1987 - Dolan Takes Dubuque 'Winston Classic'

 

Roger Dolan won the fifth annual Winston Classic at the Dubuque County Speedway.

Dubuque, Iowa (July 5, 1987) – Heavily-favored Roger Dolan of Lisbon didn’t disappoint his followers Sunday, as he posted the victory in the fifth annual Winston Classic at the Dubuque County Speedway.

At the drop of the green, Curt Martin of Independence, zoomed into a substantial lead with Ron Boyse of Kalona and Dale Fischlein of Independence in hot pursuit.

Driving the low groove, Dolan overtook Martin on the 24th lap. The only yellow flag of the race came out eight laps later when Martin suffered a blown engine.

Dolan nailed the restart, pulling away to a comfortable lead and sailing to victory. Rick Wendling of Hazelton finished second followed by defending and two-time Winston Classic champion Gary Tigges of Durango, Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls, and Gary Crawford of Independence.

Roger Bruggeman of Dubuque claimed his first modified feature win of the season, out-running the 18-car field. He was pressed by point leader Greg Kastli of Waterloo until his distributor broke with seven laps remaining.

Mark Kohn survived numerous restarts to win the modified street stock feature.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Roger Dolan
2. Rick Wendling
3. Gary Tigges
4. Jeff Aikey
5. Gary Crawford
6. Greg Hunter
7. Dale Fischlein
8. Ron Boyse
9. Mitch Fretheim
10.Steve Keppler


Modified –

1. Roger Bruggeman
2. Mike Schneider
3. Ron Barker
4. Dick Barker
5. Rich Riechers
6. Larry Engen
7. Greg Chapman
8. Jim Sands
9. Gary Nolan
10.Kevin Schroeder


Modified Street Stock –

1. Mark Kohn
2. Rick Hurst
3. Mark Nachtman
4. Marvin Decker
5. Jim Patterson

1974 - 7,500 See Eaker Stay Low, Win Late Model Race

 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 5, 1974) - Verlin Eaker slammed his 1972 Nova into the first turn, forcing three-abreast racing action on the first lap of the 25-lap late-model stock car feature Friday night at Hawkeye Downs.

It was a calculated move by the Cedar Rapids chauffeur before an estimated 7,500 All-Iowa fairgoers and it paid off handsomely. Eaker, who started the feature on the inside of the second row, continued on to set the pace the full distance.

“I was hoping I could stick down below and that the first row (Fred Horn and Ed Sanger) would go high,” Eaker said with a wry smile.

“That’s the nice thing about starting where I did - you can try something. But you’re almost afraid to try anything when you’re in the lead.”

Eaker stayed with the low groove for the most part and was chased by both Sanger and Curt Hansen. That was a battle, also, with the runner-up spot taking a switch on the 11th and 12th tours before Sanger settled down.

Sanger tried Eaker both high and low several times but couldn’t quite get the jo done and had to settle for second place by about five car lengths.

‘‘I don't think I could have won by staying high,” Eaker admitted. “I could run about anywhere, but the low side worked best for me.”

“I got a better bite on the inside coming out of the turns running about half throttle.”

Verlin, who posted his first feature triumph at the Downs since winning the Iowa Challenge Cup a month ago, also said he felt running the third heat (which he won) proved to be an advantage.

‘‘That gave me a good idea of what the track would be like in the feature,” he said.

Hansen, who captured last week’s Fair opener, took third, with Bill Zwanziger and Roger Dolan rounding out the top five.

Sanger and Horn also claimed heat victories. Horn’s win was the night’s thriller.

Fred and Hansen were in a wheel-to-wheel duel for the last three laps, with Zwanziger pushing the last two laps in the 10-lapper. It was; indeed, a blanket finish and the near-capacity crowd let its approval be known.

The semi went to Don Hoffman.


Results –


Heat #1 – Fred Horn, Marion
Heat #2 – Ed Sanger, Waterloo
Heat #3 – Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids
Semi-main – Don Hoffman, Des Moines
Feature –
1. Verlin Eaker
2. Ed Sanger
3. Curt Hansen, Dike
4. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
5. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
6. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
7. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
8. Fred Horn
9. Cal Swanson, Reinbeck
10.Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids

1987 – Farren Tops IMCA National at Boone

 

Boone, Iowa (July 4, 1987) – Dave Farren of Des Moines, the 1986 track champion at Boone Speedway, moved from his seventh starting position to the lead in only three laps, then held off the field to win the IMCA Modified National Series feature at Boone Speedway.

Farren, who was the 1986 IMCA modified national champion, held off a late charge by Denny Pittman of Jefferson for the win. Jack Miles of Des Moines, Kevin Tasler of Jefferson, and Larry Grafton of Des Moines rounded out the top-five.

Miles led the first lap and Tasler the second lap before Farren took command. Pittman started ninth, moved up towards the front, before coming on strong near the end of the 30-lapper to gain runner-up honors.

In companion events, Greg DeFrance of Marshalltown won the IMCA stock car feature, Bob Richardson of Perry won the thunder car feature, and Mike Shranklen of Huxley won the street stock feature.


Results –

1. Dave Farren, Des Moines
2. Denny Pittman, Jefferson
3. Jack Miles, Des Moines
4. Kevin Tasler, Jefferson
5. Larry Grafton, Des Moines
6. Glenn Woodard, Des Moines
7. Martin Bennett, Des Moines
8. Ray Cox Jr., Walcott
9. Bill Davis, Des Moines
10.Dude Thompson, Huxley
11.Ron Becker, Tama
12.Danny Wallace, Des Moines
13.Brian Efkamp, Boone
14.Francis James, Stanton
15.Dave Stanton, LeGrand

1976 – Young Snaps Schuler’s Streak at Grundy

 

Ray Young

Morris, Ill. (July 4, 1976) – Ray Young snapped Larry Schuler’s string of feature wins at seven Sunday afternoon at the Grundy County Speedway, defeating him by six-car-lengths in the 25-lap event.

Young, driving the same car he drove to victory in the CAM2 Classic on May 9, took the lead from Jerry Kemperman on lap 7 after a second lap tangle had bent plenty of sheet metal on both cars.

Young quickly extended his lead while Schuler was busy working his way through traffic, finally inching his way into second place with six laps to go.

Once in second, however, Schuler was unable to close the margin significantly on Young and settled for runner-up honors. Kemperman took third-place money followed by Bob Dotter and John McPartlin.

The heat races and consolation for late models provided plenty of excitement. Terry Hapke nailed the homestretch wall in the final lap of the second heat, ripping the right front tire completely off. He was not hurt but the car was eliminated. In the consolation, Steve Seligman made a last dash effort to get by leader Hal Davis for the checkered and slid head-on into the pit wall.

Tim Nanzer of Oswego took the lead from George Boswell to win the accident-spiced hobby stock feature.


Results –


Time trials – Larry Schuler, Lockport (16.27)
Trophy dash – Ray Young, Dolton
Heat #1 – Hal Davis, Woolridge
Heat #2 – Steve Seilgman, Highwood
Heat #3 – Larry Schuler
Consolation – Hal Davis
Feature –
1. Ray Young
2. Larry Schuler
3. Jerry Kemperman, Blue Island
4. Bob Dotter, Chicago
5. John McPartlin, Lansing
6. Dave Evans, Crystal Lake
7. Bob Weltmeyer, Alsip
8. Butch Stevens
9. Chuck Acres, Dolton
10.Al Weinreich, Seneca

1969 - Sanger Halts Hansen's Skein at Tunis

 

Ed Sanger

By Bob Dixon

Waterloo, Iowa (July 4, 1969) – After watching his brother Karl score his first feature win of the season Friday afternoon at Independence, Ed Sanger decided it was his turn and won the late model feature that same evening at Tunis Speedway.

