David Goldsberry
Odessa, Mo.
(July 27, 1974) – David Goldsberry of Bolivar, Mo., coasted to victory at I-70
Speedway’s National Championship 300, banking more than $4,500 in prize money.
Goldsberry’s
battered blue and gold 1972 Chevelle ran perfectly and had a three-lap lead on
the second and third place cars on lap 294 when sparks began spewing out of his
car caused by a flat on the left front tire. The car slowed, but Goldsberry had
full control and maintained a good pace. The real issue developed when he took
the white flag, signaling the last lap.
Goldsberry’s
car began running out of gas, going slower and slower around the half-mile.
Freddie Whisler of Independence, Mo., driving a 1973 Camaro, was really flying
and manage to pass Goldsberry twice, but he needed to pass him one more time.
As flagman
Kenny Austin furiously waved the checkered flag, Goldsberry’s Chevelle inched
closer and closer to the finish line, stopping just a car length over the
finish line as Whisler came flying by just a few seconds too late. Whisler
would settle for second while Joe Ruttman of Dearborn Heights, Mich., took
third and Bob Williams of Independence, Mo., grabbed fourth.
Bob Senneker
of Dorr, Mich., who set fast time in qualifying at 18.02 seconds, and also won
the qualifying feature on Friday night, led the first 34 laps before a blown
tire caused him to slow abruptly on the backstretch, and Joe Wallace of Peyton,
Colo., who had been drafting him, bumped him from behind, sending the two
drivers spinning into the infield.
Goldsberry
would become the new leader on the restart and would lead until lap 80 until
the next caution came out.
Ruttman
would take over the top spot on the next restart and begin setting a torrid
pace. He pulled away from the rest of the field was really pouring on the
power. The yellow flag would come out again on lap 103 as Roy McClellan of
Riverside, Mo., and Dean Ayres of Platte Woods, Mo., collided. The red flag was
waved to clean up debris an Ruttman pulled into the pits for fuel.
A crewman of
Ruttman’s spilled some of the high-octane gas and thee car was engulfed in
flames. Quick work by the track safety crew put out the fire and no one was
injured. Ruttman was back in the race for the restart and continued to lead.
Larry
Phillips of Springfield, Mo., would take the lead from Ruttman on lap 107 but a
pit stop for Phillips gave the lead back to Ruttman. On lap 138 Ruttman pitted
during a yellow and Goldsberry took the lead again.
Following
the restart, Goldsberry really mashed down on the accelerator and he and his
Chevelle started to widen the margin. He would continue to lead and by the time
the race had moved into the third half, Goldsberry started lapping the field.
Results –
1. David Goldsberry, Bolivar, Mo.
2. Freddie Whisler, Independence, Mo.
3. Joe Ruttman, Dearborn Heights, Mich.
4. Bob Williams, Independence, Mo.
5. Dean Ayres, Platte Woods, Mo.
6. Don Schoenfeld, Fort Smith, Ark.
7. Jack Chambers, Northfield, Ohio
8. Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.
9. Jack Constable, Princeton, Mo.
10. Terry
Brumley, Springfield, Mo.
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