1988 – Knoxville WoO/ALMA Win to Moyer

 

Iowa native Billy Moyer Jr. won his fourth WoO/ALMA feature of the season at Knoxville Raceway. 

Knoxville, Iowa (July 29, 1988) – Billy Moyer Jr. and Ken Essary waged four different battles at Knoxville Raceway during the World of Outlaws/American Late Model Association’s A-main Friday night.

Each driver won two battles but in the end, Moyer won the war.

Essary and Moyer, the leader in the WoO/American Late Model Association point standings, took turns passing each other throughout the 30-lap contest, but it was Moyer taking home the big money as he led the final 12 circuits and beat fast qualifier Willy Kraft to the checkers.

The victory, Moyer’s fourth of the WoO/ALMA’s inaugural season, earned him $4,000. It also increased his point lead over Kraft by 10 points.

Johnny Johnson, who started on the front row alongside Dick Potts, the pole sitter, led the first three laps before Essary passed him going into turn three. Eight laps later, Moyer steered past Essary between the third and fourth corners.

Moyer was ahead of the field for only one lap before Essary returned the favor and got by Moyer in turn one of the 13th lap. Moyer got the final say when, six laps later, powered around Essary coming out of the first turn.

Moyer survived a close call on lap 20 when he just missed hitting Bob Helm’s car as it spun out of control in turn two.

Essary followed Moyer and Kraft across the finish line, ahead of 11th starting Rick Aukland, and Ray Guss Jr. Guss passed the most cars in the feature, after starting on the inside of the eighth row.

Kraft ran the fastest time trial, rounding the half-mile oval in 21.59 seconds.

Heat winners were Potts, Rick Egersdorf, and Moyer.


Results –


1. Billy Moyer Jr.
2. Willy Kraft
3. Ken Essary
4. Rick Aukland
5. Ray Guss Jr.
6. Johnny Johnson
7. Johnny Stokes
8. Joe Kosiski
9. Rick Egersdorf
10.Steve Kosiski
11.Larry Phillips
12.Jeff Hinkemeyer
13.Dick Potts
14.Bret Cheatham
15.Gary Webb

1976 - Leavitt Tops Elder-Forrester Invitational

 

Eddie Leavitt won the Elder-Forrester Invitational at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. He is shown with Chuck Elder, sponsor of the race. – Beetle Bailey Photo

Des Moines, Iowa (July 28, 1976) – “It’s a nice feeling to be number one again,” remarked Eddie Leavitt of Kearney, Mo.

Leavitt won the first annual Elder-Forester Invitational on Wednesday night at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, leading all 25 laps of the main event. He received $1,500 for his sprint car achievement.

Leavitt clipped the track record, one of four to fall on the evening. His time in the feature was 9 minutes and 56 seconds eclipsing the old mark of 10 minutes and 29 seconds set by Jay Woodside on August 20, 1967.

Leavitt said he had been driving a car owned by Fred Adin of Tucson, Ariz., for the past two weeks. “We’ve gotten a couple of seconds but this is the first I’ve won for Fred,” he said.

Bobby Marshall of Dallas, Tex., was runner-up to Leavitt, moving ahead of Joe Saldana of Lincoln, Neb., on lap 23. Roger Larson of Madison, S.D., was fourth.

Roger Rager of Mound, Minn., held second place for most of the race, but was slowed by mechanical problems on lap 20 and finished 19th.

Marshall started the record-breaking parade with a 23.036 second clocking in time trials. Ironically, that broke the 23.55 second mark set by Jud Larson of Kansas City on June 10, 1956. Four other drivers would crack Larson’s mark as well.

Lenard McCarl of Des Moines then broke the 8-lap standard of 3 minutes and 18 seconds set by Chuck Lynch on August 17, 1969.

McCarl’s time of 3 minute and 16 seconds didn’t last long though as Ralph Parkinson Jr. of Kansas City would break that mark in the third heat with a time of 3 minutes and 9 seconds.

Thee fourth record came in the 10-lap C-main as Mark David of Ankeny, Iowa, won in 6 minutes and 8 seconds. Promoter believed that was the first time a 10-lapper was run.

A crowd estimated at 6,500 made promoters Homer Melton of Rock Island, Ill., and Dave Van Patten and Billy Cole, both of Des Moines, extremely happy.

The Elder-Forester Invitational was sponsored by Charlie Elder, the Forester Trailer dealer in Iowa.


Results –

Fast qualifier – Bobby Marshall (23.036)
Trophy dash – Eddie Leavitt
Heat #1 – Lenard McCarl
Heat #2 – Wayne Holz
Heat #3 – Ralph Parkinson Jr.
Heat #4 – Dick Morris
C-main – Mark David
B-main – Lenard McCarl
Feature –
1. Eddie Leavitt
2. Bobby Marshall
3. Joe Saldana
4. Roger Larson
5. John Stevenson
6. Doug Wolfgang
7. Gary Scott
8. Lloyd Beckman
9. Mike Brooks
10. Jack McCorkell

1973 - Trickle Scores Rolla Triumph

 

Dick Trickle

Rolla, Mo. (July 28, 1973) - Dick Trickle took the lead away from Terry Bivins on the 104th lap of the 150-lap Mid-America Stock Car Racing Association feature on Saturday night at Rolla Speedway.

Trickle went on to easily win his second consecutive MASCAR feature on the half-mile asphalt. The Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., speedster collected $1,650 of the $8,125 total purse.

Bivins, of Shawnee Mission, Kan., took the lead from Trickle, the fast qualifier and pole sitter, on the first turn of the first lap. He held that lead until Trickle made the winning pass on lap 104.

Trickle and Bivins continued to battle until the 149th circuit when Bivins and his Chevy suddenly slowed because mechanical problems. Joe Shear of South Beloit, Ill., finished second because of Bivin’s misfortune. Bivins would hold on to place third.

Trickle’s best time in qualifying was 17.32 seconds, far off his track record of 17.05 seconds.

David Goldsberry of Springfield, Fritz Wilson of Denver, Colo., Walt McWhorter of Wichita, Kan., were heat winners. Terry Brumley of Springfield was the consolation winner.

The 75-mile feature was run without caution flags, the third MASCAR race of the year to do so.


Results –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Joe Shear
3. Terry Bivins
4. Ron Todd
5. Tom Reffner
6. Larry Phillips
7. Marv Roberts
8. Corky Wynn
9. Ferris Collier
10.Paul Lawson
11.Walt McWhorter
12.Fritz Wilson
13.Dale Roper
14.Don Schoenfeld
15.Jim Hood

1983 – Plank Captures Dodge Special

 

Leon Plank receives congratulations from Floyd Albee and his son after winning the Thunderbird Open at Dodge County Speedway. – Kathy Mogren Photo

Kasson, Minn. (July 27, 1983) – Leon Plank of Mondovi, Wis., topped the 50-lap outlaw late model Wednesday night to highlight the annual Thunderbird Open at Dodge County Speedway. The program had been postponed by rain for three weeks.

Plank jumped into the lead at the start of the main event and maintained the top spot until lap 31 when Omaha’s Joe Kosiski took over. Plank stayed in second place and applied constant pressure on Kosiski, eventually retaking the top spot 13 circuits later.

As Plank began to distance himself from the rest of the field, Les Duellman got by Kosiski for second on lap 43 but didn’t have time too catch Plank. Ron Schreiner of Eleva, Wis., took third ahead of Bob Shryock of Estherville, Iowa, and Denny Anderson of Dodge Center to complete the top five.

Kosiski suffered engine failure and limped home in seventh place.


