1976 – Weedon, Kerres Capture Crowns

Davenport, Iowa (September 3, 1976) – Ron Weedon did not need the dust storm kicked up by the stock car drivers Friday night at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, to lose his challengers during the late model modified season championship.

The Pleasant Valley competitor scored an easy victory to make it a sweep of the titles this season at the Davenport half-mile dirt oval. Close to 5,000 fans were on hand to watch Weedon lead from the opening lap to take the 25-lap feature.

While the late model feature was lacking in competition, the noisy crowd was treated to an exciting race in the battle for the sportsman crown.

Gary Kerres of Edgington, Ill., displayed the type of driving that took him to the top of the sportsman class two years ago, as he outbattled John Simenec of Rock Island, Ill., and Dave Wheeler of Davenport, for the checkered flag.

The top three finishers in the sportsman finale put on a terrific show as they circled the track bumper-to-bumper for all 20 laps.

Kerres took the lead from polesitter Simenec on the fourth lap of the contest and was never headed again. During the remainder of the race, it appeared the three leaders were hooked bumper-to-bumper.

The Illinois competitor stuck to the low groove while Simenec continually gambled and took to the high side in hopes of overtaking the Kerres. It never worked although the Rock Island firefighter did pull even on a couple of occasions.

Weedon qualified for the pole position but instead chose the outside spot in the front row. He made a wise choice since he quickly found the groove.

Duane Steffe of East Moline had qualified for the other front row spot, but his racer developed engine trouble in his heat race, which knocked him out of competition for the remainder of the evening.

Mike Niffenegger of Kalona moved up to Steffe’s vacated spot and gave chase to Weedon for the first couple of laps before Tom Hearst of Muscatine took over the second spot and the remainder of the 25-lap go-round was just a battle between Niffenegger and the Muscatine driver to see who would grab runner-up honors.

Hearst came across the finish line in second followed by Niffenegger, Jim Strube, and Bob Helm.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
2. Tom Hearst, Muscatine
3. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
4. Jim Strube, Peoria, Ill.
5. Bob Helm, Andalusia, Ill.


Sportsman –

1. Gary Kerres, Edgington, Ill.
2. John Simenec, Rock Island, Ill.
3. Dave Wheeler, Davenport
4. Russ Paulsen, Davenport