Sunday, September 20, 2020

1969 - Hilmer, Hoffman win Des Moines Titles

 





Des Moines, Iowa (September 20, 1969) – Bob Hilmer and Don Hoffman scored triple victories, both including season championships, at the Iowa State Fair Speedway on Saturday night before 7,500 fans.

Hilmer of Dysart, Iowa, driving his 1965 Chevelle, took the pole position in the 35-lap season championship, and led all but one lap when young Lem Blankenship pulled ahead of him.

Hilmer also edged out Darrel Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the first 20-lap feature that was being rerun after being rained out two weeks ago. Hilmer took the checkered flag in the second heat.

Hoffman, who opened up the evening in winning style by capturing the 25-lap sportsman season championship, trailed the entire race in the final 15-lap makeup feature. Trailing Carl Vander Wal of Ames, Iowa, who had won only one race at the track all season, led for 14 and a half laps before taking the third turn too high and spinning, letting Hoffman go home with an easy victory.

Vander Wal had accumulated a quarter lap lead over the half-mile oval. The spin cost him a victory and relegated him to a fourth-place finish.

Hoffman led the sportsman season championship all of the way – after 24 cars started the race. As it ended, only nine finished in the wreck-marred funfest.

Results –

Late Model

Makeup –

1. Bob Hilmer, Dysart, Iowa
2. Darrel Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
3. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
4. Arlo Becker, Atkins, Iowa
5. Stan Stover, Reinbeck, Iowa

Season Championship

1. Bob Hilmer
2. Lem Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Darrel Dake
4. George Barton, Ankeny, Iowa
5. Bill McDonough
6. Arlo Becker
7. Roger Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa
8. Don Davidson, Des Moines
9. Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
10. Chuck Berg, De Moines

Sportsman

Make-up -

1. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
2. Mike Brooks, Knoxville, Iowa
3. Lee Pinckney, Des Moines
4. Carl Vander Wal, Ames, Iowa
5. George Derry, Des Moines

Season Championship -

1. Don Hoffman
2. Mike Brooks
3. Sam Foggia, Des Moines
4. Marvin Korns, Brooklyn, Iowa
5. L.E. Burns, Des Moines
6. Rick Grant, Madrid, Iowa
7. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
8. Larry Embrey, Panora, Iowa
9. Joe Alsin, Ankeny, Iowa
10. Ron Van Roekel, Pella, Iowa

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