Beside pocketing $500 for the victory, the Waterloo driver halted Curt Hansen’s three-week winning streak. But his victory did not come easy.

Time trials determined feature starting positions with sixth-fastest qualifier Bill Bartelmes of Troy Mills starting on the pole. Bartelmes took an early lead with Sanger right behind. When Sanger made his move on the inside for the lead, fast qualifier Curt Hansen of Dike slipped inside also, and stayed on his heels.

Sanger was up to the task, however, and held off the determined Hansen to score the feature win. Dave Bedard of La Porte City would finish third with Karl Sanger fourth and Barthelmes sliding back to fifth.

Roger Kruse of Independence grabbed a long-awaited checkered flag in the B-main ahead of Stan Stover, of Reinbeck and Claus Stricker of Waterloo.

Waterloo’s Larry Palmer continued his season-long domination of the novice class, as the first year driver won his third straight feature.


Results –

Heat #1 – Roger Klingfus, Waterloo
Heat #2 – Ty Burger, Waterloo
Heat #3 – Ed Sanger, Waterloo
B-main – Roger Kruse, Independence
A-main –
1. Ed Sanger
2. Curt Hansen, Dike
3. Dave Bedard, La Porte City
4. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
5. Bill Barthelmes, Troy Mills
6. Glen Martin, Waterloo
7. John Connolly, Delhi
8. Chub Liebe, Oelwein
9. Ty Burger
10.Joe Schaefer, Waterloo

1965 – Nelson Rolls Towards Title with 100-Lap Illiana Win

 

Norm Nelson poses with his trophy after winning the 100-lap USAC late model stock car race at Illiana Motor Speedway. – Wayne Bryant Omega Photo

Schererville, Ind. (July 4, 1965) – Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis., continued his drive for his second United States Auto Club late model stock car national championship by winning the 100-lap feature here on the half-mile paved banks of Illiana Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

The “Great Dane” was the complete master of the field. He set the fastest qualifying time, then tore into the lead at the start of the main event and won the race going away.

Nelson, who scored his 18th career USAC stock car win, never looked better. His 1965 Plymouth, tuned to razor sharp performance by Jerry Kulwicki and the Nelson crew, dusted off his competitors with relative ease.

Bobby Isaac, Catawba, S.C., winner of the 100-lap stock car race here on May 23 when he sailed past Nelson midway in the race, settled for runner-up honors. The talented southern star drove a 1964 Dodge prepared by Ray Nichels of Highland, Ind.

Third place went to Jim Hurtubise of North Tonawanda, N.Y., who was in a second 1965 Plymouth entered by Nelson. It was good to see Hurtubise finish the race up near the front. After recent mishaps, the third-place finish just might be the shot in the arm the likeable driver needs to come up with a maximum effort in the Milwaukee 200-miler next weekend.

Although he wasn’t there, Chrysler Corp.’s Ronnie Householder must have been all smiles when he heard of the clean sweep of the Plymouth and Dodge entries. The crowd was estimated at more than 8,000.

Nelson indicated after the race that while it was a fast race, his mount handled beautifully, and he set the pace pretty much as he wished. But he also remarked that Isaac would have to be ruled as a prime favorite in the big race at Milwaukee this Sunday.


Results –

1. Norm Nelson
2. Bobby Isaac
3. Jim Hurtubise
4. Don White
5. Sal Tovella
6. Billy Foster
7. Bob Chapman
8. Ted Hane
9. Elmer Musgrave
10.Dave Kruckenberg
11.Bay Darnell
12.Joe King
13.Bill Lutz
14.Mike Pangborn
15.Gary Bettenhausen
16.J.C. Klotz
17.Lou Burmeister
18.Mark Thomas
19.Bud McGauhey

1958 – 5,000 Watch Burdick Win – But Which Burdick?

 

Des Moines, Iowa (July 4, 1958) – Who drove the 1957 Ford #99 which ran away from the field of 20 starters in the 25-lap feature before more than 5,000 fans at Pioneer Raceway on Friday night?

An International Motor Contest Association representative, Wilbur Clark – who handles publicity for IMCA promoter Al Sweeney – said it was Bob Burdick of Omaha, who is currently third in points in the IMCA stock car division standings.

The car was officially entered under the name of Roy Burdick, father of Bob, and a part-owner who stepped up to the microphone to accept the trophy after the opening 5-laap trophy dash.

However, the elder Burdick was attired in a quartered-length t-shirt whereas the driver of the #99 wore a shirt without sleeves.

“I drove it,” the senior Burdick tartly replied to Clark, who said, “I thought Bob promised (Al) Sweeney he wasn’t going to drive tonight!”

Earlier in the day, Sweeney announced through Clark that both Burdick and Johnny Beauchamp of Harlan, who raced under assumed names in two meets earlier, had promised to abide by IMCA rules.

The two drivers faced possible $100 fines for alleged violation of a rule forbidding competition in races not sanctioned by the IMCA.

“A second violation results in a year’s suspension,” Clark revealed as he watched Friday’s races, which attracted an overflow throng.

Four other drivers in the field were using assumed names as well, according to Pioneer Raceway officials.

The “Jimmy Hughes of Des Moines,” who placed second in the A feature was identified as Newt Bartholomew of Carlisle, Iowa.

“Curly McCord of Detroit, Mich.,” officially listed as finishing fourth in the feature was Lloyd Jorgenson of Anita, Iowa.

Sixth place “Jerry Rogers of St. Paul, Minn.,” was Bob Short of Des Moines.

The fourth, Kenny Schultz of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., compete under the name “John Lutz” of the same town. He won the second heat and placed sixth in the B feature.

Burdick was easily the star of the night, winning the time trials and the pole position in the feature, plus the trophy dash and one of the 7-lap heat races.

“There wasn’t much doubt as to who the ‘local boys’ were when the big circuit boys started rolling,” said one observer.


Results –

Time trials – Bob Burdick, Omaha
Trophy dash – Bob Burdick
Heat #1 – Bob Livingston, Des Moines
Heat #2 – Ken Schultz, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
Heat #3 – Lloyd Jorgenson, Anita
Heat #4 – Bob Burdick

Class B feature –
1. Burt Spain, Des Moines
2. Chuck Hollingsworth, Des Moines
3. Jim Williams, Des Moines
4. Jack Carnes, De Moines
5. Bob Merkel, Madrid
6. Ken Schultz
7. Ted Shaffer, Des Moines
8. Jerry Barnes, Des Moines
9. Bill Lemon, Des Moines
10.Ray Dishman, Des Moines

Class A feature –

1. Bob Burdick
2. Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle
3. Al Warrender, Harlan
4. Lloyd Jorgenson
5. Kenny Lee, Des Moines
6. Bob Short, Des Moines
7. Sonny Helms, Avon Lake
8. Lee Pinckney, Des Moines
9. Gene Hockensmith, Des Moines
10.Shorty Selsor, Des Moines

1988 – Wolfgang Takes Black Hills Checkers

 

Rapid City, S.D. (July 3, 1988) – Doug Wolfgang, who is rarely seen around his South Dakota home during racing season, put on a show for his home-state fans when the World of Outlaws visited Black Hills Speedway on Sunday night.

“Wolfie,” who started on the front row alongside Black Hills track record breaker Sammy Swindell, passed Swindell on the back straightaway on lap 21, then ran away from the 24-car field for his fifth World of Outlaws victory this season.