Results –


Heat #1 – Dick Sorenson, Rochester
Heat #2 – Ron Schreiner, Eleva, Wis.
Heat #3 – Leon Plank, Mondovi, Wis.
Heat #4 – Joe Kosiski, Omaha
Feature –
1. Leon Plank
2. Les Duellman, Fountain City, Wis.
3. Ron Schreiner
4. Bob Shryock, Estherville, Iowa
5. Denny Anderson, Dodge Center
6. Terry Lanphear, St. Paul
7. Joe Kosiski
8. Bruce Busho, Owatonna
9. Red Dralle, Evansdale, Iowa
10.Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa

1986 - Kreitz Scores Rich Win in Kings Royal

 

Don Kreitz Jr. is surrounded by his court after scoring the biggest win of his sprint car career in the third annual Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway. 

 

Rossburg, Ohio (July 26, 1986) – In just his second visit to the high banks of Eldora Speedway, 24-year-old Don Kreitz Jr. hit the jackpot Saturday night as the Sinking Springs, Penn., driver banked a record $52,000 top prize for capturing the third annual 40-lap Kings Royal sprint car spectacular.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the checkered flag,” the happy winner stated from his position on the king’s throne in victory circle.

Kreitz, the favorite of the large contingent from the Keystone state fans in attendance, grabbed the point from Jac Haudenschild on the 33rd tour of the high-banked, half-mile clay oval. He gradually opened a comfortable four-second margin over Haudenschild at the finish.

Dave Blaney, who finished right on Haudenschild’s rear bumper, claimed the third spot. Sammy Swindell and Bobby Allen rounded out the top five finishers.

Kreitz’s record winnings, which more than exceeded his best previous career single day purse by tenfold, resulted in part from the tough luck that sent frontrunners Doug Wolfgang and Blaney to the pits on lap 17 to replace cut right rear tires.

Wolfgang, the defending Kings Royal winner, charged from his inside front row starting berth into an immediate lead over the 24-car field. Blaney quickly moved up from his fourth starting position into second place behind Wolfgang.

By lap 10, Haudenschild and Kreitz had worked their way into third and fourth, respectively, but still some 10-car-lengths behind the duo of Wolfgang and Blaney.

The race’s momentum shifted 180 degrees when Wolfgang and Blaney ran over debris on the racetrack, and both cut their tires. The event’ lone caution flag resulted as both drivers were pushed to the pits for fresh rubber.

“Someone broke a nerf bar or something and dropped it on the track and that took out me and Dave,” Wolfgang explained afterwards.

Following the restart, with Wolfgang and Blaney at the tail of the field, Haudenschild and Kreitz hooked up in a thrilling side-by-side battle for the king’s ransom.

Haudenschild selected his customary high line around the oval while Kreitz chose the middle lane. Kreitz surged inside of Haudenschild on lap 25 and the duo crossed the finish line in a dead heat. Haudenschild pulled away down the back straight on lap 26 as Kreitz dropped back three-car-lengths.

The persistent Kreitz mounted another charge with an identical inside move through turns one and two on lap 33. This time he stayed even with Haudenschild down the back straight and blazed into the top spot at the start/finish line.

Continuing to run the middle groove, Kreitz built his advantage with each succeeding lap. As the checkered dropped, the near capacity crowd roared its approval.


Results –

1. Don Kreitz Jr.
2. Jac Haudenschild
3. Dave Blaney
4. Sammy Swindell
5. Bobby Allen
6. Doug Wolfgang
7. Brad Doty
8. Rick Ungar
9. Bobby Davis Jr.
10.Rick Hood
11.Jimmy Sills
12.Joe Gaerte
13.Dave Fisher
14.Troy House
15.Robbie Stanley

1985 – Dolan Flies to Hap’s 50 at Marshalltown

Roger Dolan 

Marshalltown, Iowa (July 25, 1985) – Roger Dolan bested a field of 27 late models to win the Hap’s Auto Supply 50 at Marshalltown Speedway on Thursday night.

Ed Sanger jumped into the early lead before Dale Fischlein took over the top spot on lap 4. Dolan, who started near the back of the field, had moved himself up quickly to challenge for the lead when a yellow appeared midway through the race.

Dolan pulled into the infield with a bent tie-rod, which his crew worked furiously to repair. Dolan was returned to the track just in the nick of time, as the green flag waved, and he fell into position at the rear of the field, nearly half-a-lap behind the leaders.

As Fischlein continued a rapid pace out front, Dolan steadily moved through traffic with relative ease and eventually moved into the second spot with seven laps to go. On lap 46, Dolan had the crowd on it’s feet as he powered inside of Fischlein for the lead. He widened his margin from there and won by several car lengths at the finish.

Dolan earned $1,200 for his night’s work and qualified for the $250,000 NDRA Stroh’s Invitational at Kingsport, Tenn., in October. With his runner-up finish, Fischlein also qualified for Kingsport as well.

Darrel DeFrance finished third, with Greg Hunter edging out Gary Crawford for fourth. Early leader Ed Sanger suffered mechanical issues and finished 19th.

Heat races were won by DeFrance, Hunter, Fischlein, and Dolan. Red Dralle beat Greg Kastli to come away the winner of the B-main.


Results –

1. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
2. Dale Fischlein, Davenport
3. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown
4. Greg Hunter, Independence
5. Gary Crawford, Independence
6. Curt Martin, Independence
7. Steve Wahlert, Urbandale
8. Tim Murray, Des Moines
9. Denny Grabenbauer, Marshalltown
10.Randy Fox, Earlham

1970 – Isaac Outlasts Nashville 420

 

Nashville 420 winner Bobby Isaac gets a peck on the cheek from Union 76 trophy girl Ann Romeo (left) and Miss Nashville Speedways’ Sue Cothern. - Robert Johnson Photo

Nashville, Tenn. (July 25, 1970) – Bobby Isaac of Catawba, N.C., drove his 1969 Dodge to victory Saturday in the national televised Nashville 420 grand national stock car race with an average speed of 87.830 miles per hour to take over the season’s point lead.

Isaac, who turns 36-years-old next Saturday, survived a race that saw a starting field of 36 cars reduced down to nine at the finish because of extreme heat and a rough track that knocked many cars out with blown tires.

Bobby Allison of Hueytown, Ala., finished second, also in a ’69 Dodge, two laps behind Isaac, who took over the NASCAR Grand National points lead from James Hylton of Inman, S.C.

Hylton, running an independent Ford, completed 17 laps of the 250-mile race when a ball joint in his front end broke and he hit the wall. He would be credited with 28th place.

“I would have rather won the half-mile here last year,” said Isaac. “This 5/8-mile track is banked so much and is so darn fast, a driver could drive his car to death.”

“There was a tire problem because there wasn’t enough time to make tests, but I thought the tires held up pretty well considering the circumstances,” Isaac added.

Isaac, who collected $3,310 for his eight victory of the season, and his 29th of his NASCAR career, won the race in two hours, 59 minutes and 47 seconds.

LeeRoy Yarbrough of Columbia, S.C., and Richard Petty of Randleman, S.C., were co-favorites at the start of the race. Yarbrough, who qualified at 116.618 miles per hour to grab the pole position, jumped into the early lead.

Petty overtook LeeRoy after 17 laps, and both of them held wide margins over the rest of the field until misfortune hit both of them. LeeRoy completed 45 laps when his right front tire blew and he hit the northeast wall, putting him out of action.

Petty lasted through 154 circuits, when the same thing happened to him and he bent the front end of his 1970 Plymouth so badly he could not continue.

