1979 – Eaker Sails to El Kahir Victory

Verlin Eaker (right) won the 50-lap El Kahir Shrine late model special at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. Also shown (left to right), fast timer Leon Plank, trophy dash winner Mike Niffenegger and semi-feature winner Tom Hearst. – Earl Schwartz Photo

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 31, 1979) – Suggest to Verlin Eaker that he “owns” Hawkeye Downs Speedway when it comes to long-distant special races, and he might laugh.

But suggest it to a host of other drivers that compete at the Downs, and they’ll probably agree.

The latest in a string of special wins dating back to last season came Tuesday night when Eaker won the second annual El Kahir Shrine Directors Staff 50-lap late model race before 7,000 fans who spent much of the final 20 laps of the race on their feet as Eaker dueled for the lead.

The win on Tuesday was Eaker’s fourth straight in feature events at Hawkeye Downs of 50 laps or more of competition. His string began last fall when he won the 100-lap Yankee Dirt Track Classic and it continued this spring with a victory in the Miller 100, and again barely 10 days ago when he won the Winston 50.

Tuesday’s win, however, was anything but easy.

Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo, Iowa, led most of the way – 43 laps of the 50 laps to be precise. But Eaker was out front on the most important lap of all to take the checkered flag.

Zwanziger shot out to an early lead from his outside front row position and built a sizeable margin over the rest of the field. Eaker threaded his way through traffic, however, and moved in to challenge with 20 circuits to go. On the 32nd lap, Zwanziger and Eaker crossed the finish line in a virtual dead heat but it wasn’t until the 42nd lap that Eaker came across in front.

Zwanziger regained the top spot for the next two laps before Eaker took over for good on lap 45.

But it still wasn’t easy.

Although Zwanziger faded in the closing laps, Curt Hansen of Dike, Iowa, came on to challenge Eaker in the last couple of laps and finished second, his car partially sideways in a final vain attempt to catch the Mechanicsville, Iowa, veteran.

Tom Hearst of Wilton, Iowa, won the semi-feature, easily outdistancing the field.

Leon Plank of Mondovi, Wis., set fast time at 23.47 seconds while Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa, won the trophy dash.

Results –


1. Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville, Iowa
2. Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa
3. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa
4. Steve Keppler, Marion, Iowa
5. Leon Plank, Mondovi, Wis.
6. Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
7. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo, Iowa
8. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona, Iowa
9. Em Fretheim, Decorah, Iowa
10.Jim Burbridge, Delhi, Iowa
11.Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
12.John Connolly, Delhi, Iowa
13.Rollie Frink, Davenport, Iowa
14.Denny Hovinga, Pocahontas, Iowa
15.Jerry Holtkamp, Williams, Iowa
16.Bill Rice, Des Moines
17.Red Dralle, Evansdale, Iowa
18.Karl Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
19.Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls, Iowa
20.Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.
21.Gary Crawford, Independence, Iowa
22.Roger Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa
23.Don Hoffman, Des Moines
24.Gary Webb, Davenport, Iowa

1971 – Derr Takes Win at Fairgrounds

Ernie Derr is greeted in victory lane after winning the 25-lap late modified feature at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. 

Davenport, Iowa (July 30, 1971) – Ernie Derr of Keokuk led all the way and won the late modified feature Friday night at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds track.

Derr finished ahead of Dean Montgomery of Milan, Ill., Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Ray Guss of Milan, and Jim Gerber of McCausland.

Stan Crooks of Muscatine won the opening heat race with Terry Ryan of Davenport taking the second heat.

Montgomery and Dake ran one-two in the semi-feature with Roger Dolan of Lisbon placing third.

Gary Kerres of Edgington won the sportsman feature, beating Lyle Gehn of Colona, Ill. Ron Lint of Cedar Rapids, Stan Woode of Tipton, and Kenny Arthur of Davenport rounded out the top-five.


Results –


Late Modified –

Heat #1 – Stan Crooks, Muscatine
Heat #2 – Terry Ryan, Davenport
Semi-main – Dean Montgomery, Milan, Ill.
Feature –
1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk
2. Dean Montgomery
3. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
4. Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.
5. Jim Gerber, McCausland


Sportsman –

Heat #1 – Dave Wheeler, Davenport
Heat #2 – Dick Unzel, Rock Island, Ill.
Semi-main – Stan Woode, Tipton
Feature –
1. Gary Kerres, Edgington
2. Lyle Gehn, Colona, Ill.
3. Ron Lint, Cedar Rapids
4. Stan Woode
5. Kenny Arthur, Davenport

1979 – Faith Emerges from Confusion with Buggy 100 Title

 

Ronnie Faith

Paducah, Ky. (July 29, 1979) – When Sunday’s big race at Paducah International Raceway ended, you couldn’t tell the winners from the winners.

Ronnie Faith of Benton, Ky., thought he should be the winner of the Tri-City Buggy 100 – the feature race. Buck Simmons of Baldwin, Ga., left Kentucky thinking he had won. The track announcer told the crowd that Simmons had won, causing many of them to leave angry. Larry Moore of Dayton, Ohio, informed of his apparent third place finish, wondered why he wasn’t first.

“This is the most confusing thing I’ve seen in a long time of racing,” said Moore, a full-time professional. Several drivers commented afterwards but Moore’s was the only printable remarks. And some hot-under-the-collar pit crew members who squared off in a shoving and sometimes punching match – mostly just shoving, though – in the middle of the track after the race didn’t do the English language any favors either.

It was a dirt racing fan’s dream, though. There was enough dust to fill the cuffs of every pair of Levi’s in the pits. And after the dust settled, Faith had a heart-to-heart talk with Robert Smawley, president of the National Dirt Racing Association, which put on the 100-lap, $30,000 purse race. The talk was far from cheap. Faith’s verbal effort, coupled with his performance on the dirt, earned him the $5,000 top prize.

Many of the 4,000 people who watched six hours’ worth of loud, dusty oval bumper-tag, departed thinking Simmons had won, although most of the regulars at Charles Harrison’s speedway didn’t believe it was right or fair.

Neither did Smawley, the Kingsport, Tenn., promoter who is credited with bringing dirt track racing toward national respectability with his 14-stop NDRA championship series. When the race ended, he and his associates huddled over the lap sheets and declared Simmons the winner. But after hearing Faith, who contended that he and other drivers felt Simmons had been allowed to bend the rules and take unfair advantage of a caution flag, Smawley said Faith was the winner.

That pushed Moore into second place and made him the NDRA’s new point leader this season. There was other pushing. Faith and Moore creased each other’s bumpers four times in the frenzied last 10 laps, but apparently came out smiling at each other over their “I’ll spin you out” duel.

Trouble stalked the NDRA throughout the weekend beginning with the weather. They got Friday night’s qualifying races in, but rain on Saturday morning turned the infield and pit area into a hog wallow and postponed the 50-lap consolation and 100-lap main event until Sunday afternoon. Dirt racers and vampires have similar feelings about daylight.

“This dust is murder,” said Mel Morris, the 45-year-old driver of the Tri-City Buggy, a brand-new Camaro unveiled for the race by the Rock Island, Ill., parts and car-building company that sponsored it. “You’re afraid to charge because you can’t see what’s ahead of you in the dust. It’s too bad they had to run in daylight.”

An apparent lapse by Smawley during a rulebook controversy on lap 34 started it all of the confusion. Smawley’s snafu occurred when he went to the track following a smashup involving the four lead cars, one of which was Simmons. When it appeared that NDRA officials were going to go along with some of the other driver’s wishes, Simmons told Smawley if that was his decision, he was going to the pits to put water in his overheated radiator.

Smawley later agreed with Faith that Simmons should not have been permitted to pit. While he was in the pits, Simmons also replaced a faulty shock absorber. In the meantime, the NDRA that only the driver whose pinout caused the caution should be relegated to the rear of the field. So, when Simmons emerged from the pit area freshly watered and shocked, he, Moore, and Don Hobbs of Whiteland, Ind., went back to the front.

