1954 – Vukovich Grabs ‘500’ Gold and Glory

 

Bill Vukovich is greeted in victory lane after winning his second Indianapolis 500.

Indianapolis, Ind. (May 31, 1954) – Without taking any credit from a great driver in Bill Vukovich’s second straight 500-mile victory on Monday, the cold statistics show that his pit crew deserves a big chunk of the cash when the purse is distributed later.

Jack McGrath, who holds the Indianapolis Motor Speedway qualifying record, set out to run off from the field, much like Vukovich did last year, screaming around the 2.5-mile track at over 140 miles per hour.

But Vukovich won and McGrath finished third behind hard-driving Jimmy Bryan.

Vukovich, of Fresno, Calif., finished a minute ahead of Bryan at the checkered and almost a minute and a half ahead of McGrath.

Vukovich had made two pit stops for fuel and tires and his crew got him back on the track with a total loss of 1 minute and 42 seconds. Bryan had to make three pit stops which totaled 2 minutes and 4 seconds. McGrath stopped three times for a total of 3 minutes and 39 seconds, including once when his engine stalled.

The short, dark, and untalkative Vukovich pushed his fuel injector special to a new record of 130.840 miles per hour.

McGrath, another Californian from Pasadena, had a phenomenal average speed of 139.869 miles per hour for the first 50 miles and Bryan was hardly a car length behind him the entire time. McGrath later reported he was forced to slow his pace because of magneto issues.

Vukovich got ahead of Bryan during one of the latter’s pit stops and stayed in front until the end.

Jimmy Daywalt, later involved in a spectacular accident, led eight laps; McGrath 53; Bryan 45; Sam Hanks of Burbank, Calif., one; and Art Cross of LaPorte, Ind., last year’s runner-up to Vukovich, two.

The fourth-place finisher was Troy Ruttman of Salem, Ind., and Mike Nazaruk of North Bellmore, N.Y., was fifth.

Jimmy Bryan drove the last 70 miles with broke shock absorbers and the vibration left him sick and exhausted. Hovering near unconsciousness for about five minutes at the end, he finally summoned enough strength to quip.

“You know, this is harder than working for a living,” Bryan said afterwards.


Results –

1. Bill Vukovich
2. Jimmy Bryan
3. Jack McGrath
4. Troy Ruttman
5. Mike Nazaruk
6. Fred Agabashian
7. Don Freeland
8. Paul Russo
9. Larry Crockett
10.Cal Niday
11.Art Cross
12.Chuck Stevenson
13.Manny Ayulo
14.Bob Sweikert
15.Duane Carter
16.Ernie McCoy
17.Jimmy Reese
18.Ed Elisian
19.Frank Armi
20.Sam Hanks
21.Pat O’Conner
22.Rodger Ward
23.Gene Hartley
24.Johnny Thomson
25.Andy Linden
26.Jerry Hoyt
27.Jimmy Daywalt
28.Jim Rathmann
29.Tony Bettenhausen
30.Spider Webb
31.Len Duncan
32.Johnnie Parson
33.Bill Homeier

The iconic photo of an exhausted Bill Vukovich sitting on the work bench of his garage after his 500-mile victory.

1971 – Derr Tops Topeka IMCA

 

Ernie Derr is about to receive his “just desserts” from Kansas International Speed Queen Joyce Wurtz, after the Keokuk, Iowa, ace won the 50-lap IMCA stock car feature at the Mid-America Fairgrounds in Topeka. National Speedways’ Gene Van Winkle looks on with envy.

Topeka, Kan. (May 30, 1971) – Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, added still another feature victory to his long list, but in doing so he wasn’t the most popular man around the Mid-America Fairgrounds at the conclusion of the 50-lap IMCA stock car race on Sunday night.

He edged Topekan Gerry Harrison for the win, and the 5,000 fans on hand wanted to see their guy win.

It was still a good night for the six local drivers in the race, especially for Harrison and Galen Schaefer, making his first IMCA start. Schaefer would impress the big boys with a fourth-place finish in the main event.

Schaefer led the feature for three laps, he passed Derr in his heat, then finished third, and claimed the fifth fastest qualifying lap.

But it was Harrison who seemed likely to carry the day. He took the lead on the fourth lap of the feature, put a lot of daylight between his 1968 Mustang and the rest of the leaders, headed by Ron Hutcherson of Keokuk, Iowa.

All was well with Harrison until lap 28 when Roy McClellan of Kansas City lost control and hit the wall in turn four. McClellan was okay, but the caution permitted Derr and his 1969 Dodge to close the gap on Harrison.

The green came out on the 32nd lap, and Derr needed only three more turns of the track to take the lead for good. Harrison would settle for second, Hutcherson would take third, Schaefer grabbed fourth and Alan Miles of Steelville, Mo., rounded out the top five.


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Gerry Harrison, Topeka
3. Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Galen Schaefer, Topeka
5. Alan Miles, Steelville, Mo.
6. Dale Roper, Fair Grove, Mo.
7. Jim Still, Topeka, Kan.
8. Gary Martin, California, Mo.
9. Donnie Cooper, Sedalia, Mo.
10.Vern Mondry, Lake Elmo, Minn.
11.Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
12.Butch Hall, Russell, Minn.
13.Bill Schwader, McCausland, Iowa
14.Joe Wallace, Leavenworth
15.Jerry Minor, Dallas, Tex.
16.Thurman Lovejoy, Kansas City
17.Paul Skidmore, Topeka
18.Vernie Covert, Topeka
19.Bud Wallis, Gardner

1964 – Foyt Victor in Tragic 500

 

A.J. Foyt receives the winner’s kiss in victory lane after winning the tragedy-marred 1964 Indianapolis 500. Notice the newspaper the winner is holding with the headline announcing Foyt as the winner and both Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald perishing in the race.

Indianapolis, Ind. (May 30, 1964) – A.J. Foyt won the Indianapolis 500-mile race on Saturday that was marred by flaming tragedy and a raging controversy.

Veteran Eddie Sachs and rookie Dave MacDonald died in an inferno oof burning race cars and flying wheels on the main straightaway during the second lap.

The accident involved seven cars and caused the race to be halted for one hour and 45 minutes.

Sachs, one the most popular drivers in Speedway history, burned to death in his car. MacDonald died of flame inhalation a few hours later at Methodist Hospital. Bobby Unser and rookie Ronnie Duman also suffered minor burns in the crash.

Parnelli Jones, winner of the 1963 race, was taken to Methodist Hospital with burns on both his arms and legs after his car caught fire as he was leaving the pits on lap 55.

Sachs and MacDonald were both driving cars with ford engines mounted in the rear. The cars were using gasoline which is more combustible than the alcohol mixture most race cars use. Flames from the burning cars shot high into the air. The fire was so intense, fireman and safety crew exhausted their supply of hand extinguishers and fire trucks were called.

Immediately after the race, a demand that gasoline be barred from use in race cars. It’s certain that the 300,000 plus fans in attendance who watched the race would object to such a ruling.

It was a sad and dismal day for Ford-powered cars, which had seven cars in the field and had hoped to break the 14-year reign of the front-engine Offenhausers.

Only 12 cars finished the race. And just one of them was a Ford. That was the car that Rodger Ward drove to a second-place finish, more than a lap behind Foyt.

Foyt, the handsome 29-year-old Texan who many believe is the finest race car driver in the United States, gained his second “500” victory with a record speed of 147.350 miles per hour.

Foyt was never in trouble after he took his Sheraton-Thompson Special to the front on the 55th lap. He made two pit stops totaling 35.5 seconds.

Ward, who closed the gap several times during the race, was forced to stop five times. He lost all hope of winning a third “500” title with the fourth stop.

