1969 - Droste Wins Tri-State Invitational

 

Davenport, Iowa (September 19, 1969) – Red Droste of Waterloo, Iowa, once again proved he is one of the greatest short track pilots in the country as he took top honors at the annual Tri-State Invitational at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds on Friday night.

The wily veteran, who started on the inside of the second row, grabbed the lead on lap 4 and then proceeded to hide from the rest of the field in the 75-lapper.

Don Bohlander of Glasford, Ill., trailed Droste almost the whole way and finished second while Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, took third. Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa, and Roger Dolan of Lisbon, Iowa, rounded out the top five.

The victory for the redhead, who claimed it’s getting harder and harder to win in view of so many young, talented drivers, earned $600 for his evening’s efforts.

John Brockman, Tom Hughes of Monticello, Iowa, and Terry Ryan of Davenport, Iowa, copped heat races and Cal Swanson of Reinbeck, Iowa outlasted Bill McDonough of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the win in the semi-main.

Young Bill Barthelmes of Walker, Iowa, nabbed the consolation.

Results –

1.    Red Droste, Waterloo, Iowa

2.    Don Bohlander, Glasford, Ill.

3.    Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

4.    Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa

5.    Roger Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa

6.    Herb Shannon, Peoria, Ill.

7.    Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.

8.    Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley, Iowa

9.    Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa

10.  Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

11.  Terry Ryan, Davenport, Iowa

12.  Jerry Reinhart, East Moline, Ill.

13.  Cal Swanson, Reinbeck, Iowa

14.   Lloyd Ewing, Kewanee, Ill.

15.   Jim Gerber, Mt. Joy, Iowa

1978 - Dirt Track Star Wins Bettenhausen 100

Tony Izzo, shown here with his crew, won the 17th annual Bettenhausen Memorial.

 

Schererville, Ind. (September 17, 1978) – A master of dirt track late model competition, Tony Izzo made his mark on the pavement side of stock car racing Sunday afternoon, as he captured the 17th annual Tony Bettenhausen 100 at Illiana Motor Speedway.

The 34-year-old speedster, who won the 1977 and ’78 track championships at Santa Fe Speedway in Willow Springs, Ill., wheeled his Camaro to victory, the first major asphalt win for the Bridgeview, Ill., pilot.

Due to threatening weather conditions, promoter Harry Molenaar decided to start all qualified cars in the 100-lapper, thus upping the starting field to 39 from the originally slated 30.

At the drop of the green flag, Izzo put his racer into the lead from his outside front row starting position. He built and maintained a commanding margin through lap 10 when the first yellow flag waved.

When the green flag waved again, Izzo stayed on top with four-time Illiana champ Ed Hoffman and 1976 and ’77 Bettenhausen winner Ray Young closing in quickly. Lap 17 saw Hoffman, who captured the 1975 Bettenhausen event, moved his Camaro into the lead, followed by Izzo and Young.

Young charged past Izzo on lap 31, with the intent of keeping the leader in his sights.

Rolling along and picking up lap prize money in the process, Hoffman led the contest through lap 51. Then developing clutch problems forced Hoffman to relinquish the top spot to Young on lap 52, with Izzo moving past Hoffman on the same circuit.

The stocky Young guided his Camaro around the half-mile oval looking stronger lap after lap, in his effort to become to the first driver to win three Bettenhausen Classics in a row.

As the race neared the three-quarter mark, the racing surface became oily and slippery, and drivers began having their hands full just keeping their mounts pointed in the right direction. The worsening track conditions seemed to be a blessing for Izzo, as his small-block Chevy began working better than any of the remaining entries. Izzo quickly closed in on Young, pressing the leader for the number one spot.

On the 89th lap, Izzo moved to the inside of Young and took command as the duo charged thru turns one and two. Jerry Kemperman, running well all day, followed Izzo past Young, and became the next serious challenger.

But Izzo began to pull away as the race drew to a climax, with Young and Hoffman coming back to take second and third, respectively.

At starter Bob Adams’ checkered flag, Izzo held a comfortable margin over Young, Hoffman, Kemperman, and Dave Weltmeyer.

Bobby Dotter, driving a Camaro, paced the 45 cars in time trials, with a lap of 21.038 seconds, but a blown engine sent the youngster to the sidelines in the early going of the main event.