From there on, Simmons showed why he had been a three-time NDRA winner and point leader. He charged through the pack and twice was approaching half-lap leads when caution flags bunched up the field.

Faith, who started in the middle of the 24-car field, used his skill and knowledge of the track to edge up on Moore and set up their bumper duel. When the checkered flag dropped – before the protracted haggling that followed – the finish had appeared to be Simmons first, Faith second and Moore third.


Results –


1. Ronnie Faith, Benton, Ky.
2. Larry Moore, Dayton, Ohio
3. Billy Thomas, Columbus, Ga.
4. George Coonrod
5. Noel Witcher, Indianapolis
6. Bobby Thomas, Phenix City, Ala.
7. Jerry Inmon, Bruce, Miss.
8. Billy Hasselle, Marion, Miss.
9. Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.
10.Don Hobbs, Whiteland, Ind.
11.Gary Keeling, Paducah
12.Charles Jett, Paducah
13.W.T. Harris, Evansville, Ind.
14.Leon Archer, Griffin, Ga.
15.Charles Schwartz, Portsmouth, Ohio
16. Larry Walston, Benton, Ky.
17.Mel Morris, West Liberty, Iowa
18.Ira Bastin, Solsberry, Ind.
19.Ken Walton, Viola, Iowa
20.Rodney Combs, Loveland, Ohio

1973 – Smith Takes Minnesota NASCAR Lead

 

Larry Smith flashes under Roy Stine’s checkered flag, winning the 30-lap NASCAR late model feature at Elko Speedway. – John Karau Photo

Elko, Minn. (July 28, 1973) – No one can accuse Larry Smith of backing into the Minnesota State NASCAR point lead.

True, Dan Prziborowski, who led Smith by two points going into Saturday night’s 30-lap late model feature at Minnesota National Speedway, was not a factor in the contest and eventually faded to a 11th-place finish.

Starting from the very back of the field, after setting the evening’s fastest qualifying time, the 27-year-old Shakopee driver pushed his ’73 Mustang quickly into the midst of the battle, and relentlessly began to work his way through traffic.

Even after he had passed Prziborowski, who had established a slower qualifying time and had started two rows from the front, Smith continued his charge.

His effort paid off as he passed New Prague’s Mike Miller on the white flag lap and went on to register his second straight victory at Minnesota National and his fourth of the season.

Smith outraced the night’s fastest qualifiers, again from his last starting position, to win the 6-lap trophy dash.

Smith now has 1,126 points to Prziborowski’s 1,108 and leads both the Minnesota National Speedway and Raceway Park track championship standings.

Miller, the early-season point leader, who now ranks third in the standings, squeezed every ounce of power out of his smoking Mustang to finish second, just ahead of Mark Lamoreaux’s Chevy Nova.

Larry Behrens of Northfield finished fourth in a Chevelle while Dick Stang of Prior Lake shook off an early spin and drove his ’72 Camaro to a fifth-place finish.

1968 – Over 6,000 See Droste Triumph

Waterloo, Iowa (July 28, 1968) – Red Droste recovered from an early collision to win the mid-season championship race at Tunis Speedway on Sunday evening. More than 6,000 race fans packed the grandstands, the largest crowd in over five years.

Droste of Waterloo and Mert Williams of Rochester, Minn., bumped cars on the second lap of the Speed Chumley Memorial race, causing the race to be momentarily delayed.

Droste, who as the mid-season points leader started on the pole position, was placed at the back of the field on the restart because he had been involved in the stopping of the race.

But he rallied and won the 50-lap feature by a half-lap over runner-up Ed Sanger of Waterloo.

Both of the night’s two other events were stopped two laps early because of the red light.

In the consolation, a collision involving Vince Wells of Cedar Falls and Joe Bagsby of Independence on the 28th lap caused the race to be halted the victory was awarded to race leader Roger Klingfus of Waterloo.

Don Berg spun out on lap 18 of the novice race blocking the track with Roger Johnson of Independence in the lead. That race, too, was stopped and Johnson was awarded the win.

Total prize money for the program was $3,000, the largest purse in the track’s history.


Results –


Speed Chumley Memorial –

1. Red Droste, Waterloo
2. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
3. Cal Swanson, Reinbeck


Consolation –

1. Roger Klingfus, Waterloo
2. Al Mayner, Winthrop
3. Dave Plum, Waterloo
4. Rich Krafka, Dysart


Novice –

1. Roger Johnson, Independence
2. Chuck Larson, Waterloo
3. John Martin, Waterloo
4. George Danehy, Independence

1985 – Kraft Wins NDRA Midwest Swing Finale at I-44

Willy Kraft won the NDRA qualifier at I-44 Speedway. Joining him in victory lane is promoter Bill Moyer and Katerine Kilburn, and Kraft’s son, Shawn.

Lebanon, Mo. (July 27 ,1985) – The final score could read Moyer 3, Kraft 2, for the NDRA Midwestern Swing.

Billy Moyer won number three and collected $5,000 at Knoxville on Thursday night. Two nights later, Willy Kraft of Lakefield, Minn., was getting the last laugh as he took home the checkers at I-44 Speedway.

Kraft led start to finish in the 50-lapper with his only serious challenge coming from Larry Phillips of Springfield. T.J. Pauchert of Carlisle, Ark., was third with Jeff Purvis of Clarksville, Tenn., fourth and Kenny Brightbill of Silom Springs, Penn., rounding out the top-five.

In qualifying, Billy Moyer set a new track record of 15.37 seconds. Brightbill, Kraft, and Phillips were heat winners.


Results –


1. Willy Kraft, Lakefield, Minn.
2. Larry Phillips, Springfield
3. T.J. Pauchert, Carlisle, Ark.
4. Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
5. Kenny Brightbill. Silom Springs, Penn.
6. Jerry Inmon, Bruce, Miss.
7. Kevin Gundaker, St. Charles, Mo.
8. Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.D.
9. Wade Brooks, Carlisle, Ark.
10.Ronnie Hoover, Fulton

1977 – ‘Superman’ Wins Elder-Forrester Invitational

Sammy Swindell

Des Moines, Iowa (July 27, 1977) - Mild-mannered Sammy Swindell of Memphis, Tenn., looks like he should be out chasing fly balls in Little League baseball. The 5-foot 8-inch, 135-pounder would have trouble making his high school football team because of his size. He doesn't look like he's old enough to shave yet.

But it's easy to see why this 21-year-old has been nicknamed "Superman" when he drives a sprint car.

Swindell, who started in the fourth row, came charging out of the pack to win the 25-lap feature in the Elder- Forester Invitational at the State Fairgrounds Wednesday night, beating some of the best drivers in the business.

Swindell was the third leader in the race. Butch Bahr of Grand Island, Neb., led the first four laps then gave way to Doug Wolfgang of Des Moines. Wolfgang, who had won the feature here in the June 29 Midwest Futurity, led into lap 10 when Swindell took over and quickly moved away from the field.

Wolfgang had motor problems but ran second to Swindell until the twenty- fourth lap when he crashed into the wall in turn one.

"Either a tie rod or the right front radius rod broke on the car," said Wolfgang. "I was trying to turn the car, but it ran right into the wall. I dinged it up pretty good."

Wolfgang said this was the first time all year that his engine wasn't working right. "I really can't complain about that," he added. "It didn't have any power."

Swindell opened some eyes when he charged out of the third row to take the lead in the first turn during the third heat race, which he also won. lowans haven't seen the last of "Superman." "I'm going to stay around here and race until after the Knoxville Nationals," he said.

