1984 – First ASA Triumph for Trickle at Springfield

 

Springfield, Mo. (July 14, 1984) – Dick Trickle outlasted the heat, humidity, and Alan Kulwicki to win the ASA-sanctioned Silver Creek 250 stock car race at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

It was Trickle’s first ASA victory of the season.

Kulwicki, who led 201 of the 250-lap contest recovered from a spin that allowed Trickle to take the lead for good, finished second, 2.5-seconds back. Bobby Dotter was third and Harold Fair fourth to round out the lead lap finishers. Mike Eddy came in fifth, one circuit in arrears.

Though Trickle played the role of the opportunist to pick up the $6,820 win, he never ranked worse than fourth at any point in the race.

Trickle credited a mid-race pit stop with giving him the winning edge.

“My guys got me ahead of everyone else,” Trickle said of the lap 106 caution which sent all of the contenders to the pits except Kulwicki. “And with everyone battling the heat, it made my job that much easier.”

Kulwicki blazed to a one-lap track record in qualifications, touring the flat, .525-mile oval in 20.100 seconds to put his Firebird on the pole for the start of the 28-car feature.

Rocketing away at the start, Kulwicki enjoyed as much as a straightaway lead over second place in the early going as his closest pursuer, Bob Senneker, was forced to make a green flag pit stop with a flat tire on lap 60….

Despite a quick stop, Senneker went a lap down, but returned to the track in form, eventually running down Kulwicki and engaging the pacesetter in a battle that lasted 100 circuits.

Although all the other contenders pitted during the mid-race caution necessitated by a Dave Jensen spin, Kulwicki elected to stay out and remain the lead.

“I just figured there would be another caution and I’d have an excellent set of tires,” Kulwicki explained. “It didn’t work out that way.”

Almost 100 rounds elapsed before Kulwicki finally saw the much-needed caution, ironically for his own spin on lap 201.

While Trickle inherited the lead when Kulwicki spun and pitted during the subsequent caution, it was Senneker who appeared to be in the catbird’s seat. Senneker, who had returned to the lead lap and was in third at the time of the yellow, appeared to have the fastest car on the track.

But Senneker’s race-long pursuit of Kulwicki had taken it’s toll on tires and the Dorr, Mich., ace was forced to make a second pit stop during the caution for Kulwicki. Senneker got trapped in the pits when all-out action resumed, putting him one circuit down for the second time. A tire problem late in the race necessitated a third stop, which resulted in a sixth-place finish.

Kulwicki closed in on Trickle during the waning laps but the undisputed leader of the “Wisconsin Gang”
would have none of that, maintaining a comfortable lead at the finish.


Results –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Alan Kulwicki
3. Bobby Dotter
4. Harold Fair
5. Mike Eddy
6. Bob Senneker
7. Ken Lund
8. Tom Harrington
9. Muttly Kurkowski
10.Ken Christenson
11.Dave Simko
12.Don Collins
13.Don Ely
14.Dennis Vogel
15.Jim Sauter

1982 – Kastli Wins Hap’s Memorial 50

 

Marshalltown, Iowa (July 14, 1982) – The Hap’s Memorial 50 at Marshalltown Speedway held on Wednesday night was a huge success.

Twenty-two late models entered along with 21 street stocks. The race was in tribute to “Hap” Antil of Hap’s Auto Supply in Ames. Boyd Antil was on hand to congratulate the winners.

The 50-lap late model headline promised to be a real battle as Dick Schiltz of Waterloo started on the pole and looked to be the favorite. Schiltz would take the lead at the drop of the green flag and set the pace with Greg Kastli, also of Waterloo, settling in right behind him.

On lap 33, the red flag would wave for Greg Hunter’s crash into the judge’s stand on the frontstretch. No one was injured but Hunter sustained heavy damage to his car and was unable to continue.

On the restart, Schiltz was still on top, but Kastli became a little more aggressive and stayed glue to Schlitz’s bumper for the next 10 circuits. On lap 44, Kastli made his move and got around Schiltz in the third turn to take the lead for the first time.

Schiltz started slowing immediately thereafter, and would drop a couple of more positions, with Darrel DeFrance of Marshalltown and Denny Osborn of Cedar Falls getting by as well. After the race, Schiltz would say he lost tire pressure, causing him to slow his pace.

