Jim
Sauter is presented his trophy from Miss WIR Ronda Helbach and Tri-County Distributing’s
Roger blink after winning the Budweiser Spring 50 at Wisconsin International
Raceway. – Jim Vercauteren Photo
By Gary Vercauteren
Kaukauna, Wis. (May 16, 1982) – Jim Sauter wrestled the lead away from John Ziegler on the 37th lap and went on to win the 50-lap feature in the Budweiser Spring Classic at Wisconsin International Raceway before a record crowd of 8,407 spectators.
Sauter, the defending Fox River Racing Club point champion at the track, guided his 1982 Pontiac Firebird to victory by several car lengths over Ziegler.
The top 11 finishers in the race crossed the finish line within nine seconds of one another. “It was a real tight field,” Sauter said from victory lane. “Everyone was evenly matched.”
After finishing sixth in the feature on Thursday night, Sauter made some major adjustments on his car and that gave him the edge on the 61 entries, of which the fastest 20 cars started the main event.
Terry Baldry, who recorded his best WIR finish with a third place showing, took the lead at the drop of the green and held on until the seventh lap. Ziegler ran wheel-to-wheel with Baldry for the top spot from the fourth lap until finally slipping around him on the seventh round. He quickly opened up a seven-car-length lead.
After a yellow flag slowed the field on the 15th lap, the pack tightened up on Ziegler’s bumper for the restart. Baldry continued to challenge Ziegler for the top spot and nearly regained the lead on lap 21 when he pulled even with Ziegler on the frontstretch. Ted Musgrave and Sauter soon moved into contention in third and fourth positions on the 24th lap.
Gary Roehrborn brought out the caution on lap 29 with a spin on the backstretch which again put the pack back on the Ziegler’s heels.
A mechanical malfunction dropped Musgrave out of the battle on lap 30 while Sauter began his charge to the front. He nosed ahead of Baldry going into the third turn on the 35th circuit, then powered by Ziegler on the outside coming out of the fourth turn on lap 37.
The final caution flew on lap 42 when J.J. Smith, Willie Goeden, Steve Burgess, Gary Roehrborn, and Kevin Stepan crashed in the first turn.
When all-out action resumed, Sauter kept control of the event to the finish. Following Sauter, Ziegler, and Baldry to the checkers were Dick Trickle, a five-time Red, White, and Blue Series winner at the track, and Joe Shear.
Trickle was the fastest qualifier at 19.969 seconds for the half-mile paved oval. His lap was the fastest ever recorded for late models, snapping the mark of 20.12 seconds established by Shear last summer.
Results –
1. Jim Sauter, Necedah
2. John Ziegler, Madison
3. Terry Baldry, Omro
4. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
5. Joe Shear, Beloit
6. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa
7. Dave Watson, Milton
8. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
9. Steve Burgess, Eau Claire
10. Gary Roehrborn, Kimberly
11.Wayne Roffers, Oneida
12.Willie Goeden, Kewaskum
13.J.J. Smith, Appleton
14.Kevin Stepan, Mosinee
15.Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh
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