Ron Shuman of Tempe, Ariz., was second in the feature, Leland McSpadden of Phoenix, Ariz., finished third and Jimmy Boyd of Dixon, Calif., was fourth. Jimmy Sills of Sacramento, Calif., rounded out the top five.


Results –


Time trials – Rick Ferkel, Findlay, Ohio (22.16)
Trophy dash – Doug Wolfgang, Des Moines
Heat #1 – Jimmy Sills, Sacramento, Calif.
Heat #2 – Don Vogler, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Heat #3 – Sammy Swindell, West Memphis, Tenn.
Heat #4 – Roger Rager, Mound, Minn.
B-main – Jim Riggins, Lincoln, Neb.
Feature –
1. Sammy Swindell
2. Ron Shuman, Tempe, Ariz.
3. Leland McSpadden, Phoenix, Ariz.
4. Jimmy Boyd, Dixon, Calif.
5. Bobby Marshall, Dallas, Tex.
6. Jimmy Sills
7. Rick Ferkel
8. Mike Shaw, Northridge, Calif.
9. Butch Bahr, Lincoln, Neb.
10.Ralph Parkinson Jr., Kansas City
11.Lloyd Beckman, Lincoln, Neb.
12.Jerry Blundy, Dahinda, Ill.
13.Doug Wolfgang
14.Mike Thomas, Des Moines
15.Mike Pinckney, Des Moines
16.Jan Opperman, Noxon, Mont.
17.John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn.
18.Lenard McCarl, Des Moines
19.Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
20.Jim Riggins

1970 – Conner Grabs Odessa Money

Dan Conner (6) chases leader Dave Wall (22) during the inaugural 100-lap National Championship at I-70 Speedway. Conner would get around Wall and go on to win the race. – Ivan Jackson Photo

Odessa, Mo. (July 26, 1970) – Dan Conner of Kansas City, behind the wheel of a 1964 Chevelle, crossed the finish line ahead of Dave Wall, also of Kansas City, to win the first annual National Championship title for late model stock cars at I-70 Speedway on Saturday night.

Conner took the lead from Wall on lap 82 and was never headed after that in the 100-lap event, which paid $1,500 to the winner.

The race got off to an accident-marred opening on the very first lap when Lewis Taylor’s 1969 Dodge Charger jumped over the wall in the third turn and ended upright in the east parking lot.

The incident started when Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, went underneath Fred Whisler of Independence entering the second set of turns exiting the backstretch. Whisler was below Taylor at the time.

Whisler’s 1970 Torino caught the left rear section off Taylor’s racer and the two cars started sliding towards the wall. Suddenly, Taylor’s right front tire jumped over the concrete retaining wall and propelled into the parking lot.

Five cars in the lot sustained damage.

The drivers were flagged to a stop on the front apron and waited for the restart.

The only other accident of the evening occurred on lap 6 when Gene Chancellor’s stock car hopped onto the retaining wall, came back off and dropped into the path of Ernie Derr. The first turn accident put Chancellor out of action for the rest of the night, but Derr was able to make repairs and return to the race.

Derr was leading the race at the time the accident occurred.

During the first 80 circuits, the first place battle between Conner, Wall, and Bill Wrich of Kennard, Neb., raged furiously. The trio set the pace for the rest of the contest.

Terry Bivins of Shawnee Mission, Kan., behind the wheel of a late model Chevelle, started far back in the 25-car field, but by lap 21 had moved all the way up to fourth place and was challenging the leaders.

An estimated 13,000 attended the two-day event with 7,800 watching the Saturday night finale.


Results –


1. Dan Conner
2. Dave Wall
3. Bill Wrich
4. Ernie Derr
5. Gene Chapman
6. Ray Littrell
7. Jim Hager
8. Gerry Harrison
9. Bob Williams
10.Vern Covert

1972 – ‘Injun Joe’ Leads Boone Charge

 

Joe Merryfield of Des Moines outdrove an impressive field of cars to win the Grand Nationals at Boone Speedway. Flagman Floyd Mitchell joins Merryfield in victory lane. – Beetle Bailey Photo

 

By Jerry Dickinson

Boone, Iowa (July 25, 1972) – “Injun” Joe Merryfield cut the pack off at the pass as he captured the Short Track Grand Nationals Championship for super late models at Boone Speedway on Tuesday night.

Running before a full house, Merryfield, of Des Moines, pressured Boone regular Denny Hovinga, Laurens, throughout most of the race, taking the lead for good with only two laps remaining.

Hovinga chose to run the tight inside groove on the dry track, which proved costly ($250 difference between first and second place to be exact).

Merryfield was challenging on the outside as he and Hovinga moved up to lap Dan Nesteby, Waterloo. Nesteby was given the “pull over” flag and he dipped to the inside of the track as ordered. Unfortunately for Hovinga, that was also where the Laurens driver was running, and Merryfield went to the outside in the first turn of the next-to-last lap to take over the lead.

Hovinga and Bill Barthelmes, Troy Mills, had staged a duel for the top spot midway through the 50-lap contest, pulling away from the rest of the talented field. Then, a yellow flag came out for a stalled car on the track, putting Merryfield and several others right behind the leaders for the restart.

When racing action resumed, Hovinga led with Dr. Al Mayner, Winthrop running second. Merryfield got by the “Flying Physician” into second and the race was on between him and Hovinga.

Often running side-by-side, the two continued their battle and Merryfield tried inside once as Hovinga broke out of his usual groove and the Des Moines driver was in the lead.

However, the yellow flew again just as Merryfield made his move, and the restart was lined up according to the last lap completed, putting Hovinga back in front.

Merryfield kept the pressure on Hovinga until the opportunity to pass presented itself when Hovinga got boxed in by Nesteby, then moved out.

The two cars came out of the fourth turn on the last lap side-by-side, but Merryfield had the power and the momentum down the frontstretch to win by two-car-lengths.

Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley, was third, Ed Sanger, Waterloo, was fourth, and Earl Tice, Ames, rounded out the top five.

Weedon won the 20-lap B-main over Arnie Braland, Boone.

Making it a championship sweep by Des Moines drivers, Glenn Woodard, Des Moines, grabbed the lead on the first lap of the sportsman feature and led all 30 laps and the $200 first-place money. Dennis Osborn, Cedar Falls, was second, followed by Rex Hill, Kanawha.


Results –


Super Late Models -

1. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
2. Denny Hovinga, Laurens
3. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
4. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
5. Earl Tice, Ames
6. Arnie Braland, Boone
7. Arlo Dorenbush, Boone
8. Joel Rasmussen, Ames
9. Henry Smidt, Cedar Falls
10.D. Arthur Nesteby, Waterloo
11.Ron Tilley, Council Bluffs
12.Ken Davidson, Des Moines
13.Ken Farrell, New Hampton
14.Bill Barthelmes, Troy Mills
15.Gordon Simpson, Marshalltown


Sportsman –

1. Glenn Woodard, Des Moines
2. Dennis Osborn, Cedar Falls
3. Rex Hill, Kanawha
4. Bill Tucker, Jefferson
5. Fred Van Cannon, Boone
6. John Reed, Webster City
7. Norm Carlson, Ames
8. Bill Hickey, Adel
9. Keith Conroy, Jefferson
10.Roger Tapper, Webster City

1971 – Record 10,465 See Hilmer Capture Mid-Season Title

Des Moines, Iowa (July 24, 1971) - John Connolly, Don Hoffman and Stan Stover all suffered heart break Saturday night and Bob Hilmer of Dysart was there to take advantage and won the 35-lap mid-season late model stock car championship at the State Fairgrounds.

Dick Gustin of Des Moines became a three-time winner, capturing the 15-lap sportsman feature in another thrilling race.

A record crowd of 10,465 saw the lead change several times in the late model main event with Hilmer taking the lead on the 27th lap to win his third feature of the season. Hilmer collected $500 plus a bonus of $100 for winning the mid-season title.

