1963 – White Wins Winchester IMCA Go

Michigan's Johnny White led start to finish at Winchester.

 

 

Winchester, Ind. (June 23, 1963) – Johnny White proved he is “King of the High Banks” in IMCA as he took his third straight feature win on Sunday afternoon on the famous high-banked half-mile Winchester Speedway.

White, starting on the outside of the front row alongside Red Amick, shot his Weinberger Homes Chevrolet ahead of Amick’s Fetter Aluminum Chevy in the first turn and was never headed.

Running smoothly the entire 30 laps, White took over 30 seconds off Bob King’s record set exactly one year ago. White’s time was 9 minutes and 17 seconds - a new IMCA record but it did not erase the 30-lap record held by USAC star Roger McCluskey of 9 minutes and 14 seconds.

Amick was able to keep his sights on White as he finished second in his second outing since coming out of a two-year retirement. Coming up from his sixth starting position was Norman Brown as Gordon Woolley came from eighth to finish fourth. Jim McCune rounded out the top five finishers.

Amick topped the 30-car field in qualifications with an 18.06 second lap. White spun on his first qualifying lap but came back with an 18.07 clocking on the second lap as 14 cars topped the 18-second bracket.

Bob Coulter was the busiest driver during qualifying as he first took the Altfater Offy only to blow a rod through the side, then the Altfater Chevy lost oil pressure for him and he ended up in Speedy Helm’s Chevy to make the show.

A crowd of over 4,500 saw a good safe show as the yellow flags weren’t needed as the only spins were both by White, in warmups and qualifying.

Results –

Heat #1 – Red Amick

Heat #2 – Johnny White

Heat #3 – Al Smith

Trophy Dash – Johnny White

Semi-Main – Don Friend

Feature –

1.    Johnny White

2.    Red Amick

3.    Norman Brown

4.   Gordon Woolley

5.    Jim McCune

6.   Bob Coulter

7.    Tom McClellan

8.    Vern Schmidt

9.    Ed Molketin

10. Don Brown

11. Tex Shackelford

12. Dick Atkins

13. Bud Randall

14. Don Friend

15. Nolan Johncock

1968 – Ole Brua Wins Late Model Main at Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa (June 22, 1968) – Ole Brua of Albert Lea, Minn., won the 25-lap late model stock car feature at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

Carl Vander Wal of Ames grabbed his third consecutive sportsman win before 4,473 race fans, the largest crowd of the season.

Brua, who started in the second row with a 1968 Ford Fairlane, took the lead on the very first lap and dashed away from the rest of the field. Darrel Dake of Cedar Rapids took second, Verlin Eaker of Mechanicsville claimed third and Tom Hughes, Monticello, grabbed the fourth spot.

By the time Dake had taken the second spot 10 laps in, Brua had a quarter-lap lead and he maintained that margin to the end.

In the sportsman main event, Vander Wal started 12th in the 13-car field and powered his 1956 Chevrolet to an easy victory. Roger McWilliams of Des Moines finished second.

Lee Pinckney of Des Moines was involved in a spectacular crash in the sportsman first heat. His 1957 Chevrolet rolled six times, and then smashed into a concrete wall. Pinckney walked away unhurt.

Lem Blankenship of Keokuk, Iowa, hit a loose wheel sending his car into the backstretch wall. He too, was unhurt.

 

Results –

 

Sportsman Feature:

1.     Carl Vander Wal, Ames

2.    Roger McWilliams, Des Moines

3.    Don Hoffman, Des Moines

4.    Fred Knapp, Des Moines

5.    Chuck Berg, Des Moines

Late Model Feature:

1.      Ole Brua, Albert Lea, Minn.

2.    Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids

3.    Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville

4.    Tom Hughes, Monticello

5.    Roger Dolan, Lisbon

6.    Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.

