William E Preston, secretary of the Missouri State Fair, presents Chris
Skadal of Des Moines his trophy for winning the 100-mile IMCA stock car race at
the one-mile State Fair track.
Sedalia, Mo. (July 4, 1951) – Chris Skadal, Des Moines, driving an Oldsmobile 88, set a new world’s record for stock cars on a one-mile track of races sponsored by the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA), when he won the 100-mile contest at the Missouri State Fairgrounds on Wednesday afternoon.
The crowd was estimated at 12,500.
Skadal circled the dirt oval in 1 hour, 38 minutes, and 53.87 seconds. It was the first time that IMCA has sanctioned stock car races on the one-mile track.
Skadal displayed his knowledge of handling a stock car and getting the optimum speed out of it by making the fastest time in time trials, circling the big mile track in 55.84 seconds.
The race for the first 65 miles appeared to be shaping up into a fight for first place between Skadal and Eddie Anderson of Grinnell, Iowa, the 1949 IMCA stock car champion, who was piloting a 1951 Chrysler V-8 coupe.
On the 66th circuit, Skadal slipped past Anderson for the lead, and two laps later, Anderson would pull to the infield when his battery shorted out. A hood brace had broken loose, dropped down across the battery, and burned out a cable. Anderson was out of the race for almost 10 laps while his crew made repairs. He returned to finish the race but failed to finish in the prize money positions.
An Oldsmobile 88 also finished in second behind Skadal. Bob McKim of Abilene, Kan., also at the wheel of a 1950 model, maintained a steady pace throughout the 100 miles and finished a quarter of a lap behind the winner.
Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, who was behind the wheel of a 1949 Ford finished third. He was followed by fellow townsman Ernie Derr in a 1950 Mercury. John “Chug” Montgomery of Lebanon rounded out the top-five finishers.
Skadal was the winner of the $500 first prize and was also presented a beautiful trophy by William E. “Bill” Peterson, the secretary-manager of the Missouri State Fair.
Gaylord White, of National Speedways, Inc., was well pleased with the turnout of drivers. “I have seen a lot of these stock car races, but I can’t recall a finer group of men than were here competing in this afternoon’s event.”
Results –
1. Chris Skadal, Des Moines
2. Bob McKim, Abilene, Kan.
3. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
5. Chug Montgomery, Lebanon
6. Rodney Carter, Topeka, Kan.
7. Tilman Huset, Brandon, S.D.
8. Herb Craig, Keithville, La.
9. Carl Lilienthal, Atlantic, Iowa
10.Floyd Hausperger, Kellogg, Iowa
11.Jay King, Kansas City
12.Duane Knapp, Rockwell City, Iowa
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