1976 - Honoring Sunset Speedway’s Best – Bob Kosiski

 

Bob Kosiski 

By Mark Woods

Omaha, Neb. - In Sunset Speedway’s 19-year-old history, 42-year-old Bob Kosiski is rightfully considered the best overall driver ever to compete there.

This doesn’t mean someone may not come along and break the multiple records Bob has scorched over the past few years or that past competitors such as Jim Wyman or Bud Burdick don’t consider the same high honors, which they do.

But “King Robert’s” display of driving prowess on the track and his glowing statistics on paper, confirm that he’s number one, at least at Sunset Speedway.

It all started on October 15, 1934, when Robert Kosiskie (then spelled with an “E” at the end) was born in Omaha, Neb., to Joseph and Katherine Kosiskie. Bob grew up in a family of four brothers and was one of the “SOB’s” (South Omaha Boys), an area long known for its ethnic jokes (Polish descent) and its superiority in automobile repair, of which Bob excelled in both categories; He was a master mechanic and Polish.

In 1950, at the age of 16, Bob worked part-time at the auto repair shop that his father owned and still operates at 4709 L Street in Omaha. At that time, with sporadic appearances at a small track in Central City, Neb., Bob first started dabbling in auto racing – a sport that locally got its start after World War II in 1948.

“I guess I should thank my brother-in-law Stan Williams,” Kosiski mentioned. “He drove at Central City every weekend but didn’t show up one time, so I hopped in and drove his car that night. I’ve been hooked on racing ever since.”

It was after graduation from South Omaha High School in 1952 at the age of 18 that Bob really started taking the sport seriously.

In the next five years, Bob got in as much racing as possible, at such ovals as Playland and Riverside in Council Bluffs, Capital Beach in Lincoln, Grandview in Bellevue and Norfolk. He drove a 1932 Ford racer (33) that his father owned.

In March of 1957, he married his high school and neighborhood sweetheart, whose brother drove a racecar for his father. Shortly after his marriage, Bob spent a two-year stint in the service.

Bob, anxious to get back to racing, went all the way by driving a new 1959 Thunderbird on the International Motor Contest Association circuit, considered the NASCAR of the Midwest, and raced with such notables as Ramo Stott, Ernie Derr, Johnny Beauchamp, Don White and Nebraska’s Bob Burdick in 1959 and 1960.

During his two-year IMCA stay, he finished fifth and eighth respectively in the national point standings and won the Wisconsin and Kansas State Fair races. He also scored a victory in the 100-lap race at the Minnesota State Fair at which time he set numerous speed records for a half-mile dirt track on August 29, 1960.

“That was that stands out the most,” Bob recalls. “I beat both Ernie Derr and Ramo Stott, who I have the upmost respect for. Yep, that was the most memorable.”

Kosiski even went big time, by becoming a NASCAR Driver and entering the 1960 Daytona 500. The rear end on his Thunderbird went out and he would not finish the marathon event.

Life was great and Bob was on his way to national stardom, when tragedy struck on September 12, 1960.

Joe Kosiskie, Bob’s father, was killed in a two-car auto accident, 11 miles south of Rock Rapids, Iowa on Highway 75. He was a passenger in a truck driven by Bob and accompanied by Bob’s 16-year-old brother, Tom. The Kosiskie’s were returning to Omaha after a three-day racing tour in South Dakota with Bob’s Thunderbird in tow.

The accident put a damper, and a set-back, on Bob’s path to the big-time. The death, Bob took hard and it almost squelched his zest for racing.

In 1961, Bob didn’t travel outside of Omaha much, instead, deciding to campaign at Sunset Speedway, which had opened four years earlier and was running the old coupe body racers.

He won his first “official” Sunset Speedway feature on August 21, 1961.

Bob Kosiski drove this 1934 Dodge coupe to numerous victories and track championships. - Lee Ackerman Collection

Between 1963 and 1966, he drove a 1934 Dodge coupe (53) for Ernie Matz and with it, won the 165 Nebraska State Fair race and his first point’s championship at both Council Bluffs (Playland) and Omaha (Sunset) in 1966.

Bob had been lucky and had avoided any major mishaps during his weekly racing wars. All that would change on Memorial Day Weekend 1969.