Although Foyt was running hard and among the leaders the entire way, he got to the front by process of attrition.

First, Bobby Marshman, turning laps at speeds exceeding 155 miles per hour, and running away from the field, tore out his car’s oil plug and retired from the race. Marshman was on the 39th lap when a flying piece of metal cut his brake lining. He slipped below the white line and the bottom of the car bumped the ground, tearing the plug and spilling oil.

Scotsman Jimmy Clark, who started on the pole position, then moved in front. Clark’s lead last nine laps before shredding a right rear tire. This started a vibration which ripped the universal joint in his Lotus Ford to pieces.

Then came a pulsating hub-to-hub duel between Foyt and Parnelli, which lasted until Parnelli pitted on lap 55.

Jones was using a mixture of alcohol with a small percentage of gasoline. He stepped on the accelerator just as his crew was replacing the fuel cap. A spark ignited and he moved away with fire shooting underneath his car. Jones steered to the south end of the pits and leaped from the car – just seconds before the car was completely engulfed in flames.

After that, Foyt pretty much had things his own way except for occasional forays from Ward.


Results –

1. A.J. Foyt
2. Rodger Ward
3. Lloyd Ruby
4. Johnny White
5. Johnny Boyd
6. Bud Tinglestad
7. Dick Rathmann
8. Bob Harkey
9. Bob Wente
10.Bobby Grim
11.Art Malone
12.Don Branson
13.Walt Hansgen
14.Jim Hurtubise
15.Len Sutton
16.Bill Cheesbourg
17.Dan Gurney
18.Troy Ruttman
19.Bob Veith
20.Jack Brabham
21.Jim McElreath
22.Bob Mathouser
23.Parnelli Jones
24.Jim Clark
25.Bobby Marshman
26.Eddie Johnson
27.Johnny Rutherford
28.Chuck Stevenson
29.Dave MacDonald
30.Eddie Sachs
31.Ronnie Duman
32.Bobby Unser
33.Norm Hall

Starter Pat Vidan waves the checkered flag for winner A.J. Foyt in the 1964 Indianapolis 500.

1952 – Holiday Traffic an Interlude for Stock Car Drivers

 

Kansas City, Mo. (May 30, 1952) – Ralph Dyer, Shreveport, La., won the 100-mile stock car race in 1 hour, 55 minutes, and 47.94 seconds.

Don White, Camp McCoy, Wis., edged out Bill Holland of St. Louis for second place. Bob Dugan, Tampa, Fla., was fourth, and Jimmy Clark, Fort Worth, Tex., was fifth.

Some Memorial Day weekend drivers had some harrowing experiences to report but the experiences will dim beside those of 22 drivers some 7,000 race fans watched speed around the half-mile dirt at Riverside Stadium on Friday night.

Those drivers got a sped-up version of Sunday driving at its worst in the100-mile stock car Friday afternoon at Topeka, fought heavy traffic getting there to here, and drove another 100-miler that night.

All of them, except Bill Holland, winner of the 1949 Indianapolis 500. Holland drove his regular racing car to victory Friday afternoon in the sprint car races at Belleville, Ill., then chartered a small plane from there to Municipal Airport here and drove a car to Riverside.

Corporal Don White, a 24-year-old native of Keokuk, Iowa, now in the Army at Camp McCoy for instance, got his 1950 Oldsmobile smashed up Friday afternoon on the 180th lap of the 200-lap race at Topeka. When he got out of the car, it had a smashed right fender, a drive shaft torn loose, and a universal joint broken.

“I got the fender pulled out, and the drive shaft and universal joint replaced over in Topeka,” explained White, who was there on a three-day pass. “That’s why I was a little late in getting here.”

Ralph Dyer, a member of the accident prevention bureau of the Shreveport police department, got stopped by the Kansas highway patrol for going too fast coming out of Topeka. He had just won the 100-miler there.

“They said I was going too fast with the trailer on the back with the gear in it,” Dyer said sheepishly. “I thought I was going at a moderate rate of speed, but I slowed down, anyway. I always work to promote public safety at all times on highways.”

Bill Harrison, a Topeka restaurant owner, placed third at Topeka in a 1949 Plymouth, then drove his wife and 12-year-old son over here to take part in the races on Friday night.

“I suppose he knows what he’s doing,” Mrs. Harrison said as she watched her husband. “This is one of the roughest stretches of driving he’s tried to do.”

Herschel Buchanan of Shreveport, La., the 1951 national stock car champion, smashed his 1952 Nash at Topeka and never finished the race.

Buchanan got his car in decent condition to drive it from Topeka to Riverside, got mechanics of the Erwin Davis Nash Motors to help him work on it, and was grinding away in the race at the end of 50 laps and still going.

Marvin Copple, the 23-year-old vice-president of Commonwealth Investments of Lincoln, Neb., was driving a 1952 Oldsmobile at Riverside. He had started for Topeka to participate in that race, but he broke a fuel pump about halfway between Lincoln and Topeka.

“I had a fuel pump brought out from Lincoln, got it repaired, and went on to Topeka but I didn’t get there until 4 o’clock,” Copple said.

As Holland said as he watched time trials, “It isn’t really racing when you do it like these guys have been doing today. It takes a lot out of you.”

They were rolling around in clouds of dust, though, to please the 7,000 customers and to get some kind of enjoyment for themselves. They were doing for fun things that most people consider the worst kind of driving hardship and mishaps.

1933 –Schrader Sets Record in Memorial Day Win at Frontier Park

 

Gus Schrader

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 30, 1933) – Newhall’s Gus Schrader, the king of Iowa drivers, won the lion's share of honors and set a new one lap record Tuesday in the annual Memorial Day auto races at Frontier Park.

Piloting his bright red racer at record speed, the Cedar Rapids driver circled the half-mile dirt oval in 27.39 seconds, breaking the old mark of 27.53, made last season by Johnny Gerber of Davenport.

Driving before the hometown crowd, Schrader came back to win the 15-mile feature event over Harold King of Indianapolis and Doc Shamebrook of Rockford, Ill.


Results -


Heat #1 – Gus Schrader, Newhall
Heat #2 – Frank Sands, Orr, Minn.
Heat #3 - Lew Irwin, St. Joseph, Mo.
Consolation – Swan Peterson, Peoria, Ill.
Feature –
1. Gus Schrader
2. Harold King, Indianapolis
3. Doc Shamebrook, Rockford, Ill.
4. Ray Herbert, Sioux City, Iowa
5. Frank Sands
6. Verne McCombs, Chicago
7. Tony Willum, Milwaukee
8. Floyd Larson, Kansas City
9. Tony Safranek, Austin, Minn.

1988 - Slinger Memorial 50 Win First for Brownell

 

Bob Brownell won the Slinger Memorial 50 late model feature at Slinger Speedway, his first win of the season. Making the trophy presentation is Beth Maaske and promoter Wayne Erickson. – Al Fortner Photo

Slinger, Wis. (May 29, 1988) – Bob Brownell won the Memorial 50-lap feature for his first late model victory of the season before a crowd of 6,300 which contributed to a record purse of $11,600 at Slinger Speedway on Sunday night.

Brownell started the event from the pole position but didn’t take the lead until he passed initial leader Jim Weber after the contest was three laps old.

Brownell quickly pulled out to a six-car-length lead advantage, and despite several cautions, was never in trouble.

The race was really happening behind him as Weber and Tony Strupp diced for second the first 20 laps before fast qualifier Rich Bickle Jr. joined in.

Bickle disposed of Strupp on lap 30 to take over third and then took second from Weber with six laps remaining but was unable to prevent Brownell from crossing the finish line first.