The lead changed hands six times. Yarbrough led from lap 1 to lap 16, Petty lap 17 to lap 150, Friday Hassler though lap 164, Isaac 165 to 207, Hassler again through 209 when he was sidelined with a broken battery cable. From there, Isaac led the rest of the way.


Results –


1. Bobby Isaac
2. Bobby Allison
3. Neil Castles
4. Cecil Gordon
5. J.D. McDuffie
6. Coo Coo Marlin
7. Ben Arnold
8. Jabe Thomas
9. Eddie Yarboro
10.Dave Marcis
11.Frank Warren
12.John Kenney
13.Bill Champion
14.Friday Hassler
15.Bill Shirey
16.Richard Petty
17.Ed Negre
18.Dick May
19.Johnny Halford
20.Raymond Williams
21.Dick Bown
22.Benny Parsons
23.LeeRoy Yarbrough
24.Henley Grey
25.Charlie Roberts
26.Earl Brooks
27.John Sears
28.James Hylton
29.Wendell Scott
30.Ron Keselowski
31.Lee Gordon
32.Buddy Arrington
33.Bill Dennis
34.Elmo Langley
35.Dick Brooks
36.G.C. Spencer

1987 – Kinser 3 for 3 in Hales WoO Feature

 

Steve Kinser won his 25th World of Outlaws feature of the season at Hales Corner Speedway. He was congratulated in victory lane by Camille Miemczyk. – Russ Lake Photo

Franklin, Wis, (July 24, 1987) – Steve Kinser kept his Hales Corner Speedway winning streak intact Friday night by winning the 35-lap World of Outlaws sprint car feature Friday night.

It makes three wins in three appearances at the 1/3-mile clay oval. It was Kinser’s 25th World of Outlaws feature win this season, bringing him within three of the season record. It also helped polish his point lead.

Kinser was unimpressive in time trials, turning the fifth fastest time, and only placed third in his heat race. But the seven-time World of Outlaws champion made some major changes before the feature.

Chris Eash started the A-main from the pole and led the 22-car field in the early going. Kinser started fourth, grabbed second on lap 2, and took the lead on lap 3. From there, he had things his own way and had only lapped traffic to contend with.

Eash held down second, about a quarter of a lap behind Kinser, but soon found Bobby Davis Jr. closing in. Davis took second on lap 15 but could do little with Kinser, who was passing lapped traffic at will.

Record-setting qualifier Brad Doty took third from Eash on lap 17 and caught Davis for second, just as the yellow flew on lap 29.

On the restart, Kinser ran off to a quarter-lap lead, Davis maintained second, with Doty, Danny Smith, Eash and Haudenschild the only drivers on the lead lap.

Earlier in the evening, Doty toured the track in 14.521 seconds, breaking the old record of 14.733 seconds set by Mark Kinser.

Results –

1. Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.
2. Bobby Davis Jr., Memphis, Tenn.
3. Brad Doty, Fredericksburg, Ohio
4. Danny Smith, Danville, Ind.
5. Chris Eash, Woodbine, Mich.
6. Jac Haudenschild, Millersburg, Ohio
7. Ron Shuman, Tempe, Ariz.
8. Bob Robel, Oconomowoc
9. Jim Moulis, Fox Lake, Ill.
10.Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, N.M.

1957 – Californian Sweeps Illiana Honors

 

Jerry Unser made it a clean sweep at Illiana Speedway, setting fast time, winning the trophy dash, his heat race, and the 100-lap feature for USAC stock cars. – Stan Kalwasinski Collection

Schererville, Ind. (July 24, 1957) – Jerry Unser, a 24-year-old Californian burning for his first shot at the Indianapolis “500,” boosted his stock another notch Wednesday night as he swept all possible racing honors at Illiana Speedway.

Driving a 1957 Ford, the bespectacled resident of Long Beach posted the top qualifying time, added victories in the trophy dash and 10-lap preliminary, and capped the evening by breezing through the USAC-sanctioned 50-mile feature.

Unser and his fired up #92 obviously possessed more speed than any of the other 22 late models stocks in competition. He burst head from his pole position and maintained a small but safe margin throughout the contest.

Unser, one of the nation’s fastest rising young drivers, won the Pike’s Peak test just three weeks ago.

Chicago’s Fred Lorenzen and his 1956 Oldsmobile took over the runner-up spot as contenders Les Snow (after 30 laps) and then Dave Hirschfeld (after 70 laps) dropped out with mechanical woes.

Unser, heeding the “easy” signals from his pit crew, admitted afterwards he drove only fast enough to win. His speedy but careful driving was characteristic of all involved since the race went caution-free.

Whitey Johnson of Hammond, driving his 1956 Pontiac, fell a lap behind but nosed out Al Swenson of Glen Ellyn, Ill., for third place. Swensen piloted a 1956 Plymouth.

Some of the color was missing from Illiana’s first night of racing this summer due to the absence of several “big name” stars.

Neither Dick nor Jim Rathmann put in an appearance. Pat O’Conner of North Vernon’s pole winner at Indianapolis last May, was ill and his 1957 Pontiac was driven by Tony Bettenhausen.

Substitute driver Bill Cheesbourg of Tucson, Ariz., won a 10-lap run in O’Conner’s car but Bettenhausen couldn’t get it going in the 100-lap main event. His pit crew of Ray Nichels and Tiny Worley were working on the car after only two laps.

Bettenhausen, who actually arrived without a car, was the only big-name driver to participate and he was almost gone before he started. Johnnie Parsons of Van Nuys, Calif., was also present but without a ride as well.

Illiana owner/promoter Harry Molenaar explained that part of the difficulty lay in the fact that the program was postponed from the previous week and several expected drivers had commitments they were unable to break.

Bettenhausen, the outspoken fan favorite from Tinley Park, Ill., noted that several well-known drivers were jumping commitments to the United States Auto Club to run on outlaw tracks.

He hinted that a showdown may be around the corner involving USAC’s top brass and several of it’s drivers.


Results –

1. Jerry Unser
2. Fred Lorenzen
3. Whitey Johnson
4. Al Swensen
5. Bob Denny
6. Don Oldenberg
7. Mason Bright
8. Gordon Gorman
9. Fred Hoff
10.Iggy Katona

1978 – Trickle Captures Both Features in La Crosse’s NGK 100

 

West Salem, Wis. (July 23, 1978) – Dick Trickle completely dominated Sunday afternoon’s NGK Sparkplug 100 late model program at La Crosse Interstate Speedway, setting fast time in qualifications and then winning both 50-lap features.

Only Marv Marzofka’s victory in the dash prevented Trickle from sweeping the show.

Janesville’s Evert DeWitt, who started on the outside of the front row, took the early lead of the first 50-lapper.

The contest was re-flagged on the second lap when the left rear wheel came off of Jeff Stegemeyer’s car, sending him into the guardrail along the frontstretch. The impact of the collision forced Stegemeyer’s mount to sail about 15 feet into the air before coming to a halt. Stegemeyer was unhurt but his car was through for the day.

After the green returned, DeWitt remained in first place until lap 6 when Marzofka, the track’s current point leader, took charge.

Mike Miller and Fred Bender got around DeWitt moments later and waged a spirited battle for second place while Marzofka pulled away to a full straightaway lead by lap 15.

By then, Trickle, who started 12th in the 21-car field, was fourth, but found himself about a third of a lap behind Marzofka.

