1979 – Fitzpatrick Wins at Independence Opener

Tom Fitzpatrick receives congratulations from promoter Vern Weber after winning the late model season opener at Independence. – Earl Schwartz Photo

 

By Jayne Chapman

Independence, Iowa (May 5, 1979) – Gilbertville’s Tom Fitzpatrick had himself a night like he hasn’t seen in quite some time as Independence Speedway opened his 15th season of racing on Saturday.

Claiming the first checkered flag of 1979 in the late model first heat, Fitzpatrick then accelerated into the lead at the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap feature and held on with no trouble until the checkered flag.

Independence drivers Glen Martin and Gary Crawford finished second and third, respectively. Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo and Rick Wendling of Hazelton rounded out the top-five.

Due to an early season shortage of sportsman and roadrunner competitors, the two classes were combined and Duane White of Vinton, a sportsman driver, won both his heat and the feature. Gary Kaune of Waterloo, a regular roadrunner competitor, won the second heat and finished second in the feature.


Results –


Late Model –

Heat #1 – Tom Fitzpatrick, Gilbertville
Heat #2 – Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
Heat #3 – Jim Burbridge, Delhi
Semi-main – Roger Bruggeman, Dubuque
Feature –
1. Tom Fitzpatrick
2. Glen Martin, Independence
3. Gary Crawford, Independence
4. Bill Zwanziger
5. Rick Wendling, Hazelton


Sportsman/Roadrunner –

Heat #1 – Duane White, Vinton
Heat #2 – Gary Kaune, Waterloo
Feature –
1. Duane White
2. Gary Kaune
3. Rodney Brandt, Hazelton
4. Jim Sands, Cedar Falls

1973 – Saldana Wins Wet Hulman Classic

 

Joe Saldana enjoys the spoils of victory after winning the Tony Hulman Classic at Terre Haute. - John Mahoney Photo

Terre Haute, Ind. (May 5, 1973) - Joe Saldana, overlooked by most observers before the start of the feature, won the third annual Tony Hulman Classic sprint car race, which was plagued by a clay surface made muddy by man, at the Action Track.

Saldana joined other former winners George Snider (1971) and Bruce Walkup (1972), in the now-world famous sprint car race.

For a while things looked dim for the day’s festivities as track conditions were far from good at race time. All available equipment was put on the track in an effort to dry it out after officials had saturated the surface with too much moisture.

Time played a key role in the program as the entire show was to be televised before a national audience via the American Broadcasting Company’s “Wide World of Sports”.

According to assistant track director Bill Hill, “ABC was able to capture the entire main event for its television audience as things shaped up, with the help of rescheduling, with three minutes to spare.”

ABC’s unit manager, Les Lessuk, went on to say…” both ABC and the Action Track learned a lesson here today.” The broadcasting company does plan to leave it’s towers and announcing booth up for next year’s race, according to Lessuk.

Originally the first heat race was to start at 3 p.m. and the second heat at 3:15 with an aero acrobatics show between the second and third heats. Track conditions were such, however, that 3 and 3:30 came and there was still no indication of the start of a race.

Following the air show, drivers met to determine what, if anything, they could do to get the show on the road as well as national television.

The drivers and USAC officials decided the best thing for everyone concerned was to run that feature first so it could be televised and then run the heats later. The agenda was a little out of the ordinary because usually a driver must place high in the heat events in order to qualify for the feature.

To solve this problem every driver (28 in all) was allowed to compete in the main event with only the top 20 receiving points and prize money.

Finally, with most of the problems as well as the track ironed out, the feature began much to the liking to the several thousand fans on hand. Saldana started on the outside of the first row and grabbed the lead from the start. Although he was never headed, it was a tough race for Saldana as he could be seen fighting his car through the turns of the half-mile dirt oval.

Of the 28 cars that started the race, only seven completed the 40 laps of the feature event. The big problem for most of the cars was the mud, which was kicked up in the radiators causing the engines to overheat.