Kastli would pull way in the remaining few laps to secure the win. DeFrance, Osborn, Dan Nesteby of Waterloo, and Schiltz would round out the top five finishers.

Ron Cochran of Des Moines, Dan Nesteby, and Denny Osborn were heat winners. The semi-main was won by Ed Sanger of Waterloo.

Street stock racers put on an excellent show as well with Bob Thompson of Des Moines holding off Dale DeFrance of Marshalltown to win the 20-lap main event.


Results –

Heat #1 – Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
Heat #2 – Dan Nesteby, Waterloo
Heat #3 – Ron Cochran, Des Moines
Semi-main – Ed Sanger, Waterloo
Feature –
1. Greg Kastli, Waterloo
2. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown
3. Denny Osborn
4. Dan Nesteby
5. Dick Schiltz
6. Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
7. Johnny Johnson, Morning Sun
8. Ed Sanger
9. Curt Martin, Independence
10.Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo

1974 - McDonough Nabs Des Moines Mid-Season

 

Bill McDonough had his hands full on the track, fending off some tough late model competition to win the 35-lap mid-season championship at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. He also had his hands full with these trophy girls, Paula Lamb (left) and Nancy Cutercucci. – AMR Photo

Des Moines, Iowa (July 13, 1974) – Bill McDonough of Cedar Rapids won the 35-lap late model mid-season championship at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

Des Moines’ Don Hoffman grabbed the early lead, but it didn’t take long before Stan Stover of Reinbeck got by Hoffman for the lead and took command. While Stover was out in front, the real battle was for second place with Bob Bonzer of Luscomb and Bill Martin of Council Bluffs fighting it out.

McDonough, who started in the seventh position, worked his way through traffic and found himself on Stover’s rear bumper on lap 17. The two drivers raced side-by-side for the next several laps with McDonough finally securing the lead on the 24th circuit. He would run unchallenged for the remaining 11 laps to score the victory.

Stover finished second with Bob Bonzer taking third. Bill Martin came home in fourth with Bill Rice of Des Moines rounding out the top-five finishers.

Stover and Cal Swanson of Reinbeck were heat winners and Joe Merryfield of Des Moines won the consolation.

Leonard Woodard of Des Moines won the sportsman mid-season title over Cliff Van Zandt, also of Des Moines.


Results –

Late Model –

1. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
2. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
3. Bob Bonzer, Luscomb
4. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs
5. Bill Rice, Des Moines
6. Mike Pinckney, Des Moines
7. Chuck Smith, Des Moines
8. Chris Maurer, Des Moines
9. Ken Davidson, Des Moines
10.Kent Tucker, Aurora, Neb.


Sportsman –

1. Leonard Woodard, Des Moines
2. Cliff Van Zandt, Des Moines
3. Phil Reece, Des Moines
4. Glenn Woodard, Des Moines
5. Jerry Campbell, Des Moines
6. Ken Paulding, Des Moines
7. Bill Olson, Grimes
8. Dave Allison, Des Moines
9. Ron Van Roekel, Otley
10.Fred Knapp, Des Moines

1958 – 7,000 See Branson Win Out at Winchester

 

Don Branson is joined by Winchester Speedway owner Frank Funk after the Champaign, Ill., driver won the USAC sprint car feature. – IRMA Photo

Winchester, Ind. (July 13, 1958) – Don Branson, a 38-year-old veteran of 13 years of automobile racing, took the lead on the final lap to win the United States Auto Club sprint car feature Sunday afternoon at Winchester Speedway.

Branson, driving the Park Lumber Special, which is the old #98 that carried Troy Ruttman to so many triumphs on the Midwest high banks, earned $1,312 for the win.

An estimated crowd of 7,000, the largest at Winchester in the last eight years, watched Branson finish a few yards ahead of A.J. Foyt in second place, Eddie Sachs in third, and Elmer George in fourth.

Ed Elisian, injured in a crash at New Bremen two weeks ago, came back to finish fifth in the McNamara Special.

The program was delayed two hours because of rain showers. The feature got underway at 6:30 p.m.

George, the defending Midwest sprint champion, was the top qualifier at 18.839 seconds in the HOW Special.