Connolly of Delhi started on the first row in the mid-season championship race and led the first 22 laps. Just when he was running away from the field, Connolly’s 1969 Mercury Cyclone pulled to the infield with gear problems.

Hoffman, running second at the time, inherited the point. He and Hilmer dueled door handle to door handle for four laps until Hoffman pulled into the pits with a bad radiator. Hilmer took charge after that.

Stover, who was second in points at the halfway mark, was right behind Connolly until lap 11 when he had to pit to change a flat tire. He would mount a comeback and finish 10th.

Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids would finish second and Dan Dickey of Packwood would take third.

Gustin nearly felt the same misfortune as the late model pilots. His 1965 Chevelle started spewing smoke as early as the third lap. Gustin mentioned in victory lane afterwards that his oil pressure was low and that if the race had been longer, he probably wouldn’t have made it to the finish.

Joe Merryfield of Des Moines, who finished second and Lee Pinckney, also of Des Moines, who was third, gave Gustin a good battle to the end.


Results –


Late Model -

1. Bob Hilmer, Dysart
2. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
3. Dan Dickey, Packwood
4. Dave Chase, Council Bluffs
5. Bob Bonser, Liscomb
6. Larry Embrey, Grimes
7. Morey Willis, Van Horne
8. Ken Davidson, Des Moines
9. Gary Jones, Des Moines
10.Stan Stover, Reinbeck


Sportsman -

1. Dick Gustin, Des Moines
2. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
3. Lee Pinckney, Des Moines
4. Virgil Webb, Des Moines
5. Phil Reece, Des Moines
6. Roger Bruce, Des Moines
7. Cliff Van Zandt, Des Moines
8. Bill Davis, Des Moines
9. Bob Dishman, Des Moines
10.DeWayne Manchester, Des Moines

1955 – Hilmer Sets Record, White Wins Race

 

Don White 

Sioux Falls, S.D. (July 24, 1955) – Don White, who has been beset by mechanical troubles for several weeks in his 1955 Oldsmobile, found the shoe on the other foot Sunday as he won the 100-lap feature of the late model stock car races at the Sioux Empire Fair.

It was the mechanical failure of another 1955 Oldsmobile which enabled White, the little Keokuk, Iowa, driver to take first place.

Bob Hilmer, the Dysart, Iowa, pilot, had established a new national record of 29.70 second in his one-lap qualifying spin and then set another national mark in winning his heat. Hilmer, a comparative newcomer to late model stock car racing, then sailed into the lead of the 100-lap main event and looked like he would stay there.

With only 11 laps to go, Hilmer’s car was forced to drop off the pace with a badly smoking front wheel bearing and White sped by him. On the 93rd circuit, Hilmer limped to the infield, his right front tire blazing from the heat.

It was a bad break for Hilmer, who had burst into national prominence with a 100-mile victory here in June, his first major victory.

Steady-driving Bill Harrison of Topeka, Kan., finished second while Bob Potter of Duluth, Minn., took third.

Hilmer, one of the fastest rising stars on the IMCA circuit, commented after his record-breaking time trial, “I didn’t realize I was going that fast, but the track was in beautiful shape.”


Results –


1. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
3. Bob Potter, Duluth, Minn.
4. Paul Newkirk, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
5. Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
6. Bob Brown, Springfield, Mo.
7. Roxy Dancey, Shreveport, La.
8. Delmar Donaldson, Burlington, Iowa
9. Herschel Buchanan, Shreveport, La.
10.Tiny Lund, Anita, Iowa

1985 – ARTGO Summer Nationals Capital Crown to Miller

Butch Miller is joined by Miss Capital Speedway Corrine Chatman after Miller won the first of two 50-lap features during the ninth annual Summer Nationals at Capital Speedway. Miller finished second in the nightcap to claim the overall title. – Russ Lake Photo

Oregon, Wis. (July 23, 1985) – Perhaps the hottest short track racer in the country today, Butch Miller grabbed first, and second place finishes in the twin 50-lap features on his way to capturing the overall championship in the ARTGO Challenge Series ninth annual Summer Nationals at Capital Speedway on Tuesday night.

Nailing down his fourth Challenge Series win of the season, Miller shared feature win honors with Alan Kulwicki, the evening’s fast qualifier, who captured his first-ever ARTGO main event.

Miller, the veteran Lawton, Mich., driver wheeled his Camaro to the win in the opening 50-lapper of the evening.

Taking over first place from current ARTGO point leader Joe shear on lap 19, Miller strolled to a six-car-length victory ahead of Shear at the checkered flag. Finishing behind Miller and Shear after 50 circuits were John Ziegler, Mark Martin, Dick Trickle, and Kulwicki.

Kulwicki would become the 31st different driver to win an ARTGO feature. Moving into first place after wrestling the lead away from early pacesetter Ted Musgrave, Kulwicki pulled away from the rest of the field and had almost a quarter of a lap lead over Miller at the completion.

Rounding out the top-six in the second 50-lapper were Al Schill, Trickle, Ziegler, and Jim Back.

Miller ended up on top of the final overall Summer Nationals standings, trailed by Kulwicki, Ziegler, Trickle, Shear, and Tom Reffner.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Butch Miller, Lawton, Mich.
2. Joe Shear, Lake Villa, Ill.
3. John Ziegler, Madison
4. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
5. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
6. Alan Kulwicki, Greenfield
7. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
8. Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton
9. Jim Back, Vesper
10.Bobby Gunn, Madison


Feature #2 –

1. Alan Kulwicki
2. Butch Miller
3. Al Schill, Franklin
4. Dick Trickle
5. John Ziegler
6. Jim Back
7. Tom Reffner
8. Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh
9. Rich Bickle
10.Joe Shear

1974 - Sioux Falls Driver Claims Challenge Cup III Crown

Mike Haugen of Sioux Falls established himself with the best of late model drivers by capturing the “Challenge Cup III” at State Fairgrounds Speedway. Haugen is shown accepting the giant trophy from Tony Dean, President of South Dakota Motorsports Association, and racestopper Linda Muth.

Huron, S.D. (July 23, 1974) - A 22-year-old Sioux Falls driver, Mike Haugan, who has been having a year of problems on the late model stock car circuit, overcame his troubles here Tuesday night by winning the Challenge Cup III at State Fairgrounds Speedway and in the process gained $600 for his outstanding performance.

Haugan, a five-year veteran of late models and a regular at Huset’s Speedway in Sioux Falls and Fairmont Speedway in Fairmont, Minn., was elated after being presented the huge Challenge Cup trophy, commenting that his car "worked beautifully, just great.”

A yellow flag late in the race forced the scheduled 50-lapper to go an extra three laps with Haugan and Don Pruess of Pierre and Willie Yost of Miller completing each lap.

Following Haugan in the placing of the top 10 cars in the race were Pruess, Yost, Roger Saathoff of Estelline, Jim Rawden of Aberdeen, Dale Peterson of Garretson, Gary Sieber of Columbia, Ron Muth of Huron, Roger Swenson of Watertown and Alan Gregg of Pierre.

Haugan actually won more than $600 in the big South Dakota Motorsports Association sponsored classic as he captured the fourth heat, joining Yost, Swenson and Bob Tong of Miller as heat winners. Cresbard’s Mel Lerew won the consolation race.

Haugan's victory was also an upset of kinds for most of the fans who packed the grandstand and bleachers as the race was expected to be a Chevrolet-Ford battle from start to finish. He won the race with his number four 1966 Plymouth, powered by a 446 cubic inch engine. Runner-up honors went to a Ford.

Before the race began, four of the most favored drivers Tong, Swenson, Yost and Haugan — were found in the first two rows of the 24-car starting field Swenson shot into the lead on the first lap and it looked as if a dream was about to come true for the Watertown ace as he held down the lead spot for the first 19 laps.

