1983 – Dolan Captures 11th Annual Miller 100

 

Roger Dolan holds his trophy after winning the 11th annual Miller 100 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. - Terry Thompson Collection 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (June 7, 1983) – Veteran Roger Dolan of Lisbon, Iowa, played a waiting game Tuesday night as he won the annual Miller 100 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

Dolan started outside the second row and stayed near the front the whole race but used a lap 93 pass of Ken Walton of Viola, Iowa, to annex the victory. Walton started on the outside of the front row and led the first 92 laps, including a number of them under caution for various spins and crashes.

Then, as the leaders diced in turn two of the 93rd circuit, Dolan took to the low side of the speedway while Walton rode the high side and Dolan edged past and into first for the eventual win.

“I was hoping the cushion up high would wear out soon,” Dolan remarked. “The only chance I had was to pass low and in turn two. There was no other place to make a pass.”

It was Dolan’s first win in the Miller 100.

Walton held onto second, while polesitter Bill Rice of Des Moines was third, Ed Sanger of Waterloo fourth and Jim Burbridge of Delhi, Iowa, fifth.

NASCAR Grand National star Bobby Allison of Hueytown, Ala., leader of the “Alabama Gang,” finished 20th after being involved in an early crash in turn three. After losing a couple of laps due to repair, Allison ran creditably in the Miller 100 car prepared by Ed Sanger.

“It was just one of those things,” Allison said afterwards. “Somebody spun and the track was clogged with cars and I had no place to go. Losing the front hub took some of the aerodynamics away and I couldn’t run up high like most of the others. I had to be content with staying low.”

Rice’s quick time of 22.984 seconds was the only driver to crack the 23-second barrier during qualifying. Walton was next with 23.181 seconds.

In preliminary action, Denny Osborn of Cedar Falls, Iowa, won the 6-lap trophy dash while heat wins went to Denny Ansel of Dubuque, Iowa, John Provenzano of Wheaton, Ill., Rollie Frink of Davenport, Iowa, Leon Plank of Eau Claire, Wis., and Gary Tigges of Durango Iowa.

The semi-feature was won by Gary Webb of Davenport with Greg Kastli of Waterloo, Iowa, second and John Engelkens of Morrison, Ill., third.

An absolute packed house was on hand for the race and many fans were forced to stand in front of the grandstand. A field of more than 45 late models participated in the annual event staged by Fleck Sales. Net proceeds went to United Cerebral Palsy.


Results –

1. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
2. Ken Walton, Viola
3. Bill Rice, Des Moines
4. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
5. Jim Burbridge, Delhi
6. Darrell Sells, Waverly
7. Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
8. Lance Matthees, Winona, Minn.
9. Leon Plank, Eau Claire, Wis.
10.Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
11.Greg Hunter, Independence
12.Rollie Frink, Davenport
13.Em Fretheim, Decorah
14.Steve Lurvey, Dousman, Wis.
15.Bob Fisher, Vinton
16.Gary Henderson, Independence
17.Martin Bennett, Des Moines
18.Jay Johnson, Morning Sun
19.Rick Prusator, Independence
20.Bobby Allison, Hueytown, Ala.
21.Scott Braun, Cedar Falls
22.Dick Schiltz, Waterloo
23.Ron Schreiner, Eleva, Wis.
24.Curt Martin, Independence
25.Gary Tigges, Durango
26.Mike Frieden, Fairfax
27.Steve Spahr, Monticello
28.Rick Wendling, Hazelton