Independence,
Iowa (August 31, 1978) – Gary Crawford of Independence, Iowa, rode a first-lap
maneuver to a 50-lap late model victory in the first annual Mini-Pix Shrine
special at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds on Thursday night.
Crawford
started on the second row but roared past front row starters Curt Hansen of
Dike, Iowa, and Glen Martin of Independence, Iowa, to take the lead. He would
hold the top spot for all 50 laps, picking up a very popular victory in front
of the hometown fans.
“I figured
the best time to pass would be early,” said the Independence farmer. “I knew
the track would get dry-slick at the end and the tires I had would work better
early on.”
Obviously,
making money wasn’t Crawford’s only concern. He earned a total of $1,250 in
feature winnings. But he donated the $250 he earned in lap money back to the
Shriner’s hospital fund, which the beneficiary of the evening’s races.
Crawford
also returned the winner’s trophy which will be put in display at the
children’s hospital in Minneapolis.
Crawford’s
pre-race analysis proved correct. In fact, it almost cost him the race.
Crawford’s
car went too high on lap 33, and Glen Martin tried to get underneath Crawford
but was blocked out by a slower car.
Hansen, who
earned the pole position by winning the first heat, finished second to
Crawford, passing Martin on lap 48. Denny Osborn of Cedar Falls, Iowa, also got
around Martin on the last lap to place third.
Thursday’s
late model turnout was one of the most impressive fields in the state this
season. Waterloo, Iowa’s Ed Sanger failed to place in the top-five in his heat
and didn’t qualify for the feature.
Results –
First heat –
Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa
Second heat
– Glen Martin, Independence, Iowa
Third heat –
Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa
Fourth heat
– Gary Crawford, Independence, Iowa
Consolation
– John Connolly, Delhi, Iowa
Feature –
1. Gary Crawford
2. Curt Hansen
3. Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls, Iowa
4. Glen Martin
5. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
6. Joe Schaefer, Waterloo, Iowa
7. Leon Plank, Mondovi, Wis.
8. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo, Iowa
9. Carl Severson, Dubuque, Iowa
10.
Tom
Bartholomew, Waterloo, Iowa