Tom Reffner took top honors after capturing the 13th annual Tony
Bettenhausen Memorial 100 stock car race at Illiana Motor Speedway. Presenting
the trophy are starter Art Kelly (right) and assistant starter Bob Adams. –
Stan Kalwasinski Photo
By Stan Kalwasinski
Schererville, Ind. (October 27, 1974) – Tom Reffner of Rudolph, Wis., captured the 13th annual Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 at Illiana Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon.
The 32-year-old driver was crowned the North American Short Track Champion in September.
Reffner drove a 1970 Ford Mustang to victory in the 100-lap late model stock car event which had previously been postponed three times. Reffner collected $1,500 of the $8,500 purse.
On lap 20, last year’s winner, Tom Jones, crashed through the outer guardrail at the end of the backstretch, flipping his Camaro several times and landing in a wooded area outside the track. Jones’ car was demolished but he escaped injury.
It was a highly competitive race with numerous lead changes. Six different drivers – Joe Shear (1-4), Ray Young (5-6), Larry Schuler (9-19), Tom Musgrave (20-37), Dick Trickle (38-72), and Tom Reffner (73-100) – took turns leading the talented field.
On the final lap, Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., drove hard into turn three to overtake Reffner, but Trickle’s Mustang slid high in the corner, letting a fast-closing Larry Schuler of Lockport, Ill., take over second at the finish.
Reffner paced a field of 66 entries during time trials with a 22.00 second clocking around the half-mile.
A large crowd was on hand for the program, which was held in conjunction with the Whitey Gerkin-Dennis Shelton Memorial Benefit program. Over $3,000 was collected for the families of the two men who lost their lives at the speedway last year.
Results –
1. Tom Reffner
2. Larry Schuler
3. Dick Trickle
4. Rick Knotts
5. Don Axtmann
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