Lyle Kline, the new owner of Sunset Speedway, had lengthened the straight aways over the off-season and during practice laps, Bob’s accelerator on his 1966 Chevelle stuck, sending the veteran over the guard rail and down the embankment on the south turn.

Bob was rushed to a nearby hospital with a bruised kidney, two crack vertebrae in his back and three cracked ribs. The doctors said he would be sidelined for at least six weeks. But Kosiski was back – three weeks later to be voted most popular driver by the fans at season’s end.

Some personal Sunset Speedway milestones set by Kosiski are; winning his 25th career feature (September 21, 1970), voted most popular driver (1969 & 1971), winning a July 4th 100-lap event (1972), won his 50th feature (August 11, 1974) and the second annual $5,000 Spring Invitational (1974).

Bob Kosiski is joined by starter Woody Brinkman after win at the 1973 Nebraska State Fair. - Lee Ackerman Collection

In 1975, he won the Lincoln-Omaha Challenge, his fifth straight Nebraska State Fair victory and possible his most remarkable achievement; his eighth Sunset Speedway track championship and his fifth in a row.

And who are Bob’s strongest Sunset challengers? “I’d have to say my toughest competitors were Bud Burdick, Jim Wyman and Bill Wrich,” Bob said, and adding, “Today, I would have to say Kent Tucker and Bill Martin are my toughest.”

Bob now had 63 career feature victories at Sunset and now finds a most unusual competitor on the track – his 18-year-old son Joe, who is in his first year of driving. Another son, 16-year-old Steve, has indicated an interest in driving.

1977 will mark Bob’s silver anniversary in racing – 25 years – and some feel it may be Bob’s last although only Bob holds that answer. He would like more time to help his sons start their racing careers and when retirement comes, one thing is certain; his outstanding career will be long remembered.


Bob Kosiski Timeline - 


1961 – 1st feature win (August 21, 1961)

1962 - One feature win – 6th in points

1964 - Two feature wins – 2nd in points (Jim Wyman)

1965 – Two feature wins – 3rd in points

1966 – Two feature wins – 1st track championship

1967 – Seven feature wins – 2nd track championship

1968 – Seven feature wins – 3rd track championship

1969 – One feature win – Voted most popular driver

1970 – Two feature wins –2nd in points (Bud Burdick)

1971 – Three feature wins – 4th track championship

1972 – Six feature wins – 5th track championship

1973 – Eight feature wins – 6th track championship

1974 – Eight feature wins – 7th track championship

1975 – Seven feature wins – 8th track championship

1989 – Miller Avoids Accident, Wins All-American 400

 

Henry “Butch” Miller became the first repeat winner of the All-American 400 stock car classic at Nashville Motor Raceway. – Robert Turner Photo

Nashville, Tenn. (October 15, 1989) – After avoiding a collision involving frontrunners Jody Ridley and Bobby Dotter five laps away from the finish, Butch Miller became the first repeat winner in the nine-year history of the All-American 400 Sunday afternoon.

The evening’s dramatic conclusion was set up by a restart with 12 laps remaining. Dotter led the field to green, but Ridley passed him in the first turn. The pair then diced side-by-side, with Ridley credited with leading laps 389-393, Dotter 394, and Ridley 395.

Going into the third turn of lap 396, Ridley and Dotter made contact, sending Ridley spinning and Dotter into the wall. Seconds later, Kenny Wallace and Harold Fair were caught up in the chin-reaction pileup.

However, Miller found a safe route through the melee and emerged with the lead, ahead of Glenn Allen Jr.

“I saw a couple of puffs of smoke, and I saw three cars coming together,” Miller recalled, “I immediately thought about going to the top, but I drove towards where the mess started. I closed my eyes and came out in front. I was really looking at fourth place before everything happened.”

Miller went on to score the win by finishing 4.26 seconds ahead of runner-up Allen. Scott Hansen grabbed third and Ridley recovered to finish fourth. Rich Bickle Jr., finished fifth, two laps behind the leader.

As Miller and Allen celebrated their one-two finish, fisticuffs broke out between Dotter and Ridley’s crews as Ridley’s team moved across pit wall to congratulate their driver on finishing the race.

Afterwards, Dotter and Ridley expressed different views of the controversial accident.

“He (Dotter) wanted the whole track,” Ridley explained. “And he shoved me into the wall. I hate it because of all the other guys who got involved in a crash.”

