1979 - Sanger Takes El Kahir Shrine Race at Independence

 

Ed Sanger won the El Kahir Shrine race at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds. Co-promoters “Doc” Hunt and Vern Weber (right) join a Shriner in victory lane. – Bill Haglund

Independence, Iowa (July 3, 1979) – Ed Sanger, Waterloo, claimed the El Kahir Shrine Race at Independence Motor Speedway on Tuesday night.

Following a two-hour delay, due to heavy showers, drivers, wrecker crews, and tow trucks worked frantically to iron out the track.

The feature event, which was shortened to 35 laps due to the rough conditions, began with Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, in the lead for the first six laps. Sanger then scooted in front of Zwanziger for one circuit, until Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo, jumped into a big lead for 11 laps.

On lap 19, however, Bartholomew lost his footing and drifted high in the first turn, going over the edge and into the mud and getting hung up.

On the restart, Sanger and Gary Crawford, Independence (last year’s winner) shared the front row, with Sanger accelerating into the lead with Crawford hot on his bumper.

Despite repeated attempts, Crawford couldn’t muster the power to get around Sanger and the Waterloo hot shoe led the final 15 circuits to seal the victory.

Zwanziger took third with Curt Hansen, Dike, and Mike Niffenegger, Kalona, grabbing fifth.

Heat races were won by Zwanziger, Rick Wendling of Hazelton, Ed Sanger, and Karl Sanger of Waterloo. Glen Martin of Independence won the semi-main.


Results –

1. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
2. Gary Crawford, Independence
3. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
4. Curt Hansen, Dike
5. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
6. Gary Henderson, Independence
7. Gary Tigges, Durango
8. Greg Kastli, Waterloo
9. Bob Jaeger, Dubuque
10.Red Dralle, Evansdale
11.Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo
12.Skip Kennedy, Dubuque
13.Jim Decker, Winthrop
14.Karl Sanger, Waterloo
15.Greg Hunter, Independence

1957 – Burdick Races to Easy Victory in 100-Lapper

 

Bob Burdick

Oklahoma City, Okla. (July 3, 1957) – Bob Burdick, the lead-footed youngster from Omaha, Neb., rammed his supercharged 1957 Ford to a runaway victory in the 100-lap IMCA stock car feature Tuesday night at Taft Stadium.

Padding his lead in the International Motor Contest Association point standings, the 22-year-old schoolteacher had things his own way after an engine mishap sidelined challenger Sonny Gross of Quincy, Ill., on the 61st lap.

Starting well back in the field, Burdick quickly shot out front and led for 96 laps in the 25-mile contest.

The Nebraska product, in only his second year of big-time auto racing, caught the attention of 1,803 fans when he came from far back to barely lose a photo finish to George Miller of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, driving a 1957 Pontiac, in the first heat.

Then – apparently inspired by a glimpse of trophy girl Kay Wilson – he soundly thrashed Miller in the 7-lap trophy dash and established himself as the solid favorite with the crowd by planting an enthusiastic kiss on the pretty young singer.

The night’s other winner was Bob Hardy of Beaumont, Tex., driving a 1956 Chevrolet to victory in the second heat.

A pleasant surprise to the fans was the performance of local driver Bill Carpenter, who tooled his 1955 Chevrolet to a third-place finish in the feature, trailing Burdick and runner-up Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Hardy finished fourth.

Burdick opened up a lead of 130 yards in the early stages, but Gross and his 1957 Pontiac began to trim away at it slowly. As they passed the halfway point, Gross had cut the margin to 90 yards and was gaining steadily. But 10 laps later, the throttle rod broke, and Gross was forced to the pits.

The leaders whizzed by him 14 times before he could get under way again, then driving at full throttle, he managed a fifth-place finish.


Results –

1. Bob Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
2. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
3. Bill Carpenter, Oklahoma City
4. Bob Hardy, Beaumont, Tex.
5. Sonny Gross, Quincy, Ill.
6. Jerry Draper, Moline, Ill.

1977 – Neillsville 50 to Walton

 

Ken Walton

Neillsville, Wis. (July 2, 1977) – Out of state drivers made a strong showing at Paul’s Neillsville Raceway on Saturday night with the feature, the semi-feature, and two of the three heats for late models going to drivers from Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa.

Ken Walton of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pocketed $1,000 for winning the 50-lap feature – the first of three events that make up the Super Stock Car Series over the weekend.

Walton made it look easy as he drove his Camaro into the lead on lap 11 and went untouched to the checkered.

Altoona’s Punky Manor was relentless in his pursuit of Walton, but the gap was too great, so he had to settle for runner-up honors. Red Steffen of Eau Claire finished a close third with Axel Dahlberg of Mauston fourth.

Tom Steuding of Altoona and Winona’s Karl Fenske spun each other out 50 feet from the finish line on the last lap. Fenske threw his machine in reverse and drove the last 50 feet backwards and crossed the finish line in fifth place much to the fan’s delight. Steuding would finish sixth.


Results –

Time Trials – Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa (25.369)
Trophy Dash – Ken Walton, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Heat #1 – R.R. Ashbeck, Greenwood
Heat #2 – Herb Iverson, Escanaba, Mich.
Heat #3 – Dave Bjorge, Austin, Minn.
Semi-Main – Herb Iverson
Feature –
1. Ken Walton
2. Punky Manor, Altoona
3. Red Steffen, Eau Claire
4. Axel Dahlberg, Mauston
5. Karl Fenske, Winona, Minn.
6. Tom Steuding, Altoona

1984 – Tigges Wins Dubuque ‘Winston Classic’

 

Durango’s Gary Tigges won the “Winston Classic” for NASCAR late models at Dubuque Speedway. He’s joined by a crew member and Dubuque County Fairboard member Paul Vaassen (right). – Debbie Bohr Photo

Dubuque, Iowa (July 1, 1984) – Gary Tigges of Durango took the lead from Karl Sanger of Waterloo on the 22nd lap as he posted the 30-lap “Winston Classic” win for Grand American late models at Dubuque Speedway on Sunday night.

Sanger, driving the #22 car driven recently by NASCAR Grand National ace Bobby Allison, took the lead on lap 6 from Lynn Idler of Ionia and held it until being passed by Tigges.

In the 20-lap sportsman feature, Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls took over on the third lap – after Randy Mills and Dickie Chapman had each led one lap – and scored a decisive victory in that division.

Ron Barker of Dubuque won the street stock main event.


Results –


Late Model –

Heat #1 – Lynn Idler, Ionia
Heat #2 – Karl Sanger, Waterloo
Heat #3 – Gary Crawford, Independence
Feature –
1. Gary Tigges, Durango
2. Karl Sanger
3. Ken Walton, Viola
4. Jim Burbridge, Delhi
5. Curt Martin, Independence
6. Greg Kastli, Waterloo
7. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
8. Lynn Idler
9. Alan Wessels, Strawberry Point
10.Larry Kelley, Walford


Sportsman –

Heat #1 – Wayne Young
Heat #2 – Jeff Aikey
Feature –
1. Jeff Aikey
2. Denny Ansel
3. Carl Severson
4. Jim Reidl
5. Wayne Young
6. Harley McWilliams
7. Dickie Chapman
8. Randy Mills
9. Tom Wackerhauser
10.John McLaughlin