Johnny Rutherford accepts his trophy after winning the 30-lap IMCA big car feature at Salem.
Salem, Ind.
(July 15, 1962) – Johnny Rutherford of Fort Worth, Tex., drove his Beatson
Chevy to first place here in the 30-lap IMCA big car feature in a new record
time of 10 minutes and seven seconds, erasing the old mark of 10 minutes and 33
seconds set in 1954 by Buzz Barton of Tampa, Fla.
Rutherford,
who started fourth by virtue of his qualifying and winning the third heat, took
over the lead when Johnny White lost his engine in the Chet Wilson 270 Offy.
The Warren,
Mich., speedster led laps 9 through 20 after initial leader Tom McClellan of
Dayton, Ohio, spun out in the first turn after starting in the pole position.
McClellan posted the fastest lap in qualifying, turning a time of 19.17 seconds
on the high-banked half-mile.
Arnie
Knepper of Belleville, Ill., was chasing Rutherford by a few car lengths as the
checkered waved. Filling out the top five were Bill Kimmel, Dick Gaines and Ray
Duckworth.
Winner of
10-lap heat were Rutherford, White, and Duckworth. Gaines captured the 10-lap
semi-feature. Knepper accounted for the 5-lap trophy dash.
Tom York of
South Bend, Ind., driving a powerful Pontiac, brought the 4,000 spectators to
their feet when his steering let go in his heat race and smacked the wall in
front of the grandstand. York was uninjured but the car wasn’t so lucky.
Rutherford,
who has been doing a terrific job this season, extended his points lead in the
IMCA national championship race and will be a tough customer to beat.
Results –
1. Johnny Rutherford
2. Arnie Knepper
3. Bill Kimmel
4. Dick Gaines
5. Ray Duckworth
6. Pete Folse
7. Buzz Rose
8. Red Renner
9. Calvin Gilstrap
10. Curly
Boyd
11. Benny
Rapp
12. Bill
Black
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