Swindell, who finished fourth, ran in second as late as the 25th circuit.

The two-time World of Outlaws champion was passed by Steve Kinser and Bobby Davis Jr. in the last five laps.

Kinser, whose winning streak was stopped at three, was in turn four when Wolfgang was taking the checkered flag.

Ten drivers bettered the Black Hills track record that Kinser set two years ago – 16.43 seconds – but the quickest time belonged to Swindell with a time of 16.141 seconds.

Danny Smith, Johnny Herrera, Andy Hillenburg, and Jeff Swindell were heat winners. Swindell won the fast dash, and Tim Monson won the B-feature.


Results –


1. Doug Wolfgang
2. Steve Kinser
3. Bobby Davis Jr.
4. Sammy Swindell
5. Dave Blaney
6. Johnny Herrera
7. Jeff Swindell
8. Brad Doty
9. Danny Smith
10.Jac Haudenschild

1986 – Egersdorf Tops ‘Thunderbird’ Open

 

Rick Egersdorf won the 14th annual Thunderbird Open at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. - Todd Narveson Collection

By Todd Narveson

Kasson, Minn. (July 3, 1986) – Rick Egersdorf, from North St. Paul, led wire-to-wire, holding off several serious challenges from Lance Matthees of Winona to win the 50-lap main event in the annual Thunderbird Open at Dodge County Fairgrounds.

Egersdorf took the lead at the drop of the green flag, but it took Matthees only a few laps to move into second and start challenging Egersdorf.

Matthees gave Egersdorf all he could handle, and actually got by Egersdorf momentarily, but couldn’t make the pass stick.

Egersdorf took home $1,500 for the win plus another $500 in lap money for leading the entire way.

Egersdorf also won his heat race while Ron Schriener of Eleva, Wis., was the other heat winner. Terry Lanphear of St. Paul won the consolation.

In preliminary action, Darrell Zweifel of Rochester held off Dave Tradup of Elgin to win his first hobby stock feature of the season.


Results –

1. Rick Egersdorf, North St. Paul
2. Lance Matthees, Winona
3. Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.
4. Jim Bruggeman, White Bear Lake
5. Tom Steuding, Altoona, Wis.
6. Dick Collins, Bloomington
7. Jeff Hinkemeyer, St. Cloud
8. Denny Anderson, Dodge Center

1968 – Grand Slam for Schattschneider at Webster City

Gene Schattschneider

Webster City, Iowa (July 3, 1968) – Gene Schattschneider of Algona made a shambles of the competition on the Hamilton County Fairgrounds’ half-mile oval Wednesday night.

The popular veteran recorded fast time in qualifying, snagged the trophy dash, won his heat, then climaxed his stellar performance with a triumph in the 20-lap feature.

Del Stokke of Ames finished second to Schattschneider in the feature.

Heat winners were Danny Rueth of Ames, Schattschneider, and Dick Simpson of Algona.


Results –

 

1. Gene Schattschneider, Algona
2. Del Stokke, Ames
3. Earl Tice, Ames
4. Bill Holder, Ames
5. Lyle Platter, Boone
6. Larry McGee
7. Dick Simpson, Algona
8. Ray Busch, Ogden

1988 – Carlson Overall Winner in Dells’ ARTGO

 

Steve Carlson used a pair of second place finishes to claim the overall title in the ARTGO Challenge Series Twin-76’s at Dells Motor Speedway. – Don Thies Photo

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (July 2, 1988) – Rookie Steve Carlson claimed the overall victory in Saturday night’s ARTGO Challenge Series Escape to Wisconsin Twin-76’s late model event at Dells Motor Speedway. He scored two runner-up finishes, finishing second to Dick Trickle in the first 76-lap feature, and following the victorious Steve Holzhausen in the second 76-lapper.

Trickle took the lead from Carlson on the 36th lap and then held on to take the win in the first feature. But Trickle lost a lap in the nightcap due to a flat tire.

The second feature saw Steve Holzhausen score his second ARTGO win of the season as he moved into the lead on the 29th circuit, then pulled away to a comfortable win.

Holzhausen recovered from an unscheduled pit stop in the first race to finish sixth. Fast qualifier Butch Miller had the wrong combination for the main events and finished fifth in both races.

Tom Carlson took the lead in the first feature and looked to be headed for his first ARTGO win as his brother and Trickle fought side-by-side for second. Then, on the 31st lap, Carlson suddenly slowed with a broken rocker arm.

When the dust cleared, it was Steve Carlson out front, Trickle in second, and Tom Carlson limping to the pits.

Trickle would take the top spot five laps later and chalk up his second ARTGO triumph of the season. Steve Carlson was second, in front of Jim Weber, Doug Herbst, and Miller.

Ed Holmes grabbed the lead at the start of he second feature. He held on to the top spot until lap 6 when Scott Hansen pulled in front. Holzhausen would grab the top spot on lap 29 and was never challenged thereafter.

Weber, who had pitted for a new coil wire earlier, charged back through the field to finish third behind Holzhausen and Carlson, and second overall. Tom Carlson and Miller rounded out the top-five.


Results –


Overall Finish –

1. Steve Carlson, La Crosse
2. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
3. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor
4. Butch Miller, Coopersville, Mich.
5. Rick Wateski, La Crosse

Feature #1 –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Steve Carlson
3. Jim Weber
4. Doug Herbst, Wausau
5. Butch Miller
6. Steve Holzhausen
7. Kevin Cywinski, Wausau
8. Pete Moore, McFarland
9. Terry Baldry, Omro
10.Rick Wateski

Feature #2 –

1. Steve Holzhausen
2. Steve Carlson
3. Jim Weber
4. Tom Carlson, La Crosse
5. Butch Miller
6. Rick Wateski
7. Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh
8. Scott Hansen, Green Bay
9. Terry Baldry
10.Rich Lofy, Madison

1989 – Steve Kosiski Takes All-Star Tour Win

 

Steve Kosiski 

Jefferson, S.D. (July 1, 1989) – Steve Kosiski overtook his brother Joe for the lead on lap 36 and held on to win Saturday’s NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour 50-lap feature before a capacity crowd at Park Jefferson International Speedway.

The Omaha, Neb., veteran captured his third Busch Tour win of the season and earned him $3,000.

The Kosiski’s and Oxford, Iowa’s Steve Boley staged a furious battle for the top spot in the early going.

Boley sped to the lead and waged a tight battle for the top spot with Davenport’s Rollie Frink for the first 16 laps around the beautiful 4/9-mile dirt oval. The Kosiski’s, who started alongside each other in the third row, moved their way through the field and mounted a challenge that saw them and Boley get together in turn four.

As the crowd came to its feet, Joe Kosiski came out of the scuffle with the advantage as Boley and Steve Kosiski fought for second. Steve began to pull away from Boley and chased down Joe on lap 30. The fierce sibling rivalry continued for the next six laps as the two former tour champions swapped the lead several times and raced side-by-side, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Steve finally overhauled Joe on lap 36 and stayed in front the rest of the way. Joe settled for runner-up honors and was followed by Frink, Boley, and Johnny Saathoff of Beatrice, Neb.

Joe Kosiski was fast timer with a qualifying run of 16.60 seconds. Boley won the “Race of Champions” while Craig Jacobs and Boley won 20-qualifying features.


