Dave Noble poses proudly with his trophy after winning the season championship at Tr-Oval Speedway. Car owner Bud Stevens joins Noble in victory lane. - Todd Narveson Collection
Fountain City, Wis. (September 20, 1970) – The victory had been a long-time coming and it left a grimy but jubilant Dave Noble slumped wearily over the hood of his 1970 Chevelle.
Noble had fought a grueling 40-lap challenge against Rich Olson to score his first feature victory at Tri-Oval since early June – a triumph that not only earned him the season championship trophy but more importantly $550 for the season point title.
Noble entered the feature second in points behind veteran Paul Fitzpatrick of Rochester. The victory was worth 75 points, but had Fitzpatrick finished in the money the title would have been his.
But the trouble that had frustrated Noble for much of the season, befell Fitzpatrick in spades on Sunday afternoon.
Noble jumped into the lead on the first of 40 laps, but Fitzpatrick hugged his rear bumper for the first 14 circuits. Then, front end troubles left Fitzpatrick jammed against the fence and out of the race.
Noble allowed Olson to grab the lead with 18 laps to go, retrieved the advantage with seven left and withstood tire troubles and Olson to score the win.
While the two right-side tire on his Chevelle went flat before he could coast to a stop following the checkered flag, Noble was elated.
“Troubles, yes we’ve had them,” he noted. “But this more than makes up for it.”
Olson walked up, offered his hand and a smile.
“You drove some race, friend,” praised Noble.
Fitzpatrick watched the remainder of the race from the grandstand and was a picture of dejection.
“Just when you think everything is going right and something like this happens,” he said. “But that’s the way the game is.”
Allen Ward of Elba, Minn., made his first start in several weeks and finished third ahead of Gerhard Wollenberg of Austin, Minn.
Results –
Heat #1 – Bob Jenkinson, Winona
Heat #2 – Rich Olson, Rochester
Feature -
1. Dave Noble, Blooming Prairie
2. Rich Olson
3. Allen Ward, Elba
4. Gerhard Wollenberg, Austin
5. Gary Doelle, Arcadia, Wis.
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