Trickle claimed third place from Bender on lap 28 and needed only two more rounds to take second at Miller’s expense. However, the Wisconsin Rapids driver still trailed Marzofka by about a quarter-lap, with 20 laps remaining. Marzofka’s advantage started disintegrating on lap 32, when he was slowed by a pack of five slower cars, dicing for position in the field. Trickle too advantage of the situation and whittled the frontrunner’s lead down to only three-car-lengths by lap 40.

Six circuits later, Trickle moved into the outside groove in an attempt to wrest the lead from Marzofka, but the Nekoosa veteran remained on top through lap 48.

Trickle pulled alongside Marzofka on lap 49 and the two were side-by-side when the white flag waved.

Neither driver was able to gain an advantage on the final round until a sudden burst of speed put Trickle in the lead as the two exited turn four.

At the checkered flag it was Trickle the winner, with Marzofka three feet behind him in second place. Miller, Bender, and Tom Reffner placed third through fifth, respectively, the only other drivers to complete the event’s 50 laps.

Trickle again started in the 12th position for the second 50-lap feature, which saw polesitter Tony Strupp take a comfortable early lead. Trickle worked his way to the runner-up position by lap 12, but by then Strupp enjoyed a straightaway length lead.

Strupp’s margin evaporated on lap 13 when the caution banner appeared after DeWitt and Pat Griffin tangled exiting turn two.

Shortly after the reappearance of the green flag, Trickle powered around Strupp to take the lead he would never relinquish.

With Trickle in command, the battle for second place became the center of attention.

Reffner took second position from Strupp on lap 14 and Miller and Marzofka promptly moved into third and fourth, respectively. On the 18th round, Miller got by Reffner for second and six rounds later, Marzofka did the same, claiming third at Reffner’s expense.

Marzofka pulled alongside Miller on lap 35 but Miller weathered the challenge and firmly established his hold on the runner-up position two laps later.

Reffner forged ahead of Marzofka on lap 44 but was unable to overhaul Miller in the closing circuits.

At the finish Trickle held almost a straightaway lead over Miller, with Reffner third, Marzofka fourth and Rich Somers finishing fifth.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa
3. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids
4. Fred Bender, Sun Prairie
5. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
6. Rich Somers, Stevens Point
7. Evert DeWitt, Janesville
8. Pat Schauer, Watertown
9. Jim Bohmsach, Wisconsin Rapids
10.Bruce Sparrman, Excelsior, Minn.


Feature #2 –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Mike Miller
3. Tom Reffner
4. Marv Marzofka
5. Rich Somers
6. Fred Bender
7. Steve Burgess, Fall Creek
8. Bruce Sparrman
9. Tom Musgrave, Grand Marsh
10.Pat Schauer

1967 – Montgomery in Raceway Win

 

Dean Montgomery

East Moline, Ill. (July 23, 1967) – For Dean Montgomery, the mid-season championship at Quad City Raceway was the pot of gold at one end of the weekend racing rainbow.

The veteran Milan driver, using all his skills acquired over a long racing career, maneuvered into the lead on the 46th lap and rolled home first in the 50-Iap IMCA late model feature last night at the East Moline track, completing one of the biggest weekends of his career.

The win, achieved when Montgomery powered past Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley just five laps from the finish, marked the third pleasant hike to the pay window Montgomery enjoyed Saturday and yesterday.

Saturday night he won the IMCA late model feature in Cedar Rapids, then yesterday afternoon, in an “extra” 100-lapper in Cedar Rapids, he ran second behind Verlin Eaker on a card that offered a $5,000 purse.

Montgomery started inside of the third row in Sunday night’s 14-car late model feature.

Up front was season point leader Jim Gerber of Davenport, on the pole, and Weedon. Weedon jumped to the lead on first turn and, when Gerber challenged on the inside as the two battled into the third lap, took control of the race as Gerber spun out and watched the entire field roar past.

Then, Weedon just drove in front of the pack as challengers knocked themselves off. Don Bitner of Peoria and Jack Henson of Biggsville waged a duel for second place through the first 30 laps, then Bitner dropped back and Montgomery and Johnny Beauchamp charged up. On the 32nd lap, Henson skidded wide and lost significant ground, with Montgomery closing to second place, some 60 yards behind Weedon.

The break came on lap 43 when Ray Guss and John Brockman tangled and spun on the south curve. Weedon, about to lap the two cars, slowed while the two machines rolled to the infield. Montgomery moved up to Weedon’s bumper and slipped past him on the inside three laps later.

While Montgomery put some distance between himself and the rest of the field, Weedon was left to fight off Gerber and Bitner to claim second place. Gerber made perhaps the strongest run of the night, coming home third after the early spin left him behind the field. Bitner took fourth, Beauchamp came in fifth and Henson grabbed sixth.

Montgomery also won the second heat. Other heat winners were Weedon and Willie Franck of Rock Island.

Results –


Heat #1 – Willie Franck, Rock Island
Heat #2 – Dean Montgomery, Milan
Heat #3 – Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley, Iowa
Feature –
1. Dean Montgomery
2. Ron Weedon
3. Jim Gerber, Davenport, Iowa
4. Don Bitner, Peoria
5. Johnny Beauchamp, Atlantic, Iowa
6. Jack Henson, Biggsville
7. Shorty Bennett, Moline
8. Lyle McNall, Aledo

1986 - Matthees Takes Rice Lake Invitational

 

Rice Lake, Wis. (July 22, 1986) – Lance Matthees of Winona, Minn., battled early with Paul Gilberts, then went on to win the 40-lap Rice Lake Late Model Invitational feature Tuesday night at Rice Lake Speedway.

Matthees, who also won the second heat, held off Tom Nesbitt of Thunder Bay, Ont., Canada, at the finish while Ron Schreiner of Eleva worked around Pete Parker of Kaukauna on the last lap to take third.

John Kaanta of Elk Mound won the modified feature over Dave Morgan of Rice Lake while Garry Ladd of Baronet won the 10-lap bomber main event.


Results –

Heat #1 – Paul Gilberts, Sand Creek
Heat #2 – Lance Matthees, Winona, Minn.
Heat #3 – Pete Parker, Kaukauna
Heat #4 – Tom Nesbitt, Thunder Bay, Ont.
B-main – Tiim McMann, Duluth, Minn.
Feature –
1. Lance Matthees
2. Tom Nesbitt
3. Ron Schreiner
4. Pete Parker
5. Joel Cryderman, Thunder Bay, Ont.
6. Dick Christman, Superior
7. Rick Egersdorf, North St. Paul, Minn.
8. Red Steffen, Eau Claire
9. Mike Melius, Adell
10.Paul Gilberts

1975 – Hoffman Snares Boone Crown

 

Don Hoffman holds his trophy after winning the Grand Nationals at Boone Speedway. Debbie Quam makes the presentation, and Arlo Becker presents the checkers. – Beetle Bailey Photo

Boone, Iowa (July 22, 1975) – Don Hoffman of Des Moines took the coveted Grand Nationals at Boone Speedway on Tuesday night, topping a large field of late models before a large crowd at the high-banked quarter-mile dirt oval.

Glenn Woodard of Des Moines nabbed the sportsman title while Mel Odegard of Grimes took the roadrunner crown.

In Monday night’s preliminaries, late model heats went to Jerry Wancewicz of Omaha, Neb., Bob McCall of Ottumwa, Ken Walton of Cedar Rapids, and Mel Morris of West Liberty.

Dan Nesteby of Waterloo won Monday’s feature.

Monday night sportsman heat wins were claimed by John Reed of Webster City, Leonard Woodard of Des Moines, and Glenn Woodard of Des Moines.

