1955 – Larson Winner in Death-Marred Futurity

 

Hawkeye Futurity winner Jud Larson is joined by his beautiful wife Valerie, runner-up Bobby Grim (left) and winning car owner Tom Randol. – Elwood “Shorty” Jensen Photo

Des Moines, Iowa (June 5, 1955) – Jud Larson, a 32-year-old Austin, Tex., transport truck driver when he isn’t racing, captured the 50-mile Hawkeye Futurity auto racing title Sunday afternoon before 12,000 spectators.

A crash, which claimed the life of 29-year-old Bob Slater of Kansas City, the International Motor Contest Association champion, interrupted the feature after it had gone only seven laps.

Larson’s elapsed time for the 100 laps, frequently interrupted by mishaps, was 45 minutes and 51.82 seconds, an IMCA record for the distance, staged for the first time on a half-mile flat dirt track.

Bobby Grim of Indianapolis finished second, half a lap behind the winner. Bud Randall of Cincinnati, Ohio, was third, a full lap behind, and Don Carr of Tampa, Fla., was fourth.

The field of 20 starters roared through some near-record laps with Slater’s 24.59 second dash through the fifth lap, when he gained his temporary ill-fated lead, as the best posted.

Randall, who started on the inside of the second row, spurted in front at the start and led until the fifth circuit.

There, Slater roared from his seventh starting position to take over until he crashed on the east wall going into the seventh lap.

After the race was resumed, Randall led the field, followed by Jim McWithey of Anderson, Ind., until the 26th lap.

Here Grim, who had been staying an eighth of mile back behind the leaders, took command. McWithey, meanwhile, pulled into the pits for a fuel stop on the 21st lap, a halt that cost him a chance of finishing higher.

After two interruptions from minor crack-ups, Larson made his move on lap 40 as Don Olds and Randall battled for second place behind Grim.

Larson managed to squeeze past both Olds and Randall in a traffic jammed second turn, then slid past Grim coming out of the fourth turn in a thrilling but dangerous spurt coming into the homestretch on the 44th lap.

The Texan put distance between himself and Grim until the margin was half a lap by the time he crossed the start/finish line on lap 85. On his 88th tour around the half-mile, he was clocked at 26.42 seconds.

He was still half a lap ahead of Grim when he received the checkered flag.

The race was worth a total of $1,810 to Larson, who in addition to claiming the $1,680 first prize of the $9,100 purse, won $130 in lap money.


Results –

1. Jud Larson, Austin, Tex.
2. Bobby Grim, Indianapolis
3. Bud Randall, Cincinnati, Ohio
4. Don Carr, Tampa, Fla.
5. Don Olds, Seattle, Wash.
6. Herschel Wagner, Hickman Hills, Mo.
7. Jim Wegscheider, St. Louis
8. Andy Anderson, Hastings, Neb.
9. Bob Cleburg, Rio, Wis.

10. Jim McWithey, Anderson, Ind.