Marvin Copple
Sedalia, Mo. (July 4, 1952) – Marvin Copple, a bank executive from Lincoln, Neb., set a fast and even pace which kept him in the front position for 97 circuits in the 100-mile Midwest Summer Classic for International Motor Contest Association stock cars at the Missouri State Fairgrounds on Friday afternoon.
The victory earned Copple the first place prize of $500.
Copple, driving a 1951 Oldsmobile, took the lead on the 4th lap and was never seriously challenged after that point.
The real race came on lap 85 when Copple attempted to pass Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, who led the first three laps of the race, to put the entire field a lap down.
However, for the last 15 laps White kept the Cornhusker speedster behind him and finished in second place with $350 in prize money.
White provided most of the thrills of the race by trying to pass cars on the muddy south turn near the grandstand. On the 22nd lap, he crashed into Gil Russell of Kansas City while trying to stay on the track after hitting mud. Both cars were able to swing away from each other in time to avoid a serious accident, and both continued in the race.
On the 37th lap, White really started his pace which enabled him to stay three-quarters of a lap behind Copple. While trying to keep pace with the leader, White had a separate race with Herschel Buchanan of Shreveport, La., the former national stock car champion, who he had passed in a daring bid in front of the grandstand on the 42nd lap. Two laps later, White would regain second place from Buchanan.
After White passed him, Buchanan had his own battle to keep his third position from Ernie Derr of Fort Madison, Iowa. Derr, driving a 1952 Oldsmobile, and Buchanan, driving a 1951 Nash, fought it out around the track for five laps before Buchanan finally pulled ahead.
Buchanan would make several more attempts at White, once on lap 50, and again on lap 62 before White pulled away for good. Buchanan would secure third prize money of $275.
In time trials, White set fast time with a 57-second flat tour around the one-mile dirt oval. Copple was second fastest with a 57.91 second time.
The 20 drivers entered the race were competing for a $2,325 purse with the first 12 finishing positions taking home prize money.
Results –
1. Marvin Copple, Lincoln, Neb.
2. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Herschel Buchanan, Shreveport, La.
4. Ernie Derr, Fort Madison, Iowa
5. Chug Montgomery, Lebanon
6. Jim Page, Nashville, Tenn.
7. Sonny Gross, Quincy, Ill.
8. Tilman Huset, Brandon, S.D.
9. Max Smith, Sedalia
10.Delmar Donaldson, Burlington, Iowa
11.Herbie Thomas, Holden
12.Gil Russell, Kansas City
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