Roadrunner heat wins went to Doug Anderson of Ankeny and Wayne Larson of Ames.


Results –


1. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
2. Dan Nesteby, Waterloo
3. Bill Rice, Des Moines
4. Don Davidson, Des Moines
5. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs
6. Bob Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
7. Jerry Wancewicz, Omaha, Neb.
8. Denny Hovinga, Laurens
9. Red Dralle, Evansdale
10.Ed Sanger, Waterloo

1962 – White Stars in Winchester Big Cars

 

Johnny White accepts his trophy and check from Winchester Speedway's Frank Funk (right) after winning the IMCA big car feature at the high-banked half-mile paved oval. Car owner Diz Wilson (left) joins in the celebration. 

Winchester, Ind. (July 22, 1962) – Johnny White, handling the Diz Wilson ‘270’ Offenhauser, won Sunday afternoon’s 31-lap IMCA-sanctioned big car feature at Pete Wale’s Winchester Speedway. White beat Tom McClellan to the flag by 10 car lengths.

At the start, McClellan jumped to the lead but White dove low in the fourth corner to come out with the lead which he would hold to the finish.

White was robbed of a new track record when a signal was missed from the scorers stand to the flagman for the white flag and 31 laps were run. White’s time of 9 minutes and 40 seconds was less than 2 seconds over the track record for 30 laps established by Bob King on June 24, 1962, at 9 minutes and 38 seconds.

White’s misfortune proved to be Johnny Rutherford’s good fortune as he passed Bob King for third at the starting line as the checkered flag flew.

The feature was free of accidents and spin outs as the green flag was out for all 31 circuits. White earned $660 for his day’s work, McClellan $525, Rutherford, the current point leader, $405, King $290 an Arnie Knepper $225.

A crowd of 4,500 as on hand as time trials began under a light mist which was falling. White was the first qualifier to go out and he broke the electric eye in 18.30 seconds with McClellan touring the half mile in 18.31 seconds.


Results –

1. Johnny White
2. Tom McClellan
3. Johnny Rutherford
4. Bob King
5. Arnie Knepper
6. Pete Folse
7. Bill Kimmel
8. Buzz Rose
9. Harold Leep
10.Bob Black
11.Benny Rapp
12.Curly Boyd
13.Harvey Konkel
14.Leon Weski
15.Ronnie Sager
16.Joe Noeski
17.Tom York
18.Jerry Richert
19.Mickey Shaw
20.Steve Stapp

1979 – Stoneking Killed in Knoxville Crash

 

Dick Stoneking

Knoxville, Iowa (July 21, 1979) – An accident at Knoxville Raceway Saturday night claimed the life of a race car driver – the third this month – and injured two track officials.

Dick Stoneking of Oquawka, Ill., was killed when his sprint car flipped on the front straightaway during the B-main and crashed into the flag stand.

Flagman Gary Johnson of Colfax and his assistant, Steve Koons of Knoxville, were injured when the impact to the stand threw them onto the track. Neither official was run over, and both were taken to Collins Memorial Hospital. Koons was listed in good condition while Johnson was transferred to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines where he was being treated for a fractured spin and was listed in serious condition.

The accident occurred when Stoneking, running at the back of the pack while coming around the curve to complete the second lap, went out of control and began flipping down the straightaway. His car began to climb the track fence and crashed into the flag stand.

Stoneking, 26, had been racing for six years, and the last two seasons was a regular at Knoxville. He was pronounced dead at Collins Memorial Hospital.

Many of the cars were running with controversial wings attached. Stoneking, however, was not.

Two weeks ago, two South Dakota drivers, Darryl Dawley, and Roger Larson, were killed at Knoxville when their sprint cars collided and flipped while running at the front of the field during the A-main.

Stoneking’s crash knocked out some electrical power at the track and the B-main was called after one lap. The A-main was not run and postponed until next week.


Results –


Time Trials – Jimmy Sills, Sacramento, Calif. (19.024)
Trophy Dash – Randy Smith, Norwalk
Heat #1 – Mark Shaffer, Newton
Heat #2 – Ralph Blackett, Des Moines
Heat #3 – Tim Green, Carmichael, Calif.
Heat #4 – Bob Brutto, Des Moines
B-Main – Only One Lap Completed

1972 – Droste Captures Mid-Season Title at Davenport

 

Red Droste is congratulated by promoter Homer Melton after winning the mid-season championship at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. Gus Henrichs presents the checkers. – Roger Meier Photo

Davenport, Iowa (July 21, 1972) – Red Droste, John Connolly, and Ron Weedon finished 1-2-3 in the late model division’s point standings for the 1972 stock car season at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.

They started in that same order for Friday night’s Mid-Season Championship, witnessed by an estimated 6,500 race fans. And the trio finished in the same order.

Waterloo’s Droste took the checkered flag after 35-lap grueling laps, just inches ahead of Connolly, a native of Delhi. Pleasant Valley’s Weedon was right on Connolly’s bumper at the finish.

It appeared at times that the three were hooked bumper-to-bumper – they roared around the half-mile dirt track tightly bunched from the opening green flag until the checkered flag was thrown.

Time after time, either Connolly or Weedon would challenge for the lead, but Droste would never relinquish the top spot that paid $550 to win.

Finishing behind the big three were Jim Gerber of Davenport and Lyle Gehn of East Moline, Ill.

Gary Kerres of Edgington, Ill., was the polesitter for the sportsman mid-season championship and he also won in easy fashion. Lloyd Nabb of Maquoketa finished second.


Results –

Heat #1 – Red Droste, Waterloo
Heat #2 – Jim Gerber, Davenport
Semi-Main – Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
Feature –
1. Red Droste
2. John Connolly, Delhi
3. Ron Weedon
4. Jim Gerber
5. Lyle Behn, East Moline, Ill.

1985 – Kraft Cruises to NDRA Win at I-70

 

Willy Kraft

By Tom Wilson

Odessa, Mo. (July 20, 1985) – Willy Kraft of Lakefield, Minn., took over the lead on the 32nd lap of the 50-lap NDRA-sanctioned “Super National 100” at I-70 National Speedway Saturday night and cruised to victory to capture the $5,500 first prize of the $50,000 purse.

After the strains of “Dixie” faded away from over the P.A. system, the green flag waved to start the 50-lap late model feature.

The fast time from Friday night, Charlie Swartz, jumped into the lead from his front row starting position with Billy Moyer Jr., and Kraft pulling in tightly behind him. With the laps flying by, the leaders hit slower traffic by lap 10. A slick move on lap 11 let Kraft get by Moyer for second position. The following lap, Jeff Purvis, who started in the sixth position, moved into fourth.

The four drivers chased each other for nine more laps when Moyer slid high in turn four and dropped back two positions, moving Purvis and hard-running Larry Phillips up to third and fourth, respectively. The race continued at a blistering pace and collected almost continual traffic.

On lap 32, Swartz found himself trapped on the high side of the track, allowing Kraft to jump into first place. Swartz recovered enough to slide into second while Purvis and Phillips continued to battle for position. On lap 40, Phillips was able to move around Purvis for third.

A yellow flag on lap 42 slowed the field and it was a bumper-to-bumper restart when the green flag dropped. Kraft was able to get a good jump on the start, but Swartz couldn’t shake Phillips.

With Swartz and Phillips slugging it out, Kraft built a comfortable margin for himself. On lap 49, Phillips dodged low on Swartz and slid into second. Purvis finished fourth and Moyer rounded out the top five finishers.