Results –

1.    Tony Izzo, Bridgeview, Ill.

2.    Ray Young, Dolton, Ill.

3.    Ed Hoffman, Niles, Ill.

4.    Jerry Kemperman, Blue Island, Ill.

5.    Dave Weltmeyer, Harvey, Ill.

6.    Bob Theriault, Chicago

7.    Gene Eding, Grand Rapids, Mich.

8.    Frank Gawlinski, Calumet City, Ill.

9.    Bruce Odell, Palos Heights, Ill.

10.  Woody Church, Chicago Ridge, Ill.

11.  Gil Tarbutton, Lake Eliza, Ill.

12.  Larry Middleton, East Hazel Crest, Ill.

13.  Bob Strait, Flossmoor, Ill.

14.  Stash Kullman, Calumet City, Ill.

15.  Billy Kuhn, Blue Island, Ill.

16.  Tom Nielsen, Oak Lawn, Ill.

17.  Ron Dole, Oak Forest, Ill.

18.  Pat Echlin, Calumet Park, Ill.

19.  Butch Ledy, Matteson, Ill.

20.  Paul Mollick, Merrillville, Ill.

1983 - Sanger Posts Smashing Win in Yankee Dirt Track Classic

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (September 16, 1983) - Ed Sanger smashed a four-year drought at Hawkeye Downs Speedway into 3,500 pieces Saturday night.

 

Sanger captured the 100-lap NASCAR Grand American late model feature in the Yankee Dirt Track Classic before a crowd of about 4,000. The victory netted the Waterloo driver and car builder a cool $3,500, and was his first triumph at the Downs since 1979.

Roger Dolan of Lisbon relinquished the lead to Sanger on the 89th lap of the main event, and Sanger beat Dolan to the checkered flag by about a second. Leon Plank of Eau Claire, Wis., was third. Waterloo's Tom Bartholomew was fourth and Ken Walton of Viola fifth. The five mentioned racers were the only ones to finish on the lead lap.

“Boy, we needed that,” Sanger said of the win and subsequent paycheck. “This is a tough game these days, and the weekly purses haven't kept up with the expenses.”

Sanger and Plank started on the front row of the 28-car field. Dolan began in the third row. It was apparent early in the race that the winner likely would be one of those three.

Plank took the lead from the onset and held it until Sanger took over on the 34th lap. Dolan passed Sanger for first place on lap 69 and was in front 10 laps later when Joe Merryfield clipped a large section of the protective aluminum fence between the third and fourth turns. Merryfield, of Des Moines, was unhurt. The incident caused laps 79 through 87 to be run under a yellow flag while the mess was cleared.

Then, two laps after the restart, Sanger soared past Dolan on the first turn and kept the lead this time.

“I just took a shot at him (Dolan) and dove down on the bottom of the first turn,” Sanger said. “Then I went up top and took the groove back.”

Sanger drove the car he built for NASCAR superstar Bobby Allison's use in the Miller 100 at the Downs in June.

“The car has worked so damned good, I decided I better drive it,” Sanger said. “It's a sweetheart of a car. It drives so easy. I was as fresh after the race as when I started it.”

It was the largest payoff Sanger has earned since he won over $8,000 for taking the World 100 in Eldora, Ohio, several years ago.

Dolan picked up $2,500 for placing second. He was disappointed at not hanging on for the win, but could take some consolation in putting a stranglehold on the NASCAR Central Region point derby.

With only one point race left at both Quincy, Ill. and Holts Summit, Mo., Dolan has a lock on the championship. What that means is $10,000, plus another $1,000 times three for winning track titles at Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Farley. “That's what makes it all worthwhile,” Dolan said of his regional title-to-be.

“She wouldn't go any faster,” Dolan said of his car. “I hammered it, and it still wouldn't go.”

Jack Mitchell of Cedar Falls nosed out Davenport's Mike Wheeler to claim the 25-lap IMCA Modified feature. Mike Schulte of Norway was third.

1972 – Clay County Fair IMCA Race to Gennetten

Spencer, Iowa (September 15, 1972) – Gene Gennetten of Gladstone, Mo., put it all together, “finally”, as he breezed to victory in the 25-lap IMCA sprint car feature at the Clay County Fair on Friday night before 3,500 appreciative fans.

Genetten, an IMCA veteran of three years, made his first trip to victory lane and became the 12th individual feature winner this season in IMCA.

Seemingly crucial to his victory was the fact that he had the pole position for the feature and the racing surface was hard and slick. Any hopes of setting records vanished on the third lap when a spin-out in turn one caused the yellow to come out and a fast pace quickly settled down.

