1982 - Reffner, Miller Split Capital ARTGO Pepsi 100

By Stan Kalwasinski

Oregon, Wis. (May 31, 1982) – Tom Reffner and Mike Miller each recorded 50-lap feature victories in ARTGO Racing’s fifth annual Memorial Day Pepsi-Cola 100 late model stock car special at Capital Super Speedway on Monday afternoon.

By virtue of turning in a faster qualifying run during time trials, Reffner, a two-time ARTGO champion, was the overall winner of the event. Reffner’s run was clocked at 18.565 seconds, while Miller turned in an 18.774 second performance.

Plagued by two rain delays, once which lasted just over two hours, the program was witnessed by 5,500 fans.

Reffner, who captured ARTGO titles in 1975 and 1978, was declared the winner of the first 50-lapper, after apparent winner Steve Burgess was found to be underweight.

The official finish found the Rudolph veteran and his 1981 Camaro in first place, followed by 1976 ARTGO champion Dave Watson, defending ARTGO titlist Jim Sauter, Al Schill, and Joe Shear.

Miller won the second 50-lapper, passing Ted Musgrave on lap 39 and then fending off a hard-charging Shear in the last few laps to secure the victory. Following Miller and Shear across the finish line was three-time ARTGO king Dick Trickle, who slipped by Musgrave on the final lap, Musgrave, and Mark Martin.

Results –

Feature #1 –

1. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
2. Dave Watson, Milton
3. Jim Sauter, Necedah
4. Al Schill, Franklin
5. Joe Shear, Beloit
6. Mark Martin, Harrisburg, N.C.
7. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
8. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids
9. John Ziegler, Madison
10.Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh

Feature #2 –

1. Mike Miller
2. Joe Shear
3. Dick Trickle
4. Ted Musgrave
5. Mark Martin
6. Al Schill
7. Kevin Stepan, Mosinee
8. Tom Reffner
9. Jim Sauter
10.Tom Jones, Northbrook, Ill.

1964 - Smith Wins in Buick-Powered Car

 

Ona, W.Va. (May 31, 1964) - Al Smith led from start to finish in his Buick-powered sprint car to breeze home first in the IMCA feature Sunday at West Virginia International Speedway.

Smith, a newcomer to the IMCA sprint car division this season, gave an indication of things to come by turning the fastest qualifying lap in 17.77 seconds at 88.50 miles per hour to win the pole position for the feature. The Dayton, Ohio driver averaged a sizzling 73.79 mph in outdistancing the field of sprinters in the 30-lap main event.

Jack Lenhout, driving another speedy Buick-powered creation, edged Bob Pratt, who was behind the wheel in a Chevy conversion, for second place. Rollie Beale and Dick Good were fourth and fifth in Chevy-powered cars.

Serge Tesolin brought up the rear of the 17-car feature in a rear-engine Ford - a first of its kind on the IMCA sprint circuit - and Gordon Woolley, defending IMCA king, and Jerry Richert, point’s leader this season, both experienced mechanical malfunctions earlier in the program. Tesolin also never got his car perking at full tilt.

Feature winner Smith said that the cool, overcast day with moisture in the air helped his 420-cubic inch Buick monster perform at full capacity. He also praised the track.

“It felt real good,” he declared and added that his blue and white car “handled fine.”

The weather, however, put a damper on the crowd. An estimated 2,000 fans turned out to see the program. That’s by far the smallest turnout at the four race dates at Ona. The three previous races were late model affairs which are the first love of auto racing fans throughout Southern West Virginia.

No serious accidents marred the action.


Results –


Heat #1 - Dean Mast
Heat #2 - Red Amick
Heat #3 - Bob King
Match Race - Rollie Beale
Consolation - Dick Good
Feature - 
1. Al Smith
2. Jack Lenhout
3. Bob Pratt
4. Rollie Beale
5. Dick Good
6. Jim McCune
7. Dick Gaines
8. Jack Thomas
9. Bob Davis
10.Tom York
11.Dean Mast
12.Bob King

1971 - Jaycees' Memorial Feature to Goodwin

 

Sedalia, Mo. (May 31, 1971) - Ray Lee Goodwin, Kansas City, made it look like an easy Sunday afternoon drive as he breezed to the checkered flag ahead of the 20-car field in the annual Sedalia Jaycees Memorial Classic, Sunday afternoon at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.

In pocketing the $600 first place check, Goodwin leaped ahead of the pack from his outside pole position and built up an eight and one-half second lead by the race’s conclusion.

It marked the second time in the past three days that Goodwin had won a feature event. Friday night the veteran super-sprint campaigner won the feature race at Knoxville, Iowa, Saturday night was almost as profitable as h finished second in the main event on the same Marion County Fairgrounds’ track in Knoxville, Iowa.

Although Goodwin had little competition for the lead Sunday after the third lap, the real battle was raging for second place between Steve Shultz, Wib Spalding and Roy Hibbard.

Spalding was able to grab the second spot at the finish line ahead of Shultz and Hibbard, who finished third and fourth in that order. Flea Atkin copped fifth in the race, while Tom Corbin, Dale Moore, Junior Dietzel, Roy Cary and Russell Hibbard rounded out the top 10.

For the first time in the past three years, the predicted afternoon rains did not materialize, and the entire Jaycee program was worked in.

Bob Williams, who was the last to pull into the pits in an attempt to qualify for a position in the feature event, took the lead from Sedalia’s Ernie Buso in the consolation feature on the third lap and led the field across the finish line for first place in that event.

The old one-lap record on the half-mile oval was bettered four times during the time trials. Russell Hibbard, Slater, Mo., was the first to top Joe Saldana’s old mark of 22.67 seconds; Hibbard turned the distance in a new record clocking of 22.66 seconds. However, Goodwin turned successive laps of 22.57 and 22.59 seconds, to drop Hibbard’s newly established mark from the books.

But it was Steve Shultz, Chillicothe, Mo., who turned in the fastest time of the day with a one-lap clocking of 22.45 seconds. Shultz set the standard in the same car that Saldana used last year to set the previous record. Shultz recently purchased the car from Saldana.

Absent from the field was last year’s defending champion Bill Utz, Sedalia. Utz received severe burns on his left hand, back and neck in Saturday night’s racing card at Capital Speedway, near Jefferson City. Utz was in the pits to witness the race but may not see any racing activity behind the wheel until July.

Wib Spalding won the trophy dash over Steve Shultz and Junior Dietzel, who were second and third in that order.

Heat winners in the super-sprint division included Frank Makings, Wib Spalding, Bob Williams, Jim Jenkins and Flea Atkin.


