1966 – Dickson Nabs Prize at Tulsa

Larry Dickson 

Tulsa, Okla. (July 16, 1966) – Larry Dickson of Marietta, Ohio, held off USAC season point leader Roger McCluskey in a wheel-to-wheel dash for the finish line to win the sprint car feature at Fairgrounds Speedway Saturday night.

The 7,430 fans in attendance were jolted from their seats at the beginning of the third lap of the feature when three cars became entangled on the main stretch in front of the grandstand.

Ron Lux of Buffalo, N.Y., was critically injured when his car hurdled another car and then rolled over and over for sideways for about 50 yards. Lux was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The other two drivers involved, Arnie Knepper and Ronnie Duman, both walked away from the wreckage with only minor scratches.

Only eight of the 14 cars that started the feature finished the race. Local favorite Buddy Cagle was forced to drop out on lap 12 of the 30-lap contest but still finished ninth.

Thirty-one of the nation’s top drivers competed for the $5,000 purse offered, the first USAC sprint car race ever held in the state of Oklahoma.

McCluskey, who entered the race with 186 points compared to Don Branson’s 129 markers, was ahead of the field when the smashup occurred.

Following a 20-minute delay, McCluskey led off the remaining 11 cars but slid sideways in the first turn, allowing Dickson to slide by and take the lead. McCluskey would cling to second place but fell 25 yards behind by thee midway point.

McCluskey made a late-race charge and in the final laps swung low on the fourth turn, temporarily locking wheels with Dickson. He didn’t get around but pressed the leader the last few circuits. As the two cars swung into the final turn, McCluskey pulled even, but Dickson held on as McCluskey’s car careened away and nearly turned sideways as it crossed the finish line.

Branson, who ran away with the second heat victory, finished third, and Mario Andretti took fourth.

McCluskey won the first heat while Carl Williams of Kansas City was the third heat winner. Greg Weld, also of Kansas City, won the semi-main. Bobby Unser of Albuquerque, N.M., was the day’s fastest qualifier, turning the 3/8-mile in 18.96 seconds (95 mph).


Results –


1. Larry Dickson
2. Roger McCluskey
3. Don Branson
4. Mario Andretti
5. Bobby Unser
6. Greg Weld
7. Carl Williams
8. Bruce Jacobi
9. Buddy Cagle

Ron Lux