Results –


1. Don Branson
2. A.J. Foyt
3. Eddie Sachs
4. Elmer George
5. Ed Elisian
6. Rex Easton
7. Bob Wente
8. Len Sutton
9. Curly Boyd
10.Jimmy Florian
11.Ronnie Duman
12.Bob McLean

1988 – Kosiski Secures Third Gopher 50 Title

 

Steve Kosiski enjoys the fruits of his labor in victory lane after winning his record third Gopher 50 at the Steele County Fairgrounds. – Phil Dullinger Photo

Owatonna, Minn. (July 12, 1988) – Steve Kosiski scored a narrow victory over Willy Kraft in the Gopher 50 Tuesday night at the Steele County Fairgrounds to become the first three-time winner of the late model event.

Chuck Doyle and Todd Anderson collided before the first lap was completed forcing a restart. Pete Parker gained the early lead when the green returned followed by Kosiski and Kraft.

The second caution flew on lap 8 when Charlie Swartz stalled in turn four. On the restart, Kosiski slipped around Parker to take command.

The action was slowed again on lap 18 when Todd Steuber stalled in turn four. When the race resumed, Kosiski retained the lead with Kraft applying heavy pressure to Parker for the second spot. Four laps later, Kraft got by Parker but a yellow flew before the lap was completed as Swartz slammed into the wall.

Because of the number of cautions, a fuel stop was called at this point in the race. When the green returned, Kosiski again retained the lead while Kraft powered by Parker to take over second.

Kraft began to cut into Kosiski’s lead and within three laps, was right on the leader’s bumper. The race was delayed on lap 32 when Kris Patterson hit the wall in turn one.

When the race resumed, Kosiski continued to lead Kraft but another yellow flew on lap 40 when Joe Kosiski tagged the wall, setting up a 10-lap dash to the wire.

Kosiski held off Kraft for the lead when the race resumed with Rick Aukland taking third from Rick Egersdorf one lap later. Kosiski, Kraft, and Aukland raced in a tight pack for the remainder of the race with Kosiski taking the checkers by two-car-lengths. Kraft edged Aukland for runner-up honors while Egersdorf and Larry Phillips rounded out the top-five.

Fifty-one late models were on hand for the program which was promoted by the Blooming Prairie Jaycees with major sponsorship from NAPA Auto Parts and Stroh’s Beer.


Results –


1. Steve Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
2. Willy Kraft, Lakefield
3. Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.D.
4. Rick Egersdorf, St. Paul
5. Larry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
6. Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.
7. Tom Steuding, Altoona, Wis.
8. John Kaanta, Elk Mound, Wis.
9. Gary Webb, Davenport, Iowa
10.Larry Prochnow, Menomonie, Wis.
11.John Provenzano, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
12.Ron Schreiner, Eleva, Wis.
13.Karl Fenske, Winona
14.Curly Williams, Rice
15.Lance Matthees, Winona

1983 - Trickle Wins Sixth Annual 'All-Star 100'

 

Dick Trickle

Loves Park, Ill. (July 12, 1983) – Dick Trickle continued his hot streak in ARTGO late model stock car competition as he was the victor in the sixth annual All-Star 100 at the Rockford Speedway on Tuesday night.

Trickle, the former three-time ARTGO champion, and current point leader of the Midwestern stock car series, recorded his tenth ARTGO feature triumph of the season which established a new record for most feature wins in one season by a ARTGO driver. The 41-year-old racing legend from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., now has a total of 38 ARTGO main events wins.

After starting deep in the 22-car field, Trickle would get by Mark Martin on the 57th circuit and then pull away to a comfortable margin.

Taking the checkered flag after 100 circuits, Trickle had a 2.46 second lead over Martin and held almost a three-quarter lap advantage over third-place Jim Sauter. Rounding out the top five were Joe Shear and Steve Burgess. Eighteen cars were running at the finish.

Dennis Martin of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., won the 25-lap semi-main over Steve Seligman, Alan Laufer and Dave Fossum.

Tom Jones captured the 15-lap “last chance” qualifying race, while Mel Whalen and Jim Weber took home honors in 12-lap heat races. Mark Martin’s qualifying lap of 13.595 seconds around the Rockford quarter-mile was good enough to grab fast time honors.

A crowd of 4,504 witnessed ARTGO’s tenth racing program of the season with a field of 32 cars on hand.