Results –


Time trials – Steve Schultz (22.45)
Trophy dash – Wib Spalding
Heat #1 – Frank Makings
Heat #2 – Wib Spalding
Heat #3 – Bob Williams
Heat #4 – Jim Jenkins
Heat #5 - Flea Atkin
Consolation – Bob Williams
Feature –
1. Ray Lee Goodwin
2. Wib Spalding
3. Steve Schultz
4. Roy Hibbard
5. Flea Atkin
6. Tom Corbin
7. Dale Moore
8. Junior Dietzel
9. Roy Cary
10.Russell Hibbard
11.Jerry Johnson
12.Jay Lyle
13.Ralph Parkinson Jr.
14.Bob Thoman
15.Steve Lewis

1966 – Hill Wins Disputed ‘500’

 

Graham Hills waves to the crowd from victory lane after winning the Indianapolis 500. Sue Ellen Harrison, the Indy 500 Festival Queen, flanks the Englishman.

Indianapolis, Ind. (May 30, 1966) – Graham Hill evidently won the most fantastically confused and incredible 500-mile race in the 50-year history of the event Monday afternoon, finishing 41.13 seconds ahead of defending champion Jimmy Clark.

Hill’s victory was strongly disputed by Clark’s car owner, Colin Chapman, and sponsor Andy Granatelli, who maintained that Clark should be credited with the victory.

However, Indianapolis Motor Speedway publicist Al Bloemker said that scorers had told him that after a check of the official timing tape, “they hadn’t found anything that would indicate a change in the finish.”

The contested finish was in keeping with the tenor of a race that simply defied description. Eleven of the 33 starters were wiped out in a single crash that stopped the race before the leaders could get through the first turn of the first lap.

Miraculously, no driver was injured in a pileup that involved 16 cars, nor in any of the five accidents that followed.

The ending was just as incredible as the start as both Hill, a Londoner who gained his ride after Walt Hansgen was killed in an April crash at LeMans, and Clark both headed for victory lane.

Just 10 laps from the finish, both looked like also-rans as Hill’s teammate, Jackie Stewart, led by more than half a lap.

Then, Stewart’s engine – which had been laboring for 17 laps with failing oil pressure – gave up the ghost in the third turn with victory just 25 miles away.

Before that, both Clark and Lloyd Ruby had the race all wrapped up and ready for delivery when misfortune struck.

Ruby’s bad break came last, and therefore was more dramatic. The Wichita Falls, Tex., veteran was leading by almost a lap when he sprung an oil leak in the cam tower housing and was black flagged after 152 laps. He finally got back in the race, six laps down, only to go out or good with cam failure after 175 laps.

Clark spun his car twice while leading the race. The first time came on lap 62 when he had a lead of more than half a lap over Ruby. He looped coming out of the fourth turn but regained control and came on around to the pits.

Then, on the 84th circuit, while holding a lead of approximately 20 seconds, he did a complete spin in the third turn, but again regained complete control. But the ensuing pit stop would cost him dearly in time and most certainly in victory.

Chapman said afterwards that Clark was bothered all the way with handling issues. The two-time world road champion did reduce his speed considerably after the second spin.

The crux of the argument on whether Hill or Clark won was the 175th lap. Hill passed Clark on the front stretch of that circuit but the dispute concerns whether Hill was taking over second place or unlapping himself at the time.

As far as George Bignotti, who saddled his third winner as a chief mechanic with Hill, is concerned, the 1962 world road racing champion was moving into second behind Stewart.

But Chapman and Granatelli were just as certain that Clark won. Chaman pointed out, “We think they (the scorers) gave Hill an extra lap someplace.”

Granatelli was in a much less compromising mood than the calm Chapman. “How could Hill win when they were announcing and showing on the scoreboard that Stewart and Clark were running 1-2 and Hill was half a lap behind on the backstretch?”

“If that was the case, Hill had been leading all the time and Stewart never was in front.”

“We lapped Hill on the 47th lap and we were running faster than him the rest of the way. Now, where d he pass Clark?” he added.

With Hill the winner, he is the first rookie to capture auto racing’s richest prize in 39 years. The last was George Souders in 1927.

It was also a staggeringly successful debut for Hill’s car owner, John Mecom Jr., a 26-year-old multi-millionaire from Houston, Tex. The owner not only won the race on his very first shot but also would have had first and second sewn up if Stewart had made it to victory lane.

Hill’s winning time for the 500 miles was 3 hours, 27 minutes, and 52.33 seconds for an average speed of 144.317 miles per hour. This was more than six miles per hour off Clark’s record of 150.6886 miles per hour set last year.


Results –


1. Graham Hill
2. Jimmy Clark
3. Jim McElreath
4. Gordon Johncock
5. Mel Kenyon
6. Jackie Stewart
7. Eddie Johnson
8. Bobby Unser
9. Joe Leonard
10.Jerry Grant
11.Lloyd Ruby
12.Al Unser
13.Roger McCluskey
14.Parnelli Jones
15.Rodger Ward
16.Carl Williams
17.Jim Hurtubise
18.Mario Andretti
19.George Snider
20.Chuck Hulse
21.Bud Tinglestad
22.Johnny Boyd
23.Don Branson
24.Billy Foster
25.Gary Congdon
26.A.J. Foyt
27.Dan Gurney
28.Cale Yarborough
29.Arnold Knepper
30.Al Miller
31.Bobby Grim
32.Ronnie Duman

USAC starter Pat Vidan waves the checkered flag for Indianapolis 500 winner Graham Hill.  

1961 – Folse Wins Big Car Race at Knoxville

Pete Folse

Knoxville, Ill. (May 30, 1961) – Pete Folse of Tampa, Fla., defending national IMCA big car champion, piloted his powerful Offenhauser to victory here Tuesday night in the 20-lap feature before a capacity crowd of 3,500 at the annual Memorial Day race.

The two-time national champion and currently the pacesetter in national standings this year also turned in the best time trial, touring the half-mile, dirt track in 25.90 seconds.

Folse, however, had to settle for third in a heat race and was fourth in the handicap. Jerry Blundy, of nearby Galesburg, finished second in the feature in his hot Chevrolet-powered racer while third place went to Herschel Wagner of Kansas City in an Offenhauser. Blundy is in third place in national standings.

Folse, starting on the pole position in the feature, took over the lead at the green flag and was never headed. Blundy and Wagner staged a sensational duel for second place with the Galesburg chauffer getting by Wagner on the fourteenth lap, Wagner finished third.

Blundy, although he closed the gap between, he and Folse, was unable to catch the Florida speedster.

The race was marred by one minor mishap when Buzz Rose of La Puente, Calif., went through the fence after his steering mechanism failed. The Californian, however, was uninjured and the car was returned to action in a later race.