7.    Fred Horn, Marion

8.    John Connolly, Delhi

9.    Matt Moro, Des Moines

10.  Roland Wilson, Bedford

1992 - Miller Motors Just in Time

Oregon, Wis. (June 21, 1992) - Butch Miller borrowed a driving suit from one driver, and a helmet from another, but the racing style was all his own.

The Lawton, Mich., native roared back from a big deficit to defeat Robbie Reiser and win the Capital 100 super late-model stock-car race at the half-mile Madison International Speedway Sunday.

Reiser had overtaken Steve Carlson on lap 5 and charged to a huge lead - a half-lap by the midway point - but Miller passed Reiser coming out of turn four on lap 98 to gain the victory before, an estimated crowd of 4,200.

“I knew Butch was going to come sooner or later,” said Allenton’s Reiser. “The fast guys come through.”

And there was no doubt who the fast drivers were. Only five drivers finished on the lead lap as Reiser and Miller overwhelmed the field.

Reiser started from the fourth spot and Miller moved up the field from 10th. Taking over second place on lap 52, Miller began to slowly chip away at Reiser’s advantage.

“I didn’t think he’d keep streaking away like he was doing, but he sure did,” said Miller, a National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Busch Grand National driver.

Miller actually passed Reiser on lap 97, but the only yellow flag of the race flew, and the standings reverted to the last completed lap, 96, which put Reiser back in front for the restart. Miller figured it would be difficult to pass Reiser again.

“I didn't think I’d be able to get it,” Miller said. “His car was fast on top and my car was fast on the bottom of the track. He did his very best to protect the bottom of the track.”

But Miller squeezed through on the inside and shut the door on Reiser.

“He’s a tough customer,” Reiser said. “Today, we were just trying to cool the tires, stay out of trouble and drive smooth laps. Butch was just a little faster.”

Joe Shear of Clinton finished a distant third, Conrad Morgan of Dousman claimed fourth and Steve Holzhausen of Bangor netted fifth.

“I was surprised he came back,” said Shear of Miller. “I knew Butch was running good, but not that good.”

Miller raced in the Carolina Pride-Budweiser 250 Busch Grand National race in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Saturday and finished a disappointing 16th. His helmet and driving suit were shipped with his other car, forcing Miller to use Jeff Neal's suit and Tony Strupp’s helmet.

There was no problem, however, regarding the car.

“The car was really good, I might have been a little too cautious at the beginning. This is a really good car.”

Not everyone enjoyed success. Driving in the car of Sun Prairie’s Scott Ollerman, Edgerton native Rich Bickle Jr. bowed out with ignition trouble on lap 50. And American Speed Association point’s leader Scott Hansen, of Green Bay, could not race because he crashed during the Berlin 200 in Grand Rapids, Mich., Saturday, sustaining a broken leg and ribs.

Results –

 

1. Butch Miller, Lawton, Mich.

2. Robbie Reiser, Allenton

3. Joe Shear, Clinton

4. Conrad Morgan, Dousman

5, Steve Holzhausen, Bangor

6. Bryan Refiner, Wisconsin Rapids

7. Tony Strupp, West Bend

8. Al Schill Sr., Franklin

9. Cliff Leach, Beloit

10. Andy Wendt, Watertown

11. John Olson, Stoughton

12. Todd Krope, Watertown

13. Vince Miller, Walworth

14. Matt Kenseth, Cambridge

15. Don Trapp, Albany

16. Doug Herbst, Wausau

17. Al Schill Jr., Franklin

18. Rick Bickle Jr., Concord, N.C.

19. Steve Carlson, West Salem

20. Don Leach, Janesville

21. Jeff Neal, Lake Villa, III.

22. Bob Weiss, Montello

23. Cub Rezin, Tomah

24. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.

1969 - Tattersall in Controversial Knoxville Win

Knoxville, Iowa (June 19, 1969) – USAC midget point leader Mel Kenyon of Lebanon, Ind., drove his Offy midget to victory Thursday night at the Marion County Fairgrounds, only to learn later he had to surrender the winner’s share of the purse and trophy to Bob Tattersall of Streator, Ill.