Results –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
2. Mark Martin, Charlotte, N.C.
3. Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
4. Joe Shear, Beloit, Wis.
5. Steve Burgess, Eau Claire, Wis.
6. Alan Kulwicki, Milwaukee
7. Al Schill, Franklin, Wis.
8. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
9. Dave Weltmeyer, Harvey, Ill.
10.Darrell Waltrip, Franklin, Tenn.
11.Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh, Wis.
12.Mel Whalen, Shakopee, Minn.
13.Tom Cellini, Chicago Heights, Ill.
14.Tom Jones, Northbrook, Ill.
15.Tracy Schuler, Lockport, Ill.
16.Tom Musgrave, Glenview, Ill.
17.Steve Seligman, Wheeling, Ill.
18.Alan Laufer, Hartford, Wis.
19.Jim Back, Vesper, Wis.
20.Jay Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
21.Dennis Martin, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
22.Don Leach, Beloit, Wis.

1972 - Nesbitt Roars to State Dirt Track Championship

 

Tom Nesbitt

Eau Claire, Wis. (July 12, 1972) – Tom Nesbitt made it strictly a one-man race.

Flying at record speeds over a rough track, the Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, driver captured the Wisconsin State Dirt Track Stock Car Championship Wednesday night at the Eau Claire Speedway.

In winning the 30-lap late model feature, Nesbitt pocketed $500 and claimed the Russ Laursen Memorial Trophy, emblematic of the state dirt track champion.

The only thing that the 31-year-old Nesbitt, a 10-year racing veteran, missed was the kiss following the race from Terry Anne Meeuwsen, reigning Miss Wisconsin, who was not available Wednesday night after Tuesday night’s scheduled program was rained out.

Nesbitt, driving a 1972 Chevy Nova sponsored by Moose Peterson of Black River Falls, roared the damp and in some spots furrowed track twice at 17.3 seconds and two more times at 17.8 seconds.

The official track record, set in time trials, is 18.0, held by Harold Mueller, retired Eau Claire driver. Nesbitt held the pole position in the feature and never relinquished the lead. He survived a three-car pileup on the south turn that resulted in a restart after four laps and then simply pulled away from his challengers in the 30-lap event.

Cecil Henderson, Winona, took home second place money of $300 while Jerry Amundson, Rice Lake, finished third and was awarded $250. In all, only nine of the starting field of 12 cars made it to the finish.

Fourth was Dave Adams, Cameron; fifth was Axel Dahlberg, Rice Lake; sixth was Phil Prusak, Eau Claire; seventh was Roger Mork, Stillwater, Minn.; eighth was Roscoe Buckli, Chippewa Falls and ninth was Len Buxton, Barron.

The only excitement of the feature, beside Nesbitt’s flashing wheels, came after four laps when Prusak, Dahlberg and Ron Goss, Eau Claire tangled on the south turn.

The unfortunate victim of the mishap was Goss, who was running a close second to Nesbitt at the time. Goss, apparently suffering mechanical problems as the result of the spinout, was forced to leave the race.

Prusak and Dahlberg were moved to the back of the pack on the restart and never could gain much ground.

In fact, Nesbitt nearly lapped Prusak, the winner of the June Invitational at the speedway as Prusak could not move up from his rear position.

Another victim of mechanical problems was Red Steffen, who was running second to Nesbitt on the 22nd lap when he was forced out.

Goss, earlier, had won the late model first heat, coming in ahead of Dahlberg and Nesbitt. In the second late model heat. Amundson took the lead on the 10th lap to edge off Henderson with Steffen coming in third.

In the late model consolation, Adams shot out in the lead in the first lap and then held off a late rally by Prusak to win. Roger Rau came in third.

A crowd of 1,800 fans watched the action, postponed from Tuesday night because of rain. The track was still wet Wednesday night and hampered some of the action.


Results –


1. Tom Nesbitt, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
2. Cecil Henderson, Winona, Minn.
3. Jerry Amundson, Rice Lake, Wis.
4. Dave Adams, Cameron, Wis.
5. Axel Dahlberg, Mt. Horeb, Wis.
6. Phil Prusak, Eau Claire, Wis.
7. Roger Mork, Stillwater, Minn.
8. Roscoe Buckli, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
9. Lem Buxton, Barron, Wis.
10.Neil Manor, Altoona, Wis.