Results –

1. Steve Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
2. Joe Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
3. Rollie Frink, Davenport, Iowa
4. Steve Boley, Oxford, Iowa
5. Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice, Neb.
6. Steve Fraise, Montrose, Iowa
7. Tom Guithues, Lilly Lake, Ill.
8. Ted Beaman, Council Bluffs, Iowa
9. Gary Webb, Davenport, Iowa
10.Terry Huizel, Freeport, Ill.
11.Bob McCoy, Dakota City, Neb.
12.Mike Benson, Wakefield, Neb.
13.Joe Sterk, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
14.Jack Golder, Hooper, Neb.
15.Denny Sherill, Hartford

1979 – Vogler Wins Dayton USAC Sprint Main

 

Rich Vogler, #55, leads the field during the 30-lap USAC sprint car feature at the Dayton Speedway. Vogler won the race, the next to last USAC race ever held at the track. - Skip Peterson Photo

Dayton, Ohio (July 1, 1979) – Rich Vogler led early and late en route to winning Sunday afternoon’s United States Auto Club (USAC) sprint car feature at Dayton Speedway.

It was the first sprint car feature victory of the year for Vogler, who was the club’s 1978 midget driving title winner.

Vogler grabbed the lead at the outset of the race but was supplanted in the top spot by Tom Bigelow on the fourth go-round. Bigelow, the winner of the division’s 40-lap main on this half-mile paved oval last May 28, then led for 28 circuits before Vogler took over again.

This time Vogler didn’t relinquish the top spot, and he went on to take the checkered flag in front of Jeff Bloom, Greg Leffler, Pancho Carter, Sheldon Kinser and Gary Bettenhausen.

Steve Chassey was unbeatable in the early stages of the show, setting fast time with a 16.06 second time trial lap and then capturing the first heat. Carter, his younger brother, Dana Carter, and Chuck Gurney won the other heats, and Bubby Jones took the semi-feature.

Although Jones won the semi-feature, he finished last in the 20-car field in the main event and saw his point lead shaved to eight markers over runner-up Pancho Carter. Bigelow, who ranks third on the point list, is only an additional 11 points behind Carter, after coming in eighth in Sunday’s headliner.


Results –

1. Rich Vogler
2. Jeff Bloom
3. Greg Leffler
4. Pancho Carter
5. Sheldon Kinser
6. Gary Bettenhausen
7. Larry Rice
8. Tom Bigelow
9. Mack McClellan
10.Chuck Gurney
11.Dana Carter
12.Jerry Weeks
13.Bud Wilmot
14.Malcolm Lovelace
15.Lennie Waldo
16.Marvin Carman
17.Mark Alderson
18.Steve Chassey
19.Billy Cassella
20.Bubby Jones

1951 – Derr Takes 125-Miler at Des Moines

 

Ernie Derr of Fort Madison won the 125-mile IMCA-sanctioned stock car race at the Iowa State Fairgrounds before 16,000 fans. – Ken Scarpino Photo

By Brad Wilson

Des Moines, Iowa (July 1, 1951) – Taking the lead with 25 laps to go, Ernie Derr, the 29-year-old parts manager from Keokuk, Iowa, grabbed the 125-mile International Motor Contest Association stock car contest at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Sunday before 16,000 spectators.

The dapper Derr, who commutes between his home in Fort Madison and his work in Keokuk, was clocked in 2 hours, 28 minutes, and 58.11 seconds, driving a 1950 Mercury he has owned for only 6 months.

The World War II veteran who finished third in the July 4 race here a year ago, beat Don White by a full lap and in addition to the $500 for the win, hauled down another $50 in lap money.

White, the Keokuk army corporal who drove a 1949 Ford on a weekend pass from Camp McCoy, Wis., won the 100-mile feature here last July.

Chris Skadal, who has been a consistent winner this summer at area tracks such as Kessell Speedway, finished third, three laps behind the winner.

Skadal, driving a 1950 Oldsmobile owned by professional driver Frank Luptow, lost too much time in the pits on a tire change and was never able to get back into contention.

The Des Moines pilot turned in the fastest time during qualifying with a time of 32.28 seconds.

Derr, who acquired the racing bug only two years ago at a race in Davenport, didn’t make a stop along the way, taking the lead from “Wild” Bill Harrison of Topeka, Kan., a recent winner at Mason City, on the 207th lap.

Earlier, Harrison pushed his 1950 Plymouth into the lead when Skadal, the fan favorite, was forced to pit for a tire change and gasoline after leading by nearly a full lap.

Skadal earned $150 in lap money in addition to the $300 for his third-place finish, making him one of the big cash winners of the National Speedways-promoted event. The top 14 positions in the race paid money.


Results –

1. Ernie Derr, Fort Madison
2. Don White, Keokuk
3. Chris Skadal, Des Moines
4. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
5. Rodney Carter, Emporia, Kan.
6. Bob McKim, Abilene, Kan.
7. Bill Runnells, Kirksville, Mo.
8. Harold Hobbs, Grinnell
9. Jim Wegschneider, St. Joseph, Mo.
10.Don Smith, Topeka, Kan.
11.Lefty Robinson, Des Moines
12.Dean Farmer, Des Moines
13.Duane Knapp, Rockwell City
14.Tilman Huset, Brandon, S.D.
15.Cleo Burmeister, Anita

1983 – 9,378 Watch J.J. Smith Win at WIR

 

J.J. Smith won the late model feature at Wisconsin International Raceway before a record crowd. - Keith Vercauteren Collection 

By Gary Vercauteren

Kaukauna, Wis. (June 30, 1983) – Appleton’s J.J. Smith wheeled his 1983 Thunderbird to a 10-car-length win in the 20-lap late model feature Thursday before a record crowd of 9,378 on “Shopko Night” at Wisconsin International Raceway.

It was the largest crowd in Fox River Racing Club’s 33-year history. The previous record was 7,814 set at “Shopko Night” in 1981.

Smith, who won his first feature here two years ago, got a break early in the race on the third lap when several front runners tangled coming out of the second turn, allowing Smith to move into second place.

Dave Valentyne came off the front row to lead the first six laps of the main event on the paved half-mile oval. Smith dipped under Valentyne on the backstretch, then pulled to a big lead.

Terry Baldry, the fastest qualifier and defending track champion, moved inside of Valentyne for second position but was unable to catch the speedy Smith. Following Smith and Baldry to the finish line were Gene Coleman, Valentyne, and Bob Iverson.

Jeff Herrman, racing in the sportsman class for the third time at WIR, won the 20-lap feature on the quarter mile.

The 24-year-old driver won by less than a car length over Dennis Utke, followed by Randy Boegh, Bryce Spoehr, and Steve Geise.


Results –


Late Model –

1. J.J. Smith, Appleton
2. Terry Baldry, Omro
3. Gene Coleman, Menominee, Mich.
4. Dave Valentyne, Kimberly
5. Bob Iverson, Hyde, Mich.
6. Steve Arndt, Janesville


Sportsman –

1. Jeff Herrman, Branch
2. Dennis Utke, Kimberly
3. Randy Boegh, Appleton
4. Bryce Spoehr, Black Creek
5. Steve Geise, Appleton
6. Jim Duchow, Kaukauna

1979 - Dawley Cops Knoxville Mid-Season

Darryl Dawley

 

By Ken Sargeant

Knoxville, Iowa (June 30, 1979) – Darryl Dawley ended a four-year drought at Knoxville Raceway by winning the mid-season championship Saturday night.

Dawley started in the second row and chased polesitter John Stevenson for the first eight laps before Stevenson dropped out with a broken ring gear and pinion. Dawley inherited the lead but had it for only one lap before a yellow flew for a Bobby Brutto spinout in turn four.