Results –

1. Willy Kraft
2. Larry Phillips
3. Charlie Swartz
4. Jeff Purvis
5. Billy Moyer Jr.
6. Kenny Brightbill
7. T.J. Pauschert
8. Rick Aukland
9. Dhon Hauserman
10.Jerry Inmon
11.Tom Helfrich
12.Doug Ingalls
13.Henry Robinson
14.Eddie Pace
15.Buddy Boutwell

1968 – Allison Wins Inaugural Bristol GT-300

 

Donnie Allison

Bristol, Tenn. (July 20, 1968) – Donnie Allison of Hueytown, Ala., grabbed the lead with 190 laps to go, and held on to win the caution-marred Bristol 300 grand touring international run at the Bristol International Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

The victory was worth $1,430 for Allison, who piloted a 1968 Mustang, with an average speed of 71.854 miles per hour.

The race was marred by six caution flags which slowed the pace considerably, with the most spectacular one involving Arnett Autry of Norfolk, Va. Autry lost control of his 1967 Camaro and slammed the retaining wall on the back stretch, bouncing high in the air, and almost overturning. He was treated at the field hospital and released.

Allison, who started the race on the pole, alongside Bunkie Blackburn, grabbed the lead for the first time on lap 23.

The lead changed hands eight times during the race between four different drivers, Blackburn, Allison, Tiny Lund of Cross, S.C., and Bud Moore of Charlotte, N.C., both driving 1968 Cougars.

Lund, however, was forced out after 177 laps when he bumped Frank Sessoms of Darlington, S.C., driving a 1968 Camaro, causing radiator damage.

Blackburn, of Daytona Beach, Fla., driving a 1968 Camaro, was forced out of the race when he lost control on the backstretch and damaged the front end of his car.

Blackburn and Lund out of the race, it developed into a two-car battle between Moore and Allison.

Allison opened up a narrow lead and as the race went on, opened up a three-lap lead on Moore with 70 laps remaining in the race.

Of the 24 cars that started, only 16 were on the track when the race ended.

Moore finished second with Bob Burcham of Chattanooga, Tenn., in third, driving a 1968 Javelin. Harold Dunaway of Charlotte, N.C., was fourth and Bob Yuma, Melbourne, Fla., rounded out the top five.

Country and western singing star Marty Robbins of Nashville, driving a John Sears 1967 Dodge Dart, blew an engine on the 83rd lap. He was running in fifth when he was forced out.


Results –

1. Donnie Allison
2. Bud Moore
3. Bob Burcham
4. Harold Dunaway
5. Bob Yuma
6. Frank Sessoms
7. Roy Tyner
8. Jack Ryan
9. Al Arnold
10.Peter Gregg
11.Jim Allen
12.Dick Staples
13.Al Straub
14.Lee Cutler
15.Jim Vandiver
16.Buck Baker
17.Tiny Lund
18.Arnett Autry
19.Jim Hall
20.Marty Robbins

1986 – Moyer Takes NDRA Win at I-44

 

Billy Moyer Jr. 

Lebanon, Mo. (July 19, 1986) – If at first you don’t succeed…was Billy Moyer Jr.’s theme as he made his second trip to I-44 Speedway in as many weeks.

Not quite satisfied with last week’s second place finish, Moyer qualified for the pole position through his qualifying heat and National Dirt Racing Association combined passing points.

He took the lead at the drop of the green and led wire-to-wire in the 25-lap late model feature. Larry Phillips finished second and first half point’s leader Ken Essary was third.


Results –


1. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
2. Larry Phillips, Springfield
3. Ken Essary, Galena
4. Leslie Essary, Galena
5. Roger Hines, Joplin
6. Darry Mooneyham, Aurora
7. T.J. Pauschert, Carlile, Ark.
8. Skip Thompson, Mountain Grove
9. Rex McCroskey, Springfield
10.Don March, West Plains

1959 – Zwanziger Sets Record in 50-Lap Mid-Season Race

 

Karla Prummitt of Fredericksburg makes the Tunis Speedway mid-season championship trophy presentation to Bill Zwanziger after the Waterloo driver set a new 50-lap record.

Waterloo, Iowa (July 19, 1959) – Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo drove his late model to a record time in the 50-lap mid-season modified stock car championship at Tunis Speedway Sunday night before 5,520 fans.

Zwanziger took over the lead on the fourth lap, breezing by Harry Petersen on the inside of the fourth turn, and was never challenged the remaining 46 laps. Zwanziger’s car was powered by a completely new engine, the old one having been ruined in last week’s race.

Point leader Charlie Moffitt had started on the pole position but lost the race to the first turn to Peterson, who started alongside Moffitt on the front row.

Peterson would hang on to finish second followed by Moffitt in third and John Moss taking fourth. That trio ran most of the way in a tight parade. Carroll Jensen, who started from the rear of the field, rounded out the top-five finishers.

Zwanziger started on the inside of the third row, beside Bob Posekany, and behind Cal Swanson and Moss. On the first lap, he squeezed by those three and took second away from Moffitt a lap later.

When he caught and passed Petersen on the fourth lap, he began widening his lead and heading for a new record of 15 minutes and .75 seconds, bettering Bob Hilmer’s 1957 marks of 15 minutes and .85 seconds for a 50-lap race.

Before 10 laps were in the books, Zwanziger had already lapped his first car. John Mullink, a victim of a wide spinning slide, was the first driver to be lapped. Several others, including Posekany, Jerry Sherbon, Gale Card, and Dan Feckers, fell a lap behind before the race had reached the halfway mark.

Defending mid-season champion Gene Peterson pulled out late in the race with engine problems.

An out of town driver, Tuffy Meyers of Big Rock, was eligible to start on the tail end of the 50-lapper but instead chose to run the 20-lap consolation, which he won. He also won the first heat after starting at the rear.

Dick Krafka won the second heat and Arnie Spore was the third heat winner.


Results –

1. Bill Zwanziger
2. Harry Petersen
3. Charlie Moffitt
4. John Moss
5. Carroll Jensen
6. Bob Hilmer

1984 – Lekander Tops Farley ‘Busch Bash’

Bob Lekander (left) won the “Busch Bash 50” at Farley Speedway. Joining Lekander in victory lane is his father, “Zip” and Hawkeye Racing News’ Keith Knaack. – Dick Kleindolph Photo

Farley, Iowa (July 18, 1984) – Bob Lekander got a break to start on the front row, and he made the most of it, as he won the “Busch Bash 50” feature Wednesday night at Farley Speedway.

Lekander was slated to start in the second row, but veteran Darrell Dake had motor problems and dropped from the front row to the rear of the field, moving Lekander up a notch.

Lekander led from start to finish, closely followed during the event on a couple of occasions. First to challenge was Scott Braun of Cedar Falls, who dropped back when he got sideways during an attempt to pass Lekander and took Ken Walton with him. The Curt Martin of Independence applied pressure but was unable to get by the Burlington driver.

The win also gives Lekander the point lead, 99 -98, over Walton in the six-race “Busch Bash” series.


