1978 – Reffner Ends ARTGO Dry Spell, Captures All-Star 200 at Grundy

 

Tom Reffner won the ARTGO-sanctioned All-Star 200 at Grundy County Speedway. - Bob Elman Photo

Morris, Ill. (June 3, 1978) – Tom Reffner returned to the ARTGO winner’s circle for the first time since 1975, Saturday, by winning one 50-lap feature and tying Dick Trickle for the top spot in the other, during the All-Star 200 at Grundy County Speedway. Reffner also won the King-of-the-Hill race, to bring his total earnings for the evening to $1,960.

Bob Senneker got the program off to a big start in time trials by breaking the one-lap record on the third-mile paved oval with a time of 15.31 seconds. However, handling issues forced Senneker to retire midway through the first race and he did not start the second 50-lapper.

The dead heat finish between Reffner and Trickle in the first feature was set up when the radiator hose in Bobby Dotter’s car popped with two laps remaining and his car skidded into Senneker’s car, which was parked in the infield.

Trickle, who caught up to the front running Reffner in heavy traffic five circuits earlier, pressured Reffner after the caution and one false start prior to the resumption of all-out action.

As the duo flashed under the white flag, Trickle used the outside groove to edge ahead of Reffner briefly, but Reffner rebounded quickly to regain a slight advantage.

Reffner still held the upper hand as the pair charged out of the fourth turn, but Trickle put on a late burst of speed to pull even with Reffner at the finish. It was the first dead heat for any position in any event ever promoted by ARTGO.

Polesitter Ed Hoffman had led the first 23 laps of the race before Reffner gained first place on lap 24. Trickle took second on lap 25, but never contended for the lead until heavy traffic delayed Reffner in the closing rounds.

Mike Miller finished third and was followed by Rusty Wallace and Larry Detjens.

With the top 10 finishers in the first main event inverted at the front of the field for the start of the second feature, Ted Musgrave found himself on the pole position. However, Denny Nyari, who started on the outside of the front row, forged into the lead as the field wound through the first set of turns of the opening lap.

Miller took second place from Musgrave on lap 11 and then powered by Nyari on lap 14 to take over the lead. At the 15-lap mark, the top nine cars were still tightly bunched.

On lap 29, Trickle’s ignition failed temporarily, and he dropped from third to 12th before recovering. Despite not having the benefit of a caution flag the rest of the day, Trickle still managed to battle back to finish fifth at the finish.

Reffner caught up with Miller on lap 37 and after three rounds of tight racing, opened up a comfortable lead, which he held to the finish. Miller edged Detjens for second with Burgess finishing fourth and Trickle rounding out the top-five.

Butch Ledy won the 20-lap semi-feature and Frank Gawlinski took the 10-lap consolation.


Results -

Feature #1 - 

1. Tom Reffner, Rudolph, Wis., and Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (tie)
2.
3. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
4. Rusty Wallace, St. Louis, Mo.
5. Larry Detjens, Wausau, Wis.
6. Ray Young, Dolton
7. Ed Hoffman, Niles
8. Steve Burgess, Fall Creek, Wis.
9. Denny Nyari, South Bend, Ind.
10.Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh, Wis.


Feature #2 –

1. Tom Reffner
2. Mike Miller
3. Larry Detjens
4. Steve Burgess
5. Dick Trickle
6. Ed Hoffman
7. Denny Nyari
8. Larry Schuler, Lockport
9. Rusty Wallace
10.Joe Shear, South Beloit

1984 - Lasoski Wins at Knoxville with Last-Lap Pass

 

Danny “The Dude” Lasoski waves to the crowd after winning the winged sprint car feature at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Flagman Doug Clark presents the checkers. – Action Photo

Knoxville, Iowa (June 2, 1984) – Second generation driver Danny Lasoski powered his sprinter to a surprising last lap pass of race leader Randy Smith to capture his initial Knoxville Raceway feature win.

The Dover, Mo., youngster collected $1,500 for the win.

In victory lane, Lasoski greeted the exuberant crowd with, “On the white flag lap I figured it was now or never, so I dove low in turn three and stayed on the ridge. Fortunately, I was able to hold it.”

Smith, who had set quick time at 18.267 seconds, finished second as he suffered wing difficulties in the final rounds of the race. Third place went to Tod Bishop, fourth went to Glenn Hughes Jr., and Bob Hop round out the top-five.

Jerry Potter won the trophy dash with Buddy Wallen, Rocky Hodges, and Smith winning heat races. Scott Ritchhart won the B-main.