On the restart, Dawley rebuild his lead over Tim Green and led the rest of the way, holding off a late charge by Green on the final two circuits. Fast timer, Roger Larson, was third followed by Gary Scott and Randy Smith in the top-five.

Heat races went to Mark Shaffer, Steve Hainline, Eddie Leavitt, Ralph Blackett, and Gary Scott. Blackett’s win was the only thing keeping Dawley from a clean sweep as he ran second to in the heat race after leading the 5-lap trophy dash green to checkered. Larson’s quick time during time trials was 20.630 seconds.

The 12-lap B-main went to Brutto with a late pass of Terry Taggart.

In addition to watching 41 sprint cars compete, the large crowd on hand also got to see many former drivers who were on hand for “Old Timers” night and the induction of the first 18 members of the Hall of Fame.

Those drivers inducted represented 158 feature victories at Knoxville and included Greg and Ken Weld, Kenny Crook, Dean Sylvester, Danny Richardson, Bud McCune, Gordon Woolley, Earl Wagner, Ken Gritz, Dick Sutcliffe, and Thad Dosher. Alson inducted were mechanics, Taylor “Pappy” Weld, Bob Trostle, Fred Kain, Wayne House, John Leverenz, and former promoter Marion Robinson.


Results –


Time trials – Roger Larson, Madison, S.D.
Trophy dash – Darryl Dawley, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Heat #1 – Mark Shaffer, Newton
Heat #2 – Steve Hainline, Bonaparte
Heat #3 – Eddie Leavitt, Kearney, Mo.
Heat #4 – Ralph Blackett, Des Moines
Heat #5 – Gary Scott, Holts Summit, Mo.
B-main – Bobby Brutto, San Jose, Calif.
Feature –
1. Darryl Dawley
2. Tim Green, Des Moines
3. Roger Larson
4. Gary Scott
5. Randy Smith, Norwalk
6. Eddie Leavitt
7. Tom Corbin, Carrollton, Mo.
8. Mackie Heimbaugh, Des Moines
9. Lloyd Beckman, Lincoln, Neb.
10.Johnny Anderson, Sacramento, Calif.

1970 – Dake Drives Off with Top Prize

 

Darrell Dake 

Davenport, Iowa (June 30, 1970) – Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, one of the top drivers in the state, showed a crowd of 2,000 why he’s among the point leaders Tuesday night at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds with an easy victory in the late model feature.

Taking home the first-place money of $500, Dake had things pretty much his own way in the 30-lap feature on the half-mile oval, finishing with a substantial margin over Stan Stover of Reinbeck.

Both Dake and Stover are among the leading drivers at the Des Moines and Waterloo tracks where they normally participate and the pair made it strictly a two-man affair for the majority of Tuesday’s feature race.

Following across the finish line were Bob Helm of Rochester, Skip Kennedy of Dubuque, and Bill McDonough of Cedar Rapids.

Dake, who was fourth fastest in time trials, and then later captured a heat race, moved into first on the third lap after Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley and Stover had jockeyed for the lead on the first couple of laps.

Midway through the race, Dake, driving a 1969 Ford Torino, and Stover slowly began pulling away from the rest of the field with Stover encountering problems trying to gain on Dake with slower cars impeding his progress.

The real battle developed for third place with no less than five cars vying for that position. Finally, Helm and Kennedy, with Helm prevailing in the end by a couple of car lengths.

Despite having just 23 cars on hand, the time trials started late and, of course, the program itself was tardy getting started.

Davenport’s Ernie Speth had the fastest time in qualifying with a time of 28.53 seconds. In addition to Dake winning a heat, Helm and Weedon were also heat winners. Kennedy took the 10-lap semi-main, although he had to battle with Stover the entire race.


Results –


Time trials – Ernie Speth, Davenport
Heat #1- Bob Helm, Rochester
Heat #2 – Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
Heat #3 – Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
Semi-main – Skip Kennedy, Dubuque
Feature –
1. Darrell Dake
2. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
3. Bob Helm
4. Skip Kennedy
5. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
6. Al Terrell, Peoria, Ill.
7. Ron Weedon
8. Bud Darting, Wilton Junction
9. Terry Ryan, Davenport
10.John Engelken, Morrison, Ill.

1989 - Red Flag Sparks Moyer to Victory

Iowa native Billy Moyer Jr. won the first leg of the '89 Iowa Firecracker Jamboree at 34 Raceway in Burlington. - Todd Healy Photo

West Burlington, Iowa (June 29, 1989) - The track Billy Moyer could not conquer is no more.

Two of racing's best-known late model drivers - Moyer of Batesville, Ark., and Scott Bloomquist of Knoxville, Tenn. - locked up in a two-man duel at the head of the pack last night, and when the dust had cleared Moyer had his first triumph at 34 Raceway after second place finishes the last two years.

Moyer was also clutching the $4,000 winner's check. The 31-year-old is the defending World of Outlaws national champion and the 1986 and 1987 USAC national champ.

Bloomquist crossed under the checkered flag 10 car lengths behind in the World of Outlaws-sanctioned Iowa Firecracker Jamboree opener last night.

What was billed as “the biggest dirt track race ever to hit eastern Iowa” lived up to it reputation, as 46 drivers (most of them nationally recognized) were on band from 16 states — Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming,

It was really a two-man race that was decided by a red flag, however. Bloomquist, the 25-year-old winner of last year's World 100, ran away from the field during the first 39 laps of the 50-circuit event and appeared well on his way to victory.

Then disaster struck.

John Gill of Bedford, Ind. had just passed Moyer, for second place in turn two, with Bloomquist well ahead of those two. However, Paul Shafer of Portage, Ind., last control on the backstretch, and his car flipped and eventually struck the turn three wall. That brought out a red flag and a halt to the proceedings. But instead of sitting back and resting, Moyer and his crew immediately jumped into action and began changing gears,

Moyer was late getting back onto the track due to the flurry of activity at the rear of his car, but the difference was immediately noticeable. At the drop of the green flag for lap 40, he pulled right up on Bloomquist's tail and then passed on the following circuit,

The rest was academic.

Moyer now leads the World of Outlaw standings with 1,016 points while Bloomquist stands second with 946.

“A guy wasn't able to lay down at all,” Bloomquist said afterward. “There were a lot of good cars coming from the back.”

Gill finished a distant third. Rick Egersdorf of St. Paul, Minn., was fourth, Larry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., wound up fifth and Mitch Johnson of Fargo, N.D., rounded out the top six finishers.

West Burlington's Jay Johnson (14th place), Montrose's Steve Fraise (16th) and Wapello's Johnny Johnson (17th) were the only three local racers to qualify for the feature.

Defending champion Willy Kraft spun on the backstretch during the very first lap and retired to the pits with a 24th-place finish.

The next 38 laps belonged to Bloomquist, with only lapped traffic and caution flags on laps 21 and 26 slowing him down. Meanwhile, Kraft, Gill and Phillips were in hot pursuit. Phillips quickly fell from second to fourth on the 16th lap, however, and Gill began stalking the new runner-up, Moyer.

Gill finally caught up and made the pass on the fateful 40th lap, but Shafer's incident forced the field to revert to its previous standing.

The evening's only other serious accident involved Doug Wiggs of Amarillo, Texas, who demolished his car when he hit the wall in nearly the same spot as Shafer on lap 2 of the semi-feature.

Moyer, Phillips, Mitch Johnson, and Jack Boggs of Webbville, Ky., were heat race winners, while Ray Guss Jr. of Milan, Ill., won the semi.