Results –


Heat #1 – Roger Bruggeman, Dubuque
Heat #2 – Harley McWilliams, Platteville, Wis.
Heat #3 – Ken Walton, Viola
Heat #4 – Garry Tigges, Durango
Semi-main – Mark Keltner, Morning Sun
Feature –
1. Bob Lekander, Burlington
2. Curt Martin
3. Lynn Idler, Ionia
4. Ken Walton
5. Bill Breuer, Wapello
6. Mark Keltner
7. Scott Braun, Cedar Falls
8. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
9. Jay Johnson, Wapello
10.Bob Jaeger, Dubuque
11.Rick Wendling, Hazelton
12.Terry Gallaher, Hannibal, Mo.
13.Tim Murray, Des Moines
14.Denny Whitlock, Riverside
15.Denny Ansel, Dubuque

1981 – Walton Takes NSCA Main at Eldon

 

Ken Walton won the "Pepsi-Mountain Dew" late model special at Eldon Raceway. - Lee Johnson Photo

Eldon, Iowa (July 17, 1981) – Ken Walton of Viola won his second straight Pepsi-Mountain Dew special feature and second straight in National Speedways Contest Association competition in three nights at the Wapello County Fair on Friday night.

Two nights earlier, he won the 35-lap feature at the Pepsi-Mountain Dew special at Oskaloosa.

Don Hoffman of Des Moines was second and Bill Beckman of Monticello took third.

Curt Hansen of Dike led the first nine laps then Walton took over. Hoffman slipped past him on the 31st go-round but Walton regained the lead a lap later and then pulled away in the remaining few laps to score the victory.

Jim Brown of Ottumwa was the winner in the 15-lap sportsman race, leading green to checkered. Bill Pumphrey of Eldon was second and Jay Johnson of Morning Sun took third.


Results –

Time Trials- Bill Beckman, Monticello
Heat #1 – Vic Bentlage, Jefferson City, Mo.
Heat #2 – Ken Walton, Viola
Feature –
1. Ken Walton
2. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
3. Bill Beckman
4. Curt Hansen, Dike
5. Tony Stewart, Washington
6. Vic Bentlage
7. Ed Pilcher, Bloomfield
8. Ron Cochran, Marshalltown
9. Kenny Fenn, Washington
10.Sonny Findling, Kirksville, Mo.
11.Ken Jackson, Burlington
12.Denny Banks, Washington
13.Harley Harrelson, Brashear, Mo.
14.Dan Dickey, Packwood
15.Ron Jackson, Burlington
16.Johnny Johnson, Morning Sun

1978 - Robison Steals Downs’ Sprint Car Show

 

Bill Robison

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 16, 1978) - Jack Miller is a man of his word. At least when talk centers around sprint car racing.

“These drivers will put on quite a show for you tonight,” explained Miller, before sitting in behind the microphone to announce the sprint car races at Hawkeye Downs Sunday night. “You won't find any better racing around. This is excitement at its best.”

And Miller didn't let anybody down as 23 drivers invaded the Downs in front of an estimated crowd of 3,700, with Topeka, Kansas’ Bill Robison stealing the show, including victories in the Trophy Dash, the first heat and the A-Main feature event.

In the feature, the hard-charging pilot had to fend off a steady charge by crowd favorite Eddie Leavitt of Kearney, Mo., two-time national sprint car champion. Robinson started on the outside of row one and led the 20-lap event from start to finish while Leavitt started sixth on the starting grid and finished second.

Leavitt had qualified for the evening’s races with the fastest time, a 22.257 second clocking on the half-mile Downs oval but was sidelined for a major part of the program when he hit the wall in turn three just before taking the green flag in the Trophy Dash to start the evening's races. He qualified for the A-Main feature with a half-lap victory in the B-Main event.

The Knoxville-based sprint car program was making its second stop in Cedar Rapids this summer, featuring top drivers from five states.

“Sprint car racing is really a spectator sport,” said Miller. “These cars have 500-600 horsepower and weigh only 1,500 pounds. It’s the open cockpit that makes it so exciting.”

Though there were no serious accidents in Sunday's competition, Miller said that injuries are common in this type of racing, and that more cars would have raced Sunday if they hadn't been damaged at Knoxville on Saturday night.

The small cars reach top speeds of nearly 100-mph on the straight-aways on a half-mile track such as the Downs and the racing is guaranteed to be competitive.

Ralph Blackett and Mike Pinckney, both of Des Moines, captured their respective heat races and Steve Hainline of Bonaparte won the Australian Pursuit with Robinson second.


Results –


1. Bill Robison, Topeka, Kan.
2. Eddie Leavitt, Kearney, Mo.
3. Shane Carson, Oklahoma City, Okla.
4. Randy Smith, Des Moines
5. Mike Pinckney, Des Moines
6. Ralph Blackett, Des Moines
7. Con Edwards, Ankeny
8. Cliff Blundy, Alpha, Ill.
9. Mike Brooks, Knoxville
10. Steve Hainline, Bonaparte

1966 – Dickson Nabs Prize at Tulsa

Larry Dickson 

Tulsa, Okla. (July 16, 1966) – Larry Dickson of Marietta, Ohio, held off USAC season point leader Roger McCluskey in a wheel-to-wheel dash for the finish line to win the sprint car feature at Fairgrounds Speedway Saturday night.

The 7,430 fans in attendance were jolted from their seats at the beginning of the third lap of the feature when three cars became entangled on the main stretch in front of the grandstand.

Ron Lux of Buffalo, N.Y., was critically injured when his car hurdled another car and then rolled over and over for sideways for about 50 yards. Lux was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The other two drivers involved, Arnie Knepper and Ronnie Duman, both walked away from the wreckage with only minor scratches.

Only eight of the 14 cars that started the feature finished the race. Local favorite Buddy Cagle was forced to drop out on lap 12 of the 30-lap contest but still finished ninth.

Thirty-one of the nation’s top drivers competed for the $5,000 purse offered, the first USAC sprint car race ever held in the state of Oklahoma.

McCluskey, who entered the race with 186 points compared to Don Branson’s 129 markers, was ahead of the field when the smashup occurred.

Following a 20-minute delay, McCluskey led off the remaining 11 cars but slid sideways in the first turn, allowing Dickson to slide by and take the lead. McCluskey would cling to second place but fell 25 yards behind by thee midway point.

McCluskey made a late-race charge and in the final laps swung low on the fourth turn, temporarily locking wheels with Dickson. He didn’t get around but pressed the leader the last few circuits. As the two cars swung into the final turn, McCluskey pulled even, but Dickson held on as McCluskey’s car careened away and nearly turned sideways as it crossed the finish line.

Branson, who ran away with the second heat victory, finished third, and Mario Andretti took fourth.

McCluskey won the first heat while Carl Williams of Kansas City was the third heat winner. Greg Weld, also of Kansas City, won the semi-main. Bobby Unser of Albuquerque, N.M., was the day’s fastest qualifier, turning the 3/8-mile in 18.96 seconds (95 mph).


Results –


1. Larry Dickson
2. Roger McCluskey
3. Don Branson
4. Mario Andretti
5. Bobby Unser
6. Greg Weld
7. Carl Williams
8. Bruce Jacobi
9. Buddy Cagle

Ron Lux

1988 - Jeff Swindell Tops Santa Fe WoO

 

Jeff Swindell completed a sweep of the World of Outlaws sprint car feature at Santa Fe Speedway by topping the 30-laap headliner. Swindell also won the preliminary the night before. – Tony Cipolletti Photo

Willow Springs, Ill. (July 15, 1988) – Jeff Swindell notched his second victory in two days at Santa Fe Speedway as he topped the 30-lap World of Outlaws sprint car feature on Friday night.

Doug Wolfgang dominated most of the event as he led 28 of the 30 laps. Wolfgang paced Mark Kinser and Swindell until round 29 when Swindel slipped past Kinser and Wolfgang in turn two to gain the lead.

Swindell, who won Thursday night’s prelim, held off Wolfgang to the wire for the win. Mark Kinser finished third followed by Steve Kinser and Bobby Davis Jr.


