself and the rest of the field. However, a yellow flag eliminated Chapman’s advantage and the race was on.

Veteran driver Roger Rager was the first to apply pressure as he dove to the inside of the leader several times with no success. The battle up front allowed Gee, now living in Jamestown, Ind., to make up ground after having to qualify by winning the B-main. With Rager continuing to try the low side, Gee rode the cushion to take over second with his sights now on Chapman.

The World of Outlaw tour regular first tried high, then the low side, but like Rager, couldn’t find a way around the determined Chapman, who hung on to pick up the winner’s check of $1,500. Following Gee and Rager were Keith Frantsen and Scott Ritchhart.

Gee set fast time for the evening but suspension problems in his heat race forced him to participate in the B-main, which saw three abreast racing for the first few laps.


Results –

Time Trials – Tim Gee, Jamestown, Ind.
Heat #1 – Ken chapman, Winnipeg, Canada
Heat #2 – Randy Smith, Norwalk
Heat #3 – Jeff Tuttle, West Des Moines
B-Main – Tim Gee
Feature –
1. Ken Chapman
2. Tim Gee
3. Roger Rager, Mound, Minn.
4. Keith Frantsen, Windom, Minn.
5. Scott Ritchhart, Lincoln, Ill.
6. Tony Weyant, Springfield, Ill.
7. Bruce Drotz, Des Moines
8. Bill Hetrick, Carman, Ill.
9. Gary Stewart, Galatia, Ill.
10.Ned Fry, Burlington

1975 – Martin Nabs Spring Invitational

 

Bill Martin won the $5,000 Spring Invitational at Sunset Speedway.

Omaha, Neb. (April 26, 1975) – Bill Martin of Council Bluffs, Iowa, started the season exactly like he finished it at Sunset Speedway – by winning a title race – this time the third annual $5,000 Spring Invitational.

Last year he grabbed the $8,000 Cornhusker-Hawkeye Challenge.

With 52 late models, 22 survived the four qualifying heats and two consolation events to enter the 75-lap feature.

Martin jumped into the lead from his front row starting position and fought off Bob Kosiski for 27 laps before the 23-year veteran took command.

With 23 laps remaining, Kosiski’s axle broke giving Martin clear sailing and eventually a $1,000 payday before a crowd of 2,135.

Martin’s victory was a boost to local stock car racing as thee win came over some of the best dirt track drivers in the Midwest.


Results –


Heat #1 – Bill Martin, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Heat #2 – Joe Wallace, Kansas City
Heat #3 – Bob Kosiski, Omaha
Heat #4 – Karl Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
Trophy Dash – Bob Kosiski
Consolation #1 – Ed Morris, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Consolation #2 – Denny Hovinga, Laurens, Iowa
Feature –
1. Bill Martin
2. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
3. Karl Sanger
4. Jerry Wancewicz, Omaha
5. Ed Morris
6. Dave Knott, Minneapolis
7. Joe Wallace
8. Mike Dibben, Morris, Minn.
9. Ferris Collier, Liberty, Mo.
10. Chuck Bosselman, Grand Island, Neb.

1982 – Boggs and Moore Score Wins at Knoxville

 

Jack Boggs won the 50-lap “Super Race 1” at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa. Race promoter Lefty Robinson of Des Moines joins Boggs in victory lane. – Dean Malone Photo

By Pete Vercauteren

Knoxville, Iowa (April 25, 1982) – Jack Boggs won the attrition battle and the $12,500 top prize in the 50-lap late model feature, Sunday night at Knoxville Raceway to climax the two-day $50,000 Super Race 1.

In the companion 40-lap limited late model main, Larry Moore fought off a determined charge by Don Hoffman to collect his $5,000 top prize.

Boggs, who started fifth in the 25-car late model field, grabbed the lead from a fuel-starved Freddie Smith on the 46th tour of the half-mile dirt oval and then outdistanced Rodney Combs to the checkered flag by two-car-lengths for the win.

