Tuesday, September 21, 2021

1969 – Derr Tops I-70 Speedway Races


"The Old Fox" Ernie Derr, won the 200-lap IMCA stock car feature at Odessa, Mo. 



Odessa, Mo. (September 21, 1969) – Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, the nine-time International Motor Contest Association national stock car champion, won the 200-lap late model stock car feature on I-70 Speedway’s half-mile asphalt oval.

It was Derr’s first appearance at the new speedway. Over 7,200 turned out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to watch Derr set a new world’s record in qualifying as he was clocked at 19.62 seconds in qualifying breaking the old mark (19.65) set earlier this month at the half-mile track at the Minnesota State Fair.

Derr’s time for the 200-lapper was 1 hour, 16 minutes and 38 seconds, eclipsing the previous record for 100 miles on a half-mile asphalt track set by Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa, on September 6, 1965, at 1 hour, 18 minutes and 19 seconds.

Derr led the race from the 75th lap on. He made his mandatory pit stop on lap 92 and another quick pit stop later in the race for a splash of gas.

Irv Janey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, took runner-up honors. Janey led the race from lap 34 until Derr passed him on lap 75. He kept in close contention with Derr but three pit stops cost him valuable time.

Fred Horn of Marion, Iowa, kept the crowd on its feet with his fine driving ability. He would finish in third, giving Iowans a clean sweep.

Lewi Taylor of Shawnee, Kan., was fourth while Butch Hall of Russell, Minn., took fifth.


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
3. Fred Horn, Marion, Iowa
4. Lewis Taylor, Shawnee, Kan.
5. Butch Hall, Russell, Minn.
6. Leland Cain, Miller, S.D.
7. Leon Bowman, Wichita, Kan.
8. Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
9. Dave Wall, Kansas City
10.Thurman Lovejoy, Kansas City        

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