Dean Roper scored his first USAC stock car win of his career at the Illinois State Fairgrounds' one-mile dirt oval. - Todd Healey Photo
Springfield, Ill. (June 14, 1981) – It was a long time coming, but Dean Roper finally got his first career victory on the United States Auto Club stock car circuit.
Roper, from Fair Grove, Mo., took advantage of some first-turn problems encountered by the three front-runners on lap 39, to win the 59-lap late model stock car feature at the Illinois State Fairgrounds’ one-mile dirt oval.
In capturing his first career USAC win of his 20-year career, Roper passed the front-running Sal Tovella of Addison, Ill., Bob Brevak of Ashland, Wis., and Ken Schrader of Fenton, Mo., on lap 39 and then held on for the last 20 circuits.
Yellow-flag situations on lap 48 and 49 and 52 through 56 extended the race from it’s scheduled 50 laps.
Herb Shannon of Peoria, Ill., also took advantage of the lap 39 miscue to secure second place.
Bay Darnell of Deerfield, Ill., finished third, with John Olson of Addison, Ill., in fourth and Terry Deatheridge of Wichita, Kan., rounding out the top five.
Tovella ended up finishing sixth after the melee, with Brevak trailing in the seventh spot. Schrader settled for a tenth-place finish.
Results –
1. Dean Roper
2. Herb Shannon
3. Bay Darnell
4. John Olson
5. Terry Deatheridge
6. Sal Tovella
7. Bob Brevak
8. Rick O’Brien
9. Rick Hanley
10.Ken Schrader
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