Combs picked up $4,000 runner-up money after a lap 28 pit stop to remove a flapping hood from his mount that forced him to the rear of the field.

Ken Walton, Tom Hearst, and Ray Guss Jr., all made it around the faltering Smith in the final circuits to place third through fifth, respectively.

Moore, who competed in both divisions, took the event’s early lead, and consistently turned laps in the mid-19-second bracket – well below Smith’s fast qualifying effort – until being sidelined by a burnt piston.

Smith took over the top spot on lap 16 and appeared to be a primary candidate to capture top honors until his fuel issues ended his victory dreams.

Moore also took the lead on the first lap of the limited late model headliner with Hoffman in hot pursuit.

The pair diced through lapped traffic in that order until Hoffman dipped to the inside of Moore to annex the lead on lap 26.

However, Moore regained the top spot for good six laps later and promptly opened a substantial margin over Hoffman’s over-heating racer. Bob Shryock, Jerry Holtkamp, and Kevin Gundaker completed the top five.


Results –

1. Jack Boggs, Webbville, Ky.
2. Rodney Combs, Lost Creek, W.Va.
3. Ken Walton, Viola
4. Tom Hearst, Wilton
5. Ray Guss Jr., Coal Valley, Ill.
6. Freddie Smith, Kings Mountain, N.C.
7. Bill Prietzel, Franklin, Wis.
8. Ted Dolhun, Milwaukee
9. Roger Tapper, Webster City
10.Ron Schreiner, Eleva, Wis.
11.Dave Bjorge, Austin, Minn.
12.Don Hoffman, Des Moines
13.Leon Plank, Mondovi, Wis.
14.Bill Rice, Des Moines
15.Dave Spears, Campbellsville, Ky.
16.Al Urhammer, Radcliffe
17.Dhon Hauser, Wichita, Kan.
18.Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.
19.Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
20.Tom Nesbitt, Thunder Bay, Ont.

1948 – Horn Captures Arlington Downs Victory

 

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

1988 - Impact Flag for Vogler

 

Rich Vogler won the USAC National Midget Series feature at Impact Speedway. – Wayne Peterson Photo

Oregon, Wis. (April 24, 1988) – Rich Vogler outdistanced Stan Fox to win the USAC National Midget Series 30-lap feature Sunday afternoon at Impact Speedway.

Mel Kenyon charged out to the early lead, but Vogler took command on the fifth round. Vogler continued to dominate until the 27th lap when Paul Clark flipped, bringing out the red flag. Clark was treated at the track then flown by helicopter to University Trauma Center in Madsion with apparent head injuries.

When the race resumed, Vogler retained the lead but had to hold off the challenges provided by Fox in the waning laps. Vogler took the checkered ahead of Fox and Kevin Doty. Kenyon and Johnny Parsons filled out the front five.

Parson’s fifth place finish enabled him to hold a slim 10-point lead over Kenyon in the series point standings.


Results –

1. Rich Vogler
2. Stan Fox
3. Kevin Doty
4. Mel Kenyon
5. Johnny Parsons
6. Terry Wente
7. Kevin Koch
8. Dean Billings
9. Kevin Olson
10.John Meyers

1965 – Weld Drives Sprint Car to Victory

Greg Weld 

Reading, Penn. (April 24, 1965) – Greg Weld of Kansas City, Mo., leading all but one lap, won the 30-lap feature for United States Auto Club sprint cars on Saturday at the Reading Fairgrounds.

Weld was followed closely to the finish line by Bobby Unser of Albuquerque, N.M., who had come from the fifth position on the 19th circuit to second place at the close of the race.

Weld’s winning time for his victory, the third of the season, was 13 minutes and 7.21 seconds.

Finishing third was Jud Larson, also of Kansas City, followed by Jerry Richert of Forest Lake, Minn., and Jerry Daniels of St. Paul, Minn.

