Omaha, Neb. - In 1968, Eagle Raceway just east of Lincoln, Nebraska started a season ending special event for Sprint Cars and called it the Third Mile Nationals.
On Monday night, September 2, 1968, it was the true outlaw himself, Gordon Woolley of Waco, Texas winning the inaugural Third Mile Nationals/ Woolley charged past Lloyd Beckman on the second lap and despite being challenged most of the race by Beckman, pulled away in the closing laps for the win. Ray Lee Goodwin was third followed by Roy McCain in fourth.
Gordon Woolley won the inaugural Third Mile Nationals - Leroy Byers Photo
Beckman won the dash
and his heat. Other heats went to Lonnie Jensen and John Stevenson. Kenny Gritz
won the Junior Championship (B feature) with a last lap pass of Dutch
Buettenbach.
In 1969, it was veteran Kansas City chauffeur Dick Sutcliffe
behind the wheel of the Gary Hanna Chevy taking the lead almost immediately
from his inside second row starting position and sailing to the win in the 30-lap
feature before a capacity crowd to pick up the $1,250 first place money.
Dick Sutcliffe was the 1969 winner at Eagle
'Little' Joe Saldana
set fast time of 16.26 seconds then broke a driveshaft in his car and borrowed
the car of Frank Brennfoerder, started 8th and put on a great drive to finish
second. Pole sitter Lloyd Beckman finished third followed by Eddie Leavitt in
the Brewer Chevy and Jay Woodside.
Ed Bowes won the Junior Championship (B feature) taking the
lead from Larry Upton when Upton
The 1970 Third Mile Nationals can be described in one word
“Controversial.” Things kicked off on Sunday night with 35 cars taking time and
Lincoln
In the feature which was a total inversion, Beatrice,
Nebraska’s Kenny Parde started deep in the field and drove to a win in the
Junior Third Mile Nationals over Roger Rager, who also started deep in the
field. Pole sitter Dan Holliman would finish third followed by Jim Golden and
Frank Brennfoerder.
On Monday night heats were won by Lonnie Jensen, Jan
Opperman, Ray Lee Goodwin and Denny Oltman. Ed Bowes took the dash over Ray Lee
Goodwin and the "Roarin’ Rebel” Roy McCain won the B.
It was time for the 50-lap Third Mile National feature and
that’s where all the controversy would come in. Lonnie Jensen would start on
the pole but was passed very early on in the going by Ray Lee Goodwin. Goodwin
would soon develop handling problems. The problem which turned out to be a
broken torsion bar slowed Goodwin to a crawl on the backstretch and Jan
Opperman looking to take the lead hooked Goodwin’s tire. This sent Goodwin into
the infield and Opperman setting on the edge of the racetrack.
For whatever reason, the race was allowed to go for a lap
before the yellow came out to check on Opperman, who was apparently shaken in
the incident. When the race was resumed with 17 laps remaining Jensen had the
lead and Opperman was sent to the tail and scored one lap down. Opperman then
stormed through the field passing Jensen on the last lap for what appeared as
the win.
Opperman went to victory lane and Jensen went to the pits.
Then they rolled Jensen’s car back on the track and Larry Swanson, Jensen’s car
owner protested giving the win to Opperman. After a long discussion officials
declared Jensen the winner contending the Opperman had done nothing more than
unlap himself. The ensuing argument lasted well into the morning. “I thought
there was going to be a riot.” remembers long-time racing historian Bob Mays.
“It was really a wild scene.
The official order of finish would be Jensen, Ed Bowes,
Roger Rager, Stan Borofsky and Don Droud with Opperman being scored 8th.
In 1971, it was Topeka’s Dell Schmidt claiming the 30-lap
Junior Championship on Sunday night over Lloyd Beckman, Ray Lee Goodwin, Jay
Woodside and Dennis Oltman. Beckman set fast time of 15.69 seconds for fast
time. Goodwin made a last lap pass of Oltman to win the dash. Beckman, Droud and
J.J. Riggins won heats.
Kansas City's Ray Lee Goodwin won the 1971 Third Mile Nationals. - Kyle Ealy Collection
Ray Lee Goodwin held off the challenges of the persistent
Jay Woodside to claim the $1,250 first prize in the 50-lap Third Mile Nationals
on Monday night. Ralph Blackett, Larry Upton and Ken Parde rounded out the top
five. Beckman, Jensen and Oltman all retired early in the race that saw only 9
of the 19 starters finish the race. Jensen won the dash and his heat with other
heat wins going to Beckman, Woodside and Goodwin.
The 1972 Third Mile Nationals would go to an invader in California
In Sunday nights’ Junior Championship, it was Lonnie Jensen
taking the win over Sutcliffe, Goodwin, Upton and Boyd. Heats went to Roger
Larson, Goodwin, Beckman and Upton with Gordon Woolley winning the B.
Eddie Leavitt would be the last Third Mile Nationals champion in 1973. - Al Major Photo
The 1973 Nationals belonged to Eddie Leavitt. First he won
the Junior Nationals on Sunday night with a last lap pass of Dick Sutcliffe and
on Monday night he drove away from the field to win the Third Mile Nationals.
While attempts were made to run the Third Mile Nationals
after 1973, that was the last true Third Mile Nationals for many years.
Memories of the Third Mile Nationals are awakened each year with the running of
both the Eagle Nationals and the season ending Nebraska Cup at Eagle the week
after Labor Day.
Special Thanks go to
well known Sprint Car Historian Bob Mays for his help with this story.
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