1973 - Mayner cops Tunis late model feature

Al "Doc" Mayner of Winthrop, Iowa

 

 

Waterloo, Iowa (August 26, 1973) - Dr. Al Mayner batted 1.000 at Tunis Speedway Sunday night as he won both late model stock car races in which he competed.

The Winthrop physician claimed the 20-lap late model feature after taking the lead from early frontrunner Chuck Smith of Waterloo on the seventh lap, holding on for a three car-length margin over eventual runner-up Red Dralle of Evansdale.

Mayner, who scored his second feature victory of the Tunis season Sunday night, also won the third heat by a comfortable margin after starting on the pole position and never relinquishing the lead.

Stan Stover was able to maintain his Tunis late model point lead despite the fact his 1972 Chevrolet Nova stock car was out of commission with a broken rear end. Stover's machine sustained the damage on the 16th lap of a Sunday afternoon race at the Iowa State Fair.

The Reinbeck circle-burner competed in a pair of borrowed cars, using Jim Mauer's machine in the semi-main before getting a ride from Denny Osborn in the feature, but failed to place high in either event.

Karl Sanger, the runner-up to Stover in point standings, could have taken over first with a good night and a feature win, but could manage only a fourth place finish in the main event.

The other two late model heats were won by sizable margins as Marshalltown's Dale DeFrance captured the first 10-lap preliminary as Jack Mitchell won this third heat in as many weeks of late model competition in the second heat. Mitchell, of Cedar Falls, competed in the sportsman bracket until that category was merged with the late models three weeks ago.

Smith claimed the 15-car, 15-lap semi-main as he took the lead for good from Raymond's Dan Etringer on the sixth circuit.

Tunis co-promoter Claus Stricker, a former stock car driver, was able to elude the two hound cars driven by Larry Johnson and Greg Heath, both of Cedar Falls, to win the Hare 'N' Hound mini-demolition derby event.

Waterloo's Mike Krall captured the concluding event of the evening, the roadrunner race.

Feature Results –

 

Late Model –

1.     Al Mayner, Winthrop, Iowa

2.     Red Dralle, Waterloo, Iowa

3.     Jim Burger, Cedar Falls, Iowa

4.     Karl Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa

5.     Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo, Iowa

6.     Larry Wasserfort, Cedar Falls, Iowa

7.     Jack Mitchell, Cedar Falls, Iowa

8.     Dave Bedard, LaPorte City, Iowa

9.     Dan Etringer, Raymond, Iowa

10.   Roger Klingfus, Waterloo, Iowa

Roadrunner –

1.     Mike Krall, Waterloo, Iowa

2.     Rick Schwartz, New Hartford, Iowa

3.     John Belthuis, Waterloo, Iowa