Results –


Heat #1 – Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.
Heat #2 – Gordon Woolley, Waco, Tex.
Heat #3 – Duke Hindahl, Pekin, Ill.
Handicap – Herschel Wagner, Hickman Hills, Mo.
Australian Pursuit – Joe Noeske Freeport, Ill.
Feature -
1. Pete Folse, Tampa, Fla.
2. Jerry Blundy
3. Herschel Wagner
4. Hal Schroeder, Bettendorf, Iowa
5. Herb Shannon, Peoria, Ill.
6. Duke Hindahl
7. Duane Stoneking, Burlington, Iowa
8. Del Hindahl, Sherrard, Ill.
9. Eddie Frese, Quincy, Ill.
10.Joe Noeske

1955 – Death of Vukovich Mars Sweikert’s ‘500’ Victory

 

Indianapolis 500 winner Bob Sweikert receives a kiss from movie star Dinah Shore in victory lane.

Indianapolis, Ind. (May 30, 1955) – Handsome Bob Sweikert drove his big new Zink Special to victory on Monday in the bloodiest 500-mile race in 25 years – a bitter contest that cost the life of two-time winner Bill Vukovich of Fresno, Calif.

The six-car accident that sent Vukovich hurtling to a flaming death along the backstretch was the first fatal mishap in the Memorial Day classic since William “Shorty” Cantlon of Indianapolis was killed in 1947.

Vukovich, a swarthy little mechanic of Slovenian ancestry, kept the track record in death – the 46th since the speedway opened in 1909.

Sweikert’s winning speed was 128.209 miles per hour. Vuky set the record last year at 130.84 miles per hour in winning for the second straight year.

Sweikert, whose new Offenhauser-powered Kurtis Kraft, said a stiff wind made the race, “twice as hard” as usual and sometimes made the cars jump.

The 28-year-old Californian turned Hoosier, competing in his hometown’s big race for the fourth time, blamed the wind for a spin by Rodger Ward of Los Angeles that started the big pileup.

Ed Elisian of Oakland, Calif., and Al Keller of Green Acres, Fla., whipped their cars towards the infield to avoid Ward but Johnny Boyd of Fresno, Calif., smacked the retaining wall.

Vukovich, who had led 50 of the first 56 laps, tried to miss the wreckage, but his car suddenly flipped end-over-end and landed outside the two-foot high barrier. The car caught fire while lying upside down. Vukovich was dead when safety crews removed him from the cockpit.

Sweikert, whose car was owned by John Zink of Tulsa, Okla., drove a smart race, aways keeping in contention and coming on to win when the early leaders wrecked or developed mechanical problems.

Sweikert was considered an outsider in pre-race speculation although he was the sixth-ranked driver in last year’s American Automobile Association’s championship point standings. There were 10 cars that qualified faster than Sweikert and he started in the fifth row.

Either Vukovich or Jack McGrath of Inglewood, Calif., perennial early leaders in the race, were considered race favorites. McGrath, who set a 10-mile qualifying record of 142.58 miles per hour, led early on before Vukovich took over. Ironically, McGrath’s ignition would fail on lap 54, two laps before Vukovich’s fatal ride.

Jimmy Bryan of Phoenix, the 1954 AAA national driving champion led for 31 laps, Sweikert was ahead for 35, Art Cross was in front for 25 laps before the last big drive. Don Freeland of Los Angeles led three laps during a series of pit stops for the leaders then Sweikert came back on the 160th lap – the 400-mile mark – and was out front the rest of the way.


Results –

1. Bob Sweikert
2. Tony Bettenhausen
3. Jimmy Davies
4. Johnny Thomson
5. Walt Faulkner
6. Andy Linden
7. Al Herman
8. Pat O’Conner
9. Jimmy Daywalt
10.Pat Flaherty
11.Duane Carter
12. Chuck Weyant
13.Eddie Johnson
14.Jim Rathmann
15.Don Freeland
16.Cal Niday
17.Art Cross
18.Shorty Templeman
19.Sam Hanks
20.Keith Andrews
21.Johnnie Parsons
22.Eddie Russo
23.Ray Crawford
24.Jimmy Bryan
25.Bill Vukovich
26.Jack McGrath
27.Al Keller
28.Rodger Ward
29.Johnny Boyd
30.Ed Elisian
31.Jerry Hoyt
32.Fred Agabashian
33.Jimmy Reece

1949 – Holland Realizes His Life’s Ambition in Winning 500-Miler

Indianapolis 500 winner Bill Holland receives the winner’s kiss from movie star Linda Darnell in victory lane.

Indianapolis, Ind. (May 30, 1949) – Bill Holland said today that he reached his life’s ambition by winning the 500-mile race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“It took me a long time to get here, “Holland said, “but I made it.”

The former roller-skating champion who came in second to teammate Mauri Rose both in 1947 and 1948 also gave a lot of credit to Lou Moore, designer, and owner of the car, mentioning, “it was a marvelous piece of machinery,” and that he just kept pouring it on until he saw the checkered flag.

Holland, kissed repeatedly by motion picture star Linda Darnell, who also presented the winner’s trophy, said he wasn’t at all sure he had won until he saw the checkered flag being waved by starter Seth Klein.

“You just don’t take chances at the 500,” he said. “I had some trouble with the engine and couldn’t go nearly as fast on the straightaways, but I made up for it in the turns.”

This was Holland’s third attempt to grab the pot o’ gold at the end of the grueling 200-lap contest. He was leading Rose in the ’47 race when the pint-sized engineer from South Bend roared past him in the last few laps to beat him out.

Holland said now he’ll head back to Reading, Penn., and look after his roller-skating rinks.

“But I’ll be back next year,” he concluded.


Results –

1. Bill Holland
2. Johnnie Parsons
3. George Conner
4. Myron Fohr
5. Joie Chitwood
6. Jimmy Jackson
7. Johnny Mantz
8. Paul Russo
9. Walt Brown/Emil Andres
10.Norm Houser
11.Jim Rathmann
12.Troy Ruttman
13.Mauri Rose
14.Duane Carter
15.Duke Dinsmore
16.Mack Hellings
17.Bill Sheffler
18.Johnny McDowell
19.Hal Cole
20.Mel Hansen/George Fonder
21.Bill Cantrell
22.Jackie Holmes
23.Lee Wallard
24.Bayliss Levrett
25.Rex Mays
26.Jack McGrath
27.Fred Agabashian
28.Manuel Ayulo
29.Duke Nalon
30.Sam Hanks
31.Charles Van Acker
32.George Lynch
33.Spider Webb

1974 – Robinson Out at Knoxville

 

Marion Robinson

Knoxville, Iowa (May 29, 1974) – Marion Robinson, the 20-year veteran promoter at the Marion County Fairgrounds, resigned Wednesday in a dispute with the board of directors about money losses.

Robinson, 67, reported he had an argument with Marion County Fairboard President Ellis Metcalf prior to the Saturday night races and then Ellis began spreading rumors that he had been fired.

Robinson, who could only be dismissed by the board, volunteering resigned before the board’s meeting Wednesday night.