Al Schill finished third, after taking that spot from Weber on lap 47. Weber settled for fourth with Conrad Morgan recovering from an earlier spin to take fifth.

In other action, Jim Wagner won his first sportsman feature of the year.


Results –

1. Bob Brownell, Cary, Ill.
2. Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton
3. Al Schill, Franklin
4. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
5. Conrad Morgan, Dousman
6. Robbie Reiser, Allenton
7. Tony Strupp, West Bend
8. Jerry Wood, Sun Prairie
9. Joel Laufer, Hartford
10.Rich Somers, Stevens Point

1976- Beckman Gains Revenge in Fairgrounds Feature

Bill Beckman of Lisbon was a happy man after winning the 25-lap late model feature at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. – AMR Photo

Des Moines, Iowa (May 29, 1976) – Bill Beckman of Lisbon made his presence known Saturday night at the State Fairgrounds.

And he did it in the most conspicuous fashion, beating the man who defeated him in last week’s race.

Beckman wheeled his 1976 Chevy Nova to victory in the 25-lap late model feature before a crowd of 6,298. He started on the pole position and led the entire race.

In fact, Beckman and the next two top finishers, Dave Chase of Council Bluffs and Joe Merryfield of Des Moines, staged a race-long battle and finished 75 yards ahead of fourth-place finisher Karl Sanger of Waterloo.

Merryfield captured last week’s late model main event as Beckman finished second.

“I would’ve liked to have a little more breathing room,” said Beckman. “But I was pleased to win.”

“The track was in real good shape, and I was lucky to beat Chase to the first turn to grab the lead,” he added.

“Merryfield started on the pole last week and there was no catching him,” Beckman said. “I had some handling problems, and I felt lucky to even finish second.”

The victory, coupled with Beckman’s win in the first heat, was worth $610 and moved him from fourth to first in the late model point standings with 1,290 points. Chase is tied for second with Dave Bjorge of Austin, Minn., with 1,060 points.

While Joe Merryfield was experiencing problems, younger brother Rick captured the 15-lap sportsman feature. His victory let him forge ahead to the top of the sportsman point standings with 995 markers. Glenn Woodard of Des Moines, who had held the top position, dropped to second with his fourth place finish in the feature.


Results –


Heat #1 – Bill Beckman, Lisbon
Heat #2 – Dave Chase, Council Bluffs
Consolation – Don Hoffman, Des Moines
Feature –
1. Bill Beckman
2. Dave Chase
3. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
4. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
5. Ken Davidson, Indianola
6. Lefty Robinson, Des Moines
7. Rick Elliot, Mt. Ayr
8. Verlin Eaker
9. Harvey Patterson, Northland
10.Lee Pinckney, Des Moines
11.Steve Wise, Manly
12.Mike Frieden, Cedar Rapids
13.Chuck Smith, Waterloo
14.Bill Rice, Des Moines
15.Fred Knapp, Des Moines

1988 – Kosiski is Lakeside ‘Busch’ Winner

 

Joe Kosiski won the Busch All-Star Tour 50-lapper at Lakeside Speedway. - Jerry Adams Photo

By Jim Conaway

Kansas City, Kan. (May 28, 1988) – Omaha’s Joe Kosiski won a little more than a showdown in the 50-lap Winston/Busch All-Star Tour feature against Willy Kraft Saturday night at Lakeside Speedway.

Taking advantage of lapped traffic, Kosiski, the winner of the second qualifying 20-lapper on Friday, passed Kraft, the first 20-lap qualifying feature winner, on the 34th circuit, and edged the Lakefield, Minn., driver by a car length at the checkered to highlight the fifth annual Memorial Day classic.

The victory, worth $4,000, was Kosiski’s 43rd career victory at the half-mile dirt oval, and allowed him to move past Gene Claxton, who scored his 42nd career feature win here on May 13.

Kosiski was able to put his car in front of Kraft, who has attracted a lot of attention in the new World of Outlaws late model circuit, when a lapped car went low as the duo headed into turn one.

“I think I had an advantage over Willy with the lapped cars,” said Kosiski, the 1987 Winston Racing Series national champion, who also claimed the Lakeside points title as well that year.

Tom Heart of Wilton, Iowa, the polesitter, beat Johnny Johnson of Wapello, Iowa, to the first turn and held the early lead until Kraft passed him on the backstretch of lap 11. By lap 24, Kraft had opened up a six-car-length lead over Kosiski. Kosiski, however, used lapped traffic and smoother maneuvering to pull within bumper range of Krafft by the 30th circuit.

The 50-lap affair was conducted without a single interruption, as Hearst, Steve Kosiski, and Jeff Hinkemeyer rounded out the top-five.

Bobby Layne won the 15-lap NASCAR modified feature, keeping his 1988 record perfect on the Lakeside oval. Layne is now six of six and ranks third on the all-time wins list with 41 career victories.


Results –

1. Joe Kosiski, Omaha
2. Willy Kraft, Lakefield, Minn.
3. Tom Hearst, Wilton, Iowa
4. Steve Kosiski, Omaha
5. Jeff Hinkemeyer, St. Cloud, Minn.
6. Terry Phillips. Springfield, Mo.
7. Rick Beebe, Meriam
8. Johnny Johnson, Wapello, Iowa
9. Steve Fraise, Montrose, Iowa
10.Bill LaFollette, Kansas City
11.Terry Liebentritt, Omaha
12.Joe Cobb, Kansas City
13.Shelby McQuinn, Kansas City
14.Steve Adams, Topeka
15.Chuck Rankin, Kansas City

1961 – Foyt Wins IRP 30-Lapper

 

A.J. Foyt in perfect form at Indianapolis Raceway Park. This was when the Clermont, Indiana 5/8-mile was still dirt. Foyt would win the 30-lap USAC feature held two days before that year's 500, which A.J. would also win. - Robin Miller photo collection.

Clermont, Ind. (May 28, 1961) - A. J. Foyt of Houston, Tex. won a prelude Sunday to his big Memorial Day ride when he took the 30-lap feature race at Raceway Park.

Foyt’s victory came after a day of numerous spinouts and a flip by another 500-mile starter, Roger McCluskey of Tucson, Ariz., McCluskey's HOW Special bounced high into the air on the second lap of the first heat and finally landed upside down. But the freshman driver, who is in the 500 for the first time this year, walked away unhurt.

The only other driver in the Raceway program also scheduled to start Tuesday's Memorial Day Classic was Jim Hurtubise of Lennox, Cal. Hurtubise didn't drive, however, and his auto was piloted by Bob Cleberg, Tucson, Ariz., who finished third behind Chuck Hulse of Downey, Cal.

The yellow caution flag was out most of the feature event because of the numerous spinouts.

But of the 18 starters, 17 finished. Mickey Shaw of Cleveland, Ohio, grabbed fourth place followed by Elmer George, Indianapolis; Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.; Joe Barzda, New Brunswick, N. J., and Bob Wente of St. Louis.

Allen Crowe had one of the autos that spun along the 5/8-mile clay track but he came back to finish in ninth just ahead of Hal Rettberg, Colonie, N. Y. The Raceway Park track, part of a just completed $500,000 auto racing facility, will eventually be asphalt.

Russ Congdon, Puyallup, Wash., won a 10-lap consolation race.

Foyt's share of the $5,700 purse was $819. Hulse won $625; Cleberg took home $487.

The three heat winners were A.J. Shepherd of Gardenia, Calif., Foyt and Blundy. Because of the yellow flag, time was kept only in the second heat where Foyt toured the eight laps in 3 minutes and 59 seconds.


