Bill Utz
Des Moines,
Iowa (August 17, 1975) – Jan Opperman of Noxon, Mont., was the first to cross
the finish line on Sunday in the 30-lap International Motor Contest Association
sprint car feature at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
But, the
left rear wheel was found to be illegal after Bill Utz of Sedalia, Mo.,
protested and Utz was then declared the winner.
Eddie
Leavitt of Kearney, Mo., got most of the glory this afternoon. After he spun
out (he claims Opperman was the cause of the mishap), Leavitt went to the rear
of the 18-car field, then proceeded to work his way back up to second only to
spin out again. And again, he claimed Opperman was the cause. He would recover
one more time and finish fourth in the race.
“I wouldn’t
have protested if Opperman hadn’t knocked Eddie out twice,” said Utz. “I don’t
like to win races that way.”
Utz, who
also won an IMCA-sanctioned feature Saturday at the Missouri State Fair, said
he personally measured the width of the wheel after the race, then put up the
$50 for the protest. The money would have been forfeited had Opperman been
found legal.
Utz received
$900 for his victory while Opperman didn’t receive a penny.
Race
promoter Homer Melton said the wheel’s width was 12-3/4 inches. Twelve inches
is the maximum under IMCA rules.
Opperman
said his pit crew had changed the tires during a timeout following Leavitt’s
first spinout. “They thought they were puting on a 11-3/4 inch wheel,” remarked
Opperman. “But they got the wrong wheel.”
Ralph
Parkinson Sr. of Wichita finished second and Johnny Babb of Ottumwa, Iowa, took
third.
Results –
Heat #1 –
Sonny Smyser, Glenwood, Mo.
Heat #2 –
Bill Hudson, Des Moines
Heat #3 –
Johnny Babb, Ottumwa, Iowa
Consolation
– Del Schmidt. Topeka, Kan.
Feature –
1. Bill Utz, Sedalia, Mo.
2. Ralph Parkinson Sr., Wichita, Kan.
3. Johnny Babb
4. Eddie Leavitt, Kearney, Mo.
5. Del Schmidt
6. Phil Howell, Jacksonville, Ill.
7. Bill Hudson
8. Roger Rager, Mound, Minn.
9. Mike Thomas, Des Moines
10. Steve Hainline, Bonaparte, Iowa
11. Wayne Holz, Lincoln, Neb.
12. Sonny Smyser
13. Randy Smith, Mount Ayr, Iowa
14. Tony Webster, Topeka, Kan.
15. Steve Lewis, Kansas City
16. Gene Kester, Odessa, Mo.
17. Dick Forbrook, Morgan, Minn.
18. Jan Opperman, Noxon, Mont.
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