1982 – Roper Wins Rain-Shortened Sentinel 200

 

The rain didn’t bother Dean Roper a bit after he was declared the winner of the rain-abbreviated Sentinel 200 at the Milwaukee Mile. Robert W. Smith, editor of the newspaper, makes the trophy presentation. – Russ Lake Photo

West Allis, Wis. (August 29, 1982) – Defending United States Auto Club champion Dean Roper of Fair Grove, Mo., won the rain-shortened Sentinel 200 race Sunday afternoon at Milwaukee’s State Fair Park as nearly 10,000 spectators looked on.

The historic event was scheduled for 200 laps over the famous “Milwaukee Mile,” but was shortened to 171 laps when persistent rain began falling in the late afternoon.

Rain, in fact, delayed the start of the event by almost a half hour.

It was the first time ever that two sanctioning bodies had competed against each other as drivers from both the United States Auto Club (USAC) and Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) joined forces for the event.

Roper was running under the USAC banner, although he had raced in ARCA races, too, this year.

Roper ran near the front of the pack throughout the race and got some assistance when NASCAR star Bobby Allison of Hueytown, Ala., running for ARCA, developed the problems just before the rains came. Allison started last but charged to the front in less than 40 laps. He dominated thereafter but wound up fourth when late tire problems prevented another charge to the front.

Finishing second was Bob Brevak of Ashland, Wis., also representing USAC, and third was Bill Venturini of Chicago, another USAC pilot. Like Roper, however, Brevak and Venturini have both competed in ARCA-sanctioned events.

Two Iowa drivers in the event finished several laps behind the leaders. Gordon Blankenship of Keokuk finished 16th and Phil Barkdoll of Garrison was 19th at the end, both driving Dodges.

Polesitter Bob Schacht of Lombard, Ill., developed ignition problems after setting a fast pace early on. Schacht broke the track record for stock cars in qualifying as he ran a 31.94 second lap for a speed of 114.141 miles per hour, breaking the old mark of 31.77 seconds and 113.314 miles per hour set by Joe Ruttman of Upland, Calif., in 1981.


Results –

1. Dean Roper, Fair Grove, Mo.
2. Bob Brevak, Ashland, Wis.
3. Bill Venturini, Chicago
4. Bobby Allison, Hueytown, Ala.
5. Marvin Smith, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
6. Lee Raymond, Dayton, Ohio
7. Bay Darnell, Deerfield, Ill.
8. Scott Stovall, Fort Wayne, Ind.
9. Jim Vaughn Jr., Columbus, Ohio
10.Bobby Jacks, Dayton, Ohio
11.Tom Meinberg, Hamilton, Ohio
12.Dave Weltmeyer, Harvey, Ill.
13.Bobby Dotter, Chicago
14.Ken Kotowicz, St. Charles, Ill.
15.Larry Moyer, Fort Wayne, Ind.
16.Gordon Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa
17.Tracy Read, Lake Village, Ill.
18.Jack Wallace, New Albany, Ind.
19.Phil Barkdoll, Garrison, Iowa
20.Terry Pearson, Saybrook, Ill.