Results –


1. A.J. Foyt
2. Chuck Hulse
3. Bob Cleburg
4. Mickey Shaw
5. Elmer George
6. Jerry Blundy
7. Joe Barzda
8. Bob Wente
9. Allen Crowe
10.Hal Rettberg
11.Ronnie Duman
12.Red Renner
13.Rex Easton
14.Duke Hindahl
15.Bill Earl
16.Johnny White
17.Bud Sterrett
18.A.J. Shepherd

1989 - First ARTGO Victory for Campbell at Berlin

 

Fred Campbell smiles during post-race ceremonies following his first career ARTGO Challenge Series feature win at Berlin Raceway. – Mike Dunn Photo

Berlin, Mich. (May 27, 1989) – Fred Campbell took the lead on the 10th lap and then withstood seven caution periods to edge Bob Senneker to win the WMUS American Cancer Society Benefit 100 for ARTGO Challenge Series late models Saturday night at Berlin Raceway.

For Campbell, one of the top weekly drivers at the tricky 7/16-mile paved oval, it was his first-ever ARTGO victory. Cambell became the 36th different winner in the 15-year history of the touring series.

“The cautions came just right for me,” Campbell reported after the marathon event. After my tires cooled down, they came back really well each time.”

Scott Hansen won the heated battle for third over Terry Baldry. Steve Holzhausen, early leader Jim Weber, Steve Holzhausen, Dick Harrington, and Jack Landis were the top nine that finished the contest’s full 100 laps.

Two of the caution periods involved small engine compartment fires in the Landis and Holzhausen cars, when tire rubber on the track was thrown up on one their headers.

Local favorite Bruce VanderLaan never made it past hot laps as his car lost oil pressure and ARTGO point leader Joe Shear was sidelined in his heat race with major engine problems after timing second quickest in the 34-car field.

The race was completely restarted after fast qualifier Bryan Reffner, in his first trip to Berlin, spun on the first lap.

Gledius Frye paced the opening three laps before Weber took over. Campbell breezed into the lead on the 10th circuit and four laps later, Senneker took over the second spot. Local point leader Johnny Benson Jr became the first feature runner to be sidelined with mechanical trouble after just 17 laps.

With the field tightly bunched, the main event went 45 rounds before the first car was lapped. The most serious caution period came with only 17 laps to go when Jack Gritter blew a tire and skidded into the first turn wall.

The largest crowd of the young season watched the action snuggly wrapped in blankets for protection from the cool Memorial Day Weekend evening weather.


Results –


1. Fred Campbell, Battle Creek
2. Bob Senneker, Dorr
3. Scott Hansen, Green Bay, Wis.
4. Terry Baldry, Omro, Wis.
5. Steve Carlson, La Crosse, Wis.
6. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
7. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis.
8. Dick Harrington, Otsego
9. Jack Landis, Angola, Ind.
10.Dennis Berry, Flint
11.Tim Fedewa, Holt
12.Jeff Finley, Lansing
13.George Prziborowski, Apple Valley, Minn.
14.Tom Carlson, La Crosse, Wis.
15.Jack Gritter, Wyoming

1978 - First Late Model Win for Birkhofer

 

Dave Birkhofer scored the first-ever late model feature win of his career at West Liberty Raceway. – Dick Kleindolph Photo

By Ruth Smith

West Liberty, Iowa (May 27, 1978) – “Wild and wooly” is the only way to describe the action at West Liberty Raceway on Saturday night. The level of excitement from the stands mirrored the level of competition on the half-mile and it helped everyone forget the turbulent skies and potential threat for rain.

It was especially exciting for Dave Birkhofer of Muscatine who won a hard-fought late model event, marred with a number of accidents and restarts. For Birkhofer, it was his first career late model win in four years of racing in the division.

A multi-car pileup in the second turn of the first lap caused an original restart. On the third lap, after yet another restart, Birkhofer, who started in the third row, took command and never looked back.

For the last 10 laps, Birkhofer was briefly challenged by Roger Dolan of Lisbon and Jim Burbridge of Delhi but neither driver had anything for Birkhofer, and they finished 1-2-3 with less than a couple of car lengths separating the trio.

The first thrill of the evening came in the second heat of the sportsman division with a photo finish between Gail Brenner and Jess Erwin.

Late model heat winners were Mel Morris of West Liberty, Dolan, Burbridge, and Byron Buchele of Muscatine. Tom Hearst of Wilton won the semi.

In the sportsman class, the three-week domination of Mark Keltner came to an end when Ron Boyse of Kalona grabbed the feature win.

Sportsman heat winners Brenner, Boyse, and Dick Vitosh with Mike Haller taking the consolation.

Over 60 cars were in Saturday’s competition at West Liberty.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Dave Birkhofer
2. Roger Dolan
3. Jim Burbridge
4. Gary Webb
5. Dave Dodder
6. John Simenec
7. L.B. O’Brien
8. Butch Cassidy
9. Mel Morris
10.Tom Hearst


Sportsman –

1. Ron Boyse
2. Gail Brenner
3. Mark Keltner
4. Mike Klinkkammer
5. John Brumley
6. Charlie Brockert

1985 – Riddle Repeats at Little 500

 

Frank Riddle was all smiles in victory lane after winning his second consecutive Little 500.

Anderson, Ind. (May 26, 1985) – Frank Riddle did it again Saturday night in the 37th annual Little 500.

The 57-year-old Riddle won his second straight Little 500 sprint car race, leading the last 155 circuits of the 500-lap classic on the high-banked, quarter-mile asphalt oval.

Riddle, from Tampa, Fla., took the lead on lap 345 from Bob Frey and held it to the end. Frey, forced by fuel problems to pit late in the race, was a lap down with less than 50 laps to go. He picked up the first lap quickly and set out after Riddle but ran out of laps.

The victory was worth $10,500 to Riddle while Frey collected $5,000 for his runner-up finish. Third-place finisher Stan Butler took home $3,000.

Riddle set 1- and 4-lap records in qualifying on Friday. Once in the race, he ran away from the field t lead the first 174 laps. Frey, Butler and Bill Roynon traded the lead back and forth until lap 345, when Riddle took command for good.


Results –

1. Frank Riddle
2. Bob Frey
3. Stan Butler
4. Bill Roynon
5. Jeff Palms
6. Jimmy Alvis
7. Ron Koehler
8. Dave Durnwald
9. King Kramer
10.Robbie Smith
11.Jeff Nish
12.Ronnie Smith
13.Jeff Ball
14.Sport Allen
15.Mike Bore
16.Jimmy White
17.Troy House
18.Robert Smith
19.David Smith
20.Chuck Mynette

1987 – Smith Tops Winged Sprints at Eldon

 

Randy Smith won the special sprint car program at Eldon Raceway. Promoter Larry Kemp makes the trophy presentation. – Roger Goode Photo

Eldon, Iowa (May 25, 1987) – Randy Smith of Mt. Ayr made the second night of the open wheel spectacular just as impressive as Andy Hillenberg did the first night at Donnellson, Monday night at Eldon Raceway.

Smith emerged as the victor in the 20-lap feature after swapping the lead with Danny “The Dude” Lasoski several times.

Jeff Tuttle set fast time in qualifying for the second straight night. Heat race winners were Larry Ball Jr, Hillenberg, and Australia’s Jaymie Moyle, while smith won the trophy dash.


Results –

Time Trials – Jeff Tuttle, West Des Moines
Trophy Dash – Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr
Heat #1 – Larry Ball Jr., Des Moines
Heat #2 – Andy Hillenberg, Broken Arrow, Okla.
Heat #3 – Jayme Moyle, Bridgewater, Australia
Feature –
1. Randy Smith
2. Danny Lasoski, Dover, Mo.
3. Andy Hillenberg
4. Terry McCarl, Des Moines
5. Kenny Haynes, Bourbonnais, Ill.
6. T.J. Giddings, Kansas City
7. Bruce Drottz, Des Moines
8. Larry Ball Jr.
9. Jaymie Moyler
10.Jeff Tuttle
11.Jimmy Bell
12.Larry Webb, Des Moines
13.Greg Helms, Kansas City
14.Larry Sylvester, Blakesburg
15.Tom Whiting, Marion

1981 – Detjens Wins Pepsi 100 at Capital

 

Wausau's Larry Detjens swept the ARTGO Racing action at Capital Super Speedway. 