P. Ray Grimes, 42, of Des Moines, was hired as director of racing to replace Robinson by the 24-member board of directors.

Fairboard secretary Ralph Capitani said Robinson’s resignation was prompted by continuing losses over the past three years. He said the board felt Robinson had not done enough to generate a profit and funds were needed for improvements on the track and facility.

Capitani said attendance at the Saturday night races had been worse this year, averaging only 1,800 to 2,000, instead of the 2,200 race fans needed to break even on the races.

He said the only profit-making event in recent years has been the three-day Nationals, which was begun by Robinson and placed Knoxville on the map as the “Super-Modified Capital of the World”.

Robinson fell out of favor, according to Capitani last Friday night, after adding two super modified races to the United States Auto Club stock car program which the board had not approved and cost $1,630 in extra purse money.

1967 - Independence Monza Won by Dake

 

Darrell Dake holds his trophy after winning the 50-lap Monza-style race at Independence. The Cedar Rapids chauffeur collected $450 for his efforts. – Beetle Bailey Photo

Independence, Iowa (May 29, 1967) – Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids won one of two 25-lap heat events, then edged Chub Liebe of Oelwein in the 50-lap Monza stock car races at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds on Monday night.

Dake edged Liebe by less than a car length in a tight finish that saw six cars on the main stretch of the quarter-mile track when the checkered flag waved. The

Cal Swanson of Reinbeck, the other 25-lap heat winner, was in contention until the last few laps when his car broke an axle, and he was forced to slow his pace. He would end up ninth.


Results –

Heat #1 –

1. Cal Swanson, Reinbeck
2. Chub Liebe, Oelwein
3. Bob Hilmer, Dysart
4. Joe Wurst, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
5. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
6. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
7. John Connolly, Delhi
8. Tom Hughes, Monticello
9. Curt Hansen, Dike
10.John Webb, Independence


Heat #2 –

1. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
2. Red Droste, Waterloo
3. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
4. Rich Krafka, Dysart
5. Dick Nesteby, Dubuque
6. Roger Kruse, Independence
7. Bob Hartman, Cedar Rapids
8. Vern Novak, Cedar Rapids
9. Lyle Noeller, Hills
10.Jack Bliss, Cedar Rapids


Feature –

1. Darrell Dake
2. Chub Liebe
3. Red Droste
4. Tom Hughes
5. Bob Hilmer
6. John Connolly
7. Stan Stover
8. Ed Sanger
9. Cal Swanson
10.Bob Hartman

Darrell Dake takes a victory lap after winning the second 25-lap qualifying heat. 

1976 – Eaker Wins in Davenport Debut

 

Driving Russ Lyman’s Mustang, Verlin Eaker found the winner’s circle in his return to the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. – Dick Kleindolph Photo

Davenport, Iowa (May 28, 1976) – Verlin Eaker, breaking track tradition driving a Ford Mustang, celebrated his 1976 return to the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds circuit with a wire-to-wire late model modified feature victory Friday night in Davenport.

The Cedar Rapids wheelman, handling one of the few Fords at the Fairgrounds this campaign, started on the outside of the front row, taking the lead at the drop of the green flag, and holding on throughout the 20-lap main event.

Roger Bruggeman of Dubuque finished second in the feature, witnessed by a crowd of 4,000, while Tom Hearst of Wilton, the second heat winner, finished third.

In sportsman action, Gary Kerres of Edgington was the feature winner. Rock Island’s John Simenec was second in the feature followed by Davenport’s Dave Wheeler.

Eaker led off the late model modified portion of the program with a heat win, while season point leader Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley won the semi-main and finished fifth in the feature.


Results 

Heat #1 – Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids
Heat #2 – Tom Hearst, Wilton
Heat #3 – Mel Morris, West Liberty
Semi-main – Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
Feature –
1. Verlin Eaker
2. Roger Bruggeman, Dubuque
3. Tom Hearst
4. Jim Strube, Peoria, Ill.
5. Ron Weedon
6. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
7. Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.
8. Larry Jenkins, Wilton
9. Jim Thruman, Freeport, Ill.
10.Dan Bennett, Peoria

1967 – Darting is Fourth Winner at Columbus Junction

Bud Darting

Columbus Junction, Iowa (May 27, 1967) – Bud Darting of Wilton, Iowa, became the fourth different Mississippi Valley Speed Club feature winner this season at the Louisa County Fairgrounds.

Darting slipped past Johnny Mullink of Wet Liberty in the front stretch to take the feature victory here Saturday night in races marred by a slick track and dust.

There have been four different feature event winners in the four racing programs run by MVSC.

Seven restarts were needed in the 20-lap feature race run partly through a light rain Saturday. There were 16 restarts for the night before Darting ended the activities by taking the checkered flag as Mullink let up a bit heading for the finish line.

For Darting it was his first win in his first season with the MVSC after being top driver at the Tipton track the past few years. Earlier in the race Darting spun his car completely around coming out of the second turn, kept it under power and began to work his way back up through the pack.

For Mullink, a long-time veteran of MVSC races, it was a disappointing end to a feature battle in which he led virtually all the way.

Most of the restarts were necessitated by spinouts on the turns, with the roughest mishap coming as Ron Hemsted of Lone Tree rolled his car off the south turn during time trials. His pit crew got it repaired in time for him to turn in the third-fastest time as the last man in qualifying runs.

However, he and other top contenders such as point leader Mark Mosier of Washington, Johnny Moss of Iowa City and defending point champ Mel Morris of West Liberty were forced to the pits with mechanical trouble.

Mosier, who kept his record clean as the fastest qualifier at every race, had a driveshaft break; Morris had his clutch fail; and Moss had a cylinder drop.

The races drew a standing room only crowd of several thousand fans.


Results –


Time trials – Mark Mosier, Washington (28.74)
Trophy dash – Mel Morris, West Liberty
Heat #1 – Mel Morris
Heat #2 – John Moss, Iowa City
Heat #3 – John Mullink, West Liberty
Heat #4 – Ron Prymek, Iowa City
Semi-main – Bud Price, Genesco, Ill.
Feature –
1. Bud Darting, Wilton
2. John Mullink
3. Tom Stewart, Washington
4. Ralph Ericson, Lockridge
5. Ron Prymek
6. Tom Harris, Iowa City
7. Daryl Hartsock, Muscatine
8. Bud Price
9. Bill Douglas, West Liberty
10.Dave Dodder, Letts

1975 – Hansen Regains Record, Niffenegger Takes Win

 

Mike Niffenegger 

West Liberty, Iowa (May 26, 1975) – Curt Hansen returned to West Liberty for the first time since the season opener and he repeated an earlier accomplishment.

In the season opener, the Dike driver set a track record in time trials and then went out and won the feature. Ten days ago, his mark was erased by Mike Niffenegger of Kalona.