Charlie Masters was the first to go with overheating problems as he failed to make one lap. Others leaving the race with the same problems were Bill Puterbaugh (8th lap), Billy Shuman (9th lap), Greg Weld (16th lap), Sheldon Kinser (22nd lap) and A.J. Foyt (25th lap).

Ralph Liquori left the race with a brake problem and Jerry Nemire went out with an oil line problem on the second and third laps, respectively.

Rollie Beale of Toledo, Ohio, made several charges at Saldana for the lead but had to settle for second place. Beale went the final five laps with smoke trailing from his engine but still managed to finish only two seconds off the pace.

Don Nordhorn of Wadesville, Ind., and defending Hulman Classic champion Bruce Walkup of St. Paul, Ind., finished third and fourth, well behind the leaders.


Results –


1. Joe Saldana
2. Rollie Beale
3. Don Nordhorn
4. Bruce Walkup
5. Sam Sessions
6. John Toth
7. Lee Kunzman
8. Tony Simon
9. Jerry Poland
10.Johnny Parsons Jr.
11.Fred Linder
12.Bob Kinser
13.Rich Leavell
14.Chuck Booth
15.Jim McElreath
16.Mel Cornett
17.Larry Dickson
18.Bill Cassella
19.Larry Cannon
20.Duane Carter Jr.

1979 – Bahr, Hoffman Win ‘Spring Bonanza’

 

Butch Bahr won the sprint car feature at the “Spring Bonanza” at Shelby County Speedway. 

By Bill Haglund

Harlan, Iowa (May 4-5, 1979) – After being rained out the previous weekend, the Spring Bonanza at Shelby County Speedway took place over Friday and Saturday. Butch Bahr of Grand Island, Neb., and Don Hoffman of Des Moines took home the winner’s share of the $8,500 total purse.

Bahr captured both the trophy dash and feature in sprint car competition on Friday night and took home a large chunk of the $3,500 purse.

“I was going to sleep in my van tonight, but I think I can afford a motel room now,” said a happy Bahr. “The track was nice and smooth. I was able to run the top or bottom.”

Bahr had already run seven or eight races prior to Friday night but hadn’t finished much better than 12th. “We’ve had problems, so we spent the week tearing the car apart and spent a bunch of time on it,” he explained. “We came here hoping the “bugs’ had been ironed out.”

The sparse crowd was treated to some exciting action as they witnessed Gene Brudigan coming out of the fourth turn with flames shooting from the motor, caused by a crankshaft breaking and “coming right down out of the bottom of the pan,” Brudigan, from Norfolk, Neb., said.

Fans also witnessed Don Weyrich, another Norfolk, Neb., driver, in a spectacular end-over-end flip. He removed himself from the car and calmly lit a cigarette. Weyrich returned to action and finished second in the third heat and second in the semi-main.

Don Hoffman won the late model portion of the “Spring Bonanza” at Shelby County Speedway. He’s joined by promoter John Beaman (left), trophy girl Lisa Leinen, and flagman Roger Fiscus. 

In the late model card on Saturday, Hoffman would pass Dan Rabbass of Bellevue, Neb., on the eighth lap and lead the rest of the way to pocket the top prize in the late model main event.

Rabbass grabbed the lead at the drop of the green but was no match for Hoffman, who collected $800 for his victory. Following Hoffman and Rabbass to the finish line were Joe Merryfield of Des Moines, Glen Robey and Jerry Wancewicz, both of Omaha, Neb.

Hoffman also won the trophy dash and the third heat, making him the night’s only triple winner.


