West Salem, Wis. (July 23, 1978) – Dick Trickle completely dominated Sunday afternoon’s NGK Sparkplug 100 late model program at La Crosse Interstate Speedway, setting fast time in qualifications and then winning both 50-lap features.
Only Marv Marzofka’s victory in the dash prevented Trickle from sweeping the show.
Janesville’s Evert DeWitt, who started on the outside of the front row, took the early lead of the first 50-lapper.
The contest was re-flagged on the second lap when the left rear wheel came off of Jeff Stegemeyer’s car, sending him into the guardrail along the frontstretch. The impact of the collision forced Stegemeyer’s mount to sail about 15 feet into the air before coming to a halt. Stegemeyer was unhurt but his car was through for the day.
After the green returned, DeWitt remained in first place until lap 6 when Marzofka, the track’s current point leader, took charge.
Mike Miller and Fred Bender got around DeWitt moments later and waged a spirited battle for second place while Marzofka pulled away to a full straightaway lead by lap 15.
By then, Trickle, who started 12th in the 21-car field, was fourth, but found himself about a third of a lap behind Marzofka.
Trickle claimed third place from Bender on lap 28 and needed only two more rounds to take second at Miller’s expense. However, the Wisconsin Rapids driver still trailed Marzofka by about a quarter-lap, with 20 laps remaining. Marzofka’s advantage started disintegrating on lap 32, when he was slowed by a pack of five slower cars, dicing for position in the field. Trickle too advantage of the situation and whittled the frontrunner’s lead down to only three-car-lengths by lap 40.
Six circuits later, Trickle moved into the outside groove in an attempt to wrest the lead from Marzofka, but the Nekoosa veteran remained on top through lap 48.
Trickle pulled alongside Marzofka on lap 49 and the two were side-by-side when the white flag waved.
Neither driver was able to gain an advantage on the final round until a sudden burst of speed put Trickle in the lead as the two exited turn four.
At the checkered flag it was Trickle the winner, with Marzofka three feet behind him in second place. Miller, Bender, and Tom Reffner placed third through fifth, respectively, the only other drivers to complete the event’s 50 laps.
Trickle again started in the 12th position for the second 50-lap feature, which saw polesitter Tony Strupp take a comfortable early lead. Trickle worked his way to the runner-up position by lap 12, but by then Strupp enjoyed a straightaway length lead.
Strupp’s margin evaporated on lap 13 when the caution banner appeared after DeWitt and Pat Griffin tangled exiting turn two.
Shortly after the reappearance of the green flag, Trickle powered around Strupp to take the lead he would never relinquish.
With Trickle in command, the battle for second place became the center of attention.
Reffner took second position from Strupp on lap 14 and Miller and Marzofka promptly moved into third and fourth, respectively. On the 18th round, Miller got by Reffner for second and six rounds later, Marzofka did the same, claiming third at Reffner’s expense.
Marzofka pulled alongside Miller on lap 35 but Miller weathered the challenge and firmly established his hold on the runner-up position two laps later.
Reffner forged ahead of Marzofka on lap 44 but was unable to overhaul Miller in the closing circuits.
At the finish Trickle held almost a straightaway lead over Miller, with Reffner third, Marzofka fourth and Rich Somers finishing fifth.
Results –
Feature #1 –
1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa
3. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids
4. Fred Bender, Sun Prairie
5. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
6. Rich Somers, Stevens Point
7. Evert DeWitt, Janesville
8. Pat Schauer, Watertown
9. Jim Bohmsach, Wisconsin Rapids
10.Bruce Sparrman, Excelsior, Minn.
Feature #2 –
1. Dick Trickle
2. Mike Miller
3. Tom Reffner
4. Marv Marzofka
5. Rich Somers
6. Fred Bender
7. Steve Burgess, Fall Creek
8. Bruce Sparrman
9. Tom Musgrave, Grand Marsh
10.Pat Schauer
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