Norm Paul
Eldon, Iowa
(August 11, 1968) – A field of 22 of the top IMCA sprint cars invaded the
Wapello County Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon for the annual renewal.
Norm Paul of
Auburn, Calif., would set fast time in the afternoon, touring the half-mile in
25.75 seconds, driving the Pittman Chevy Special.
The feature
was in the true sense of the word a grand finale with the lead changing hands
three times.
Ralph Parkinson
of Wichita Falls, Tex., jumped into the lead on the first lap and stayed there
for the next 10 circuits fighting off the constant challenges of Dick Sutcliffe
of Greenwood, Mo., and Lee Kunzman of Guttenberg, Iowa.
Kunzman
brought the Iowa fans to their feet when he put the L&M Speed Shop Special
into the top spot on lap 11. Kunzman would stretch out to a commanding lead
until a yellow came out on lap 16 when Jerry Blundy of Galesburg, Ill., and
Cliff Cockrum of Benton, Ill., locked up in the second turn causing both cars
to spin.
When the
green dropped again, it was Norm Paul, who had started sixth on the invert,
right on the bumper of Kunzman. Paul would go nose-to-tail with Kunzman down
the backstretch and entering turns three and four, Paul would power past the
popular Iowan on the inside.
From there,
Paul would open up a three car-length lead over the final five laps and win
easily. Kunzman would settle for second while Sutcliffe would take third.
Results –
Qualifying –
Norm Paul, Auburn, Calif. (25.75)
Heat #1 –
Lee Kunzman, Guttenberg, Iowa
Heat #2 –
Johnny Babb, Ottumwa, Iowa
Heat #3 –
Ron Perkins, Bethalto, Ill.
Consolation
– Stan Borofsky, Kansas City
Trophy dash
– Lee Kunzman
Feature –
1. Norm Paul
2. Lee Kunzman
3. Dick Sutcliffe
4. Ralph Parkinson, Wichita Falls, Tex.
5. Hank Smith, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
6. J.L. Cooper, Kansas City
7. Cliff Cockrum, Benton, Ill.
8. Stan Borofsky, Kansas City
9. Ron Perkins
10.
Chuck
Lynch, Springfield, Ill.
Editor’s Note – The win at Eldon,
Iowa, would be Norm Paul’s first and last IMCA sprint car win. A little over a month
later, Paul would be involved in unfortunate crash while competing in Spencer,
Iowa, and lose his arm. The accident would end Paul’s racing career.
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