Tom Fitzpatrick receives congratulations from promoter Vern Weber after
winning the late model season opener at Independence. – Earl Schwartz Photo
By Jayne Chapman
Independence, Iowa (May 5, 1979) – Gilbertville’s Tom Fitzpatrick had himself a night like he hasn’t seen in quite some time as Independence Speedway opened his 15th season of racing on Saturday.
Claiming the first checkered flag of 1979 in the late model first heat, Fitzpatrick then accelerated into the lead at the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap feature and held on with no trouble until the checkered flag.
Independence drivers Glen Martin and Gary Crawford finished second and third, respectively. Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo and Rick Wendling of Hazelton rounded out the top-five.
Due to an early season shortage of sportsman and roadrunner competitors, the two classes were combined and Duane White of Vinton, a sportsman driver, won both his heat and the feature. Gary Kaune of Waterloo, a regular roadrunner competitor, won the second heat and finished second in the feature.
Results –
Late Model –
Heat #1 – Tom Fitzpatrick, Gilbertville
Heat #2 – Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
Heat #3 – Jim Burbridge, Delhi
Semi-main – Roger Bruggeman, Dubuque
Feature –
1. Tom Fitzpatrick
2. Glen Martin, Independence
3. Gary Crawford, Independence
4. Bill Zwanziger
5. Rick Wendling, Hazelton
Sportsman/Roadrunner –
Heat #1 – Duane White, Vinton
Heat #2 – Gary Kaune, Waterloo
Feature –
1. Duane White
2. Gary Kaune
3. Rodney Brandt, Hazelton
4. Jim Sands, Cedar Falls
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