Results –


Sprint Car –

Trophy dash – Butch Bahr, Grand Island, Neb.
Heat #1 – Roger Larson, Madison, S.D.
Heat #2 – Sonny Smyser, Lancaster, Mo.
Heat #3 – Lloyd Beckman, Lincoln, Neb.
Semi-main – Bob Williams, Independence, Mo.
Feature –
1. Butch Bahr
2. Tim Green, Columbus, Neb.
3. Sonny Smyser
4. Roger Larson
5. Jerry Potter, Grandview, Mo.
6. Victor Chudy, Plattsmouth, Neb.
7. Lloyd Beckman
8. Randy Droescher, Norfolk, Neb.
9. Jim Goettsche, Grand Island, Neb.
10.Lenard McCarl, Des Moines


Late Model –

Trophy dash – Don Hoffman, Des Moines
Heat #1 – Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
Heat #2 – Bill Martin, Council Bluffs
Heat #3 – Don Hoffman
Consolation – Bill Kirk, Salix
Feature –
1. Don Hoffman
2. Dan Rabbass, Bellevue, Neb.
3. Joe Merryfield
4. Glen Robey, Omaha, Neb.
5. Jerry Wancewicz, Omaha, Neb.
6. Bob Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
7. Al Druesdow, Omaha, Neb.
8. Bill Martin
9. Bill Kirk
10.Duane Errett, Harlan
11.Paul Zdan, Omaha, Neb.
12.Bill Leithoff, Omaha, Neb.
13.Keith Mander, Omaha, Neb.
14.Corky Bailey
15.Rob Taylor, Fremont, Neb.

1968 - Off Go the Beards After Houge Win

 

Scragglier times: the feature winner at Boone, Curt Houge (center), along with car owners Jim Twedt (left) and Chuck Larson, would be clean-shaven when they next appeared at Boone.

Boone, Iowa (May 4, 1968) – Driver Curt Houge and car owners (and builders) Jim Twedt and Chuck Larson vowed they’d never shave until Curt tasted victory in the weekly super stock races at Boone.

The beards went down the drain Saturday as Houge won the feature on the high-banked, quarter-mile track.

Curt took the lead from George Barton, who started on the pole, on the first lap of the 15-lap feature and you could almost see a broad grin through dark, fuzzy beard as Houge took the checkered flag moments later.

Curt, Jim, and Chuck first made unofficial vows not to shave last February when they started working on their 1957 Chevy with a 327 cubic-inch engine. Curt’s car is also one of two cars equipped with power steering at Boone Speedway. The other car belongs to George Barton.

So, the Houge racing team shaved off their beards and now there’s a rumor floating around the pits, says track manager Vern Carman, “The Houge success story might start a trend among the normally superstitious drivers.”


Results –

1. Curt Houge, Ames
2. George Barton, Des Moines
3. Joel Rasmussen, Ames
4. Gene Schattschneider, Algona
5. Ray Busch, Ogden

1970 - Pokey West is Tipton Winner

 

Pokey West 

Tipton, Iowa (May 3, 1970) – Pokey West of West Chester and Don Seedorf of Marion were feature winners Sunday night at the Cedar County Fairgrounds.

West won the 20-lap modified feature while Seedorf grabbed the 15-lap street stock main event.

West got into the lead of the modified feature and led all the way. Seedorf started on the pole but fell back early in the race but stormed back in the late stages of the race to earn a hard-fought win.

Pat Blake of Clarence led the modified semi-main until the final lap, went wide on the final turn, allowing Ted Wanerus of Marion to shoot by and grab the checkers. Dick Bragg of Hiawatha won the first modified heat and Cliff Norberg of Clarence won the second heat.

Heat winners in the street stock class were Andy Anderson of Cedar Rapids and Rich Reihman of Oxford.


Results –


Modified –

Heat #1 – Dick Bragg, Hiawatha
Heat #2 – Cliff Norberg, Clarence
Semi-main – Ted Wanerus, Marion
Feature –
1. Pokey West, West Chester
2. Duane Steffe, East Moline, Ill.
3. Pat Blake, Clarence
4. Ron Perdock, Washington
5. Ted Wanerus
6. Jack Meng, Maquoketa


Street Stock –

Heat #1- Andy Anderson, Cedar Rapids
Heat #2 – Rich Reihman, Oxford
Feature –
1. Don Seedorf, Marion
2. Jerry Dake, Lost Nation
3. Rich Reihman
4. Bob Bollman, Cedar Rapids
5. Robert Peterson, Morley
6. Ray Potter, Hale

1969 – Wagner Conquers Kirksville

 

By Ida May Van Genderen

Kirksville, Mo. (May 2, 1969) – Earl Wagner came and conquered the opening super modified races held by the Northeast Missouri Racing Association in Kirksville on Friday.