But in Monday’s Memorial Day races, Hansen re-established the record with a time of 24.21 seconds on the half-mile dirt oval to better Niffenegger’s mark of 24.30 seconds.

However, Niffenegger managed to outduel Hansen in the accident-shortened feature. The race was halted after 24 circuits because of a wreck.

Niffenegger had already received the white flag for the final lap, so a restart was not made after the accident. Steve Keppler of Marion hit the wall in turn two and ended up on his top. He was taken to the hospital in Iowa City for observation.

Niffenegger started on the outside of the third row and Hansen on the outside of the fourth row. Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley led until midway through the race until Niffenegger took command.

Hansen assumed the lead for one lap near the end, but Niffenegger raced past him with a couple of laps to go and gained his second straight victory.

Phil Larsen and Ken DeGood, both of Iowa City, had a duel to the finish in the sportsman main event before Larsen took the checkered flag.


Results –

Fast time – Curt Hansen, Dike (24.21)
Heat #1 – Mel Morris, West Liberty
Heat #2 – Gail Brenner, Wilton
Heat #3 -Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
Semi-main – Ken Walton, Viola
Feature –
1. Mike Niffenegger
2. Curt Hansen
3. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
4. Mel Morris
5. Fred Horn, Marion
6. Jim Strube, Peoria, Ill.
7. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
8. Don Bohlander, Peoria, Ill.
9. Ron Prymek, Iowa City
10.John Connolly, Delhi
11.Larry Rummelhart, Riverside
12.Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.
13.Ron Hemsted, Lone Tree
14.Ken Walton
15.Tom Hearst, Wilton

1985 - Gunn on Target for Dells ‘Opener 50’

 

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (May 25, 1985) – Bob Gunn, the 40-year-old veteran late model driver from Madison, scored a victory in the 50-lap season opener Saturday night at Dells Motor Speedway.

Gunn led a four-car freight train of himself, Tom Reffner, Rick Wateski, and fast timer Jim Back across the finish line.

The feature was led in the beginning by Ken Reiser of Dorchester, Iowa, until a caution flag waved on lap 5 for a spin in turn two by second running Kevin Czywinski, putting Rich Lofy in second position.

On lap 10, a chain reaction bumper tagging match in the middle of the pack saw several cars almost spin while Czywinski, now running at the tail of the field, was forced to spin again, bringing out the second yellow flag.

At the same time, Lofy pitted with a flat tire, losing six laps before he eventually returned to the race. Bob Gunn, who inherited second position when Lofy exited, needed just one lap to get around Reiser for the lead, and then built up a comfortable margin while Reffner took over second on lap 42.

On lap 47, john McNamara spun on lap 47, bringing out the yellow and bunching up the field for a three-lap dash to the checkers.

However, Gunn held off all challenges and took the checkered flag a couple of car lengths ahead of Reffner, Wateski, and Back.

Dave Klein of Madison won the 20-lap semi-feature ahead of Rick Haase. Late model heat wins went to Kelin, Bryan Reffner, Bob Weiss, and Gunn. Roger Lund was the trophy dash winner.

Dick Peardot of Tomah won the 20-lap sportsman main event.


Results –

1. Bob Gunn, Madison
2. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
3. Rick Wateski, La Crosse
4. Jim Back, Vesper
5. Bobby Weiss, Montello
6. George Prziborowski, Apple Valley, Minn.
7. Bryan Reffner, Rudolph
8. Ed Holmes, Portage
9. Greg Holzhausen, Rudolph
10.John McNamara, Baraboo

1986 - Scarborough Notches Record Win in Little 500

 

Dave Scarborough pops the champagne after winning the Little 500 sprint car classic.

Anderson, Ind. (May 24, 1986) – Dave Scarborough ran away with an easy victory in the 38th annual Little 500 sprint car classic Saturday night at Anderson Speedway, winning by a record margin of 21 laps over runner-up Bob Frey.

The fastest field in the history of the event took the opening green flag in the traditional 11 rows of three starting format. Frank Riddle, who set a four-lap record of 47.255 seconds in qualifying, took the early lead.

Riddle stayed in front before Jeff Palms took over on the 16th circuit. Palms dominated the race until Bob Seelman gained control on lap 44. Seelman, who had moved up from his 13th starting position, then began putting some distance between himself and Scarborough, who had passed Palms for second.

On lap 84, the most serious accident of the night occurred when the engine blew on Jim Childers’ mount as he entered turn one, dumping oil on the track. Robert Smith spun sideways trying to avoid the oil and slammed the outside wall, his car bursting into flames instantly. Smith bailed out of his car as it came to a stop and was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to an Indianapolis hospital with second and third-degree burns.

Seelman continued his charge until lap 95 when Scarborough took over for the next 100 circuits. The next yellow flew on lap 195 and when action resumed, Seelman grabbed the pacesetting duties once again and led until differential problems slowed him on lap 258. Scarborough inherited the lead after that and led the final 242 rounds around the high-banked quarter-mile asphalt to easily take the checkered.

Gary Schlafer put on a late charge in the last 50 laps to close within one lap of second-place Frey.

“This is a dream come true,” said the 49-year-old Scarborough. “I’ve wanted so much to win this race before I retired.”

The victory earned the Brookville, Fla., driver $12,000 while Frey earned $6,000 and Schlafer collected $3,000.


Results –

1. Dave Scarborough, Brookville, Fla.
2. Bob Frey, Glendale, Ariz.
3. Gary Schlafer, Anderson
4. David Smith, Gibsonton, Fla.
5. Hardy Maddox, Seffner, Fla.
6. Jeff Bloom, Kalamazoo, Mich.
7. Gary Landon, Freeport, Mich.
8. Tom Marks, Grand Rapids, Mich.
9. Tray House, Chesterfield
10.Bob Seelman, Lansing, Mich.

1978 – Parker Tops at Oskaloosa

 

Pete Parker would have a profitable week, winning three late model features. He won at De Pere, Wis., on Monday, Oskaloosa on Wednesday, and his hometown track of Kaukauna, Wis., on Thursday. He’s shown here with flagman Ed Otten and promoter Dale Gegner after his Oskaloosa victory.

Oskaloosa, Iowa (May 24, 1978) – Pete Parker made his long trip from Kaukauna, Wis., pay off by winning the late model feature at Southern Iowa Speedway on Wednesday night.

Parker slipped past last week’s winner, Curt Hansen of Dike, on lap 9 of the 25-lap feature after a tremendous side-by-side duel.

Hansen finished second followed by Waterloo drivers Tom Bartholomew and Ed Sanger. Roger Dolan of Lisbon finished fifth.

Hansen, Parker, and Bartholomew were heat winners while Waterloo’s Dick Schiltz won the Australian Pursuit.

