Jerry Blundy receives trophy and congratulations from Nebraska State Fair's Henry Brandt. NSI official Woody Brinkman presents the checkers.
Blundy, the cagey veteran from Galesburg, Ill., held the lead all 30 laps in cutting almost three minutes off the track record while winning and Nebraska Sweepstakes feature.
Blundy’s victory was so convincing that fans might have been lulled to sleep if it wasn't for Woolley.
The wily Waco, Tex., speedster exploded from 14th place at the start of the race to finish in fourth place just ahead of Lincolnite Joe Saldana.
“I was riding along not doing much,” said Woolley, “when I found myself in this groove on the track. I just stayed in and kept moving. I felt like I was passing everybody.”
The balding veteran couldn't catch up to Blundy, however.
“I really didn't think I could overtake the leaders,” he explained, “but I was passing so many cars I really didn't know where I stood.”
Woolley’s dash was accomplished in a car here been driving for only three weeks – the Charlie Goodrich special.
Track records were fair game on Monday with the Fairgrounds half-mile oval blazing fast. The rain that washed out Sunday schedule races soaked the track just about perfectly.
“Most of our track records are set just after a good rain,” noted race promoter Al Sweeney. “And this track today was as fast as I've ever seen it.”
The 8-lap record was snapped in the first heat race by Jerry Richert but Norm Fall of Auburn, Calif., cracked it again moments later in the second heat.
The expected duel between Richert and current IMCA point leader Karl Busson failed to develop – and a lack of time in the sack probably had a lot to do with it.
Richert, whose motor conked out after 21 laps in the feature, probably was lucky he didn't conk out himself. The Forest Lake, Minn., driver raced Friday and St. Paul came to Lincoln for Saturday's race, returned to St. Paul for a 200 lapper on Sunday and return to Lincoln again for Monday's race.
“I haven't slept in a bed since Thursday night,” Richert said. “And I have to be at work at quarter to seven on Tuesday morning.”
Busson who finished eighth in the feature was in the same boat as Richert. The two rode together during this weekend’s grueling shuttle between Lincoln and St. Paul.
Results -
First Heat: Jerry Richert, Forest Lake, Minn.
Second Heat: Norm Fall, Auburn Calif.
Third Heat: Bob Tomlinson, Palos Park, Ill.
STP Handicap: Jerry Blundy
Nebraska Sweepstakes:
1. Jerry Blundy
2. Don Mack, Grand Forks, N.D.
3. Chuck Lynch, Springfield, Ill.
4. Gordon Woolley, Waco, Tex.
5. Joe Saldana, Lincoln, Neb.
6. Jim Moughan, Springfield, Ill.
7. Roger Lane, Blue Springs, Mo.
8. Karl Busson, Toledo, Ohio
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