Bloomquist turned in the quickest qualifying time - 15.666 seconds around the 3/8-mile dirt oval.


Results –


1. Billy Moyer Jr.
2. Scott Bloomquist
3. John Gill
4. Rick Egersdorf
5. Larry Phillips
6. Mitch Johnson
7. Jim Curry
8. Kevin Gundaker
9. Charlie Sentman
10.Rick Aukland

 

1968 – Eaker Wins; Vander Wal Wins Fourth Straight

 

Carl Vander Wal dominated the sportsman division in Des Moines first year of weekly racing. 

Des Moines, Iowa (June 29, 1968) – Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids won his third late model stock car feature of the season Saturday night, and Carl Vander Wal of Ames captured his fourth consecutive sportsman main event at the State Fairgrounds.

The 4,430 spectators were treated to a record for fewest restarts in one program – three.

Eaker, driving a 1967 Dodge, started in the eighth row and it took 16 laps of the 25-lap feature to surge into the lead.

Bill Moyer of Des Moines, piloting a 1968 Corvette, had taken the lead on the first lap and had almost a half-lap lead by the time Eaker had moved into second place on lap 9.

Eaker chipped away at Moyer’s margin and powered past him as the duo entered turns three and four. From there, Eaker extended his lead and finished approximately 12 car lengths ahead of Moyer. Ole Brua of Albert Lea, Minn., took third in a 1968 Ford Torino.

Vander Wal, who competes in a 1956 Chevrolet, also started on the eighth row. He took the top spot on lap 9 and would have won easily if it hadn’t been for a late-race accident on lap 13.

Mike Brooks of Knoxville and Larry Wickersham of Des Moines were involved in the accident which caused the restart. Neither driver was hurt in the incident.


Results –


Sportsman -

Heat #1 – Denny Felt, Waukee
Heat #2 – Carl Vander Wal, Ames
Semi-main – Lynn Komrie, Van Meter
Feature –
1. Carl Vander Wal
2. Fred Knapp, Des Moines
3. Denny Felt
4. Lee Pinckney, Des Moines
5. Lynn Komrie
6. Chuck Berg, Des Moines
7. Bill Todd, Indianola
8. Slim Doonan, Brooklyn
9. Roger McWilliams, Des Moines
10.John Kyle, Des Moines


Late Model –

Heat #1 – Bill Moyer, Des Moines
Heat #2 – Dick Nesteby, Dubuque
Semi-main – Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids
Feature –
1. Verlin Eaker
2. Bill Moyer
3. Ole Brua, Albert Lea, Minn.
4. Lem Blankenship, Keokuk
5. Dick Nesteby
6. John Schlemmer, Cedar Rapids
7. John Connolly, Delhi
8. Matt Moro, Des Moines
9. Roland Wilson, Bedford
10.Mert Williams, Rochester, Minn.

1969 – Johnson Shows ‘Em How at Rockford

 

Eric Johnson takes a victory lap after winning the feature at Rockford Speedway. – Vince Mayer Photo

Rockford, Ill. (June 28, 1969) – Erik Johnson of Mundelein missed only fast time in what could have been a clean sweep of events in his first appearance at Rockford Speedway in the 1969 season.

Johnson, normally a Chicagoland competitor, won the trophy dash, his heat, and the 30-lap late model feature in his Chevrolet late model stock car.

Rockford Speedway champion Joe Shear of South Beloit was making a fast drive to catch Johnson when his 1969 Chevelle blew a tire and sent him skidding into the infield. Shear had set fast time in qualifying and started 14th in the 16-car field. Johnson had started ninth.

In the trophy dash, Rich Kleich of Chicago, a builder of limousines, realized good efforts from his work when his ’68 Oldsmobile spun out of control and hit the concrete wall in front of the grandstand with such force that it broke out a section measuring four feet. The wall is 10 inches thick. Kleich was not injured, which was a surprise to everyone who witnessed the accident. But the bigger surprise was he continued on in the race and came bac to finish fourth in the feature.

The great weather brought out one of the best crowds of the season at Rockford. Everyone enjoyed the close competition.


Results –


Time trials – Joe Shear, South Beloit (15.25)
Trophy dash – Erik Johnson, Mundelein
Heat #1 – Bob Zimmerman, Alden
Heat #2 – Gary Wroan, Bloomington
Heat #3 – Erik Johnson
Semi-main – Russ Love, Loves Park
Feature –
1. Erik Johnson
2. Jim Birks, Rockford
3. Don Leach, Beloit, Wis.
4. Rich Kleich, Chicago
5. Larry O’Brien, Harvard
6. Ron Wishard, Rockford
7. Danny Bellard, Beloit, Wis.
8. Paul Heitz, Chicago
9. Red Gates, Harvard
10.Lloyd Swartout, Janesville, Wis.

1987 – Trickle First at Bristol in NASCAR/ARTGO 200

 

Dick Trickle (99) and Rich Bickle Jr. (45) battle it out during the Rainbo Bread 200 at Bristol International Raceway. Trickle would win the contest and Bickle would take runner-up honors. – Keith Vercauteren Collection

Bristol, Tenn. (June 27, 1987) – Dick Trickle became the first winner in the Winston NASCAR/ARTGO Challenge Cup Series Saturday night, by capturing the Rainbo Bread 200 at Bristol International Raceway.

For his efforts, Trickle took home $4,800 from the $38,500 purse which was posted for the inaugural event in the new series for competition in the ARTGO Challenge Series and the NASCAR All-American Challenge Series.

Trickle, representing ARTGO, was followed to the finish line by Rich Bickle Jr., Bobby Allison, Bobby Dotter, and David Green.

Ronnie Sanders toured the half-mile oval in 15.627 seconds during time trials to nail down the pole position in the event’s 19-car field, but it was fellow front row starter Dave Mader III pacing the first 13 laps.

When a broken axle slowed Mader on the 14th circuit, Sanders took the lead followed by Mitch Fowler, Don Jenkins, Green, and Bruce Battle. Mader’s problem forced him into a lengthy pit stop but he eventually returned and finished tenth, completing 136 circuits.

Allison, who earlier in the day was qualifying for the NASCAR Winston Cup race at Michigan, arrived at Bristol after time trials and was forced to start at the rear of the field. However, that didn’t hinder the Hueytown, Ala., pilot as he battled his way into the top-five by lap 28 and then quickly closed in on Sanders.

On lap 44, Allison made a bid for the lead, ducking to the inside of Sanders in turn two. The pair exchanged paint and Allison lost several positions while battling to keep his car from spinning as a result of the incident.

Trickle posed the next serious threat to Sanders and moved into the top spot on lap 63. Allison, who recovered quickly from his near spin, took second from Sanders a short time later and then wrested first place from Trickle on the 72nd revolution.

The frontrunners pitted en masse during a yellow flag period on lap 87 with Allison returning to the track in time to retain first place.

The event’s final caution proved to be Allison’s downfall, as the pacesetter cut a tire from debris on the track. When Allison pitted for fresh rubber, Trickle took over the top spot on lap 131.

After action resumed, Bickle pressured Trickle but could not muster enough power to take the lead.

Trickle averaged 82.921 miles per hour in winning the event, which was slowed by seven caution flags for 40 laps.