According to Dotter, “We were running even down the backstretch and as soon as I entered turn three, he (Ridley) turned into me. There is no doubt in my mind that Jody intentionally tried to wreck me.”

Ridley was the early leader, but Junior Hanley came on to dominate the first third of the battle, pacing 88 of the first 132 laps. Fair ruled circuits 133-148 after which polesitter Steve Burgess set the pace through 207.

Hanley spent the next 47 circuits as the leader before Burges regained the number one position. Hanely would drop out on lap 257 with a bad clutch and Burgess would head to the sidelines after striking fourth turn wall while in the lead on lap 276.

Jay Sauter replaced Burgess at the point and remained on top until Dotter took over on lap 326.

Miller spun in the second corner with 64 laps left but continued to the pits for fresh tires and returned in time to remain in the hunt. Sauter was the next frontrunner to encounter issues, bowing out as a result of a bout with the wall on lap 371.

Meanwhile, Dotter continued to lead the way until the late restart that triggered the chain of events which eventually put Miller in victory lane.


Results –

1. Butch Miller
2. Glenn Allen Jr.
3. Scott Hansen
4. Jody Ridley
5. Rich Bickle Jr.
6. Kent Stauffer
7. Mike Alexander
8. Randy Couch
9. Kenny Wallace
10.Harold Fair
11.Bobby Dotter
12.Dennis Vogel
13.Russ Urlin
14.Derek Lynch
15.Clay Brown
16.Ted Musgrave
17.Kevin LePage
18.Jay Sauter
19.Lonnie Rush Jr.
20.Scott Lovelady

1962 – Derr a Winner in Lakewood 100-Miler

 

It was a happy day for Ernie Derr as he blazed to victory at Lakewood Speedway near Atlanta. – Bill Young Photo

Atlanta, Ga. (October 14, 1962) – An old ghost – and Ernie Derr – returned to haunt Iggy Katona on the 1-mile dirt track at Lakewood Speedway on Sunday.

Derr, the 40-year-old father of six from Keokuk, Iowa, drove the 100 miles in 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 42 seconds to record another Pontiac victory and add to Katona’s misery at Lakewood before an estimated 3,000 spectators.

The 220-pound Katona, the MARC racing champion from Willis, Mich., has never been able to run his usual race over the Atlanta track. First one thing and then another, from bent A-frames to empty gas tanks, have managed to cast a voodoo spell over his attempts for victory here.

This time it was a combination of circumstances.

Derr, winner of 28 features and champion of the International Motor Contest Association, led the first 50 laps of the race. Then he pulled into the pits for a few gallons of fuel, and Katona roared to the front of the field in his sleek 1962 Ford.

Dick Hutcherson of Keokuk, Iowa, another Ford driver, made the race a three-car affair all afternoon. He never had the lead but stayed close the entire distance.

Knowing he needed fuel – MARC allows 15 gallons at the start of the race – Katona postponed his stop until a lap too late in the race. This, it turned out, was a mistake.

Homer Newland of Detroit slammed into the fourth turn wall on the 68th lap and the yellow flag came out for the first and only time.

Since MARC regulations prohibit pit stops on cautions, Katona found Derr uncomfortably close when the cars bunched for the restart. His 36-second lead was no more, and clearly, he was in a dilemma with little likelihood of escape.

Now he could not hope to stop and still maintain his lead. His decision was to pull in the pits on the green flag after the restart. This he did – and, of course, he lost too much time to overtake Derr, who breezed home for his second straight first-place payoff at Lakewood, $750.

Hutcherson would finish second and Katona, later experiencing difficulty due to a broken A-frame, wheeled home in third.

“Those guys really put the pressure on me,” smiled Derr after the race. “And the track was so hard I decided not to hit it flat out early.”


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Dick Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Iggy Katona, Willis, Mich.
4. Jack Bowsher, Springfield, Ohio
5. Keith Ploughe, Indianapolis
6. Danny Byrd, Detroit
7. Dick Freeman, Dayton, Ohio
8. Em Ruebush, Dayton, Ohio
9. Jack Shanklin, Indianapolis
10.Tony Lavati, Cleveland, Ohio
11.Charlie Glotzbach, Louisville, Ky.
12.Neil Castles, Charlotte, N.C.
13.Bob Bachelor, Washington
14.Jim Cushman, Detroit
15.Charles Mincey, Atlanta

1961 – Sutton, Goldsmith 1-2 in IRP Traffic Jam

 

Len Sutton (11) and Don White (4) lead the field to green in the 100-lap USAC late model stock car race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Sutton would go on to score the victory. 

