Knoxville, Iowa (July 19,
1969) - Bob Williams
came back to Knoxville Saturday night for another super modified feature win to
add to his existing list. The Independence ,
Mo. , chauffeur grabbed the lead
coming out of the chute to lead the first five laps of the 25-lap race.
Jerry Blundy of Galesburg , Ill. ,
took the lead from Williams on the sixth lap and managed to hold off Williams
until the last lap. It was a real battle with both drivers giving their all and
lead footing the supers all the way.
Bob slipped passed Blundy on the white flag lap to
come past the checkers first for the $500 first place money. Blundy finished in
a very close second.
Earl Wagner of Pleasantville tried unsuccessfully to
catch the leaders and had to settle for third spot.
The 4,168 attending race fans saw an accident-free
program with 38 super modifieds competing. Eddie Leavitt of Kansas City started
the evening off by setting fast time of 21.80 seconds around the half-mile
track.
The evening of racing was designated as "Earl
Wagner Night" and Earl lived up to the title in the trophy dash as he won the
event ahead of Joe Saldana, Dale McCarty of Kansas City, and Bob Williams. Earl
took the lead at the start and was never headed.
Wagner also won the second 10-lap heat race. Earl
took the lead from Jon Backland at the beginning of the seventh lap to come
home number one. Following Backland in third was Bob Williams, fourth; Burt
Sonner of Des Moines
and fifth, Jay Woodside.
John Johnson of Independence , Mo. ,
copped the first 10-lap heat race. Johnson led all the way followed by four
Lincoln, Neb. ,
drivers; Joe Saldana, Roger Rager, Kenny Gritz and Jan Opperman.
The very tight battle for the third heat ended in a
tie for first place for Ron Larson and Dick Sutcliffe. Larson led every lap but
Sutcliffe got the edge on him and they came across the finish line side by side
in a dead heat. Following were Jerry Blundy, Curt Houge and Lloyd Beckman.
Dale McCarty was the victor of the 10-lap consolation.
McCarty led all the way with Eddie Leavitt, Jay Woodside, Jan Opperman and
Lloyd Beckman following.
During intermission the "Pleasantville
Plumber", Earl Wagner was honored for his racing career at Knoxville . Ray Lee
Goodwin of Kansas City ,
the 1968 National Super Modified Champion presented Earl's wife, Harriet, with
a bouquet of red roses and a corsage to his mother. Earl was presented with a
plaque from Marion and Nadine Robinson and all the help and fans by
Pleasantville's mayor, who incidentally happens to be Earl's step-father.
Wagner and his wife were also given a Rogers Sterling Silver Service set and a
clock radio.
Results –
Fast Time: Eddie Leavitt, Kearney , Mo.
(21.80)
Trophy Dash, Earl Wagner, Pleasantville , Iowa
Heat One: John Johnson, Independence , Mo.
Heat Two: Earl Wagner, Pleasantville , Iowa
Heat Three: (Tie) Ron Larson, White Bear Lake , Minn. /Dick
Sutcliffe, Kansas City
Consolation: Dale McCarty, Kansas City
Feature:
1. Bob Williams, Independence , Mo.
2. Jerry Blundy, Galesburg , Ill.
3. Earl Wagner, Pleasantville , Iowa
4. Kenny Gritz, Lincoln , Neb.
5. Joe Saldana, Lincoln , Neb.
6. Jon Backlund, Kansas City
7. Dick Sutcliffe, Kansas City
8. Jay Woodside, Kansas City
9. Jan Opperman, Lincoln , Neb.
10. John Johnson, Independence , Mo.
11. Ron Larson, White Bear Lake , Minn.
12. Curt Houge, Boone , Iowa
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