Red Droste is congratulated by promoter Homer Melton after winning the
mid-season championship at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. Gus Henrichs
presents the checkers. – Roger Meier Photo
Davenport, Iowa (July 21, 1972) – Red Droste, John Connolly, and Ron Weedon finished 1-2-3 in the late model division’s point standings for the 1972 stock car season at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.
They started in that same order for Friday night’s Mid-Season Championship, witnessed by an estimated 6,500 race fans. And the trio finished in the same order.
Waterloo’s Droste took the checkered flag after 35-lap grueling laps, just inches ahead of Connolly, a native of Delhi. Pleasant Valley’s Weedon was right on Connolly’s bumper at the finish.
It appeared at times that the three were hooked bumper-to-bumper – they roared around the half-mile dirt track tightly bunched from the opening green flag until the checkered flag was thrown.
Time after time, either Connolly or Weedon would challenge for the lead, but Droste would never relinquish the top spot that paid $550 to win.
Finishing behind the big three were Jim Gerber of Davenport and Lyle Gehn of East Moline, Ill.
Gary Kerres of Edgington, Ill., was the polesitter for the sportsman mid-season championship and he also won in easy fashion. Lloyd Nabb of Maquoketa finished second.
Results –
Heat #1 – Red Droste, Waterloo
Heat #2 – Jim Gerber, Davenport
Semi-Main – Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
Feature –
1. Red Droste
2. John Connolly, Delhi
3. Ron Weedon
4. Jim Gerber
5. Lyle Behn, East Moline, Ill.
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