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
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