Clermont, Ind. (October 8, 1961) – If you can imagine rush hour with everyone going as fast as possible and nary a traffic cop in sight, then you might get a picture of what happened Sunday afternoon in the late model stock car race at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

It was a great show, at the best race staged all summer at IRP. Len Sutton of Portland, Ore., and Paul Goldsmith of St. Clair Shores, Mich., ran one-two in the 100-lap feature. Both drove 1961 Pontiacs owned and groomed by Ray Nichels of Highland, a top mechanic at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Although Sutton led most of the way, except for a brief instant early in the race when Whitey Gerken of Melrose Park, Ill., passed him only to spin out just as he took the #1 spot, he was challenged on every turn.

As of the 80th lap, eight front-runners were in the same turn. Until the 95th circuit, five cars were bumper-to-bumper.

Goldsmith, by finishing second, picked up 104 points towards the United States Auto Club’s national late model stock car point standings and his total is now 1,642.

Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis., the 1960 USAC stock car champion, finished third in a ’61 Ford and still ranks second behind Goldsmith in the standings with 1,606. Dick Rathmann, another Indianapolis 500 race veteran, fell out early but still remains in third place with 1,490.

Rodger Ward of Indianapolis, the 1959 national big car champion experienced more than his fair share of trouble. He blew a tire which was cut in the early going and then brushed the wall on lap 85. He returned to action and finished 11th.

Bill Cheesbourg of Tucson, Ariz., was challenging Goldsmith for second place but lost out in a mix-up when Don White spun out. Nelson, who ran second to Sutton for quite a while, got lost in traffic when someone bobbled in front of him. He lost four positions in the lap 75 mishap but picked up the lost time to challenge the two front-runners late in the race. Nelson regained third when White spun out.

Sutton and Goldsmith had the race all to themselves for the last five laps; so much, in fact, that Nichels kept showing them the “EZ” sign.

The time of the 100-lap race on the 5/8-mile asphalt oval was 48 minutes and 31.60 seconds, a new record. A crowd of approximately 2,000 watched the action.


Results –

1. Len Sutton
2. Paul Goldsmith
3. Norm Nelson
4. Don White
5. Les Snow
6. Elmer Musgrave
7. Bill Cheesbourg
8. Whitey Johnson
9. Bob Chapman
10.Gordon Gorman

1973 – Fatals Mar Jones’ Win at Bettenhausen

 

Tom Jones won the 12th annual Tony Bettenhausen Memorial race at Illiana Motor Speedway. The race was marred by the deaths of Whitey Gerken and Dennis Shelton. – Stan Kalwasinski Photo

By Stan Kalwasinski

Schererville, Ind. (October 7, 1973) – Tom Jones of Northbrook, Ill., captured the 12th running of the Tony Bettenhausen Memorial race Sunday afternoon at Illiana Motor Speedway. It was Jones’ first feature win of the season at Illiana and perhaps the biggest win of his career.

But the 30-year-old driver’s victory was marred by the deaths of driver Whitey Gerken and pitman Dennis Shelton.

During qualifications, the throttle on Gerken’s 1972 Camaro stuck, sending the car crashing into the third turn guardrail at more than 100 miles per hour and flipping into an auxiliary pit area. In the process, the flipping car struck Shelton and ended up on its wheels.

Both Gerken and Shelton were rushed to Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Dyer. Shelton was pronounced dead of massive head injuries while Gerken passed away the next day from extensive spinal, back, and neck injuries.

Jones, an airplane mechanic by trade, grabbed the lead in his 1969 Camaro on the 22nd of the 100 laps, after Rich Sundling, Bud Koehler, and Bill Davis had led in the early going. Jones led the rest of the way, although he was seriously challenged during part of the race by Don Axtmann, who eventually dropped out of the contest while running second.

Jones collected $1,200 of the $8,500 purse for his afternoon’s work. Finishing behind him were Ed Hoffman of Niles, Ill., Dave Evans of Crystal Lake, Ill., Moose Myers of Fort Wayne, Tom Musgrave of Mundelein, Ill., and Bob Dotter of Chicago.

