1961 – Nelson Sets Record Winning 150-Miler

Racine's Norm Nelson poses next to his trophy after winning the USAC stock car 150-miler at the Wisconsin State Fair.

West Allis, Wis. (August 13, 1961) – Seven is supposed to be a lucky number and 13 an unlucky number – but both proved to be lucky Sunday for Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis., at State Fair Park.

It was August 13, but Nelson set two records in winning the 150-miler for late model stock cars. He became the first driver to win seven major stock car races here and he turned the trick in record time.

In receiving the checkered flag first in the United States Auto Club national championship race before 19,921 spectators, Nelson average 89.419 miles per hour with a clocking of 1 hour, 40 minutes and 37 seconds. The old mark set last year by Paul Goldsmith of St. Clair Shores, Mich., was 1 hour, 41 minutes and 43 seconds or 88.469 miles per hour.

The victory, achieved in his own ’61 Ford, was worth $2,746.

Dick Rathmann of Roselle, Ill., was runner-up in a ’61 Ford. He was 27 seconds back of the leader and collected $1,917. Goldsmith was third in a ’61 Pontiac, good for $1,448. Whitey Gerkin of Chicago drove a ’61 Chevrolet to fourth place -worth $1,009. Len Sutton of Portland, Ore., was fifth in a ’61 Pontiac picking up $699.

Rathmann was the only one of the three-car Bill Trainor-owned Zecol-Lubaid Ford team to finish. Eddie Sachs of Coopersburg, Penn., winner of the July 200-miler, broke a distributor cap after 52 miles and Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, the third pilot, blew the water hosing on his car after 107 miles.

White won the pole position in 38.42 seconds or 93.701 miles per hour, a new record. He broke the old mark (93.469 mph) set by Nelson last year.

But when the 40 starters roared into the first turn, it was Nelson who was out in front, and he was still there after 16 laps.

White managed to forge ahead on lap 17 and entering traffic. However, a car driven by Richard Kleich of Chicago, broke a drive shaft and lost its brakes, tossing metal and fluid on the south turn. The caution flag was out for eight laps and when the green flag waved on lap 40, it was Nelson back out in front.

Nelson drove 98 miles before going to the pit area for a tire change and gasoline and was fifth behind leader Rodger Ward of Indianapolis when he returned after a quick 27-second pit stop.

At this point, however, none of the four cars in front of him had pitted yet…and Nelson realized each of them would have to do so.

As they began dropping out for pit stops, Nelson began to gain ground. When Ward pitted on the 112th lap, Goldsmith took over, but he stayed in front for only two lap before being forced to gas up. That’s when Nelson took over for keeps.

Of the 40 starters, 22 were still running at the finish.


Results –


1. Norm Nelson
2. Dick Rathmann
3. Paul Goldsmith
4. Whitey Gerkin
5. Len Sutton
6. Troy Ruttman
7. Les Snow
8. Earl Johnson
9. Herb Shannon
10.Rodger Ward
11.Tilford “Red” Aase
12.Dave Lundman
13.Gil (Skippy) Michaels
14.Bill Lutz
15.Gordon Gorman
16.Bob Pronger
17.Ray Berry
18.Eddie Meyer
19.Rich Sutkus
20.Roy Atkinson
21.Skeetz Wyman
22.Ed Kozbiel
23.Don Oldenberg
24.Don White
25.Ted Hane
26.Jerry Richard
27.Sal Tovella
28.Bill Shoulders
29.Bob Schultz
30.Don O’Dell
31.Eddie Sachs
32.Gary Sheldon
33.Richard Kleich
34.Tom Cox
35.Bob Slensby
36.Gene Marmor
37.Jack Holbrook
38.John Rostek
39.Elmer Musgrave
40.Paul Burrow