Haugan was applying pressure on Swenson going into the third curve area on the 20th lap and then the cars made broadside contact. Haugan managed to pull ahead and then Swenson blew a front tire to ruin his chances of winning. From there on, it was victory for the Sioux Falls youth as nothing could stop him.

A battle developed for second place, which was worth $500 as Yost held down the runner-up spot until Pruess squeezed by on the 39th lap. When Huron’s LaVern Styer lost a wheel on the front straightaway on the 44th lap, the cars were allowed to bunch up under the yellow flag, but when the green fell again on the 51st lap. Pruess managed to hold on.

A host of political dignitaries were on hand for the race with Governor Richard F. Kneip serving as grand marshal. Racing announcer Stew Reamer of Minneapolis, Minn., helped Tony Dean in announcing the races.

It was the first Challenge Cup victory for a South Dakota driver as the father and son team of Bill and Tim McDonough of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, won the first two classics.


Results –


Heat #1 – Bob Tong, Miller
Heat #2 – Roger Swenson, Watertown
Heat #3 – Willie Yost, Miller
Heat #4 – Mike Haugan, Sioux Falls
Consolation – Mel Lerew, Cresbard
Feature –
1. Mike Haugan
2. Don Pruess, Pierre
3. Willie Yost
4. Roger Saathoff, Estelline
5. Jim Rawden, Aberdeen
6. Dale Peterson, Garrettson
7. Gary Sieber, Columbia
8. Ron Muth, Huron
9. Roger Swenson
10.Alan Gregg, Pierre
11.James Zimmerman, Slayton, Minn.
12.Jerry Noteboom, Phillips
13.Lavern Styer, Huron
14.Cal Jung, Aberdeen
15.Don Wagner, Miller

1984 - Sills Scores NSCA Sprint Win at Donnellson

 

Californian Jimmy Sills made himself at home in Donnellson, Iowa, winning the NSCA winged sprint car feature. – Max Dolder Photo

Donnellson, Iowa (July 22, 1984) – Jimmy Sills of Sacramento, Calif., in the area for some Midwest sprint car shows, made a stop at the Lee County Fair and walked away with top honors in the National Speedways Contest Association winger sprint car feature on Sunday evening.

Galen Martin of Fairfield held the early lead in the 25-lapper before Scott Ritchhart of Lincoln, Ill., sped past. Ritchhart was doing a great job of keeping some distance between himself and Sills until a caution on lap 8 bunched the field up, putting the California speedster on his tail for the restart.

When the green flag dropped, the two drivers put on quite the show for the next several laps, slicing and dicing, before Sills slipped by on the inside to take over the lead he wouldn’t relinquish.

Ritchhart hung on to take runner-up honors with Martin coming home in third. Jim Moughan of Springfield, Ill., and Mike Thomas of Des Moines rounded out the top five finishers.

In other action, Dave Gretchell of Sperry made it two in a row, winning the street stock in dominating fashion.


Results –


Time trials – Rocky Hodges, Des Moines (19.389)
Heat #1 – Rocky Hodges
Heat #2 – Jimmy Sills, Sacramento, Calif.
Feature –
1. Jimmy Sills
2. Scott Ritchhart, Lincoln, Ill.
3. Galen Martin, Fairfield
4. Jim Moughan, Springfield, Ill.
5. Mike Thomas, Des Moines
6. Jim Grafton, Des Moines
7. Jimmy Bell, Des Moines
8. Dick Crook, Oskaloosa
9. Perry Jenkins, Farmington, Mo.
10. Glenn Hughes Jr., Denver, Colo.

1972 – Gerber Grabs First Win at West Liberty

Jim Gerber of Davenport grabbed his first feature win of the season at West Liberty Raceway. – Dick Kleindolph Photo

West Liberty, Iowa (July 22, 1972) – Jim Gerber of Long Grove finally ran into some good luck at West Liberty Raceway as he copped his first feature win of the season in Mississippi Valley Speed Club action before an estimated 3,000 fans.

Last week, Gerber led going into the final lap when his car ran out of gas and finished fourth. Two other times this season, he held the lead in the last few laps only to suffer mechanical failure.

But Saturday night, Gerber grabbed the lead from Muscatine’s Bill Hop on the 22nd lap and held on for the win. Hopp settled for second while Lone Tree’s Ron Hemsted finished third.

Ed Mellecker of Iowa City turned in the fastest time in qualifying, with a time of 26.16 seconds around the half-mile. Gerber turned in the second fastest time at 26.22 seconds.

The trophy dash was won by Shorty Bennett of Moline, Ill. Ron Prymek of Iowa City, John Brumley of Iowa City, and Hopp were heat winners. Dean Yordi of West Liberty was the semi-main winner.


Results –


1. Jim Gerber, Long Grove
2. Bill Hop, Muscatine
3. Ron Hemsted, Lone Tree
4. Larry Jenkins, Wilton
5. Perry Beckler, Tiffin
6. Don Morgan, Muscatine
7. Dennis Diercks, Davenport
8. Shorty Bennett, East Moline, Ill.
9. Mark Colberg, Muscatine
10.Ron Prymek, Iowa City

1977 -Trickle is SPS Champ

Dick Trickle

Wausau, Wis. (July 21, 1977) – Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, combined a feature victory with a King-of-the Mountain win to capture the mid-season championship title at the State Park Speedway here Thursday night.

Trickle passed Wausau's Larry Detjens on lap 29 of the second 30-lap feature after Detjens led for 10 laps of the contest

Detjens earlier turned fast time with a 14.576-second trip around the quarter-mile oval but couldn’t hold off the hard-charging Trickle.

Tom Steuding of Altoona captured the first feature race.

Steuding grabbed the lead on lap two and was never seriously challenged for the lead Dick Trickle finished second with Larry Detjens third and Marv Marzofka fourth

Wausau's Les Stankowski drove his 1976 Camaro to the semi- feature win.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Tom Steuding, Altoona
2. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
3. Larry Detjens, Wausau
4. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa
5. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
6. Jim Bohmsach, Wisconsin Rapids
7. Jim Back, Vesper


Feature #2 - 

1. Dick Trickle
2. Larry Detjens
3. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids
4. Marv Marzofka
5. Jim Back
6. Jim Weber
7. Mike DeMars, Minneapolis, Minn.

1962 – Crash Helps Gerken Win Illiana Race

Whitey Gerken (44) races against Curtis Turner (20) during the USAC late model stock car race at Illiana. Gerken would go on to win the race while Turner would finish second. – Wayne Bryant Photo/Stan Kalwasinski Collection

Schererville, Ind. (July 21, 1962) – A capacity crowd watched Whitey Gerken of Melrose Park, Ill., capture the USAC late model stock car 100-lapper at Illiana Speedway on Saturday night.

Gerken’s victory only came after race leader Paul Goldsmith of St. Clair Shores, Mich., dropped out on the 69th lap by a spectacular accident.

Goldsmith, who set a qualifying record of 24.24 seconds during time trials, was dominating the race, and had lapped all but five cars when Whitey Traeder of Milwaukee got the “move-over” flag to let Goldsmith by.

The wheel on Traeder’s car suddenly came off and landed on the track. Goldsmith’s 1962 Pontiac hit the wheel while going 90 miles per hour and flew into the air. When his car landed, it jarred off the oil pan and caught fire. Goldsmith roared down the straightaway like a Roman candle before grounding to a halt. Illiana’s fire brigade doused the blaze and Goldsmith stepped away with only minor scratches.

Gerken, who had been running second, inherited the top spot and took his 1962 Chevrolet to victory followed by Curtis Turner of Roanoke, Va., in a 1962 Ford, Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, in a 1962 Ford, Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis., in a 1962 Ford, and Gene Marmor of Schiller Park, Ill., in a 1960 Chevrolet.


