Joe Shear won the Midwest Championships at Dells Motor Speedway. - Kurt Luoma Photo
Ed Howe, Beaverton, Mich., all but had the race in his back pocket, winning the first of the twin 75-lap events by a four-car length margin over Shear, and then coming back in the second 75-lapper to take the lead on the 43rd lap, and then hold off Dick Trickle for more than 15 laps before Howe’s ’73 Camaro blew a rear tire, ending his chances of picking up his first Midwest Championship title.
In the first 75-lap event it looked like Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa, was going to be able to hold off the rest of the field and take the checkered flag, as Marzofka took the lead on the opening lap and held the top spot for the first 46 circuits.
Jim Back, Vesper, was the first to head into the pits on the opening lap, when he spun his ’74 Camaro in the second turn and took it to the infield. The next caution came out four laps later, when Dick Hed, Sheboygan Falls, spun in the first turn.
It was smooth sailing for leader Marzofka and the rest of the field again, until the 60th lap, when Al Schill spun his Camaro in turn two. However, Marzofka had lost his top spot on lap 60 to Tom Reffner, Rudolph, on the 46th lap. Reffner held a brief lead for 15 laps before the “Green Hornet,” Ed Howe, driving a 1973 Camaro, pulled in front of Reffner’s ’70 Mustang, and Howe picked up the checkered for the first segment.
Shear followed Howe across the finish line, and following Shear were Reffner, Trickle and Marzofka to round out the top five finishers.
Howe started his ’73 Camaro on the outside of the fourth row for the second 75-lapper. Howe had originally planned to drive his much publicized “Brand X” AMX Javelin, but the motor in the AMX was blown a few nights earlier, so Howe had to settle for the back-up Camaro, which is usually piloted by Tom Maier of Midland, Mich., who finished eighth in an identical ’73 Camaro.
In the second 75-lap event, Red Hutchinson took the early lead and held it for 27 laps, before front row sitter Bob Gunn took over for 10 laps.
The first yellow came out on lap 40, when three cars, John Knaus, Tom Musgrave, and Tom Maier, were caught up in a spinout. Maier and Musgrave were able to continue.
Three laps later it was again the “Green Hornet,” Ed Howe, wheeling his Camaro out in front of Gunn, and away he went. Meanwhile, Dick Trickle was working his way through traffic. Trickle eventually caught up with Howe, having only to ride Howe’s back bumper most of the way. Trickle made several attempts at passing, but to no avail.
On lap 72, only three laps away from the Midwest title, Howe blew a right rear tire, and Trickle, right on his tail, moved in front with Joe Shear following behind in second. Trickle, in a newly built Mustang with a spare engine, took the victory with Shear right on his heels.
Following Trickle and Shear across the finish line in order were Tom Reffner, Joe Ruttman, Bob Gunn, and Al Schill, to round out the top six.
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