Dave Watson
West Allis, Wis. (August 9, 1979) – Dave Watson of Milton, Wis., used some crafts driving down the stretch Thursday to win the Wisconsin State Fair Week 150-miIe stock car race at State Fair Park Speedway for a third consecutive year
Watson, driving a 1977 Buick Skylark, finished two seconds ahead of Rusty Wallace of Arnold, Mo., for Thursday’s trophy.
It was Watson’s first United States Auto Club victory of the season He won $3,810 of the $27,000 purse before a crowd of 10,132.
Watson had been running third behind Joe Ruttman and Wallace. He took the lead just six laps from the finish to climax a steady comeback effort that saw Watson overcome a 19th place start.
‘‘I’ve never come from that far back to win,” Watson said, "In fact, I can’t remember the last time I started that far back period.”
Watson took the lead after Wallace, who was trying to pass Ruttman as they dipped into the first turn, tapped the rear of Ruttman’s yellow Pontiac, sending them both into a spin.
Ruttman, of Upland, Calif., managed to avoid the wall but fell back to eighth place. Wallace’s red Pontiac Firebird brushed the wall in the first turn, but he held second place as Watson slipped past.
When the green flag came out on lap 146, Watson pulled out to a two second lead over Wallace and maintained it to the finish.
"After the green came out, I figured I could hold him off,” Watson said. "When you spin out at 140 miles per hour, you burn up your tires. I figured his car wouldn’t be up to par.”
Wallace, who was later penalized a lap for passing under the yellow earlier in the race, ended up finishing eighth.
Second place went to Jim Sauter of Necedah, Wis., in a 1979 Camaro. A. J Foyt, the USAC stock car points leader, finished third in a 1978 Camaro.
Rounding out the top five were Sal Tovella of Addison, Ill., in a 1977 Volare, and Ruttman.
The collision angered Ruttman.
“In racing, it’s called a quarter panel shot,” Ruttman said “He tapped me on the left rear fender, and I spun and almost went into the wall. Either he had no brakes, or it was deliberate.”
“There was no in between,” Ruttman added. "There wasn't enough room, ask him. Guys who have been around racing long enough know how to do it."
Watson said he needed the victory badly.
“You gotta take ‘em (victories) any way you can," Watson said. “I was saying my prayers, thanking the Lord that I was running third and had a good chance to finish that high up.”
“I haven t finished a USAC race this year," said Watson, who was put in the 19th starting spot on the basis of USAC points after qualifying was rained out.
“I was in serious trouble early in the race with brake trouble, and my tires were burning up Fortunately. we got a yellow at the right time and could change fires and then cool the brakes.”
Watson said luck was the most important factor in claiming his third victory.
“You don't like to think in terms of your good fortune being a result of someone else s misfortune, but that’s the way these things work sometimes.”
Results –
1. Dave Watson
2. Jim Sauter
3. A.J. Foyt
4. Sal Tovella
5. Joe Ruttman
6. Larry Phillips
7. Tom Sneva
8. Rusty Wallace
9. Bob Schacht
10.Bay Darnell
11.Billy Venturini
12.Dean Roper
13.Rich Clement
14.Bob Brevak
15.Bob Dotter
16.Gordon Blankenship
17.Larry Nau
18.Frank Freda
19.Tom Schley
20.Fred Zack
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