1980 – Sills tops Eldon Sprints

 

Jimmy Sills

Eldon, Iowa (August 10, 1980) – Jimmy Sills of Sacramento, Calif., driving the Ace Lines sprinter out of Des Moines, won the 25-lap feature at the Wapello County Fairgrounds. The event was sanctioned by the National Speedways Contest Association.

John Stevenson of St. Paul, Minn., led a six-car barrage that all lowered the previous track record of 21.140 seconds. Stevenson’s new record time was 20.485.

Tim Green of Carmichael, Calif., won the trophy dash followed by Stevenson and Sills. Tony Weyant held off a late bid by Chris Maurer to win the first heat, Sills took the second heat while Ralph Blackett outran Stevenson in the third heat.

Blackett jumped to the lead in the feature until, when moving in slower traffic, Sills made a spectacular move from high to low and back to take the lead.

It looked as though it would be an easy for Sills until Bobby Marshall of Dallas, Tex., moved in to challenge with two laps remaining. The two took the white flag side-by-side but Sills stayed low to hold off Marshall for the win.

Results - 

Time trials – John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn. (20.485)
Trophy dash – Tim Green, Carmichael, Calif.
Heat #1 – Tony Weyant, Springfield, Ill.
Heat #2 – Jimmy Sills, Sacramento, Calif.
Heat #3 – Ralph Blackett, Des Moines
Feature –
1. Jimmy Sills
2. Bobby Marshall, Dallas, Tex.
3. Ralph Blackett
4. Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
5. Bill Robison, Topeka
6. Mike Thomas, Des Moines
7. Tony Weyant
8. Art Coons, Des Moines
9. Chris Maurer, Colfax, Iowa
10.Bob Kammerer, Ottawa, Ill.
11.Bob Ensminger, Burlington, Iowa
12.Wayne Kronk, Fulton, Mo.
13.Bill Hetrick, Carmen, Ill.
14.Adrian Zoutte, Brighton, Iowa
15.Galen Martin, Fairfield, Iowa
16.Curt Evan, Carrollton, Mo.
17.John Stevenson
18.Mike Coughlin, Pleasantville, Iowa
19.Ken Potter, North Kansas City
20.Ron Wulff, St. Paul, Minn.