Results –


1. Whitey Gerken, Melrose Park, Ill.
2. Curtis Turner, Roanoke, Va.
3. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Norm Nelson, Racine, Wis.
5. Gene Marmor, Schiller Park, Ill.
6. Troy Ruttman, Dearborn, Mich.
7. Elmer Musgrave, Niles, Ill.
8. Whitey Johnson, Hammond

1986 - Carson Capture Oklahoma SC 50

 

Shane Carson scored the hometown victory in the 50-lap championship dirt car feature at Fairgrounds Speedway in Oklahoma City. 

Oklahoma City, Okla. (July 20, 1986) – If there wasn’t a rivalry between the United States Auto Club and the National Championship Racing Association before Sunday night at Fairgrounds Speedway, there sure is now.

Oklahoma City’s Shane Carson, the NCRA points leader, evened the fourth annual USAC-NCRA championship dirt car battle at two apiece by winning the 50-lap Silver Crown feature before 2,996 spectators.

The USAC points race started innocently enough – at least through turns one and two. Down the back straightaway, pole-sitter Jon Johnson of Utica, Kan., pulled out front by a nose. USAC’s Rich Vogler, who started alongside Johnson on the front row, pulled up alongside Johnson and apparently side-swiped the NCRA driver into the guardrail.

Johnson’s car performed several end-over-end flips before hitting the rail again and coming to a rest. While rescue crews rushed to Johnson’s demolished car, the rest of the field came to a stop on the front straightaway. But Carson pulled his to the tail of Vogler’s and nudged the Booneville, Ind., driver’s car until they both came to a halt at the beginning of turn one.

Carson got out of his machine and walked to Vogler’s car.

“I told him I hope I have enough room if I’m there, said Carson, who was disqualified from a second-place finish last year due to an illegal bleeder valve.

“He told me he thought he (Johnson) had enough track. I was right there. Both cars were going for the high groove. I mean, this is a 50-lap race, and I don’t think it’s necessary to bang wheels on the first lap. Maybe late in the race because it’s a crucial time and you need to make a move.”

“Jon’s a good driver and I hated to see something like that happen to him. But there’s a lot more of us out there than Jon Johnson.”

Johnson, who was shaken but uninjured, ran across the track, along with several followers, ready to have a “chat” with Vogler. But Fairgrounds Speedway officials and local police stopped any possible fisticuffs.

“Vogler couldn’t stand me jumping to the front, so he knocked me into the guardrail,” said Johnson, who broke the USAC-NCRA record for fast time around the half-mile dirt oval.

“It can’t be said in print what I’m going to say next. People were holding me back when I got out of the car, but when they let go, I ran like hell.”

“I had full intentions of jumping on him. But once I got there, I figured I’d better not do anything in front of the public. But all he had to do is open his mouth and I would’ve pecked him.”

Johnson didn’t intend to let the altercation end there, though.

“I’m going to file a protest with USAC,” he remarked. “I’ve got two choices. Let USAC handle it the right way or let me handle it the wrong way.”

Vogler, who finished half-a-lap behind Carson for second place, had Oklahoma City police surround his trailer in the pit area after the race. He was unavailable for 30 minutes after the race.

After the race was restarted, Vogler, using the top of the track, led for the first 10 laps. Carson ran second from laps 4 through 7 before Garry Lee Maier took over that spot. On the 11th circuit around the dusty, dry-slick oval, Maier, of Dodge City. Kan., cut to the inside and outran Vogler down the front straight.

Vogler, Carson, and Larry Rice followed, respectively. Rice moved past Carson on lap 20, then Maier down the back straight on lap 22. Rice, a USAC pilot from Brownsburg, Ind., was on top by five car lengths until lap 40. Carson, who once fell back to third place, battled back with the help of slower traffic, and finally passed Rice coming out of turn four.

A few laps later, the power steering in Rice’s car would fail, sending him to the pits with five laps to go.

Carson would hold on for the last 10 laps with Vogler finishing a distant second, Gary Bettenhausen third, Mike Peters fourth and Rick Hood rounding out the top-five.


Results –


1. Shane Carson
2. Rich Vogler
3. Gary Bettenhausen
4. Mike Peters
5. Rick Hood
6. Bill Engelhart
7. Bruce Jennings
8. Greg Wooley
9. Dave Blaney
10.Tony Armstrong
11.Sheldon Kinser
12.Bob Ewell
13.Leon Thickstun
14.Steve Carithers
15.Jay Maupin
16.Howie Sewell
17.Larry Rice
18.Garry Lee Maier
19.Steve Chassey
20.Steve Butler

1983 – Trickle Tops Slinger 166, Captures Nationals Title

 

Dick Trickle won his second consecutive Slinger Nationals title at Slinger Super Speedway. Joining Trickle in victory lane is Ms. Slinger Speedway, Monica Rundell, and track promoter Wayne Erickson. – Russ Lake Photo

Slinger, Wis. (July 20, 1983) – Not even a one-night rain delay could prevent Dick Trickle from scoring his 35th late model feature win of the year in the 166-lap main event which concluded Slinger Super Speedway’s Nationals on Wednesday evening.

The triumph gave Trickle the overall title in the two-event series and was the second straight Slinger Nationals crown for Trickle, making him the first two-time winner in the four-year history of the event.

Trickle earned more than $6,000 in awards and contingency money.

Trickle began his domination of the final round of action on Tuesday when he turned in the fastest time in qualifying. However, rain forced a 24-hour postponement in the running of the feature.

When the main event finally got underway, Fred Winn grabbed the lead. The yellow waved on lap 3 when Gary Balough, Mike Eddy, Jim Weber, and Jerry Eckhardt tangled in turns three and four. All were able to continue except Eddy, who along with Trickle won a 75-lap feature in the series’ June 15 show.

When racing resumed, Alan Kulwicki would get by Winn on lap 7 to take the lead with NASCAR star Bobby Allison claiming second place on lap 12.

Trickle entered the top five by passing Jim Sauter on lap 29. Trickle then took fourth from Mark Martin on lap 30, third from Joe Shear on lap 35, and second from Allison on lap 45.

A caution flag on lap 54 permitted the field to bunch up behind Kulwicki for the restart.

Kulwicki would maintain the lead when the green dropped but Trickle would eventually gain the upper hand and pass the Greenfield charger on lap 62. When the race was halted for the mandatory 15-minute pit stop on lap 83, Trickle remained on top, followed by Kulwicki, Allison, Martin, and Sauter.

After action resumed, Kulwicki shadowed Trickle, waiting for an opportunity to regain the lead. Kulwicki got his chance on lap 99, when Trickle was forced into the upper groove attempting to lap Tony Strupp. Kulwicki chose the low road and easily came away with first place.

However, Trickle retook possession of first place three laps later and proceed to open up a sizeable lead he wouldn’t relinquish. Even a caution on lap 142 didn’t help his competitors. He pulled away on the restart and went unchallenged to the checkers, finishing ahead of Kulwicki, Allison, Conrad Morgan. Martin charged back to claim fifth place.

Martin appeared to have the fastest car on the track during the second half of the race. Shortly after passing Allison for third on lap 138, he was closing in on Kulwicki for second when he and a slower car tangled, sending them both into a spin and Martin to the rear of the field for the restart. He would start his charge back through the field for his top-five finish.

Although he didn’t place among the leaders, Rusty Wallace turned in one of the night’s top performances. After having his own Camaro extensively damaged in Tuesday night’s heat action, he jumped into Al Schill’s backup car and drove to a top-10 finish.