Hoffman drove Ray Young’s 1971 Torino in the main event after blowing the engine in his Camaro during time trials.

Three-time Bettenhausen winner Myers paced aa large field of 60 entries in time trials, as he and his Camaro toured the half-mile paved oval in 22.10 seconds.

Bobby Wawak of Villa Park, Ill., captured the trophy dash with consolation heat races going to Ted Janecyk of Calumet Park, Ill., Dick Potts of Morocco, and Ed Kilpatrick of Blue Island, Ill.

1985 - Dickey Takes Missouri Nationals Crown

 

Dan Dickey, second from left, won the Winston/Busch All-Star Tour at Capital Speedway. Left is third place finisher Dave Chase and right is runner-up Steve Fraise. – Debbie Bohr Photo

Holts Summit, Mo. (October 5, 1985) – It might have been a cold weekend in central Missouri but 112 race teams from five states provided plenty of heat during the Missouri Nationals at Capital Speedway Friday and Saturday.

Friday night saw Dale Fischlein, a two-time winner at Capital during the regular season, set fast time – 20.80 seconds – assuring him a front row starting position for the 50-lap Busch All-Star Tour late model main event on Saturday.

Late model qualifying heats went to Rick Beebe, Steve Fraise, Roger Dolan, Dan Dickey, and Fischlein.

Roger Dolan would win Friday’s 25-lap late model feature with Jim O’Conner, Fischlein, Donnie Cooper, and Steve Fraise rounding out the top-five.

Saturday night’s action got underway with consolation races in the late model division. Kevin Gundaker took the first consolation win while Donnie Cooper won the second.

Fischlein may have set fast time on Friday night, but it was Steve Fraise who found the quick way around the 3/8-mile dirt oval as he posted a flag-to-flag win in the fifth race of the Busch All-Star Tour series.

Dickey took home the top prize of $2,000, qualifying and driving Ken Walton’s car. Dickey was followed across the finish line by Steve Fraise, Dave Chase, Jim O’Conner, and Steve Kosiski.

In other action, Howard Hall capitalized on a late race spin by Larry Prior to win the 25-lap modified feature and the $500 first prize. Bruce Cox won the 25-lap bomber feature.


Results –

1. Dan Dickey, Packwood, Iowa
2. Steve Fraise, Montrose, Iowa
3. Dave Chase, Omaha, Neb.
4. Jim O’Conner, Kankakee, Ill.
5. Steve Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
6. Curt Martin, Independence, Iowa
7. Gene Claxton, Kansas City
8. Rollie Frink, Davenport, Iowa
9. Joe Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
10.Sonny Findling, Kirksville

1987 – Keselowski Notches Win in Salem Fall 200

Bob Keselowski

 

Salem, Ind. (October 4, 1987) – Bob Keselowski gained the lead on lap 172 and went on to claim the checkered flag by a 12-second margin Sunday afternoon in the ARCA Supercar Series Fall 200 at Salem Speedway.

The event was the first race held at the Salem track in over six years.

Keselowski charged into second by lap 20 and then hounded early leader and polesitter Marvin Smith for 50 laps before taking over the lead on lap 74. Keselowski continued to set the pace until lap 124 when he slowed, allowing Bob Schacht to gain the top spot.

Lee Raymond would gain the lead from Schacht on lap 131 and pace the field until a flat tire forced him to pit on round 158. Schacht then inherited the lead, but bad tires forced him to pit on lap 172.

Keselowski then powered in front and pulled away to a comfortable cushion which he maintained to the wire. Bill Venturini placed second ahead of Schacht, Smith, and Raymond.

Keselowski banked $5,390 for his third win of the year and fourth of his ARCA career. Venturini’s runner-up finish combined with Raymond’s fifth place finish virtually assures Venturini of the 1987 driving title.

Results –


1. Bob Keselowski
2. Bill Venturini
3. Bob Schacht
4. Marvin Smith
5. Lee Raymond
6. Bob Strait
7. Bob Dotter
8. Jerry Churchill
9. Don Marmor
10.Dennis Meldpennigen
11.Patty Simko
12.Ralph Jones
13.Dave Weltmeyer
14.Jack Wallace
15.Eric Smith