Results –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Rich Bickle Jr.
3. Bobby Allison
4. Bobby Dotter
5. David Green
6. A. Arnold
7. Tim Nooner
8. Bruce Battle
9. Keith Waid
10.Dave Mader III
11.Clay Brown
12.Stanley Smith
13.Ronnie Sanders
14.Tiger Parsley
15.Mitch Fowler

1968 - Wagner Spears Modified Win at Newton

Earl Wagner, driving the Bob Trostle-built, Bill Moyer-owned super modified, scored a clean sweep at Newton Speedway. – Jeffrey Wagner Collection

By Dennis Carter

Newton, Iowa (June 27, 1968) – For the first time, super modifieds took to Newton Speedway on Friday night.

Capturing the 20-lap main event was Earl Wagner of Pleasantville, who also won the first heat and the Australian Pursuit race.

Hank Smith of Mt. Ayr copped the five-car, 5-lap match race. Bill Hudson of Montezuma was a double winner, scoring firsts in the second heat and the trophy dash. Phil Reece of Des Moines on the third heat.

Joe Saldana of Lincoln, Neb., set fast time in qualifying, with a 17.27 second clocking.

The only mishap of the evening occurred on the 11th lap of the main event when Phil Reece and Hank Smith tangled in the third turn, sending Reece’s car rolling over. No one was injured in the mishap.


Results –

Time Trials – Joe Saldana
Trophy dash – Bill Hudson
Heat #1 – Earl Wagner
Heat #2 – Bill Hudson
Heat #3 – Phil Reece
Australian Pursuit – Earl Wagner
Match race – Hank Smith
Feature –
1. Earl Wagner
2. Joe Saldana
3. Ralph Blackett
4. Lonnie Jensen
5. Hank Smith
6. Bill Hudson

1986 – Crawford, Noble Win at Howard County Fair

 

Gary Crawford won the 25-lap late model feature at the Howard County Fair. He’s joined in victory lane by race promoter Jerry Blue. – Bill Haglund Photo

By Bill Haglund

Cresco, Iowa (June 26, 1986) – Gary Crawford of Independence and Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie, Minn., won feature races Thursday night at the Howard County Fair before a near-capacity crowd.

Both Crawford, in the late model division, and Noble, competing in the IMCA modified class, started on the front row of their respective features.

The 25-lap late model finale was halted by numerous spins and crashes, the most serious with 10 laps down. Several cars spun in turn two and Ron Dake of Lincoln, Neb., found the track blocked in front of him. Dake turned his car sideways in an attempt to stop, but slammed broadside into one of the stalled cars and flipped over the top of the mess. Dake’s air filter caught fire as the dazed driver sat stunned in his car.

Crew members from cars pitted nearest to turn two quickly raced to the scene and pulled Dake from the car and the fire was quickly extinguished.

After that and other restarts, Crawford and Rick Wendling of Hazelton maintained the top two spots in the feature and Crawford was able to hold off Wendling by three-car-lengths at the checkered. A fierce battle for third waged much of the race with Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls claiming that spot over Ed Sanger of Waterloo. Curt Martin of Independence was fifth.

Noble led the 20-lap IMCA modified feature from start to finish and won comfortably over Greg Kastli of Waterloo. Denny Anderson of Rochester, Minn., Dennis Fink of Fairbank, and John Light of Wadena rounded out the top five.

At the end, Noble’s engine was claimed by Light, and he sold for the $300 claiming price.


Results –


Late Model –

Heat #1 – Gary Crawford, Independence
Heat #2 – Rick Wendling, Hazelton
Feature –
1. Gary Crawford
2. Rick Wendling
3. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls
4. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
5. Curt Martin, Independence
6. Greg Hunter, Independence
7. Jim Moss, West Union
8. Greg Robinson, California, Mo.
9. Em Fretheim, Decorah
10.Wade Russell, Dunkerton


IMCA Modified –

Heat #1 – Dean Wagner, Waterloo
Heat #2 – Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
Feature –
1. Mark Noble
2. Greg Kastli, Waterloo
3. Denny Anderson, Rochester, Minn.
4. Dennis Fink, Fairbank
5. John Light, Wadena
6. Todd Jensen, Waterloo
7. Dean Wagner
8. Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
9. Ed Thomas, Waterloo
10.Larry Hall, Rochester, Minn.

1955 – Langhorne 100-miler to Jimmy Bryan

 

Winner Jimmy Bryan receives congratulations from runner-up Bob Sweikert after the 100-miler at Langhorne.

Langhorne, Penn. (June 26, 1955) — Jimmy Bryan, Phoenix, successfully defended his 100-mile national AAA racing car championship yesterday winning the event over the Langhorne Speedway in 62 minutes and 40.71 seconds, about 10 seconds ahead of Bob Sweikert, the Indianapolis 500 champion.

The event began last week but was halted because of rain and continued yesterday with Bryan ahead in the 44th lap.

The Phoenix driver held the lead all the way, crossing the finish line about 200 yards in front of Sweikert, who was about the same distance in front of Don Freeland, Englewood, Calif.

Mike Magill, Haddonfield, N.J., was fourth, followed by Pat O'Connor, midwestern champion from Anderson, Ind.; Ed Elisian, Oakland, Calif., Eddie Russo, Crown Point, Ind., and Al Herman, Allentown, Pa.

A crowd of some 30,000 watched the racers vie for approximately $10,000 in purse money. There were no accidents.


Results –


1. Jimmy Bryan
2. Bob Sweikert
3. Don Freeland
4. Mike Magill
5. Pat O’Conner
6. Ed Elisian
7. Eddie Russo
8. Al Herman
9. Rodger Ward
10.Duane Carter

1972 – Droud Finds Winning Different Experience

 

By Randy York

Eagle, Neb. (June 25, 1972) – Someone suggested Don Droud should drive straight home, run into his living room, plop down on the couch, and pinch himself.

That way he would know it was for real. He would have had time for it all to soak in.

“I might do that, I’m serious,” Droud said after he won his first super modified feature race ever Sunday night before 2,700 fans at Eagle Raceway.

“This is absolutely the biggest thrill in my life,” added the 33-year-old Droud. “I’ve not only never won a feature; I’ve never even come close.”

“I counted every lap,” said Droud, after leading from start to finish in the 30-lap A-main. “But after I got the checkered, I ran one more lap just to be sure.”

“I’m no Lloyd Beckman, Roger Rager, or Lonnie Jensen, I know that” added Droud. “I own my own car, and it cost a ton of money to run it. For me to win a feature against this type of competition is unreal.”

“I don’t know if it was prophetic or what,” reflected Droud. “But when I was packing up this afternoon to come out here, I told the boys I thought might win the feature. Of course, I thought it was wishful thinking.”

A $500 check made it see more real. And so did the congratulatory gestures from Dick Sutcliffe, and Beckman. But the most important reward was the adulation heaped on him by his kids – Cindy, 15, Don Jr., 10, and Rod, 7.

A multi-car pileup on the first turn of the first lap of the feature, eliminated four cars and caused thousands of dollars in damage.

Lincoln’s Lonnie Jenesen, bidding to become the first driver to win three straight features at Eagle since the late Kenny Gritz did in 1969, was one of those four drivers forced out of competition. The others were Larry Upton, Mike Cecak, and Dan Holliman.

Such prominent drivers as Sutcliffe, Ray Lee Goodwin, Del Schmidt, and Eddie Leavitt couldn’t even crack the top-four as Keith Hightshoe of Ashland, Wayne Holz of Lincoln, and Beckman finished 2-3-4 behind the winner.


