Monday, August 30, 2021

1979 - Burbridge wins Vinton open competition





Vinton, Iowa (August 30, 1979) – Jim Burbridge of Delhi, Iowa, led the whole way to win the season-ending open competition special at the Benton County Fairgrounds.

Burbridge was one of several late model drivers to bring their cars to the Vinton quarter-mile and they were dominant. Darrell Sells of Waverly, Iowa, wound up second and Tom Fitzpatrick of Gilbertville, Iowa, was fourth, coming from far back in the field.

Scott Braun of Cedar Falls, Iowa, driving a sportsman, finished third.

Tim Jensen of Waterloo, Iowa, finished fifth and Ed Sanger of Waterloo, driving a borrowed sportsman car, came from dead last on the starting grid to finish sixth.

Sanger had not qualified for the main event from his heat race, but won the “B” feature to grab the last starting spot in the 20-lap “A” main.

While the “A” and “B” mains were accident free, the 15-lap “C” main was another story. The race was repeatedly stopped as cars flew off with uncanny regularity. Arlo Becker of Atkins, Iowa, driving a modified, won the race.

Heat wins went to Dave Bentley of Fairbank, Iowa, Dave Plum of Waterloo, Jim Buhlman of Waterloo and Fitzpatrick, all in late models.

Dick Ennenga of Waterloo won the “Hare n’ Hound” race, successfully eluding hounds Bill Tharp of Garrison, Iowa, and Larry Sommerfelt of Waterloo in the five-minute event.


Results –


First heat – Dave Bentley Fairbank, Iowa
Second heat – Dave Plum, Waterloo, Iowa
Third heat – Jim Buhlman, Waterloo, Iowa
Fourth heat – Tom Fitzpatrick, Gilbertville, Iowa
C-main – Arlo Becker, Atkins, Iowa
B-main – Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
Feature –
1. Jim Burbridge, Delhi, Iowa
2. Darrell Sells, Waverly, Iowa
3. Keith Braun, Cedar Falls, Iowa
4. Tom Fitzpatrick
5. Tim Jensen, Waterloo, Iowa
6. Ed Sanger
7. Jim Buhlman
8. Dean Wagner, Waterloo, Iowa
9. Mike Krall, Waterloo, Iowa
10. Ben Schaefer, Raymond, Iowa
11. Greg Kastli, Waterloo, Iowa
12. Dave Bentley

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