Wendell Folkerts of Albia won his second feature in a row in the sportsman division. Jim Anderson, the current point leader, chased Folkerts throughout the contest but finished second.


Results –

1. Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.
2. Curt Hansen, Dike
3. Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo
4. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
5. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
6. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
7. Jim Brown, Ottumwa
8. Dave Farren, Des Moines
9. Denny Hovinga, Pocahontas
10.John Moss, Iowa City

1981- Sauter’s Seconds Secure ARTGO Showdown Title

 

Larry Detjens won the first of two features for the ARTGO late models at the Chicagoland Showdown at Illiana Motor Speedway. – Bob Elman Photo

By Stan Kalwasinski

Schererville, Ind. (May 23, 1981) – Current series point leader Larry Detjens and three-time champion Dick Trickle captured 50-lap feature races, but it was Jim Sauter winning the overall championship in ARTGO Racing’s second annual “Chicagoland Showdown” at Illiana Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

The twin 50-lap late model events saw Detjens and Trickle wheel their Camaros to the checkered flag, but it was Sauter’s two runner-up finishes in the 50s that gave the Necedah, Wis., flyer the overall title.

Detjens would take the lead from Steve Burgess on a lap 20 restart and set sail for checkers. Sauter drove past Joe Shear on lap 33 and quickly moved in on the leader. For the remainder of the race, Detjens set the pace with Sauter running right behind as the duo left the rest of the field far behind. Trickle pressed Shear for third place late in the race, but the “White Knight’s” charging style cost him a position as Burgess slipped by him at the checkered flag.

John Knaus pushed his car out front for the second 50-lapper and led a freight train of hard chargers.

Burgess would loop his car on lap 14, sending the rest of the field scattering for a safe place. With more than a dozen cars involved, Burgess, Detjens, and defending champion Frank Gawlinski found themselves out of action.

When all-out racing resumed, Knaus stayed on top with Trickle flying past Bob Senneker on lap 16 for second place. Trickle moved in on Knause and took over the top spot on lap 17.

Trickle would remain the leader with Sauter moving into second and setting his sights on Trickle. The rest of the way saw Trickle and Sauter go at it bumper-to-bumper with Sauter looking for an opening.

Entering the backstretch on the final lap, Sauter used a slower car to move alongside Trickle but couldn’t find daylight to get by Trickle.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Larry Detjens, Wausau, Wis.
2. Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
3. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
4. Steve Burgess, Eau Claire, Wis.
5. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
6. Alan Kulwicki, Milwaukee
7. Mel Walen, Shakopee, Minn.
8. Larry Schuler, New Lenox, Ill.
9. Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.
10.Bobby Dotter, Chicago


Feature #2 –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Jim Sauter
3. Bob Senneker
4. Larry Schuler
5. Alan Kulwicki
6. Joe Shear
7. Pat Schauer, Watertown, Wis.
8. John Knaus, Rockford, Ill.
9. Jim Pierson, Milton, Wis.
10.Dave Weltmeyer, Harvey, Ill.

1987 - McKeighan Tops IMCA Mods at Baer Field

 

Danny McKeighan won the IMCA Modified National Series race at Baer Field Raceways in Fort Wayne, Ind. It was the first-ever visit for the IMCA modifieds to the half-mile asphalt track. IMCA Executive Secretary Bill Haglund makes the trophy presentation. – Jim Stovall Photo

Fort Wayne, Ind. (May 22, 1987) – Danny McKeighan of Council Bluffs, Iowa, won the 20-lap IMCA Modified National Series feature Friday at Baer Field Raceways.

McKeighan ran a solid second until lap 15 when race leader Ted Beaman of Council Bluffs, Iowa, had an engine expired in turn two. McKeighan then held off Martin Bennett of Des Moines, Iowa, for the victory.

Friday’s event was the first-ever appearance for the IMCA modifieds at Baer Field. They return in June for another National Series on the half-mile asphalt oval.

Beaman was quick timer for the evening at 19.746 seconds. Ray Cox Jr. of Walcott, Iowa, won the trophy dash and McKeighan captured the heat race for a double victory.

With Beaman losing an engine 14 laps into the main event, Ray Cox Jr. took over the National Series point lead with his third-place finish ahead of his brother, Rick. Lennie Allen of Danville, Ill., rounded out the top five finishers.


Results –

1. Danny McKeighan, Council Bluffs, Iowa
2. Martin Bennett, Des Moines, Iowa
3. Ray Cox Jr., Davenport, Iowa
4. Rick Cox, Davenport, Iowa
5. Lennie Allen, Danville, Ill.
6. Herb Shannon, Hanna City, Ill.
7. Steve Streeter, Bloomfield, Iowa
8. Dude Thompson, Huxley, Iowa
9. Richard Trader, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
10.Danny Wallace, Des Moines, Iowa
11.Ted Beaman, Council Bluffs, Iowa
12.Kenny Thompson, Persia, Iowa
13.Craig Shutt, Des Moines, Iowa

1972 – Marcis Wins in ‘Last Inning’

 

Dave Marcis poses alongside car owner Dave Deppe. Marcis would win the USAC-sanctioned 200-lapper at Wisconsin International Raceway.

by Gary Vercauteren
Kaukauna, Wis. (May 21, 1972) – Wisconsin International Raceway on Sunday continued to feature its fascinating version of ‘the ball game is never over until the last man is out.”

A year ago, Jack Bowsher loomed as the apparent winner of the WIR 200 until running out of gas on lap 192. Norm Nelson capitalized on the opportunity and won the race.

On Sunday afternoon, Larry "Butch" Hartman, the 1971 USAC national stock car champion, looked like a sure winner under similar circumstances. But his 1972 Dodge Charger ran out of fuel on the 191st lap and Dave Marcis took advantage of the opening to score what he termed “the biggest win of my 14-year career.”

Marcis’ victory, in a 1972 Chevrolet Nova, was more popular with the crowd of 6,750 fans than it was with USAC officials. This was the third major stock car race of the year on the circuit and a USAC driver had yet to triumph. The first two events were won by IMCA champion Ernie Derr and Chuck McWilliams.

Marcis, formerly of Wausau and now a resident of Arden, N.C., is a regular on the NASCAR circuit and received permission to compete to compete at WIR for the first time in over four years.

The official results of the race were held up for almost 90 minutes as USAC officials made a thorough check (some racing buffs thought it was too thorough) of the winning car and no irregularities were found in the breakdown of the engine, so the Marcis victory – worth $2,180 in total prize money – stood.

The 30-year-old Marcis led only 23 of the 200 laps. But he said that his “game plan” was to drive a steady race because of his use of soft tires. The strategy worked well, for Marcis needed no tires and pitted only once for gas.

Hartman had picked up fuel on lap 95 when he pitted after a brief spinout. The South Zanesville, Ohio, veteran, who won here three years ago, thundered back into contention and took over the lead on lap 146. He held the top spot for the next 46 circuits until shot down by fuel woes and had to settle for a 10th-place finish in the 24-car field.