While Kenyon accepted the winner’s trophy, handshakes and the like, a protest was being filed by Merle Bettenhausen of Tinley Park, Ill. Bettenhausen claimed that, while running second behind Tattersall, they noticed the stalled car of Chuck Arnold near the infield of turn two.

Bettenhausen claimed this created an automatic slowdown and that is just what he did. He said he slowed down and went high coming out of the turn and this said Bettenhausen, is when Kenyon passed him.

The incident happened on the lap 31 of the 40-lap feature event and it was determined that the caution flag was displayed after the drivers had passed the flagman.

Kenyon said he didn’t see any flag and didn’t see Arnold’s stalled ride near the rim of the infield. He said he was too busy watching Bettenhausen’s car being passed.

After almost an hour of deliberation, USAC officials declared Tattersall the winner and Kenyon was dropped to third. Kenyon eventually caught Tattersall on lap 35 but he was running third at the time of Arnold’s spinout.

Merle Bettenhausen was second and Bob Wente of St. Louis, Mo., was fourth. Tom Bigelow of Whitewater, Wis., rounded out the top five.

Results –

1.    Bob Tattersall

2.    Merle Bettenhausen

3.    Mel Kenyon

4.    Bob Wente

5.    Tom Bigelow

6.    Robert Greentree

7.    Willard Yates

8.    Bill Puterbaugh

9.    Les Scott

10.  Dave Strickland

11.  Joe Demko

12.  Bill Engelhart

1978 - Carson Wins Cedar Rapids Sprints

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (June 18, 1978) – Shane Carson of Oklahoma City, Okla., driving the Bob Trostle Chevy, almost made a clean sweep of all events he entered at Hawkeye Downs Speedway on Sunday evening.

Carson set fast time of 22.05 seconds, won the second heat and the 20-lap feature event.

He had to eat dirt, however, from Sonny Smyser’s spinning wheels in the fast car dash, and for the first 14 laps of the feature event before he succeeded in getting past Smyser and his Springer-Chevy. Smyser, from Lancaster, Mo., would settle for second behind Carson.

A fierce battle took place for the entire 20 laps for third-place money as a blanket could have covered Randy Smith of Norwalk, Iowa, Jerry Blundy of Dahinda, Ill., and Eddie Leavitt of Kearney, Mo. Leavitt would just barely nip Smith by the length of a tire at the checkers.

Results –

Fast dash – Sonny Smyser, Lancaster, Mo.

First heat – Sonny Smyser

Second heat – Shane Carson, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Third heat – Randy Smith, Norwalk, Iowa

B-main – John McCoy, Knoxville, Iowa

Feature –

1.    Shane Carson

2.    Sonny Smyser

3.    Eddie Leavitt, Kearney, Mo.

4.    Randy Smith

5.    Jerry Blundy, Dahinda, Ill.

6.    Mike Brooks, Knoxville, Iowa

7.    Bill Robinson, Topeka, Kan.

8.    Bobby Marshall, Dallas, Tex.

9.    Junior Gutknecht, Pleasantville, Iowa

10.  Stacy Redmond, Mason City, Iowa

1968 – Derr Pilots ’68 Dodge to Lincoln Win

Ernie Derr is presented the checkers after winning at Lincoln, Neb.

Lincoln, Neb. (June 16, 1968) – There have been harder cakewalks for Ernie Derr, but Ramo Stott, who worked like a beaver this winter, is still wondering what was wrong.

The two racing veterans were hooked up in a rare tie for first place in the IMCA point standings going into Sunday’s late model stock car action at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds. They aren’t anymore…

Derr waltzed to victory in the 50-lap feature while Stott settled for third. Actually, Ramo was happy that he finished.

There’s something drastically wrong with my car,” the Keokuk, Iowa, native pointed out after the races. “During the last 25 laps, I thought for sure it was going to blow.”