The Pleasantville, Iowa, driver found the quarter-mile to his liking as he captured the third heat and the 20-lap feature. He also started the program off by setting fast time at 17.26 seconds.

He took starter Bob Findling’s green flag and jumped into the lead immediately. He would never relinquish the top spot although he was pressed by Jerry Blundy of Galesburg, Ill., and Tom Corbin of Carrollton in the early going.

Chasing those three drivers were Lonnie Jensen of Lincoln, Neb., and Gary “Boscoe” Roberts of Lancaster.

Don Walton of Quincy, Ill., provided some excitement when he rolled coming out of turn four midway through the feature. Don was uninjured but his car sustained heavy damage.

Jerry Blundy was the winner of the 5-lap trophy dash. Joe Saldana of Lincoln, Neb., won the first heat, passing local Junior Sweet on the last lap. Cliff Powell of Hannibal held off Johnny Babb of Ottumwa, Iowa, to win the second heat.

In the stock car division, Truman McDowell of Fort Madison, Iowa, was the big winner, grabbing the lead on lap 2 and holding it to the checkered.


Results –


1. Earl Wagner, Pleasantville, Iowa
2. Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.
3. Tom Corbin, Carrollton
4. Lonnie Jensen, Lincoln, Neb.
5. Boscoe Roberts, Lancaster
6. George Lasoski, Dover
7. Sonny Smyser, Glenwood
8. Johnny Babb, Ottumwa, Iowa
9. Junior Sweet, Kirksville
10.Joe Saldana, Lincoln, Neb.

1981 - 12,000 Watch Merryfield Win at Des Moines

 

Joe Merryfield is surrounded by a bevy of beauties after winning the late model season opener at the Iowa State Fair Speedway. Promoter Lefty Robinson presents the checkers. – Dean Malone Photo

Des Moines, Iowa (May 1, 1981) – Joe Merryfield of Des Moines moved from his 14th starting position to win the late model feature race Friday night at the Iowa State Fairgrounds as a whopping 12,000 race fans looked on.

The opening night special offered a $5,000 purse for the drivers and a free grandstand for the fans. The fans responded by filling the vast Iowa State Fair grandstand.

Merryfield finished ahead of Don Hoffman of Des Moines in the late model race, while Dennis Hovinga of Pocahontas wound up third and defending point champion Darrell Sells of Waverly was fourth.

Scott Sells, Darrell’s son, captured the 15-lap sportsman feature. Rocky Hodges, who was the busiest driver at the Fairgrounds on Friday, finished second and Steve Shannon of Norwalk was third.

Hodges also competed in the late model division, finishing fourth in the Australian Pursuit and 15th in the feature.

Hodges also nipped Mike Thomas of Des Moines in a special grudge match featuring a late model up against a sprint car. Hodges received a handicap lead at the start and held off Thomas in the 5-lap dash by just a whisker at the finish.

There were four leaders in the late model feature. Dave Farren of Des Moines led the first lap, Dave Bjorge of Austin, Minn., led laps 2-10, Hovinga then took over for laps 11-19 with Merryfield taking over for good on lap 20 and leading to the finish. His win earned him $750.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
2. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
3. Denny Hovinga, Pocahontas
4. Darrell Sells, Waverly
5. Dave Chase, Council Bluffs
6. Kenny Fenn, Washington
7. Dave Farren, Des Moines
8. Danny Wallace, Des Moines
9. Dan Nesteby, Waterloo
10.Curt Hansen, Dike
11.Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
12.Martin Bennett, Des Moines
13.Dave Bjorge, Austin, Minn.
14.Curt Hogue, Ames
15.Rocky Hodges, Des Moines