Results –


1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Alan Kulwicki, Greenfield
3. Bobby Allison, Hueytown, Ala.
4. Conrad Morgan, Dousman
5. Mark Martin, Charlotte, N.C.
6. Jim Sauter, Necedah
7. Joe Shear, Beloit
8. Al Schill, Franklin
9. Al Laufer, Hartford
10.Rusty Wallace, Valley Park, Mo.
11.Jerry Eckhardt, Watertown
12.Russ Peterson, Hartland
13.Dean Bares, Belgium
14.Tony Strupp, Slinger
15.Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton

1979 – Sanger Takes Quad City Raceway 100

Ed Sanger

East Moline, Ill. (July 17, 1979) – Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa, started on the pole position and led from start to finish Tuesday night to win the Quad City Raceway 100 and pocket $3,000 along the way.

Sanger picked up $20 in lap money for each of the laps he led and also earned the $1,000 top prize.

Even before two spinouts early in the race caused two restarts, Sanger had taken a commanding lead and had proceeded to lap and re-lap slower cars.

From the 28th lap on, he methodically lapped all cars in the field except the second-place car, Gary Crawford of Independence, Iowa. Sanger received repeated challenges from Crawford, and earlier from Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa, but successfully held them off.

Sanger also set fast time for the night with a clocking of 15.907 seconds, the only sub-16 second round of the night.

Ken Walton of Viola, Iowa, Jerry Wolland of Peoria, and Crawford were heat winners. Larry Armstrong of Moline, Ill., won the 25-lap semi feature.


Results –


Time trials – Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa (15.907)
Heat #1 – Ken Walton, Viola, Iowa
Heat #2 – Jerry Wolland, Peoria
Heat #3 – Gary Crawford, Independence, Iowa
Semi-main – Larry Armstrong, Moline, Ill.
Feature –
1. Ed Sanger
2. Gary Crawford
3. Mike Niffenegger
4. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley, Iowa
5. Dave Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa

1956 – Beauchamp Wins in Darkness

 

Johnny Beauchamp

Sioux Falls, S.D. (July 19, 1956) – “That’s the goofiest race I’ve ever driven in,” cracked Johnny Beauchamp, as he unfastened his safety belt from his speedy 1956 Chevrolet.

The Harlan, Iowa, star had just driven to his 10th consecutive International Motor Contest Association stock car victory – and under the most unusual circumstances.

A power failure at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds doused the main straightaway in total darkness and cut off the public address system. No one except the official scorer – with the aid of a flashlight – knew what was going on.

The drivers kept going with the help of a few headlights and a portable lighting system used on the curves and the backstretch. A transformer failure cut off the lights atop the grandstand and left the main stretch looking like someone’s back alley.

It was a muddy alley, too, leaving a quagmire by late afternoon rains. It wasn’t until 9 pm that the time trials got underway after much ironing of the track.

“No lights, no nothing…I didn’t know where I was until the end of the race…I couldn’t tell how far ahead I was…” muttered the IMCA national point leader, after he pulled into the pits.

Trailing Beauchamp’s speedy Chevrolet was Bob Burdick of Omaha, Neb., Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sonny Morgan of Beaumont, Tex., and Tubby Harrison of Topeka, Kan.

Beauchamp’s time for the 100-lapper was 57 minutes and 27.80 seconds. He had the fastest time in qualifying, with a time of 34.28 seconds.

There were 14 cars on hand as many entrants failed to appear, among them former IMCA national champion Don White of Keokuk, Iowa.

The track, while diligently worked on, was in rough shape and kept times slow.

Despite the late start, the light and public address failure, a large crowd stayed on.

But mud, darkness, and silence failed to deter the hard-driving Iowan from victory as he threatens to make a shambles of the IMCA point standings this season.

Beauchamp as now won 16 of 18 features held under IMCA sanction.

1954 – Texan Sets Mark in Des Moines Stock Car Race

Jim Ward, covered in dust and sweat, drinks a quart of milk after winning the 125-mile stock car race at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Des Moines, Iowa (July 18, 1954) – Jim Ward, a 38-year-old Houston, Tex., bachelor set an International Motor Contest Association record Sunday afternoon in winning the protested 250-lap stock car race at the Iowa State Fairgrounds’ half-mile track.

A crowd estimated at 10,000 saw Ward, driving a 1953 Hudson, cover the 125 miles in 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 50.98 seconds. The old mark of 2 hours, 22 minutes, 37.64 seconds, was set by Ernie Derr of Fort Madison, here in 1953.

Derr, piloting a 1954 Oldsmobile, finished second on Sunday, bettering his Des Moines half-mile track record during time trials. He circled the dirt oval in 31.64 seconds, topping his previous standard of 32.63 seconds.

A protest was filed following the race by two drivers whose names were not revealed. One driver claimed Ward’s car was not strictly stock, the other said the same of Derr’s.

Both cars were impounded by IMCA officials immediately after the race and would be inspected the next morning.

Derr took the early lead, but was passed by Keokuk brother-in-law Don White, driving a 19654 Oldsmobile, after 10 laps. After 15 laps. Ward pulled in front of Derr, and at the end of 25 circuits, White, Ward, and Derr were bumper-to-bumper.

Ward and Derr passed White on the 39th lap and after 56 laps White pulled in for his first of six pit stops. From that point on, White was never among the leaders again, although he finished seventh with 219 laps completed.

Derr took over the lead on lap 60, with Ward running second, and two Anita drivers, Mel Krueger, and Bob Ward, third and fourth, respectively. Krueger, driving a 1953 Hudson, finished fourth.

Ward made his first pit stop on lap 137 and Derr moved two laps in front of him, but Derr had to stop and have his tires changed after 145 laps and Ward moved in front.

Derr had nearly overtaken Ward, but another pit stop by Derr to have a tire changed on lap 194 allowed Ward to move two laps in front and nearly assured his victory.

Ward, who didn’t have to make another pit stop, finished the race one lap ahead of Derr and 12 laps in front of Sonny Gross of Quincy, Ill.

Gross lost a tire on lap 245 and went around the track two times before officials flagged him in.


Results –


1. Jimmy Ward, Houston, Tex.
2. Ernie Derr, Keokuk
3. Sonny Gross, Quincy, Ill.
4. Mel Kreuger, Anita
5. R.G. Eberts, Smithville, Mo.
6. Pete Peterson, Chicago
7. Don White, Keokuk
8. Jim Page, Kansas City
9. Dick Jepson, Hoxie, Kan.
10.Bill Lehman, Hutchinson, Kan.
11.Jack Housby, Des Moines
12.Chris Skadal, Des Moines
13.Don Jahnke, Topeka, Kan.
14.Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids
15.Jack Skadal, Des Moines

Jimmy Ward whips his Hudson around a curve en route to winning the 125-mile IMCA stock car race at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. 

1980 – Santa Fe Flag for Melius in Dixieland 100

Mike Melius claimed victory in the Dixieland Challenge Invitational 100 at Santa Fe Speedway. Track announcer Jan Gabriel makes the trophy presentation. – Vince & Dorothy Mayer Photo

Willow Springs, Ill. (July 17, 1980) – Mike Melius took the lead when pacesetting Al Schill spun out on the 90th circuit and went on to win Thursday night’s Dixieland Challenge Invitational 100-lap feature on Santa Fe Speedway’s longer track. It was Melius’ first career victory at the track.

Former track champion Jim O’Conner timed in fastest but elected to start the century grind on the outside of the front row, giving second fastest qualifier Ken Pohlman the pole position. The strategy paid off as the Kankakee resident blasted into the lead at the drop of the green.

After a Jim Partipilo spin on lap 4, O’Conner resumed the lead with a fast moving Tony Izzo moving up to challenge O’Conner.

Slow moving traffic in the upper groove blocked O’Conner’s path briefly on lap 8, allowing Izzo to slide by for the lead.

Lap 25 saw the yellow come out again when Doug Worman tangled with Al Johnson and Bobby Allison, one of two NASCAR stars on hand for the show.

When racing action resumed, Schill powered by Izzo for the top spot.

Four laps later, Darrell Waltrip, the other visiting NASCAR star, retired because of mechanical problems. Waltrip would be credited with 22nd place.

