40 Years Ago - National Short Track Championships

Close order racing took place at the 7th annual National Short Track Championships at Rockford Speedway between Dick Trickle (99) and eventual winner Joe Shear (36). - Vince Mayer Photo

Larry Detjens (125) of Wausau, Wis., passes Danny Ballard (38) of Beloit, Wis., during action at the 1972 National Short Track Championships at Rockford Speedway. Detjens car was voted "Best Appearing" during the seventh annual event. - Vince Mayer Photo

Steve Arndt of Janesville, Wis., drove his heart out in the 50-lap preliminary feature at the 7th Annual National Short Track Championships at Rockford Speedway. Arndt's win qualified him for the feature event. - Vince and Dorothy Mayer Photo

Charlie Yelk (71) of Jefferson Wis., spun just as he was being passed by Jerry Peterson (53) of Marseille, Ill., who spun to avoid the accident. Steve Arndt (82) of Janesville, Wis., also spun and rammed into Peterson. Arndt continued to race and went on to win the 50-lap preliminary feature at the 7th annual National Short Track Championships at Rockford Speedway. - Vince Mayer Photo

The racing action during the 50-lap preliminary feature at the 1972 National Short Track Championships at Rockford Speedway was hot and heavy as Steve Lance (25) of Mapleton, Ill., Ralph Hutchinson (02) of Beloit, Wis., Don Marmor (50) of River Grove, Ill., Bill Wishard (54) of Rockford and Chuck Chadwick (12) of Lake Zurich, Ill. get tangled up. - B.E. Tappa Photo