The most prolific lap leader of the day was Jack Bowsher of Springfield, Ohio. The fastest qualifier for the race, Bowsher gunned his 1971 Ford Torino out of the front row and into the lead. He led every inch of the first 97 laps before he was done in by mechanical problems. He would make several pit stops with gear issues and would eventually finished 14th.

The only other leader for any appreciable time – besides Bowsher, Hartman and Marcis – was Lem Blankenship of Keokuk, Iowa. He set the pace for laps 103 through 131 but could finish no higher than ninth.

Finishing second to Marcis was Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who also finished in the runner-up position to Bobby Unser in last August’s Miller High Life 250 here. Eaker, driving a ’70 Dodge, was running behind Hartman during most of Butch’s reign but was overhauled by Marcis at the time of Hartman’s gas problems.

Third-place finisher Sal Tovella of Addison, Ill., was the only other driver to complete the 100 miles on the hot afternoon.


Results –


1. Dave Marcis, Arden, N.C.
2. Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
3. Sal Tovella, Addison, Ill.
4. Ed Hoffman, Niles, Ill.
5. Terry Ryan, Davenport, Iowa
6. Bay Darnell, Deerfield, Ill.
7. Paul Feldner, Richfield
8. Paul Sizemore, Terre Haute, Ind.
9. Lem Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa
10.Butch Hartman, South Zanesville, Ohio

1956 - Burdick Tops Field in Corn Belt 200

All-Iowa Fair secretary Andy Hanson presents the Cornbelt trophy to Bob Burdick after he won the 200-lap feature at Hawkeye Downs. In the middle is promoter Frank Winkley. – Les Burianek Photo

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 20, 1956) – Bob Burdick, driving the last 20 laps with a bent wheel, captured the Corn Belt trophy and cash at Hawkeye Downs in the season’s first 200-lap late model stock car test.

A crowd estimated at 9,500 saw Burdick take the lead on the 130th lap, when Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids was forced into the pits, then rolled his Chevrolet to the final 70 laps to victory.

Dake, who led the from the 61st to the 130th lap, was one of the hard luck drivers in Sunday’s field. He rallied late and drew within 50 yards of Burdick in the closing laps, only to have his car forced into the pits again and wound up fourth in the final standings.

Defending International Motor Contest Association stock car champion Don White of Keokuk had his share of troubles. He grabbed the lead briefly in the early laps but was then forced to the sidelines when his fan broke through his radiator.

John Beauchamp of Harlan had the best qualifying time with a clocking of 29.99 seconds, but he lost the lead early to Sonny Morgan of Beaumont, Tex. Both had their share of car troubles, with Morgan finishing second and Beauchamp credited with fifth. Bud Burdick, brother of the winner, started last and finished an impressive third.

Beauchamp led the first two laps, then lost it to Morgan. Morgan the led the parade until lap 7 when White grabbed it briefly. Morgan took it back when White went to the sidelines. Dake and Morgan then dueled for the top spot until lap 61, when Morgan got jammed up in the first turn.

He plowed into a fence, losing the lead to Dake. He came out of the mishap with a 15-foot plank protruding from under his left front fender, and it took several crewmen to remove the board and get Morgan back on the track.

Dake then led the way until he pitted on the 130th lap and Burdick took over for good.


Results –


1. Bob Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
2. Sonny Morgan, Beaumont, Tex.
3. Bud Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
4. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
5. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan
6. Roxy Dancy, Shreveport, La.
7. Tubby Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
8. Frank Richards, Marion
9. Lee McClunk, What Cheer
10.Les Dykes, Davenport
11Ted Zieman, Mason City
12.Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids
13.Bob Chauncy, Mason City
14.Burton Ramsey
15.Glen Strellner, Cedar Rapids

 

1987 – Hanford Wins IMCA Late Model ‘Series’ Win

 

Bruce Hanford receives his trophy from promoter Larry Kemp after winning the 35-lap IMCA Late Model Summer Series feature at 34 Raceway Park.  -  Dick Kleindolph Photo

By Bill Haglund

West Burlington, Iowa (May 9, 1987) – Davenport’s Bruce Hanford led from start to finish Tuesday night, holding off the field after two cautions and one red flag, to win the IMCA Late Model Summer Series’ 35-lap feature at 34 Raceway Park.

Hanford fared no better than third in his qualifying heat but earned the pole position in the 22-car field in the “redraw” for the top three finishers in the four heat races.

A couple of minor crashes caused yellow flags, but the race was halted after 31 laps were complete when Jay Johnson tagged the turn three wall and wound up on his top after taking out a section of fence. Johnson was not injured but it sent all of the frontrunners to the backstretch apron where crews made last-minute adjustments that might bring them victory in the final four-lap sprint to the finish.

But Hanford was up to the task as he held off Steve Fraise of Montrose and Dale Fischlein of Independence for the win. Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls and Mitch Fretheim of Decorah rounded out the top-five.

Darrel DeFrance of Marshalltown, who dropped out of the feature with overheating issues, won the final event of the night – the Race of champions – to prevail over the 12-car field.

That event produced the most serious accident of the evening as Greg Hunter of Independence had a right rear wheel break in turn three and when the wheel dug into the surface, it sent him catapulting high into the air in a hard flip. Curt Martin had nowhere to go as Hunter’s car landed topside down on Martin’s engine compartment, then flipped back on it’s wheels.

Hunter was visibly shaken and was taken to a Mt. Pleasant hospital with a possible broken leg.

Heat races were won by Bill Breuer of Wapello, Hunter, DeFrance, and Terry Gallaher of Hannibal, Mo. Martin won the semi-feature.


Results –

1. Bruce Hanford, Davenport
2. Steve Fraise, Montrose
3. Dale Fischlein, Independence
4. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls
5. Mitch Fretheim, Decorah
6. Curt Martin, Independence
7. Rick Wendling, Hazelton
8. Dave Birkhofer, Muscatine
9. Terry Gallaher, Hannibal, Mo.
10.Rollie Frink, Davenport
11.Greg Hunter, Independence
12.Steve Watts, Jimtown
13.Kevin Cale, Montrose
14.Dave Getchell, Sperry
15.Jim Swank, Hamilton, Ill.

1975 - Sanger Unstoppable – Wins at Davenport, Denison, CR

 

Ed Sanger went on a winning rampage in late model stock car racing over the weekend, winning features at Davenport, Denison, and Cedar Rapids. He’s shown here in victory lane at Denison accepting his trophy. The flagman is Larry Cook of Spencer. 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 18, 1975) – Ed Sanger of Waterloo scored a hat trick in late model racing over the weekend, winning at Davenport Speedway on Friday, May 16, Denison Speedway on Saturday, May 17, and wrapping up the weekend at Hawkeye Downs on Sunday, May 18.

