1969 – Wagner Conquers Kirksville

 

By Ida May Van Genderen

Kirksville, Mo. (May 2, 1969) – Earl Wagner came and conquered the opening super modified races held by the Northeast Missouri Racing Association in Kirksville on Friday.

The Pleasantville, Iowa, driver found the quarter-mile to his liking as he captured the third heat and the 20-lap feature. He also started the program off by setting fast time at 17.26 seconds.

He took starter Bob Findling’s green flag and jumped into the lead immediately. He would never relinquish the top spot although he was pressed by Jerry Blundy of Galesburg, Ill., and Tom Corbin of Carrollton in the early going.

Chasing those three drivers were Lonnie Jensen of Lincoln, Neb., and Gary “Boscoe” Roberts of Lancaster.

Don Walton of Quincy, Ill., provided some excitement when he rolled coming out of turn four midway through the feature. Don was uninjured but his car sustained heavy damage.

Jerry Blundy was the winner of the 5-lap trophy dash. Joe Saldana of Lincoln, Neb., won the first heat, passing local Junior Sweet on the last lap. Cliff Powell of Hannibal held off Johnny Babb of Ottumwa, Iowa, to win the second heat.

In the stock car division, Truman McDowell of Fort Madison, Iowa, was the big winner, grabbing the lead on lap 2 and holding it to the checkered.


Results –


1. Earl Wagner, Pleasantville, Iowa
2. Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.
3. Tom Corbin, Carrollton
4. Lonnie Jensen, Lincoln, Neb.
5. Boscoe Roberts, Lancaster
6. George Lasoski, Dover
7. Sonny Smyser, Glenwood
8. Johnny Babb, Ottumwa, Iowa
9. Junior Sweet, Kirksville
10.Joe Saldana, Lincoln, Neb.

1981 - 12,000 Watch Merryfield Win at Des Moines

 

Joe Merryfield is surrounded by a bevy of beauties after winning the late model season opener at the Iowa State Fair Speedway. Promoter Lefty Robinson presents the checkers. – Dean Malone Photo

Des Moines, Iowa (May 1, 1981) – Joe Merryfield of Des Moines moved from his 14th starting position to win the late model feature race Friday night at the Iowa State Fairgrounds as a whopping 12,000 race fans looked on.

The opening night special offered a $5,000 purse for the drivers and a free grandstand for the fans. The fans responded by filling the vast Iowa State Fair grandstand.

Merryfield finished ahead of Don Hoffman of Des Moines in the late model race, while Dennis Hovinga of Pocahontas wound up third and defending point champion Darrell Sells of Waverly was fourth.

Scott Sells, Darrell’s son, captured the 15-lap sportsman feature. Rocky Hodges, who was the busiest driver at the Fairgrounds on Friday, finished second and Steve Shannon of Norwalk was third.

Hodges also competed in the late model division, finishing fourth in the Australian Pursuit and 15th in the feature.

Hodges also nipped Mike Thomas of Des Moines in a special grudge match featuring a late model up against a sprint car. Hodges received a handicap lead at the start and held off Thomas in the 5-lap dash by just a whisker at the finish.

There were four leaders in the late model feature. Dave Farren of Des Moines led the first lap, Dave Bjorge of Austin, Minn., led laps 2-10, Hovinga then took over for laps 11-19 with Merryfield taking over for good on lap 20 and leading to the finish. His win earned him $750.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
2. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
3. Denny Hovinga, Pocahontas
4. Darrell Sells, Waverly
5. Dave Chase, Council Bluffs
6. Kenny Fenn, Washington
7. Dave Farren, Des Moines
8. Danny Wallace, Des Moines
9. Dan Nesteby, Waterloo
10.Curt Hansen, Dike
11.Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
12.Martin Bennett, Des Moines
13.Dave Bjorge, Austin, Minn.
14.Curt Hogue, Ames
15.Rocky Hodges, Des Moines