Tom
Hearst won the late model feature at West Liberty Raceway season opener.
Co-promoter Norton Gegner (right) and starter Ed Otten join Hearst in victory
lane. – Dick Kleindolph Photo
West Liberty, Iowa (April 23, 1977) – Tom Hearst, Wilton, and Kenny Fenn, Washington, each scored a clean sweep in their respective divisions before a crowd of over 5,000 at the first point race of the season at the West Liberty Fairgrounds on Saturday night.
Both drivers won their heats and went on to claim the feature events, Hearst in late models and Fenn in the sportsman class.
On hand for the evening were 38 late models and 25 sportsman drivers, vying for a purse of $4,000 offered by Super Stocks, Inc.
The late model feature started with Mike Niffenegger, Kalona, in the pole position, with Hearst right beside him. Right after the drop of the green, Hearst nabbed the lead. He repeated his jump into the number one spot after a red flag required an original restart.
Hearst displayed extreme driving proficiency behind the wheel of his 1977 Camaro, never relinquishing the lead, despite powerful challenges from both Niffenegger and Red Dralle, Evansdale, who roared at his heels for the full 25 laps.
While this threesome battled at the head of the pack, another skirmish, just as hot, was going on right behind the lead trio. Last week’s winner, Duane Steffe, Moline, Ill., and fellow Quad Citian, Ron Weedon, wheeled side-by-side around the half-mile battling for fourth place.
Midway through the contest, Steffe finally took command, drawing cheers from the crowd, who were not only witnessing a racing struggle but the dedication of a racing crew.
The previous night in Davenport, Steffe rammed hard into the wall, badly damaging the front end of his car. Steffe’s crew worked feverishly through the night and all the next day to get his car back in shape for the race at West Liberty.
Niffenegger, the 1976-point champion, seemingly had handling issues with his new Camaro in the feature. The veteran went high several times, barley skimming the wall on two occasions and causing him to lose ground to Dralle.
Fenn repeated his sportsman feature win of last week, by outdueling Darrell Walker, Wapello, who held the pole position. Walker took the lead on the first lap and held for half the race. It took Fenn, who started in the third row, nine laps to overtake the rookie pilot. Earlier in the evening, Walker, in his first year of racing, earned his first trophy by winning the heat.
Results –
Late Model -
Heat #1 – Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
Heat #2 – Tom Hearst, Wilton
Heat #3 – John Connolly, Delhi
Heat #4 – Red Dralle, Evansdale
Semi-main – Jack Hall, Muscatine
Feature –
1. Tom Hearst
2. Red Dralle
3. Mike Niffenegger
4. Duane Steffe, Moline, Ill.
5. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
6. Jim Burbridge, Delhi
7. Gary Crawford, Independence
8. Ken Walton, Cedar Rapids
9. Bob Kinsella, Dubuque
10.Steve Keppler, Marion
Sportsman -
Heat #1 – Charley Brockert, Muscatine
Heat #2 – Darrell Walker, Wapello
Heat #3 – Kenny Fenn, Washington
Semi-main – Mike Elliot, Muscatine
Feature –
1. Kenny Fenn
2. Darrell Walker
3. Ron Pallister, Wapello
4. Ron Boyse, Wellman
5. Steve Becker, Atkins
6. Jerry Brumley, Iowa City
7. Walt Carney, West Branch
8. Johnny Johnson, Morning Sun
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