Oregon, Wis. (May 25, 1981) – Larry Detjens of Wausau won both 50-lap features during ARTGO Racing’s Pepsi 100 late model stock car race at Capital Super Speedway on Monday afternoon.

Detjens, driving a 1981 Camaro, took the lead from Joe Shear of South Beloit, Ill., on lap 37. Jim Sauter of Necedah finished second with Shear taking third.

It was Detjens and Shear battling again in the second 50-lapper with Detjens squeezing past Shear on lap 48 to take the win.

“I couldn’t wait any long,” Detjens said of his second victory. “He (Shear) found something to make him run faster in the second race. I had to take a chance, and it paid off.”

Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, the day’s second fastest qualifier, failed to finish the first feature, blowing an engine on lap 37. Trickle’s pit crew attempted to change engines for the second contest but was unable to make the starting field.

Tom Reffner of Rudolph also experienced engine woes on Monday. He was the first car out of the running in the first feature after leading several laps. Reffner came back to start the second feature but completed only three laps before retiring for good.

Detjens collected over $1,800 for his two wins.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Larry Detjens
2. Jim Sauter
3. Joe Shear
4. Mark Martin
5. Jim Pierson
6. Kevin Stepan
7. Pat Schauer
8. Dennis Vogel
9. Tom Jones
10.Mark Lamoreaux


Feature #2 –

1. Larry Detjens
2. Joe Shear
3. Mark Martin
4. Pat Schauer
5. John Knaus
6. Kevin Stepan
7. Jim Pierson
8. Tom Jones
9. Larry Schuler
10.Wayne Lensing

1987 – Boorse Breezes to Flag in Angell Park Midgets

 

Dan Boorse (second from right) is interviewed by announcer Harvey Konkel after winning the Old Style 50 at Angell Park Speedway. – Mike Dunn Photo

Sun Prairie, Wis. (May 24, 1987) – Dan Boorse breezed to victory in the 50-lap Badger Midget Auto Racing Association/USAC Midget Series feature Sunday night at Angell Park Speedway.

Dale Hurd led the first four circuits of the main event, only to yield the top spot to Robby Flock on the fifth lap. Two laps later, Kevin Olson took command.

Olson maintained the front-running position until the 22nd round when Boorse got his first taste of the top spot. Olson regained the lead on lap 20 but lost it back to Boorse for good on lap 37.

On the same circuit, Bob Schneider flipped several times in turn three forcing a caution. When the race resumed, Olson and Rich Vogler then tangled, forcing another delay.

After green flag racing returned, Boorse again took the lead and had an easy time of it for the remainder of the race as he took the checkered flag well in front of Flock. Vogler edged Olson at the finish for third while Davy Ray rounded out the top five.


Results –

1. Dan Boorse, Milwaukee
2. Robby Flock, City of Industry, Calif.
3. Rich Vogler, Indianapolis
4. Kevin Olson, Rockford, Ill.
5. Davy Ray, Davenport, Iowa
6. Terry Wente, St. Peters, Mo.
7. Don Carter Jr., Joliet, Ill.
8. Bill Kojis, Milwaukee
9. Dean Billings, West Allis
10.Marty Davis, Racine

Dan Boorse (1) and Kevin Olson (11) battle it out for the lead during the Old Style 50 midget feature at Angell Park. – Dave Olson Photo

1979 - Moyer Back-to-Back at Marshalltown

 

Billy Moyer Jr.

Marshalltown, Iowa (May 24 & 27, 1979) – Billy Moyer Jr. of Des Moines won late model features Friday and Monday at Marshalltown Speedway.

Moyer beat Glenn Woodard of Des Moines Friday night to score the victory and held off Ken Davidson of Indianola to grab the win on Monday.

In sportsman action, Larry DeFrance of Albion won Friday’s feature while Earl Pruitt of Marshalltown won Monday’s main.

Terry Crosser of Marshalltown won both fun class features.


Friday –


Late Model –

Heat #1 – Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
Heat #2 – Craig Jacobs, Des Moines
Semi-main – Dave Allison, Des Moines
Feature –
1. Billy Moyer Jr.
2. Glen Woodard, Des Moines
3. Leonard Woodard, Des Moines
4. Del McDowell, Ames
5. Jim Anderson, Des Moines
6. Dan Wallace, Des Moines
7. Dave Allison


Sportsman –

Heat #1 – Dave Jones, Des Moines
Heat #2 – Larry DeFrance, Albion
Australian Pursuit – Earl Pruitt, Marshalltown
Feature –
1. Larry DeFrance
2. Dave Jones
3. Darrell DeFrance, Marshalltown
4. Larry Opperman, Green Mountain
5. Earl Pruitt
6. Arvid Borchers, Marshalltown
7. Del McDowell
8. Barry Nuese, Marshalltown


Monday –


Late Model –

Heat #1 – Billy Moyer Jr.
Heat #2 – Dan Wallace
Semi-main – Wendell Folkerts, Albia
Australian Pursuit – Leonard Woodard
Feature –
1. Bill Moyer Jr.
2. Ken Davidson, Indianola
3. Glen Woodard
4. Dave Allison
5. Wendell Folkerts
6. Dan Wallace
7. Martin Bennett, Des Moines
8. Denny Grabenbauer, Marshalltown
9. Leonard Woodard
10.Jim Anderson


Sportsman –

Heat #1 – Arvid Borchers
Heat #2 – Dave Jones
Semi-main – Larry Opperman
Feature –
1. Earl Pruitt
2. Arvid Borchers
3. Darrell DeFrance
4. Dave Jones
5. Del McDowell
6. Larry DeFrance
7. Larry Opperman
8. Kevin Dennis, Des Moines

1969 – Stokke Captures Algona Season Opener

 

Del Stokke takes a victory lap after winning the season opener at Algona. 

By Sharon Hiscocks

Algona, Iowa (May 23, 1969) – Del Stokke of Ames won the A-main at Algona’s super stock season opener on Friday night.

The feature was a real heartbreaker for Don “Shiny” Hilbert of Algona as he had led throughout only to drop out on the last lap of the race with mechanical problems.

Gene Schattschneider of Algona, the defending track champion, was also forced out of the race with mechanical issues.

Darreld Bunkofske of Algona finished second to Stokke in the feature with Roy Jo Peltz of Humboldt taking third and Jon Hiscocks of Britt in fourth.

Larry Magee of Mason City won the B-main after Orie Shipley of Wesley, who led early on, had to pull out with car trouble. Steve Brody of Nevada was second followed by LaVern Lindgren of Ogden.

Don Hiscocks of Britt, brother of Jon, won the trophy and the honor of the first to win the newly established handicap race. Dennis Hovinga of Laurens, a newcomer to the Algona track, finished second.

The third heat was one of the most exciting races of the night. Before the green flag came out, Ron Schwartz of Boone and Dick Simpson of Irvington tangled and were scratched for the night.

Darreld Bunkofske of Algona took the lead with Schattschneider right on his tail. It was nip and tuck the entire way and on the white flag lap, “Schatzy” made his move and powered by Bunkofske coming out of the final set of turns to grab the win.