After the first heat, Stott pronounced his 1968 Plymouth, “flatter than a pancake”. Later he put in new spark plugs. That didn’t help either.

Sandwiched in between was another mechanical failure. The transmission went out and only a furious installation of new parts allowed Stott to compete in the feature.

Ramo couldn’t have felt bad though. He could just consider the plight of nearly half the 23 drivers on hand. No fewer than 11 went to the pits to stay during the afternoon’s action.

Consider Lenny Funk, known as “Mr. Bad Luck” on the circuit. During the season, the Otis, Kan., driver has finished only two features. Sunday, he didn’t even come close…far from it.

His engine blew on, believe it or not, on the third lap of pre-race warmups. “That’s the fourth engine I’ve blown this year,” Funk said, shaking his head.

Then there was Blaine Morrow of Mt. Joy, Ill. Involved in an eight-car pileup on Saturday night at Des Moines, Morrow spent all afternoon trying to get his car to run…to no avail.

A four-car tangle on the first lap of the feature finished Ole Brua of Albert Lea, Minn., who had the fastest time in qualifying, and Butch Hall of Russell, Minn., Both car sustained front end damage.

For the 45-year-old Derr, it was just another win among many over the last two decades. The mustached veteran, who seems to go on forever, confirmed he has no plans to retire.

“Heck,” he smiled. “I have to eat, don’t I.”

Results –

1.    Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa

2.    Lewis Taylor, Shawnee, Kan.

3.    Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa

4.    Ron Larson, White Bear Lake, Minn.

5.    Fred Whisler, Independence, Mo.

6.    Dale Keeling, Waynesville, Mo.

7.    Frank Scadoris, Lincoln, Neb.

8.    Sandy Sandstrom, Kansas City

9.    Karl Stoufer, Independence, Iowa

10.  Ken Pankrantz, Mosinee, Wis.

11.  Buzz McCann, Minneapolis

12.  John Bolen, Topeka, Kan.

1978 - Hansen Triumphs in Coca-Cola Special

Waterloo, Iowa (June 15, 1978) – Curt Hansen, the defending late model champion at Tunis Speedway, led from start to finish in the second annual Coca-Cola Special on Thursday night.

Hansen earned the pole position for the 40-lap late model main event by winning the first heat under the program’s open competition format. He breezed to victory in that 10-lap race after starting on the outside front row.

The Dike, Iowa, driver quickly served notice in the feature too. He pulled away from the rest of the field and gained a comfortable margin between himself and his opposition.

Hansen, who drives an Ed Sanger built Camaro, earned $1,000 in prize money including the $750 first place money, $200 for leading all 40 laps and an additional $50 for winning the first heat. It was his first victory of the season at the 3/8-mile dirt oval.

Gary Crawford of Independence, Iowa, worked his way up second place in the feature after starting fifth while Waterloo, Iowa, veteran Bill Zwanziger won a dog fight for third.

Des Moines, Iowa, pilot Bill Rice was fourth and Tom Bartholomew of Waterloo, Iowa, rounded out the top five finishers.

Leon Plank of Eau Claire, Wis., and Bob Hilmer of Dysart, Iowa, also won heat races while Joe Merryfield of Des Moines took the consolation.

Gene Ehlers of Independence, Iowa, wrestled the lead from Larry Schmidt of New Hampton, Iowa, on the very last lap to win the 25-lap sportsman main.

Results –

First heat – Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa

Second heat – Leon Plank, Eau Claire, Wis.

Third heat – Bob Hilmer, Dysart, Iowa

Consolation – Joe Merryfield, Iowa

Feature –

1.    Curt Hansen

2.    Gary Crawford, Independence, Iowa

3.    Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa

4.    Bill Rice, Des Moines

5.    Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo, Iowa

6.    Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa

7.    Leon Plank

8.    Joe Merryfield

9.    Red Dralle, Evansdale, Iowa

10.  Bob Hilmer