Earl Wagner of Pleasantville, Iowa, after winning two features in his last three outings, had his hopes dimmed as engine trouble forced him out of competition after only three circuits.

Ray Lee Goodwin of Kansas City, the current IMCA point’s leader, finished second after driving a steady, safe race.

Dick Sutcliffe of Kansas City and Chuck Amati of Greenfield, Tenn., second and third respectively in points, did not gain any ground on Goodwin as Sutcliffe finished fourth and Amati was a disappointing ninth.

Eddie Leavitt of Kearney, Mo., turned in the fastest time of the day in qualifying with a 23.73 second clocking on the half-mile.

Results –

1.    Gene Gennetten, Gladstone, Mo.

2.    Ray Lee Goodwin, Kansas City

3.    Thad Dosher, Topeka, Kan.

      4.    Dick Sutcliffe, Kansas City

5.    Eddie Leavitt, Kearney, Mo.

6.    Bob Geldner, St. Peter, Minn.

7.    Dean Ward, Grand Island, Neb.

8.    Roger Larson, Solomon, Kan.

9.    Chuck Amati, Greenfield, Tenn.

10.   Bill Burks Jr., Oklahoma City

1975 - Regeth's Car Works Late in Seymour 100 Win

Roger Regeth won the 100-lap late model "Champions of Champions" feature at Paul's Seymour Speedway Sunday night. He receives the trophy and a check for $1,500 from Kathy Pollak.- Dick Jepsen Photo 

Seymour, Wis. (September 14, 1975) – Roger Regeth’s game plan worked to perfection on Sunday night at Paul’s Super Speedway as the Kimberly, Wis., lead foot captured the top prize of $1,500 for winning the “Champions of Champions” 100-lap late model feature.

“We built some plow into the car so it would run better later in the race,” Mike Randerson, master chassis builder and Regeth’s head mechanic, noted after the century grind. “I knew Reggie wouldn’t run that fast in the first half but in the last 50 laps the car started to work.”

Regeth, in gaining his 26th feature win of the season, was pressured by Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., for 42 circuits until Trickle blew a tire on his 1970 Mustang with four go-rounds remaining.

Track champion J.J. Smith led the opening 53 laps of the race and was able to open up a four-car length margin over Trickle despite a red flag period. That happened on lap 46 when Bob Kleinschmidt lost a wheel on his 1973 Camaro.

All cars pitted at that point for refueling and Smith would blast off once again to take the lead with the waving of the green. Trickle and Regeth, who started on Smith’s bumper due to the restart, immediately set out after the 1975 Camaro.

J.J.’s night would end six laps later when a water pump failed and the Appleton, Wis., ace spun in turns three and four.

Trickle maneuvered to the outside around Smith but Regeth dove to the inside and took over the lead as they dashed to the finish line. Smith retired to the pit area and the race was now between Regeth and Trickle as every other car on the track was one lap down.

Running bumper-to-bumper, the veteran duo put on a thrilling show for the capacity crowd as Regeth chose the high groove while Trickle worked the lower.

Caution flags would slow the pace on lap 70 and again on lap 84.

Under the green again, Trickle would make his strongest bid at the lead on lap 90 when he and Regeth battled side-by-side as they raced down the back chute. Midway down the straight a lapped car occupied the outside groove. Neither Trickle or Regeth backed off a bit as they entered turn three and four door-to-door. Trickle gained the upper hand momentarily as the pair ducked out of turn four but Regeth used the inside lane to hold his advantage.

Trickle, clung to Regeth’s tail until dropping a leaded weight from his car, cutting the left rear tire and forcing him to the pits.

Regeth cruised the final four revolutions and finished a full lap ahead of Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa and Fred Horn of Marion, Iowa.

Results-

1.     Roger Regeth, Kimberly, Wis.

2.     Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa

3.     Fred Horn, Marion, Iowa

4.     Dick Hed, Sheboygan Falls, Wis.

5.     Denny Teschke, Bonduel, Wis.

6.     Herb Iverson, Hyde, Mich.

7.     Red Dralle, Waterloo, Iowa

8.     Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

9.     Ed Kuika, Beaver Dam, Wis.

10.  Larry Detjens, Wausau, Wis.

1970 – Walkup Walks Away with Branson Title

Bruce Walkup steers the Louis Seymour #29 to victory.

Terre Haute, Ind. (September 13, 1970) - Bruce Walkup grabbed a lead at the midway point and went on to win the Don Branson Classic sprint car race at the Action Track yesterday.