Butch Householder of Algona came from the rear of the pack to take the win in the second heat when early leader John Nesbitt of Laverne slid off of turn one. Householder took the win over Jon Hiscocks and Paul Messerly of Fort Dodge.

The trophy dash was another crowd pleaser that saw Shiny Hilbert take the win after a hard-fought battle with Schattschneider.


Results –


1. Del Stokke, Ames
2. Darreld Bunkofske, Algona
3. Roy Jo Peltz, Humboldt
4. Jon Hiscocks, Britt
5. Buggy Vincent, Nevada
6. Butch Householder, Algona

1984 – Al Sweeney Dead at 78

 

Al Sweeney (right) turns over the presidency of National Speedways to Gene Van Winkle of Lincoln, Neb. Starting in 1935, Sweeney promoted IMCA races throughout the Midwest and started the successful “Hawkeye Futurity” for sprint cars and the “Iowa 300” for the stock car division.

Tampa, Fla. (May 21, 1984) – Al Sweeney, 78, nationally-known as one of the top auto racing promoters from 1935 until the early 1970’s, died Monday of an apparent heart attack in Tampa.

Apparently, Sweeney was traveling from his home to a Tampa hospital when stricken. He was involved in a minor traffic accident, but he died before he could be taken to the hospital. Sweeney’s wife, Brunch, is hospitalized after suffering a stroke and he was on his way to visit her.

Sweeney resigned as president of National Speedways in 1972. He stayed on in an advisory role until he got out of auto racing altogether in 1976.

Sweeney was originally from Ottawa, Canada, but resided in Chicago for 50 years until moving to Tampa in 1959. Sweeney’s career began in the 1930’s as a boxing promoter but he soon followed in the footsteps of legendary racing promoter J. Alex Sloan, “The Grandaddy of Dirt Track Racing.”

Sweeney promoted many IMCA races throughout the Midwest. In Iowa, he also started the highly successful “Hawkeye Futurity” for sprint cars and the “Iowa International (Iowa 300)” for stock cars, annual mid-summer events at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. At one time, during the height of National Speedway’s involvement in promoting IMCA events, Sweeney, and Van Winkle, working with two separate teams, presented 125 races in 17 states and four Canadian provinces.

In addition to his automobile racing endeavors, Sweeney was past president of the Showman’s League of America, an organization in which he remained active until his death.

1956 - Burdick Tops Field in Cornbelt 200

 

All-Iowa Fair secretary Andy Hanson presents the Cornbelt trophy to Bob Burdick after he won the 200-lap feature at Hawkeye Downs. In the middle is promoter Frank Winkley. – Les Burianek Photo

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 20, 1956) – Bud Burdick, driving the last 20 laps with a bent wheel, captured the Corn Belt trophy and cash at Hawkeye Downs in the season’s first 200-lap late model stock car test.

A crowd estimated at 9,500 saw Burdick take the lead on the 130th lap, when Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids was forced into the pits, then rolled his Chevrolet to the final 70 laps to victory.

Dake, who led the from the 61st to the 130th lap, was one of the hard luck drivers in Sunday’s field. He rallied late and drew within 50 yards of Burdick in the closing laps, only to have his car forced into the pits again and wound up fourth in the final standings.

Defending International Motor Contest Association stock car champion Don White of Keokuk had his share of troubles. He grabbed the lead briefly in the early laps but was then forced to the sidelines when his fan broke through his radiator.

John Beauchamp of Harlan had the best qualifying time with a clocking of 29.99 seconds, but he lost the lead early to Sonny Morgan of Beaumont, Tex. Both had their share of car troubles, with Morgan finishing second and Beauchamp credited with fifth. Bob Burdick, brother of the winner, started last and finished an impressive third.

Beauchamp led the first two laps, then lost it to Morgan. Morgan the led the parade until lap 7 when White grabbed it briefly. Morgan took it back when White went to the sidelines. Dake and Morgan then dueled for the top spot until lap 61, when Morgan got jammed up in the first turn.

He plowed into a fence, losing the lead to Dake. He came out of the mishap with a 15-foot plank protruding from under his left front fender, and it took several crewmen to remove the board and get Morgan back on the track.

Dake then led the way until he pitted on the 130th lap and Burdick took over for good.


Results –


1. Bud Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
2. Sonny Morgan, Beaumont, Tex.
3. Bob Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
4. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
5. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan
6. Roxy Dancy, Shreveport, La.
7. Tubby Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
8. Frank Richards, Marion
9. Lee McClunk, What Cheer
10.Les Dykes, Davenport
11.Ted Zieman, Mason City
12.Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids
13.Bob Chauncy, Mason City
14.Burton Ramsey
15.Glen Strellner, Cedar Rapids

1967 - Droste Continues Mastery; Takes Monticello Opener

 

By Carol Krafka

Monticello, Iowa (May 19, 1967) – Airview Speedway began its season Friday night with Red Droste of Waterloo picking up the feature win and completing a clean sweep for the evening.

Droste won the first heat, A-semi, and the 20-lap feature. He was a quarter of a lap ahead in both the A-semi and feature when the checkers dropped. He easily outdistanced the field with Tom Hughes of Monticello and Cal Swanson of Reinbeck having the real duel as they fought for second place money.

Swanson picked up two checkered flags for the evening, winning the second heat and the B-semi.

Ed Sanger of Waterloo, driving his new blue GTO, won the third heat, finished second in the B-semi, and was fourth in the feature.

The novice feature was won by Fred Potter over Bob Lenstra and John Martin.


Results –


Heat #1 – Red Droste, Waterloo
Heat #2 – Cal Swanson, Reinbeck
Heat #3 – Ed Sanger, Waterloo
A-semi – Red Droste
B-semi – Cal Swanson
Feature –
1. Red Droste
2. Tom Hughes, Monticello
3. Cal Swanson
4. Ed Sanger
5. Larry Curley, Oxford Junction
6. Bob Hartman, Cedar Rapids
7. Curt Hansen, Dike
8. Dick Nesteby, Dubuque

1986 - Schedule Change Pays Off for Ziegler

 

John Ziegler won the Budweiser Spring Classic at Wisconsin International Raceway. Joining Ziegler in victory lane are Debbie Ashauer and Busch Beer representative Roger Brink. – Al Graf Photo

By Gary Vercauteren

Kaukauna, Wis. (May 18, 1986) – John Ziegler avoided a wild wreck on the25th circuit and went on to win the Budweiser Spring Classic 50-lap late model feature Sunday afternoon at Wisconsin International Raceway before a crowd of 4,614.

Ironically, Ziegler wasn’t scheduled to compete in Kaukauna.

“We were thinking about going to the ASA show in Kalamazoo (Mich.) but with all of the rain they were getting, we decided to come here instead,” he said.

It was the first win for Ziegler at WIR since 1981 Thursday night checkered flag and his first special event victory since 1975 when he won the overall title in the Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series.

Ziegler started off the afternoon by leading the 48-car field with a 20.134-second clocking in time trials.

Doug Herbst came off the front row to lead the opening round in the main event. Steve Arndt took over on the second lap and led until Tom Reffner pulled up on Arndt’s bumper and then wedged inside for the lead on lap 16. Bob Iverson shot past Arndt on lap 23 to take second.

The caution flew on lap 25 when Scott Hansen and Ziegler bumped while dicing for fifth position. Hansen’s car got sideways, and Terry Baldry went flying over the top of Hansen’s mount in the fourth turn. Baldry’s car turned on its side in mid-air and nearly flipped over.

Reffner’s seven-car-length lead was erased by the restart, and Iverson used the outer groove to take the lead from Reffner on lap 27.

Meanwhile, Ziegler continued his drive to the front. He went around Arndt for fourth position on lap 26 and passed Jim Weber for third on the 28th round. He motored past Reffner on lap 29 to move up to the runner-up spot.

