Thursday, May 13, 2010

This week in history



1989 - Scott Hansen of Green Bay, Wis., became the first rookie driver ever to win a ASA Racing Series event by capturing the Badgerland 150 at the Milwaukee Mile on May 14. Hansen, driving the Baker Motorsports Chevrolet, which was prepared only 10 blocks away from the speedway, averaged 84.149 miles per hour in claiming the $8,650 first place prize out of a record purse of $83,658. Hansen, in only his 16th career start on the circuit took the checkers a little over a second ahead of Junior Hanley. Reigning ASA champion Butch Miller took third followed by Dick Trickle and Mike Eddy. 

1978 - A power shortage struck on opening night at Buffalo River Speedway in Glyndon, Minn., but defending track champion Don Spieker had no such difficulties as he swept his heat and the feature in the Midwest Sprint Association program on May 13. The feature was shortened to 15 laps because of an electrical problem which prevented the lights in turns one and two to work. To solve the problem, push trucks were stationed in the area with headlights on to illuminate the track. Spieker, of Moorhead, Minn., used the low groove to pass race leader Bob Hop on lap 11 to take the victory. 

1972 - Super modifieds got their season opened at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, May 13 and saw a tremendous duel between Roger Rager and Lonnie Jensen, both of Lincoln, Neb. The 25-lap feature saw the two go side by side throughout most of the feature before Rager was able to pull ahead and stay in front. Jensen, Jerry Blundy of Galesburg, Ill., fast qualifier Ray Lee Goodwin of Kansas City and Earl Wagner of Pleasantville rounded out the top five. 

1967 - Ron Jackson of Burlington, Iowa and Kenny Ellis of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, captured feature events at 34 Race Ways Park before 3,600 fans. Jackson won the A feature in semi super modified competition and Ellis grabbed the checkered flag in the B feature. Jack Alter and Ron Lekander, both of Burlington picked up most of the marbles in the cadet class. Duane Stoneking of Oquawka, Ill., set a new track record for the modifieds, when he was clocked at 18.73 seconds in time trials.

1 comment:

  1. Kyle,
    Do you have any photos of Ron Jackson's cars he ran at 34 raceway?
    Cheers,
    Mike

    ReplyDelete