Ken Taylor is presented his trophy after winning the Missouri State
Modified Championship at the State Fairgrounds. National Speedways’ Al Sweeney
interviews the winner and IMCA Gene Van Winkle gives the winner a pat on the
shoulder. – Ken Simon Photo
Sedalia, Mo. (August 27, 1965) – The State Modified Championships at the Missouri State Fair, Friday night, saw a new champion take over the title as Ken Taylor of Slater moved out front early and then held a strong lead to win the 50-lap event on the half-mile dirt oval.
Taylor’s unofficial time for 49 of the 50 laps time was 21 minutes and 41 seconds which would have set a new record if there hadn’t been a complete restart after a crash on the first lap. Junior Hower, who won this race in 1962, still holds the record at 22 minutes and 50.94 seconds.
Jerry Weld, the defending champion of the race, did not appear for the event.
The evening of racing was spectacular as two crashed occurred. The first serious mishap happened in the “A” class championship and sent Walter Sorrels of Columbia to the hospital with a laceration of the left leg, chest injuries, and possible rib fractures. His condition was reported as satisfactory.
The second accident happened on the last lap of the “B” feature when Ben Hollifield of Kansas City flipped three times coming out of the fourth turn and heading into the straightaway. Jerry Beatie of Independence crashed into the overturned car, a chain reaction resulted, and Gene Johnson of New Franklin smashed into Beatie. There were no serious injuries and medical attention wasn’t sought by any of the drivers involved.
Al Sweeney of National Speedways reported there were 85 laps of racing – two 10-lap heats, one 15-lap B feature, and one 50-lap A feature – completed in the record time of two hours flat.
The “B” feature went to Tom Corbin of Carrollton, who practically coasted to victory lane. He took over the new title as “B” champion from Tommy Maycock of Waverly, who finished far back in the 16-car field.
The “A” feature accident occurred on a restart after Junior Hower blew a tire on the very first lap, and a quick change was made in the pits. On the restart, Bob William of Kansas City stalled in front of the grandstands and Sorrel was unable to avoid the collision.
Results –
Heat #1 – Jim Barton, Independence
Heat #2 – Tom Corbin, Carrollton,
B-main – Tom Corbin
A-main –
1. Ken Taylor, Slater,
2. Junior Hower, Kansas City
3. Freddie Holman, California
4. Sam Austin, Kansas City
5. Tom Corbin
6. Don Meltie, Brookfield
7. Jim Schlotzhauer, Marshall
8. J.L. Cooper, Kansas City
9. Johnny Lyle, Warrensburg
10.Bill Utz, Sedalia
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