Ziegler quickly closed up on Iverson and grabbed the lead on lap 32 along the front stretch. The veteran Madison driver opened up an eight-car-length margin over the final 18 circuits.

“You can never get too far ahead,” Ziegler commented. “I wasn’t really pushing hard.”

Iverson settled for second followed by Reffner, Jim Back, and Dave Watson.


Results –


1. John Ziegler, Madison
2. Bob Iverson, Escanaba, Mich.
3. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
4. Jim Back, Vesper
5. Dave Watson, Milton
6. Terry Baldry, Omro
7. Steve Arndt, Edgerton
8. Bill Oas, St. Paul, Minn.
9. Tom Musgrave, Half Day, Ill.
10.Perry Redeker, Wausau

1970 - 4,000 Watch Kosiski Win Sunset Opener

 

Bob Kosiski 

By Mark Woods

Omaha, Neb. (May 17, 1970) – Bob Kosiski of Omaha, starting from far back in the field, won the stock car feature Sunday evening at Sunset Speedway before a season opening crowd of 4,000.

The 36-year-old king of late model racing brought his 1969 Chevelle from its 15th starting position in the field of 16 to roar into the lead on the 17th circuit on the newly remodeled half-mile dirt oval.

Kosiski came on strong midway through the chase to take the lead from Rex Baller of Oakland, Iowa, and Don Christensen of Harlan, Iowa.

Jim Wyman of Fremont, driving a 1968 Ford Torino, was the sole survivor of a nose-to-tail battle among three cars (Christensen, Bud Burdick, and John Beamon) for second place.

As Kosiski zoomed to the checkered flag, most of the crowd gave their hero a deafening cheer. He collected $500 for the victory and 500 points to become the current point leader. Kosiski also won at Whitehead Speedway on Saturday night in Nebraska City.

Phil Reeves of Omaha finished in front of Darwin turner of Omaha in the B-main.

Going down to the wire, Wyman won the 6-lap trophy dash over Kosiski by a half-a-car-length. Heat winners were Wyman, Kosiski, and Neil Holling of Omaha.

Twenty-nine cars showed with many other drivers still working on their cars.

Bill Wrich of Kennard, the 1969 season champion, will have his ’69 Chevelle ready for Memorial Day Weekend. Dick Brosseau will have his ’69 Dodge Charger ready next Sunday night.

As for the new track improvements, everyone was impressed with the emphasis on safety.

“It’s almost like daylight,” Kosiski said, referring to the new lighting system installed.


Results –


Heat #1 – Jim Wyman, Fremont
Heat #2 – Bob Kosiski, Omaha
Heat #3 – Neil Holling, Omaha
Trophy dash – Jim Wyman
Speed dash – Rex Baller, Oakland, Iowa
B-main – Phil Reeves, Omaha
Feature –
1. Bob Kosiski
2. Jim Wyman
3. Don Christensen, Harlan, Iowa
4. Bud Burdick, Omaha
5. John Beaman, Omaha
6. Rex Baller
7. Paul Zdan, Omaha
8. Jack Golder, Hooper
9. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs, Iowa
10.Neil Holling

1979 – Hoffman, Stewart Win Oskaloosa Season Opener

 

Tony Stewart won the sportsman feature during the season opener at Southern Iowa Speedway. Congratulating Stewart on the win is Paul Van Zee and flagman Joe Ranse.

By Ida Mae Van Genderen

Oskaloosa, Iowa (May 16, 1979) – Don Hoffman and Tony Stewart captured season opening features Wednesday night at Southern Iowa Speedway.

Hoffman, of Des Moines, fresh from feature wins in Omaha and Kansas City last weekend, overtook early leader Ken Walton of Cedar Rapids and rushed on to victory. There was about six seconds separating the two drivers at the checkers. Picking up third and fourth were Joe Merryfield of Des Moines and Dick Schiltz of Waterloo.

Heat wins went to Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Walton, and Merryfield. Hoffman won the Australian Pursuit and Steve Keppler of Marion was the consolation winner.

Stewart, of Washington, led the full distance in the sportsman feature. Stewart, fresh from a feature win at Eldon last Saturday, also won his heat race.

Chasing the winner were Ron Pallister of Wapello, Jim Anderson of Des Moines, and Steve Shannon of Norwalk.

Making his first appearance there, Bruce Hanford of Davenport won the sportsman consolation.


Results -


Late Model –

Heat #1 – Ed Sanger, Waterloo
Heat #2 – Ken Walton, Cedar Rapids
Heat #3 – Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
Australian Pursuit – Don Hoffman, Des Moines
Consolation – Steve Keppler, Marion
Feature –
1. Don Hoffman
2. Ken Walton
3. Joe Merryfield
4. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo
5. Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo
6. Curt Hansen, Dike
7. Steve Keppler
8. Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids
9. Bill Rice, Des Moines
10.Ed Sanger


Sportsman –

Heat #1 – Tony Stewart, Washington
Heat #2 - Ron Pallister, Wapello
Consolation – Bruce Hanford, Davenport
Feature –
1. Tony Stewart
2. Ron Pallister
3. Jim Anderson, Des Moines
4. Steve Shannon, Norwalk
5. Wendell Folkerts, Albia
6. Paul Carr, Ottumwa

1988 – Kraft Tops I-44 USAC Stox

 

Lebanon, Mo. (May 14, 1988) – Willy Kraft notched his third straight USAC late model feature win as he topped the 40-lap main event Saturday night at I-44 Speedway.

Kraft gained the lead on the initial lap, but Delbert Smith took over the second time around. Smith’s lead would be short-lived, however, as Kraft took over for good on lap 5.

Kraft outdistanced Ray Godsey and Smith to take the checkered flag. Ray Guss Jr. and Billy Moyer Jr. rounded out the top-five finishers.


Results –


Time Trials – Ken Essary (17.056)
Heat #1 – Ken Essary
Heat #2 -Billy Moyer Jr.
Heat #3 – Willy Kraft
Heat #4 – Johnny Stokes
Last Chance – Delbert Smith
Feature –
1. Willy Kraft
2. Ray Godsey
3. Delbert Smith
4. Ray Guss Jr.
5. Billy Moyer Jr.
6. Larry Phillips
7. Johnny Stokes
8. T.J. Pauschert
9. Terry Phillips
10.Ken Essary

1978 - Double Features to Hovinga

 

Promoter Don Cryder holds the checkered flag for Denny Hovinga after the Pocahontas driver won both late model features at the Hamilton County Speedway. - Margaret Gardner Photo

By Donna Post

Webster City, Iowa (May 13, 1978) – After being rained out the week before, Denny Hovinga of Pocahontas captured both late model features Saturday night at the Hamilton County Speedway.

Hovinga started on the outside of the second row during the first 20-lap feature and grabbed the lead from Roger Klingfus of Waterloo on lap 7 and held it to the finish.

In the second feature, Hovinga started on the pole and stayed there for the entire 25 laps. He found the groove on the track right away and did a superb job of staying there. He was threatened numerous times by Bob Hill of Randall, who finished second in both features.

Bob Shryock of Estherville, who was a consistent winner here last year, ran right up there with the leaders in the second feature only to suffer a flat tire. He changed the tire and moved back up into a contending position but lost a wheel and was done for the night.

There were two sportsman features as well. Wayne Larson of Ames won the first feature while Al Urhammer of Radcliffe took the win in the second feature.