Results –


1. Jeff Swindell
2. Doug Wolfgang
3. Mark Kinser
4. Steve Kinser
5. Bobby Davis Jr.
6. Sammy Swindell
7. Bobby Allen
8. Jac Haudenschild
9. Kenny Jacobs
10.Joey Allen

1973 – Shear Wins ‘White’ Race

 

Joe Shear won the 75-lap "White" race as part of the Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series at Wisconsin International Raceway. 

By Gary Vercauteren

Kaukauna, Wis. (July 15, 1973) – Joe Shear guided his 1973 Camaro to victory in the second race of the “Red, White, and Blue” State Championship Series at the Wisconsin International Raceway before a crowd of 8,396 race fans on Sunday afternoon.

Shear, a 29-year-old South Beloit, Ill., professional racer grabbed the lead from Bob Jusola of Burnsville, Minn., on the 38th lap of the 75-lap main event and won the contest by four seconds over Jim Back of Vesper. Back was also driving a 1973 Camaro.

During qualifications, Shear broke Back’s one-month-old track record with a time of 21.17 seconds. Back had established the time of 21.30 seconds during the first race of the “Red, White, and Blue” championship during June.

Steven Point’s Rich Somers bolted into the lead in the feature in his 1973 Mustang but was passed by Necedah’s Jim Sauter on the second round. Sauter held the number one position until the 8th lap when he was passed by Nekoosa’s Marv Marzofka.

Marzofka then battled wheel-to-wheel with Bob Jusola for several laps until Jusola surged into the lead. Jusola, a tough 20-year veteran of short tracks who has been crowned Minnesota state champion several times, lived up to his nickname “The Flying Finn” as he built up a three-second lead over the rest of the field.

However, Rich Davis of Highland, Ill., spun his 1973 Torino on lap 33 which caused the yellow flag to come out. This tightened up the field considerably with Marzofka and Shear glued to Jusola’s bumper on the restart.

Shear blazed past Marzofka on the restart and then moved up to challenge Jusola. The yellow flag waved again on lap 37 when Jim Pierson’s 1973 Camaro stalled on the frontstretch.

Shear would get the jump on Jusola on the restart and slipped into the lead entering the first turn on lap 38. Jusola would stay with Shear until the 56th circuit when he was forced out with a blown tire.

Back moved into second place following Jusola’s exit but couldn’t catch Shear. Milwaukee’s John Rank placed third in a 1973 Nova followed by Jim Sauter, also in a 1973 Nova. Dave Watson of Milton, driving a 1973 Camaro, rounded out the top five finishers.

Shear collected $750 for the victory while Back took home $575 and Rank $450.


Results –


1. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
2. Jim Back, Vesper
3. John Rank, Milwaukee
4. Jim Sauter, Necedah
5. Dave Watson, Milton
6. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa
7. Larry Detjens, Wausau
8. Rich Somers, Stevens Point
9. Mike Miller, New Prague, Minn.
10.Jack Brewer, Oak Creek
11.Jerry Smith, Medina
12.Boyce Sparkman, Rockford, Ill.
13.Paul Christianson, Mosinee
14. Rich Davis, Highland, Ill.
15.Jon Chrest, Hamel, Minn.

1966 – Ramo Passes Ernie to Win Fargo Fair Finale

 

Fargo, N.D. (July 15, 1966) – Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa, set a blistering pace to win the 100-lap IMCA stock car feature at the Red River Valley Fair.

Stott, the pole sitter, took the lead on the first lap and was half a lap in front when he made his mandatory pit stop on the 40th circuit. Ernie Derr, also of Keokuk, Iowa, then pushed his 1966 Dodge into first place.

A determined charge by Stott made up the ground lost on the pit stop and it was all over for Derr when he made his pit stop on lap 93.

Derr got out of the pits in time to claim second place ahead of Ed Negre of Monett, Mo., in a 1965 Plymouth.

Lenny Funk of Otis, Kan., wheeled his 1964 Ford across the finish line to take fourth. Blaine Morrow of Mt. Joy, Ill., was fifth in a 1964 Plymouth.

Preliminary heats were won by Derr and Morrow.

A capacity crowd of viewed the program which was conducted by Frank Winkley’s Auto Racing Inc.


Results –

1. Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Ed Negre, Monett, Mo.
4. Lenny Funk, Otis, Kan.
5. Blaine Morrow, Mt. Joy, Ill.
6. Ole Brua, Albert Lea, Minn.
7. Wally Christiansen, Minneapolis
8. Paul Feldner, Colgate, Wis.
9. Butch Hall, Russell, Minn.
10.Karl Stauffer, Independence, Mo.

1984 – First ASA Triumph for Trickle at Springfield

 

Springfield, Mo. (July 14, 1984) – Dick Trickle outlasted the heat, humidity, and Alan Kulwicki to win the ASA-sanctioned Silver Creek 250 stock car race at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

It was Trickle’s first ASA victory of the season.

Kulwicki, who led 201 of the 250-lap contest recovered from a spin that allowed Trickle to take the lead for good, finished second, 2.5-seconds back. Bobby Dotter was third and Harold Fair fourth to round out the lead lap finishers. Mike Eddy came in fifth, one circuit in arrears.

Though Trickle played the role of the opportunist to pick up the $6,820 win, he never ranked worse than fourth at any point in the race.

Trickle credited a mid-race pit stop with giving him the winning edge.

“My guys got me ahead of everyone else,” Trickle said of the lap 106 caution which sent all of the contenders to the pits except Kulwicki. “And with everyone battling the heat, it made my job that much easier.”

Kulwicki blazed to a one-lap track record in qualifications, touring the flat, .525-mile oval in 20.100 seconds to put his Firebird on the pole for the start of the 28-car feature.

Rocketing away at the start, Kulwicki enjoyed as much as a straightaway lead over second place in the early going as his closest pursuer, Bob Senneker, was forced to make a green flag pit stop with a flat tire on lap 60….

Despite a quick stop, Senneker went a lap down, but returned to the track in form, eventually running down Kulwicki and engaging the pacesetter in a battle that lasted 100 circuits.

Although all the other contenders pitted during the mid-race caution necessitated by a Dave Jensen spin, Kulwicki elected to stay out and remain the lead.

“I just figured there would be another caution and I’d have an excellent set of tires,” Kulwicki explained. “It didn’t work out that way.”

Almost 100 rounds elapsed before Kulwicki finally saw the much-needed caution, ironically for his own spin on lap 201.

While Trickle inherited the lead when Kulwicki spun and pitted during the subsequent caution, it was Senneker who appeared to be in the catbird’s seat. Senneker, who had returned to the lead lap and was in third at the time of the yellow, appeared to have the fastest car on the track.

But Senneker’s race-long pursuit of Kulwicki had taken it’s toll on tires and the Dorr, Mich., ace was forced to make a second pit stop during the caution for Kulwicki. Senneker got trapped in the pits when all-out action resumed, putting him one circuit down for the second time. A tire problem late in the race necessitated a third stop, which resulted in a sixth-place finish.

Kulwicki closed in on Trickle during the waning laps but the undisputed leader of the “Wisconsin Gang”
would have none of that, maintaining a comfortable lead at the finish.


Results –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Alan Kulwicki
3. Bobby Dotter
4. Harold Fair
5. Mike Eddy
6. Bob Senneker
7. Ken Lund
8. Tom Harrington
9. Muttly Kurkowski
10.Ken Christenson
11.Dave Simko
12.Don Collins
13.Don Ely
14.Dennis Vogel
15.Jim Sauter