Results –


Time trials – Randy Smith, Norwalk (18.267)
Trophy dash – Jerry Potter, Raytown, Mo.
Heat #1 – Buddy Wallen, Kansas City
Heat #2 – Rocky Hodges, Des Moines
Heat #3 – Randy Smith
B-main – Scott Ritchhart, Lincoln, Ill.
Feature –
1. Danny Lasoski, Dover, Mo.
2. Randy Smith
3. Tod Bishop, Harrisburg, Ill.
4. Glenn Hughes Jr., Denver, Mo.
5. Bob Hop, Mendota, Minn.
6. John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn.
7. Junior Parkinson, Gladstone, Mo.
8. Scott Ritchhart
9. Jeff Tuttle, Des Moines
10.John Walsh, Sidney, Australia

1968 – McDonough, Dake Split at Speedbowl

 

Darrell Dake won the second of twin 25-lappers at Sterling Speedbowl Park. 

Sterling, Ill. (June 2, 1968) – Bill McDonough and Darrel Dake, both of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, shared the limelight at Speedbowl Park on Sunday afternoon in a stock car racing program that was highlighted by two 25-lap features.

McDonough won the first 25-lapper, which was actually an event that was rained out two weeks ago, while Dake won the regular program.

There were no serious mishaps throughout the entire program, with the worst being spinouts. Bill Forbes, Rock Falls, who has been setting quite a pace in the late model division lately, had a heart-breaking experience in one of the heat races. He had started on the pole position and was doing an excellent job of maintaining first place, especially with heavy pressure coming from Jim Strube.

Late in the Darrel Dake pulled alongside Strube, making the battle for second a close one, while Forbes continued to lead the event. Just as Forbes was passing the judge’s stand and receiving the white flag, he suddenly slowed and pulled off the track. It was later learned that the differential had gone out on his car. Meanwhile, Strube went on to win the heat race.

Two spinouts highlighted the first 25-lap feature. John Connolly, Delhi, Iowa, who had started on the outside of the second row, was running second when he suddenly spun in the second turn. A lap later, Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who was driving Allen May’s Chevelle, spun between the first and second turns, necessitating the caution flag to be displayed when the car stalled in the middle of the track.

McDonough, driving a 1965 Chevrolet, went on to win followed by Al Terrell, Lloyd Ewing, Don Bohlander and Tom Hughes. Terrell staged a tremendous wheel-to-wheel battle with McDonough throughout the entire 25-laps with McDonough winning a by only a couple of car lengths over Terrell.

In the second feature, John Engelkens, Sterling, who had started on the pole position, had the uncanny experience of spinning out in from of the entire 17-car field on the second lap. All drivers in the event showed the skill it takes to be a race car driver, as each and everyone sped past the spinning Engelkens without as so much brushing against him.

Dake, who started on the outside of the fifth row, was waiting for no one and took the lead from Dick Nesteby, Dubuque, Iowa, on lap 16, who had been leading from the very start. Dake drew the plaudits of most of the fans present when he zoomed into first place because this had been no easy task, chiefly, because Nesteby himself had been setting a blistering pace.

When the checkered flag dropped, it was Dake with Nesteby taking runner-up honors, McDonough in third, Lloyd Ewing in fourth and John Connolly rounding out the top five.


Results –


Trophy Dash – Jerry Roedell
Heat #1 – B.J. Higley
Heat #2 – Bruce Haack
Heat #3 – John Connolly
Heat #4 – Jim Strube
Heat #5 – John Schlemmer
Feature #1 –
1. Bill McDonough
2. Al Terrell
3. Lloyd Ewing
4. Don Bohlander
5. Tom Hughes

Consolation – Jim Baker

Feature #2 –
1. Darrel Dake
2. Dick Nesteby
3. Bill McDonough
4. Lloyd Ewing
5. John Connolly

1980 - Repeat Dr. Pepper Victory for Martin at La Crosse

 

Mark Martin

West Salem, Wis. (June 1, 1980) – Mark Martin won the overall title of the 6th annual Dr. Pepper 100 by finishing second in the first 50-lap feature and then winning the second at La Crosse Interstate Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Martin, who won the event last year, was gaining fast at the end of the first feature but could not catch the victorious Dick Trickle and ended up in second place, two car-lengths back.

Steve Burgess finished third, Jim Sauter took fourth and Mike Miller was fifth.

In the second 50-lapper, Martin took the lead on lap 13 by passing Miller, who had led since the sixth circuit. Martin stretched his lead until lap 46 when the first caution of the race occurred as Bob Strait spun in turn two.

After the race was restarted, Martin again began to stretch his lead and held on to score the win.

Joe shear finished second after passing both Miller and Trickle with one lap to go. Trickle settled for third while Miller placed fourth. Bob Strait recovered from his spin to round out the top five.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
3. Steve Burgess, Eau Claire
4. Jim Sauter, Necedah
5. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids
6. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.

Feature #2 –

1. Mark Martin
2. Joe Shear
3. Dick Trickle
4. Mike Miller
5. Bob Strait, Flossmoor, Ill.
6. Larry Detjens, Wausau