1951 – 23,000 See Grim Stave Off Luptow

 

Bobby Grim is a picture of content prior to winning the 20-lap IMCA big car feature at the 1951 Iowa State Fair. – Larry Sullivan Collection 

Des Moines, Iowa (August 26, 1951) – Bobby Grim, the 24-year-old Indianapolis youth, whipped the best dirt track drivers in the nation Sunday afternoon before a near record 23,000 race fans at the Iowa State Fair.

Frank Luptow, the International Motor Contest Association’s two-time champion, was an even car’s length behind the winner in a furious duel for the final 10 laps of the 10-mile championship race. A good 10-car-lengths behind was former Indianapolis 500 winner Bill Holland, with Roy Prosser, the sensational newcomer to big car racing from Sun Valley, Calif., in fourth place.

Grim was clocked in 9 minutes and 14.52 seconds over a heavy track, considered a good performance since the oval was badly rutted from equipment used to iron it out earlier.

It marked the third time that Grim, himself one of the top-ranked drivers in the Central States Racing Association, had beaten Luptow this season but it was the first time the Indianapolis driver had claimed a major purse here.

Luptow, using a 274-cubic inch Offenhauser motor, streaked into the lead at the start and held what appeared to be a wide margin over the field of 18 starters.

Luptow, the Tampa, Fla., veteran, however, got into a pocket on lap 9 when he got caught behind slower cars, and Grim closed the gap on the outside and was hub to hub with Luptow on lap 10.

From there to the 17th circuit, Grim was able to increase his margin by three-car-lengths. Luptow would close in on Grim in the closing laps but wasn’t fast enough to overtake his rival in the final lap.

Due to the delay of the program, because of the muddy track, time trials weren’t held. Instead, the field for the three heats were selected from the fastest cars that qualified Saturday in Sedalia, Mo.


Results –

1. Bobby Grim, Indianapolis
2. Frank Luptow, Tampa, Fla.
3. Bill Holland, Reading, Penn.
4. Roy Prosser, Sun Valley, Calif.
5. Al Kerns, Lima, Ohio
6. Ken Rubright, Lyndon, Ill.
7. Stan Callaway, Miami, Fla.
8. Jay King, Omaha
9. Hank Nykaza, Chicago
10.Fritz Tegtmeier, Elgin, Ill.