 

Walkup won the 40-lap grind for United States Auto Club sprinters in a coast, as most of the dueling was for second spot.

 

Larry Dickson took the runner-up position, while Gary Bettenhausen had to settle for third. Bill Puterbaugh pulled into fourth place.

 

Puterbaugh held the lead before Walkup but dropped to fourth on the 24th lap. Carl Williams moved up to fourth with 10 race laps remaining, but Puterbaugh passed him three laps later and Williams had to settle for fifth place.

 

Greg Weld moved up two places on the 34th lap and ended up sixth, while Don Nordhorn was seventh and Rollie Beale eighth.

 

Johnny Rutherford started the race in the front of the pack, but he dropped back steadily and finished ninth. Sammy Sessions was tenth.

 

Ralph (The Racer) Liguori captured the semi-feature race which went 12 laps. He gained the lead from Lennie Waldo, who finished sixth, on the fourth lap and never relinquished it.

 

Dee Jones, Walkup and Weld were heat winners.

 

Results –

 

1.    Bruce Walkup

2.    Larry Dickson

3.    Gary Bettenhausen

4.    Bill Puterbaugh

5.    Carl Williams

6.    Greg Weld

7.    Don Nordhorn

8.    Rollie Beale

9.    Johnny Rutherford

10.  Sam Sessions

11.  Dee Jones

12.  Jerry Pollard

13.  Al Smith

14.  Doc Dawson

15.  Larry Cannon

16.  Ralph Liguori

17.  Karl Busson

18.  Duke Cook

19.  Ronnie Burke

20.  Sonny Ates

1959 – Derr Wins 200-Lap Feature at Fair

Ernie Derr

Lincoln, Neb. (September 11, 1959) – Auto racing fans got a lesson in how-not-to-drive one’s automobile Friday at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds.

Those who were expecting to see shiny late model cars in top condition were disappointed. The cars were of late model stock, but most of them looked like they passed through the wringer at the laundromat.

Appearance, however, is not what these cars are judged on. Speed is the important factor in one of these events.

Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, had plenty of speed and savvy as he piloted his auto to victory in the 200-lap, 125-mile International Motor Contest Association international stock car race before 9,000 fans.

Derr, the IMCA point leader, won a fierce battle with Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the top spot. Derr drove his 1957 Pontiac to victory with Frank Lies of Wichita, Kan., in a 58’ Ford, edging hard-luck Dake for second place.

Dake drove a 1957 Chevrolet convertible and held the top spot for 144 laps. He moved in front on the first lap and kept it there until he went in for a pit stop.

Derr, who had stopped for a 10-second refueling job on lap 59, took the lead as Dake was in for nearly 30 seconds. After that, it appeared as though Derr had won the race handily.

Then came the drama…

Derr, with less than 20 laps remaining, signaled to his crew for a pit stop; he was out of oil. Dake was close enough he might have the time to catch Derr on the stop.

But Dake’s luck ran out. Just before Derr pulled into the pit area, Dake’s car locked into gear, throwing him into a spin in turn #1. With the yellow flag out to rescue Dake, Derr took his stop in easy time.

Dake got rolling again but on lap 197 had to stop again, this time for gasoline, having taken a light load on an earlier pit stop.

Derr’s winning time was 2 hours, 38 minutes and 44 seconds. This included several laps run under caution in the early stages.

Results –

1.    Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa

2.    Frank Lies, Wichita, Kan.

3.    Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

4.    Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa

5.    Mert Williams, Rochester, Minn.

6.    Sonny Morgan, Beaumont, Tex.

7.    Frank Richards, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

8.    Wayne Lee, Burlington, Iowa

9.    Shorty Eberts, Avondale, Mo.

10.  Dick Johnson, St. Paul, Minn.

11.  Joe Dolph, Minneapolis, Minn.

12.  Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

13.  Bob Kosiskie, Omaha, Neb.

14.  Clyde Ellis, Kansas City, Mo.

15.  Lloyd Jorgenson, Anita, Iowa

16.  Pete Van Oudenhoven, Appleton, Wis.

17.  Bob Wideck, Council Bluffs, Iowa

18.  Milo Van Oudenhoven, Appleton, Wis.

19.  Bud Burdick, Omaha, Neb.

20.  Darrell Bradley, Keokuk, Iowa

21.  Russ Beichly, Lincoln, Neb.

22.  Dick Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa

23.  Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle, Iowa

24.  Don Bowles, Kansas City, Kan.