Mike
Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa won the eighth annual Cornhusker-Hawkeye Challenge
at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan. With Niffenegger are promoter John Beaman
(left) and race sponsor. – Dean Malone Photo
Harlan, Iowa (September 29, 1979) – Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa, grabbed the lead from his pole position, lost it for 19 laps, then regained it and sailed to victory in the eighth annual Cornhusker-Hawkeye challenge at the Shelby County Speedway on Saturday night.
The two-day show attracted many of the top late model pilots from Iowa and Nebraska, each gunning for the $1,500 winner’s prize, plus the coveted cup.
Niffenegger’s win gave Iowa its eighth straight win in the challenge series since it began in 1972.
Niffenegger earned the pole position for the 75-lap feature by virtue of his win in the trophy dash Saturday evening. The trophy dash featured the eight heat winners, who fought it out for the pole position.
When the green flag waved, Niffenegger pushed his Camaro to the head of the pack. However, Don Hoffman of Des Moines moved up from his third row starting position to challenge after the first 10 laps of the contest.
Time after time Hoffman tried to get around Niffenegger and finally on the 18th lap, Hoffman got the job done.
Then, it was Niffenegger’s turn to challenge the leader. Lap after lap the two drivers would be nose to tail down the back straight. Then, like a derailed train, they would separate – Hoffman running the high side and Niffenegger the low side. Finally, after 10 laps, Niffenegger came out on the front straightaway ahead of Hoffman and they would run that way to the end.
“I knew the only way to get the lead back was to go really hard and low into the turns and slide out in front of him (Hoffman),” a tired but happy Niffenegger said from victory lane.
Hoffman held off a persistent Tom Hearst of Wilton to claim second while Joe Merryfield of Des Moines was fourth – the only other driver on the same lap as Niffenegger.
The best finish by a Nebraskan was Randy Sterner of Blair, who finished eighth.
Results –
1. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
2. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
3. Tom Hearst, Wilton
4. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
5. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo
6. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs
7. George Barton, Ankeny
8. Randy Sterner, Blair, Neb.
9. Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo
10.Joe Kosiski, Omaha
11.Dan Rabbass, Bellevue, Neb.
12.Bill Davis, Des Moines
13.Rocky Hodges, Des Moines
14.Paul Zdan, Omaha
15.Craig Spetman, Omaha
16.Al Humphrey, Giltner, Neb.
17.Dan Nesteby, Waterloo
18.Red Dralle, Evansdale
19.Kent Tucker, Aurora, Neb.
20.Ken Davidson, Indianola
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