Results –


Time trials – Lonnie Jensen, Lincoln (16.78)
Trophy dash – Lonnie Jensen
Heat #1 – Dan Holliman, Lincoln
Heat #2 – Lloyd Beckman, Lincoln
Heat #3 – Wayne Holz, Lincoln
Consolation – Ray Lee Goodwin, Kansas City
Match race – Lloyd Beckman
B-main – Don Maxwell, Lincoln
A-main –
1. Don Droud, Lincoln
2. Keith Hightshoe, Ashland
3. Wayne Holz
4. Lloyd Beckman
5. Gerald Bruggeman, Hoskins

1989 - Wolfgang Tops Knoxville 'Outlaws' Main

Doug Wolfgang 

By Bob Wilson

Knoxville, Iowa (June 24, 1989) – Doug Wolfgang came home to the track in which he claimed four Knoxville National titles and came away the victor in the World of Outlaws sprint car feature at the Marion County Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

Wolfgang, who had claimed the preliminary feature just twenty-four hours earlier, started in the second row and took the lead on the 10th lap and never relinquished it during the 25-lap affair. The race paid the Sioux Falls, S.D. native $8,000 and it marked his 48th career feature win at the half-mile.

Dave Blaney jumped to the immediate lead and built a comfortable margin when Jeff Swindell, who was running third, lost a right rear tire on lap 5. Swindell was relegated to the rear and finished 12th.

On the restart, Blaney was able to fend off Wolfgang but as the duo entered turn two and lapped traffic on lap 10, Wolfie was able to slip by on the outside for the lead. Blaney was able to keep pace with the leader but could never mount a threat as the laps ran out.

Current Knoxville points leader Danny Lasoki finished third and Jac Haudenschild made a late lap pass of Bobby Davis Jr., to claim fourth.

Qualifying heats went to Joe Gaerte, Rick Hood, Rocky Hodges, and Cris Eash. Don Kreitz Jr. ended a night of frustration when he captured the B-main.


Results –

1. Doug Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2. Dave Blaney, Cortland, Ohio
3. Danny Lasoski, Dover, Mo.
4. Jac Haudenschild, Millersburg, Ohio
5. Bobby Davis Jr., Memphis, Tenn.
6. Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr
7. Andy Hillenburg, Broken Arrow, Okla.
8. Jerry Richert Jr., Forest Lake, Minn.
9. Ricky Hood, Boonville, Ind.
10.Joe Gaerte, Rochester, Ind.

1978 – Victory in Illiana Feature First in ARCA For Dotter

Bob Dotter and Bill Hahnlein pose with the winner’s trophy and checkered flag after dotter drove Hahnlein’s Chevelle to victory at Illiana Motor Speedway. – Stan Kalwasinski Photo

Schererville, Ind. (June 24, 1978) – Coming on strong in the second half of the race, Bob Dotter of Chicago won Saturday night’s Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) national championship stock car feature at Illiana Motor Speedway. It was Dotter’s first career ARCA Victory.

Sharing the spotlight with Dotter was Ray Young of Dolton, Ill., who won the track’s weekly 25-lap late model event.

Dotter started on the pole position after setting fast time with a 22.18-second clocking in qualifications. Then, after leading the first four circuits, Dotter yielded the lead to Marvin Smith and eventually dropped back to fourth place.

Moose Myers pressured Smith throughout much of the first half of the contest but dropped from contention when he was forced to the pit area to change a tire. Despite the unscheduled pit stop, Myers still managed a seventh-place finish.

Dotter recovered from his slow start near the event’s midpoint and grabbed the lead for good, passing Smith on the 68th circuit.

Ed Hoffman of Niles, Ill., also got around Smith in the last portion of the contest and pressured Dotter all the way to the checkered flag but had to be content with runner-up honors.

Plagued by mechanical issues late in the feature, Sith finished third, nearly one lap behind the winner. Bob Schact took fourth, ahead of Delmar Clark and ARCA point leader Bill Kimmel.

Young edged Lee Schuler and Chuck Acres to capture the 25-lap weekly late model feature.


Results -


1. Bobby Dotter
2. Ed Hoffman
3. Marvin Smith
4. Bob Schact
5. Delmar Clark
6. Bill Kimmel
7. Moose Myers
8. Larry Berwanger
9. Ned Tracy
10.Bill Clemons
11.Bill Green
12.Gary Sharp
13.Bob Slawinski
14.Darrell Basham
15.Chuck Weick

1988 - Essary Triumphs at White City

 

Missouri’s Ken Essary won the 40-lap PROS/OMP late model feature at Midstate Raceway. – Greg Stanek Photo

White City, Ill. (June 23, 1988) – Ken Essary took the lead with only five laps to go and went on to win the 40-lap PROS/UMP late model feature at Midstate Raceway on Thursday night.

Essary, of Bolivar, Mo., collected $3,000 for his victory against a stellar field.

Fast qualifier Billy Moyer Jr. dominated the feature race until he left with a broken tie rod after hitting an infield tire marker. Essary took over the lead and never relinquished it.

Jack Boggs finished a close second while last month’s PRO/UMP late model feature winner, Larry Phillips, wound up third.

The feature had 20 starters. Five each came from three heats and the semi-main.


Results –

Heat #1 – Billy Moyer Jr.
Heat #2 – Ken Essary
Heat #3 – Larry Phillips
Semi-Main – John Provenzano
Feature -
1. Ken Essary
2. Jack Boggs
3. Larry Phillips
4. Mike Wallace
5. Kevin Gundaker

1979 – Becker Cops Vinton Modified Main

 

Arlo Becker is joined in victory lane by his daughter Robin after winning the IMCA modified feature at Vinton Speedway. – Bill Haglund Photo

Vinton, Iowa (June 23, 1979) – Veteran Arlo Becker of Atkins won the International Motor Contest Association modified feature race Saturday night at Vinton Speedway.

Becker debuted his Gremlin-bodied modified and won a battle with Bernie Frieden of Norway in a Vega-bodied winged modified in the feature race.

Becker and Frieden fell out of contention in the heat race, Becker because of a flat tire, Frieden with no gas, as Ed Callan of Norway won the preliminary.

The roadrunner “400” feature was won by Dave Venenga of Grundy Center with fellow townsman LaVerne Hawn finishing second and Ron O’Brien of Cedar Rapids taking third.

Paul Sidebottom of Waterloo won the roadrunner “200” feature after also winning the first heat. Ron Fare of Cedar Rapids won the second heat and ran second to Sidebottom in the feature.

The roadrunner “200” event was red flagged at the start when Jim Jerome, a native of Bloomington, Minn., stationed with the U.S. Marines in Waterloo, was tapped from behind, got sideways, and was rammed by a car in the driver’s door. The impact knocked Jerome unconscious, and he was taken to an area hospital for observation. He would return to the track later with “a big bump on my head”.


Results –


IMCA Modified –

Heat – Ed Callan, Norway
Feature –
1. Arlo Becker Atkins
2. Bernie Frieden, Norway
3. Steve Krug, Vinton
4. Bill Haglund, Vinton
5. Mike Palmer, Waterloo


Roadrunner 200 –

Heat #1 – Paul Sidebottom, Waterloo
Heat #2 – Ron Fare, Cedar Rapids
Feature –
1. Paul Sidebottom
2. Ron Fare
3. Bill Tharp, Garrison
4. Darwin Foster, Waterloo
5. Cliff Tharp, Vinton


Roadrunner 400 –

Heat #1 – Ron O’Brien, Cedar Rapids
Heat #2 – LaVerne Hawn, Grundy Center
Feature –
1. Dave Venenga, Grundy Center
2. LaVerne Hawn
3. Bob Rider, Vinton
4. Steve Hendryx, Mt. Auburn
5. Mike Palmer, Waterloo