Sanger would win at Davenport with Bill Zwanziger hugging his bumper the entire time. It was Sanger’s second feature win in a row on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds half-mile. Mike Niffenegger of Kalona was third followed by Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley and Steve Keppler of Marion.

On Saturday night in Denison before a crowd of 4,200, Sanger would nose out Curt Hansen of Dike on the last lap to win the 15-lap super stock feature at the Crawford County Fairgrounds. Hansen had led the first 14 laps of the feature on the big half-mile with Sanger pushing hard the entire way. As Hansen was between turns three and four, Sanger gave Hansen a little nudge forcing him out on the loose dirt into the corner and allowing Sanger to slide by. Bob Kosiski of Omaha also took advantage and got by Hansen as well to take runner-up honors. Wendell Kuehn of Rochester, Minn., was fourth followed by Jerry Wancewicz of Omaha.

As exciting as his win in Denison was, his victory in Cedar Rapids would be a carbon copy as he passed race-long leader Don Hoffman of Des Moines on the very last lap to score the win. Sanger was a couple of car-lengths behind Hoffman for the last few remaining laps and as they took the white flag, Sanger made his move. Giving Hoffman some slack as they entered the final set of turns, the Waterloo hot shoe slingshot past Hoffman as they entered the front stretch, bringing the 3,100 in attendance to their feet. Sanger would nip Hoffman at the checkered by a mere car-length. Curt Hansen, Fred Horn, and John Connolly of Delhi rounded out the top five.


Results –

Davenport –

1. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
2. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
3. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
4. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
5. Steve Keppler, Marion

Denison –

1. Ed Sanger
2. Bob Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
3. Curt Hansen, Dike
4. Wendell Kuehn, Rochester, Minn.
5. Jerry Wancewicz, Omaha, Neb.

Cedar Rapids –

1. Ed Sanger
2. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
3. Curt Hansen
4. Fred Horn, Marion
5. John Connolly, Delhi

1982 – Record 8,407 See Sauter Win WIR Spring 50

 

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

1983 - Mitchell Quickest on Tough Vinton Oval

Jack Mitchell won the IMCA modified feature at the Vinton Speedway season opener.  

Vinton, Iowa (May 15, 1983) – Jack Mitchell of Cedar Falls began defense of his point championship at Vinton Speedway in impressive fashion as he beat Mike Schulte of Norway to the checkered flag in the 25-lap IMCA modified feature race before a small but enthusiastic crowd.

By feature time, the track, which had soaked up vast amounts of rain over the past few weeks, had developed deep ruts, especially in the turns, and drivers fought the track as much as they did each other. In fact, the 25 laps were so grueling and demanding that many of the drivers suffered bruises to their arms, legs, and backs from being tossed about inside their speeding machines.

“Two more laps and I would’ve had to pull out,” Schulte said after chasing Mitchell for much of the race. “I just couldn’t take much more.”

Schulte, third place finisher Jim Schmuecker of Vinton, and fourth-place finisher Howard Stinger of Cedar Rapids didn’t leave their cars for several minutes after the completion of the event and the exhaustion on their faces was evident.

Two mishaps were directly attributed to the rough surface.

The first, with three official laps completed, left speedway regular Mike Sampson of Evansdale with a completely destroyed race car. After a restart, with the field tightly bunched, Sampson was tagged by Hiawatha’s Steve Stinger as they left the fourth turn and entered the straightaway. Sampson’s car veered sharply to the right and slammed head-on into the cement retaining wall at more than 60 miles per hour. Sampson walked away uninjured but the frame on his car was bent beyond repair.

The other incident, also in the fourth turn, involved Buz Kaster of Kansas City and Mitchell. Running through the ruts, Mitchell’s car touched Kaster’s and the latter tagged the wooden guardrail that extends beyond the cement retaining wall. The impact bent a tie rod and flattened a tire, ending his drive. Nonetheless, Kaster was not discouraged.

“These IMCA modifieds are new in Kansas City and we’ve only had one race down there because of the weather,” Kaster said. “I wanted to come up here because I had heard so much about guys like Mitchell, Schulte and Fischlein (Dale) and I wanted to see if I could run with them. Also, I want to race this track two or three times at Vinton before the Nationals, so I know the track better.”

In other opening night action, Rex Cousins of Evansdale and Don Berg of Waterloo put on a door-to-door battle in the altered street stock feature before some lapped traffic ultimately decided the outcome. Berg got trapped, while Cousins sped by and took the opening night win the exciting 20-lap contest.


Results –


IMCA Modified –

1. Jack Mitchell, Cedar Falls
2. Mike Schulte, Norway
3. Jim Schmuecker, Vinton
4. Howard Stinger, Cedar Rapids
5. Todd Jensen, Waterloo
6. Bernie Juliar, Hudson
7. Doug Robison, Brandon
8. Buz Kaster, Kansas City, Mo.
9. Dan Higdon, Vinton
10.Merv Chandler, Cedar Rapids


Altered Street Stock –

1. Rex Cousins, Evansdale
2. Don Berg, Waterloo
3. Glen Conger, Waterloo
4. Craig Coventry, Brandon
5. Wayne Wall, Marion
6. Bob Tritle, Marion
7. Jim Kemmerling, Cedar Rapids

Rex Cousins of Evansdale won the altered street stock feature at Vinton Speedway to open up the 1983 season.

1972 – Tri-County Nod to McWilliams

Chuck McWilliams

West Chester, Ohio (May 14, 1972) – Chuck McWilliams, the 1968 and ’69 track champion here, won the United States Auto Club stock car 100-lap feature at Tri-County Speedway on Sunday.

Ralph Latham, the 1970 track champion, led the pack from the start and led the first 77 laps before he blew a tire and was forced to the pit area. Latham lost two laps on the tire change, came back out, but retired permanently a few laps later with mechanical issues.

Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, took over the lead after Lathem dropped out and maintained the top spot from lap 78 to 90.

On lap 91, McWilliams shot to the inside of Eaker in the second turn to take over the lead. Eaker would continue to knock on the door, but it would be to no avail as McWilliams would take the checkered.

Latham would show his intimate knowledge of the track during time trials with a time of 22.11 seconds.


Results –


1. Chuck McWilliams
2. Verlin Eaker
3. Jack Bowsher
4. Bay Darnell
5. Paul Feldner
6. Lem Blankenship
7. Ramo Stott
8. Sal Tovella
9. Kenny Reiter
10.Ken McEldowney
11.Bud Schroyer
12.Paul Sizemore
13.Tom Klippel
14.Jim Tobin
15.Ralph Latham
16.Jay Wyatt
17.Lefty Robinson
18.Bill Davis
19.Dan Dickey
20.J.J. Smith
21.Jigger Sirois
22.Butch Hartman