On the restart, Schill proceeded to open up a comfortable margin over Whitey Harris, Izzo, Melius, O’Conner, and Pohlman at the event’s mid-point, but on the 53rd circuit his cushion disintegrated when John Provenzano spun in the third turn. Three rounds later, Schill drifted high in turn four and Harris got around to take control.

Harris, Pohlman, and Doug Worman would tangle on lap 69, forcing Harris to restart at the rear and giving the lead back to Schill. Schill would maintain the lead until lap 90, when he spun in the infield, giving the lead to Melius.

Melius would survive a lap 98 restart and go on to post the win. O’Conner would nail down runner-up honors with Harris third, Eddie Ferrell fourth, and Larry Jackson fifth.

Despite losing a lap due to a flat tire, Bobby Allison would finish 15th.


Results –


1. Mike Melius, Random Lake, Wis.
2. Jim O’Conner, Kankakee
3. Whitey Harris, Lake Villa
4. Eddie Ferrell, Clarendon Hills
5. Larry Jackson, Lyons
6. Ted Dolhun, Brookfield, Wis.
7. Al Johnson, Justice
8. Dave Feese, Saybrook
9. Jim Partipilo, Berkley
10.John Provenzano, Glen Ellyn

1973 – Eaker Overtakes Weedon in Invitational 50 Race

Verlin Eaker won the Mid-Continent Invitational 50 at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport. Herb Shannon’s car sits behind Eaker’s infamous “Nova-Caine”.

Davenport, Iowa (July 17, 1973) – Verlin Eaker regained the lead from Pleasant Valley’s Ron Weedon on lap 41 and held the top spot the remaining nine circuits around the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds’ half-mile Tuesday night to win the Mid-Continent Invitational 50 stock car race.

The Cedar Rapids veteran, who dominated nearly every race on last year’s card at the Valley Fairgrounds, started the rich 50-lapper on the pole position. He charged out front immediately and led the first 32 laps.

Weedon, who was on Eaker’s bumper the entire time, managed to get inside of his opponent in the third turn of the 33rd lap and grabbed the lead for the first time. However, Eaker hung close to Weedon and snuck by on lap 41 to take back the lead and never relinquish it.

Ramo Stott of Keokuk placed third in the star-studded field of 24 who opened the grinding race. Less than half the field was around when the checkers flew.

The feature was a three-car battle from start to finish – Eaker, Weedon, and Stott – running bumper-to-bumper the entire time. Stan Stover of Reinbeck and Mike Niffenegger of Kalona rounded out the top five finishers.

A crowd of nearly 3,000 watched the top drivers from all over Iowa and Illinois battle for the $4,000 purse.


Results –


Heat #1 – Paul Lewis, Peoria, Ill.
Heat #2 – Steve Lance, Peoria, Ill.
Heat #3 – Ed Sanger, Waterloo
Consolation – Lem Blankenship, Keokuk
Feature –
1. Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids
2. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
3. Ramo Stott, Keokuk
4. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
5. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
6. Duane Steffe, East Moline, Ill.
7. Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.
8. Steve Lance
9. Lem Blankenship
10.Larry Fabris, Sycamore, Ill.

1985 - Hewitt Outruns Swindell for Wilmot Sprint Flag

Jack Hewitt receives his trophy from promoter Ray Toft after winning the Wilmot Winged Open Sprints 40-lap feature at Wilmot Speedway. – John Kozy Photo

Wilmot, Wis. (July 16, 1985) – Jack Hewitt captured the fourth annual Wilmot Winged Open Sprints 40-lap feature for the second year in a row Tuesday night as he edged Jeff Swindell by a car-length at Wilmot Speedway.

Gary Zobel took the lead at the outset of the event and paced the pack until lap 10 when Bob Robel flipped his mount. Zobel maintained the lead when the race was restarted and continued to hold the top spot until lap 29 when Swindell slipped in front.

Swindell was able to hold off the fast charging Hewitt until the 39th lap when the two traded the top spot on every corner.

On the final lap, Hewitt took the frontrunning position coming out of the final turn and garnered the checkered ahead of Swindell. Zobel was third followed by Rick Ferkel and Darrell Dodd.

Hewitt took home $2,000 for his efforts.


Results –


1. Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio
2. Jeff Swindell, Memphis, Tenn.
3. Gary Zobel, Lake Villa, Ill.
4. Rick Ferkel, Tiffin, Ohio
5. Darrell Dodd, Waukegan, Ill.
6. Shane Carson, Oklahoma City, Okla.
7. Andy Hillenburg, Indianapolis
8. Gib Wiser, Neosho
9. Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, N.M.
10.Dave Hanna, Grayslake, Ill.

1974 – Hansen, Eaker Spin; Zwanziger Wins Falstaff 100

Waterloo’s Bill Zwanziger (center) receives the trophy for winning the Falstaff 100 at Hawkeye Downs. Making the presentation is Marie Olish, Ms. Falstaff 100 and Keith Fleck, local Falstaff distributor.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 16, 1974) – The case of “Who won the Falstaff 100?” was finally settled late Tuesday night – 30 minutes after the late model stock car classic at Hawkeye Downs was completed.

Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo, Iowa, was declared the winner of the 50-lap feature after a major controversy halted the second annual event with five laps to go and confusion ran rampant.

The controversy involved Curt Hansen of Dike, Iowa and Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who were running one-two and practically bumper-to-bumper through the first 45 laps on the half-mile dirt.

When all the shouting was done, Hansen was awarded fourth-place and Eaker was out of the money.

Hansen appeared to have the $1,000 first prize sewn up when he sent his 1974 Laguna into the 46th lap. But the Downs’ point leader spun in the third turn and Eaker, who was pressing spun as well.

However, as the yellow caution light flashed, Hansen continued to race, although he lost three positions. Eaker required a push truck to re-fire his car.

On the restart, as irate race fans peppered the front straightaway with beer cans and angry pit crews flooded the same area in an attempt to prevent the race from continuing, Hansen was back in the lead and Eaker went to the pit area after being informed by officials that he would have to restart from the rear of the field.

Hansen took up where he left off and was the apparent winner until a post-race meeting followed involving Hansen, race organizer Dale Gegner, Eaker’s car owner Al Frieden, Zwanziger and Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, who finished second after all the hullabaloo.

“The restart rule at the track is that any car that the race is STOPPED for goes to the rear of the field,” Gegner explained. “The flagman’s ruling was the race was stopped for car #5 (Eaker).”

Gegner then admitted that officials had erred in allowing Hansen the lead position on the restart. “Hansen should have been placed in the fourth position,” Gegner added.

Hansen, who collected $900 in lap money, readily accepted he was not the winner, but added, “I figured I should be fourth.”

Hansen acknowledged he spun by his lonesome and Eaker explained, “Hansen was about three car lengths ahead of me when he looped it. I spun trying to avoid him.”

“I had kept the pressure on throughout the race just waiting for Curt to make a mistake. When he finally did, I was too close.”

Finishing behind Zwanziger and Dake were Bob Kosiski of Omaha, Hansen and Roger Dolan of Lisbon, Iowa.

Official attendance figures weren’t available, but the crowd was estimated at 6,000. The net proceeds went to American Heart Association.


Results –


Time trials – Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Trophy dash – Ken Walton, Viola, Iowa
Heat #1 – Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Heat #2 – Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
Heat #3 – Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa
Heat #4 – Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley, Iowa
Consolation – Bill Beckman, Lisbon, Iowa
Feature –
1. Bill Zwanziger
2. Darrell Dake
3. Bob Kosiski, Omaha
4. Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa
5. Roger Dolan, Iowa
6. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
7. Don Bohlander, Glasford, Ill.
8. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
9. John Connolly, Delhi
10.Ramo Stott
11.Steve Keppler, Marion
12.Dave Chase, Council Bluffs