Daytona Beach, Fla. (February 10, 1974) - Like good wine, Iggy Katona gets better with age.
The 58-year-old veteran from Willis, Mich., fought off Ron Hutcherson of Keokuk, Iowa, and Canadian Earl Ross in a race-long battle Sunday and won the 200-mile event for short track drivers from the Midwest-based Auto Racing Club of America.The stocky, booted Katona, a grandfather several times over, had started the 80-lap race at Daytona International Speedway from the front row pole position after qualifying at 180.404 miles an hour. He poked his orange and red Dodge in front several times before taking the lead for good with four laps remaining then held off the 30-year-old Hutcherson to clear the barrier about five car lengths ahead.
Following Katona and Hutcherson across the line was the 31-year-old Ross, from Ailsa Craig, Ontario, making only his second big speedway start. Hutcherson drove a Mercury and Ross piloted a Chevrolet.
Paul Feldner of Richfield, Wis., finished fourth in a Dodge while fifth place went to Jim Tobin of Hudson, Ill., also in a Dodge. Tobin might have done better had he not spun off the course in avoiding Tom Maier, who had lost control directly ahead of him.
There were 21 lead changes in the hotly contested race, with Hutcherson and Ross sharing equal billing in that department with Katona, who now has won three ARCA features at Daytona.
Results –
1. Iggy Katona
2. Ron Hutcherson
3. Earl Ross
4. Paul Feldner
5. Jim Tobin
6. Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
7. Terry Link
8. Gary Wroan
9. Jack Shanklin
10.Jerry Hufflin
11.Wayne Trinkle
12.Delmar Clark
13.Blackie Wangerin
14.Wayne Watercutter
15.Leroy Austin
16.Bill Clemons
17.Tom Culbertson
18.Jim Osgar
19.Bobby Watson
20.Ralph Young
21.Mickey Flora
22.Len Blanchard
23.A. Arnold
24.Red Farmer
25.Tony Schiller
26.Ralph Jones
27.Tom Maier
28.Dave Dayton
Iggy Katona drove Buddy Ward's Dodge to victory at Daytona. - Howard O'Reilly Photo
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