1982 -Green Wins Stoneking Memorial

Tim Green won the fourth annual Dick Stoneking Memorial sprint car race at 34 Raceway. Green (center) is joined by promoter Larry Kemp (far left) trophy girl Leslye Krieger, and Duane Stoneking, father of the late Dick Stoneking. – Dennis Krieger Imagery

Burlington, Iowa (May 9, 1982) – Native Californian Tim Green, driving the Bob Trostle sprinter out of Des Moines, flew to victory in the 20-lap main event during the fourth annual Dick Stoneking Memorial on Sunday at 34 Raceway.

The sprint car main started out on the wrong foot as Ned Fry of Burlington ran high coming out of turn four and hit the front straightaway wall hard, putting him out of action for the evening.

On the second restart, Green, starting inside of row two, dove to the inside and grabbed the lead in turn one. Tom Corbin of Carrollton, Mo., tucked himself behind Green and would follow him the remainder of the race.

Galen Martin of Fairfield, the trophy dash winner, finished third, defending champion Cliff Blundy of Galesburg, Ill., took fourth and Jim Hetrick of Gladstone, Ill., was scored in fifth.


Results –

Time trials – Tim Green, Carmichael, Calif.
Trophy dash – Galen Martin, Fairfield
Heat #1 – Mike Thomas, Des Moines
Heat #2 – Tom Corbin, Carrollton, Mo.
Feature –
1. Tim Green
2. Tom Corbin
3. Galen Martin
4. Cliff Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.
5. Jim Hetrick, Gladstone, Ill.
6. Bill Hetrick, Carmen, Ill.
7. Bobby Ensminger, Burlington
8. Mike Thomas
9. Larry Wilson, Industry, Ill.
10.Randy Plath, Burlington

1987 – Kinser Outruns Shuman in WoO Santa Fe Main

 

Steve Kinser displays the victory banner after winning the 30-lap World of Outlaws sprint car feature at Santa Fe Speedway. – Al Graf Photo

Willow Springs, Ill. (May 8, 1987) – Steve Kinser shot past Ron Shuman in turn two of lap 27 and went on to claim the 30-lap World of Outlaws sprint car feature Friday night at Santa Fe Speedway.

Craig Keel took the initial lead, but Shuman powered in front on round four. Shuman led until the first caution of the contest flew on lap 8 when Tony Armstrong and Bob Robel spun in turn three.

When the green returned, Mark Kinser and Andy Stapp collided in turn two forcing another delay. When the race resumed, Shuman retained the lead using the track’s high groove.

The two other cautions of the feature came when Armstrong spun in turn one on lap 21 and on lap 22 when Johnny Herrera and Robel tangled.

Steve Kinser closed in on the leader using the low side of the track for much of the feature. Kinser managed to nose ahead of Shuman at the start/finish line of lap 25 but Shuman was able to regain the lead in turn two of lap 26.

One lap later, Kinser managed to slide ahead of Shuman to regain the top spot for good. Once in front, Kinser shifted to the high groove to hold off Shuman for the victory.

The victory was Kinser’s ninth of the season and 177th of his career. Steve Butler, who was the fastest qualifier of the night, placed third followed by Brady Doty and Craig Keel.


Results –

1. Steve Kinser
2. Ron Shuman
3. Steve Butler
4. Brad Doty
5. Craig Keel
6. Keith Kauffman
7. Danny Smith
8. Dave Blaney
9. Jac Haudenschild
10.Tim Gee

1989 - Herbst Outruns Baldry, Wins WIR's Spring Classic

 

Doug Herbst is congratulated by Miss WIR, Debbie Ashauer, after winning the 100-lap late model feature that highlighted the annual Budweiser Spring Classic 100 at Wisconsin International Raceway. - Dan Lewis Photo

By Gary Vercauteren

Kaukauna, Wis. (May 7, 1989) – Doug Herbst, a 27-year-old charger from Wausau, scored the biggest win of his short racing career with a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the Budweiser Spring Classic 100-lap late model stock car race Sunday afternoon at Wisconsin International Raceway.

With 4,048 watching the action, Herbst had a hood pin break at the start of the race, and he dropped to the rear of the 20-car starting field with a portion of his fiberglass hood flapping in the breeze. A caution on lap 9 allowed Herbst to duck into the pit area where his crew was quick to make repairs.

At that point, Herbst had no idea he would end up in victory lane with his first-ever special event win at the track and take home the $2,000 first-prize.

“The hood pin came out and I couldn’t see,” said an excited Herbst after the race which saw three lead changes in the final five circuits.