A.J. Foyt of Houston, Tex., had mechanical issues during his qualifying run and again in his heat race and never made it to the feature.

Heat winners were Daniels, Bob Tattersall of Streator, Ill., and Don Branson of Champaign, Ill. The consolation was won by Mario Andretti of Nazareth, Penn.

The feature was run under caution for two laps when Gary Congdon of Garden Grove, Calif., hit the outside wall on third turn of lap 17. He was shaken but unhurt.


Results –


1. Greg Weld
2. Bobby Unser
3. Jud Larson
4. Jerry Richert
5. Jerry Daniels
6. Red Riegel
7. Don Branson
8. Mario Andretti
9. Don Branson
10. Sam Sessions
11.Bob Harkey
12.Gary Congdon
13.Rollie Beale
14.Steve Stapp

1983 - Schill Overall Winner in Grundy's ARTGO

 

Al Schill won the first 50-lap feature and took second in the finale to claim the overall performance in the ARTGO Chicagoland Opener at Grundy County Speedway. – Don Thies Photo

By Stan Kalwasinski

Morris, Ill. (April 23, 1983) – Al Schill and Dick Trickle each captured 50-lap feature races with Schill taking the overall championship in ARTGO Racing’s Chicagoland Opener late model special at Grundy County Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Schill, a 38-year-old speedster from Franklin, Wis., recorded his first ARTGO win of the campaign wheeling his 1983 Firebird to victory in the opening 50-lap event.

A field of 20 starters took the green flag with polesitter Mel Walen charging into the lead. Walen and his 1982 Firebird stayed on top for the first two laps with Schill, who started alongside Whalen on the front row, taking command on lap 3.

Walen would take back first place on lap 6, then relinquish back to Schill on lap 9, who would then set the pace for the rest of the race, which saw three yellow flags fly for minor spins.

At the 25-lap mark, Schill was trailed by Joe Shear, Walen, Jay Sauter, Dave Weltmeyer, and Jim Sauter. Schill maintained a comfortable margin for the second half of the race, finishing one-half of a straightaway ahead of second place Shear.

Rounding out thee top five in the first 50-lapper was defending ARTGO titlist Jim Sauter, Dick Trickle, who made a hard-driving comeback from a early spin, and Weltmeyer.

Trickle would wheel his 1982 Firebird to victory in the second 50-lapper. Coming from his eighth starting position, the Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., driver, recorded his second ARTGO win of young season and his 30th career victory to remain atop the series’ point standings.

Another field of 20 answered the call for the second 50, with Jim Weber of Roseville, Minn., who started on the outside of the front row, setting the early pace in his 1981 Camaro as Trickle quickly began cutting a path towards the front. The 41-year-old veteran charge underneath Weber on lap 19 as the pair powered through turns one and two.

Once on top, Trickle wasted little time showing his stuff as he quickly moved into a comfortable lead. The 25-lap rundown found Trickle in first, followed by Weber, Tom Musgrave, Schill, Jim Back, and Mark Malcuit.

Despite a couple of caution flags waving, Trickle held a quarter of a lap lead at the dropping of the checkered flag. Rounding out the top five were Schill, Weber, Musgrave, and Malcuit.

A total of 41 cars were on hand for the afternoon’s competition on the high-banked half-mile paved oval.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Al Schill, Franklin, Wis.
2. Joe Shear, Beloit, Wis.
3. Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
4. Jay Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
5. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
6. Dave Weltmeyer, Harvey
7. Mark Malcuit, Strasburg, Ohio
8. Tom Musgrave, Glenview
9. Jim Back, Vesper, Wis.
10.Mel Walen, Shakopee, Minn.


Feature #2 –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Al Schill
3. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
4. Ted Musgrave
5. Mark Malcuit
6. Jim Sauter
7. Dave Weltmeyer
8. Joe Shear
9. Jim Back
10.Mel Walen