1968 – Over 6,000 See Droste Triumph

Red Droste receives his trophy from Kay Chumley, widow of the renown Waterloo Racing Association President Speed Chumley, after he won the 50-lap mid-season championship at Tunis Speedway. Flagman Roger Beck presents the checkered flag. - Beetle Bailey Photo

Waterloo, Iowa (July 28, 1968) – Red Droste recovered from an early collision to win the Speed Chumley Memorial mid-season championship race at Tunis Speedway on Sunday evening. A season high 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 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