Al Laufer took the lead at the start, but he and second-running Dennis Lampman clipped one another coming off the fourth turn sending Laufer into a wild spin, necessitating a yellow flag. Laufer was sent to the rear of the pack for the restart as Lampman inherited the top spot with three-time WIR champion Terry Baldry on his rear bumper.

After another caution lap 16, Baldry raced outside of Lampman on the restart and four-time track champion Scott Hansen powered by Lampman into second position a lap later.

Baldry, Hansen, and J.J. Smith waged a three-way battle for the top spot until lap 46 when Herbst and Rich Somers tangled on the frontstretch, sending Somers whirling in a cloud of smoke.

Smith, the winner of the event last year, dropped out of the race while running in third on lap 70, when his right rear tire began rubbing on the body of his car after an encounter with a slower car.

Hansen, after trying for more than 50 laps, finally slipped around Baldry for the lead on lap 73. Herbst, meanwhile, had worked his way into third place and roared around Baldry for second on lap 89. Baldry, in a truly determined drive, fought back around Herbst for second on lap 93 with Hansen just three-car-lengths ahead.

Looking for his first special event win at the D-shaped Kaukauna oval, Hansen appeared to have things in hand only to have a carburetor cap on his engine loosen up, resulting in a flooded and sputtering motor. Hansen slowed dramatically and dropped down to the lower apron of the track on lap 95 as Baldry and Herbst raced past him.

Baldry had Herbst on his rear bumper until the 97th circuit when he drifted a little high going into the first turn and Herbst immediately jumped at the opportunity, putting the nose of his racer inside of Baldry’s. The two drivers raced side-by-side the final three laps with Herbst winning by less than a car-length.

Steve Holzhausen finished a distant third with Allen Check edging a hard-charging Laufer for fourth and Lampman coming home in sixth.

Hansen led the 53-car late model lineup in qualifying with a 19.713-second clocking.


Results –

1. Doug Herbst, Wausau
2. Terry Baldry, Omro
3. Teve Holzhausen, Bangor
4. Allen Check, Stevens Point
5. Al Laufer, Hartford
6. Dennis Lampman, Racine
7. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
8. Tod Kropf, Watertown
9. Lowell Bennett, Neenah
10.Scott Hansen, Green Bay
11.Kevin Servais, New Franken
12.Rich Somers, Stevens Point
13.J.J. Smith, Appleton
14.Kevin Cywinski, Mosinee
15.Pete Berken, Appleton

1956 - White Wins 100-Miler; Track Record Erased

 

Don White is presented his trophy by country and western star Johnny Horton after winning the Cotton Belt Stock Car Championship at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds.

Shreveport, La. (May 6, 1956) – Don White blistered the Louisiana State Fair’s half-mile track on Sunday afternoon to take the biggest share of the $2,500 purse and the second annual 100-mile Cotton Belt Stock Car Championship.

White encountered constant pressure. He clocked 31.01 seconds in time trials, but it was bettered by Sonny Morgan of Beaumont, Tex., driving a 1956 Chevrolet. Morgan set a new local track record by qualifying in 30.62 seconds and followed it up by taking second place in the first 50 miles of the Cotton Belt.

Morgan’s grip on the record was a short one for the mark and shattered four times during the first 100 laps. White shattered the record twice on laps of 30.18, and then 30.05 seconds. Two other record smashers were Johnny Beauchamp of Harlan, Iowa, whose 30 seconds flat on the 56th lap is the new accepted mark. Roxy Dancy of Shreveport churned out a 30.11 second lap on 86th go-round.

Beauchamp led the first 50 miles followed by Dancey, Lennie Funk of Otis, Kan., and Dick Jepson of Hoxie, Kan. White encountered trouble when he was briefly forced out of the first 50-miler with a broke axle on the 84th lap.

The second 50-miler was copped by White in the time of 52 minutes and 47 seconds to qualify for the Cotton Belt. Close on White’s heels were Morgan, Funk, Bill Burdick of Omaha, Neb., and Les McClune of What Cheer, Iowa.

Les Dykes of Davenport, Iowa, driver of a ’56 Pontiac, escaped injury in what was one of the most exciting mishaps of the race. Dyke’s car threw a wheel and almost flipped while he was driving on the straightaway in front of the grandstand. The accident occurred on the 48th lap.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan, Iowa
2. Roxy Dancey, Shreveport
3. Lennie Funk, Otis, Kan.
4. Dick Jepson, Hoxie, Kan.


Feature #2 –

1. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Sonny Morgan, Beaumont, Tex.
3. Lennie Funk
4. Bill Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
5. Les McClune, What Cheer, Iowa
6. Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle, Iowa
7. Ralph Dyer, Shreveport
8. Johnny Beauchamp
9. Les Dykes, Davenport, Iowa
10.Roxy Dancey

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.