Results –


Late Model –

Heat #1 – Denny Hovinga, Pocahontas
Heat #2 – Bob Hill, Randall
Heat #3 – Bob Shryock, Estherville
Trophy dash – Bob Shryock
Semi-main – Darrell Sells, Waverly
Feature #1 –
1. Denny Hovinga
2. Bob Hill, Randall
3. Roger Klingfus, Waterloo

Feature #2 –

1. Denny Hovinga
2. Bob Hill
3. Ted Zieman, Mason City


Sportsman –

Heat #1 – Al Urhammer, Radcliffe
Heat #2 – Wayne Larson, Ames
Trophy dash – Steve Coe, Ames
Semi-main – Bill Pruisman, Webster City
Feature #1 –
1. Wayne Larson
2. Mike Carlberg, Iowa Falls
3. Al Urhammer

Feature #2 –

1. Al Urhammer
2. Mike Carlberg
3. Howard Claude, Woolstock

1973 – Cale Yarborough Wins Music City 420

 

Music City 420 winner Cale Yarborough is interviewed by local sports anchor Paul Eells in victory lane. 

Nashville, Tenn. (May 12, 1973) – Steady Cale Yarborough lead nearly all the way in winning NASCAR’s Music City 420 for Grand National drivers Saturday night at Nashville’s Fairgrounds Speedway.

Yarborough, from Timmonsville, S.C., started on the pole and led all but one or two laps in his red and white Chevelle. The victory earned Yarborough $5,255 and 125 championship points.

The only other leader was Cecil Gordon, who assumed the lead briefly a third of the way through the race when Yarborough and Richard Petty, running second at the time, pitted simultaneously for gas and tires.

Gordon finished fourth and Petty, who went out on lap 400 when “something burned out up front,” finished 12th.

Benny Parsons, who needed to complete only the first lap to assure himself of the point title in the first leg of the Winston Cup Series, earned $10,000 for his first lap. He finished the race in second place driving a Chevrolet.

Buddy Baker survived a lost tire on lap 106 and charged back to place third.

Petty, who had won at Fairgrounds Speedways’ 5/8-mile track seven times previously, ran second much of the race after starting seventh.

Bobby Allison, who with Petty was one of the pre-race favorites, was in the pits often and spun out on lap 221. He would finish fifth.

Twenty-eight starters would divide the $43,000 purse. Eighteen cars were still on the track when Yarborough took the checkered.


Results –

1. Cale Yarborough
2. Benny Parson
3. Buddy Baker
4. Cecil Gordon
5. Bobby Allison
6. Coo Coo Marlin
7. Bobby Isaac
8. David Sisco
9. J.D. McDuffie
10.Vic Parsons
11.Dave Marcis
12.James Hylton
13.Richard Petty
14.Buddy Arrington
15.Dean Dalton
16.Rick Newsom
17.Elmo Langley
18.Jabe Thomas
19.Robert Brown
20.Frank Warren
21.Charlie Roberts
22.Walter Ballard
23.Richard Childress
24.Darrell Waltrip
25.Henley Grey
26.Alton Jones
27.Ed Negre
28.Bobby Poole

1968 - Lane Nips Niffenegger For Win at Burlington

Bob Lane, driving his famous “Schiltz Wagon” takes a victory lap after winning the semi-super modified feature at 34 Race Ways Park. – Roger Meier Photo

Burlington, Iowa (May 11, 1968) – Bob Lane, seeking revenge from having his track record broken earlier in the evening, edged Mike Niffenegger of Kalona to cop the semi-super modified feature at 34 Race Ways Park on Saturday night.

Despite leading start to finish, Lane never had the feature event cinched, with the “Flying Dutchman” nipping at the heels the entire way.

“I could feel him right behind me,” said the popular Lane, “all I could do was hold on.”

Niffenegger started the program by breaking the track record on the 3/8-mile dirt oval. Niffenegger, whose car has been troubled the past few weeks with drive line issues, putting his semi-super on the lightning-fast track and touring the course in 17.48 seconds. That surpassed the old mark of 17.57 seconds set by Lane in June of 1967.

Niffenegger went on to win his heat race, starting at the rear of the pack, moving to third by lap 5, then getting by Gene Williamson and Jim Ball to grab the victory. Lane easily won the second heat with Bob Ensminger winning the match race. Allen Tee won the consolation.

George Fielty scored his second straight feature win in the cadet division. Wayne Hummer, last year’s cadet champion, set the pace in the early going with Larry Reighard and Fielty in tow. Hummer would collide with Gary Miller on the backstretch of lap 8, losing a wheel and eliminating himself from competition.

Reighard would inherit the top spot but unfortunately, would only hold on to that spot for one lap when he spun off of turn four, giving Fielty the lead. Fielty expertly guided his car through lap traffic for the remainder of the race to earn a hard-fought win.


Results –


Semi-Super –

1. Bob Lane
2. Mike Niffenegger
3. Bob Ensminger
4. Duane Stoneking
5. Dick McClure

Cadet –

1. George Fielty
2. Bill Carder
3. Ken Reighard
4. Ralph Parish
5. Ed Haaman

1970 – World IMCA Marks Fall at Tri-County Speedway

Jerry Blundy

West Chester, Ohio (May 10, 1970) - Jerry Blundy came out on top after a fantastic dual with Dick Sutcliffe in the 40-lap International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) sprint car feature on a world record breaking Sunday night at Tri-County Speedway. Sutcliffe managed second place, and J.D. Leas ran a close third.

Blundy continues to lead the IMCA point standings.

The superfast half-mile banked dirt track saw IMCA records broken four times. Only a yellow flag in the feature allowed Jim McWhithey's 16-year-old 20-mile mark to remain on the books as new records were established for six laps, 12 laps and 10 laps twice.

Dick Sutcliffe grabbed the early lead from the outside front row slot in the inverted-six starting field. By the third lap, fast qualifier Blundy had maneuvered into second and set his sights on the catbird seat.

For the next 30 laps it was Sutcliffe and Blundy side to side and nose to tail with Leas running a few car lengths back in third. Blundy pulled even on the 13th lap, ran next to Sutcliffe through 18 and 19 and zoomed low to the edge into a slim lead in the third turn of the 25th circuit. But each time Sutcliffe repulsed the charge.

Hopes for a 40-lap mark were dashed when Mark Caldwell brushed the back chute wall and tore off a wheel, calling out the yellow flag. When the green flag reappeared, Blundy and Sutcliffe resumed her battle. Blundy deathblow through the third turn on the 33rd lap, then took command down the back chute of the 34th.

The outcome was decided one lap later when Sutcliffe nearly spun trying to recapture the lead and fell several car lengths off the pace. Leas almost pulled by him, but Sutcliffe straightened out in time to rescue the runner-up spot.

Don Hewitt slipped by Rick Ferkel on the 34th lap to gain fourth with Ferkel fifth.

Caldwell won the first heat with the next to producing world records. Eddie Leavitt snapped his own IMCA 10-lap mark for a semi-banked half-mile dirt track with a time of 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

Leavitt's record lasted only until the third heat when Dick Gaines lowered it by almost two seconds at 3 minutes and 28 seconds.

Another record fell in a six-lap match race as Sutcliffe covered the distance in 2 minutes and 4 seconds, which was almost 15 seconds faster than the mark set by Red Amick in 1963.

And a final mark fell in the 12-lap semi as Fred Linder went the distance in 4 minutes and 11 seconds as compared to the former record of 4 minutes and 48 seconds which was set by Jerry Richert 10 years ago.


Results –


1. Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.
2. Dick Sutcliffe, Kansas City
3. J.D. Leas, Winterville, Ohio
4. Don Hewitt, Troy
5. Rick Ferkel, Shillington, Penn.
6. Jay Woodside, Kansas City
7. Chuck Lynch, Springfield, Ill.
8. George Arbor, Huntington, W.Va.
9. Junior Smalley, Waverly
10.Sheldon Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.