Tom
Reffner is joined by Miss Red, White & Blue Colleen Schmude after winning
the 75-lapper at WIR. – Dick Jepsen Photo
By Gary Vercauteren
Kaukauna, Wis. (July 20, 1975) – Tom Reffner expertly guided his 1974 Javelin to victory in the second race of the Red, White & Blue State Championship Series at the Wisconsin International Raceway before a crowd of 6,846 sun-drenched fans. It was his 47th feature win of the season.
Reffner smoothly worked his car through the 25-car field and powered past Dave Watson of Milton on the 20th lap. From that point on, Reffner continued to increase his lead and won the 75-lap feature on the half-mile paved oval with a quarter-lap margin to spare over Watson.
Reffner gave the field a warning of things to come during qualifications when he flew around the track in 20.82 seconds, breaking a year-old mark held by Joe Shear of 21.12 seconds.
Bloomington, Minn., driver Bill Oas broke into the early lead from his pole position and held the top spot for four laps until Rich Somers of Stevens Point passed him in the third turn.
Dick Trickle moved past Somers on the 11th round only to be passed by Watson two laps later. Meanwhile, Reffner slipped past Trickle on lap 18 and two laps later, powered past Watson with John Ziegler, winner of the Red Race, glued to his rear bumper.
Ziegler remained in the picture until lap 69 when he dropped out with mechanical problems while running second, about six-car-lengths behind Reffner.
Watson finished second with Larry Detjens of Wausau, making a late charge to earn himself third-place money. Detjens wheeled his hemi-powered Dodge Challenger past Somers, Shear and Trickle during the final five laps of the race.
Results –
1. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
2. Dave Watson, Milton
3. Larry Detjens, Wausau
4. Rich Somers, Stevens Point
5. Joe shear, South Beloit, Ill.
6. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
7. John Reimer, Caledonia
8. Tom Musgrave, Mundelein, Ill.
9. Fred Bender, Sun Prairie
10.Bob Gunn, Monona
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