Bill
Zwanziger receives his trophy and congratulations from Judd Tunis after winning
the annual Coco-Cola Special for late models at Tunis Speedway. – G & J
Photo
Waterloo, Iowa (June 21, 1979) – Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo claimed the $1,000 prize in the third annual Coca-Cola Special on Thursday night at Tunis Speedway.
Actually, the 50-lap victory was worth more than $1,000 to the 25-year veteran as he earned $130 in lap money in heading the final 26 circuits in scoring the win.
Zwanziger started on the inside of the fourth row of the feature after finishing third in his heat race.
He was in third place by the end of the first lap, had second by lap 15, and was in first to stay on lap 24.
He wrestled the lead from another long-time racing veteran, Verlin Eaker of Mechanicsville, who had led from the start.
Eaker was forced to drop out on lap 47 with tire issues and Dan Nesteby of Waterloo took over his spot and finished second. Dick Schiltz of Waterloo was third with Council Bluffs’ Bill Martin taking fourth. Ed Sanger of Waterloo, driving the car he used in the 1978 season, rounded out the top-five.
Karl Sanger of Waterloo had earned the pole position with a decisive win in the first heat but dropped out on the first lap with mechanical difficulties.
Defending Coca-Cola Special champion Curt Hansen of Dike had bad luck on the draw for his heat, starting dead last. He had to qualify for the main event out of the consolation, where he finished second to Tom Bartholomew of Waterloo. Hansen, who won a 100-lapper in Des Moines on the night before, could only muster a ninth-place finish in the 50-lapper.
Dave Trower of New Hampton came out on top in the rough-and-tumble sportsman 25-lapper, outlasting Keith Braun of Cedar Falls.
Results –
Heat #1 – Karl Sanger, Waterloo
Heat #2 – Tom Fitzpatrick, Waterloo
Heat #3 – Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville
Consolation – Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo
Feature –
1. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
2. Dan Nesteby, Waterloo
3. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo
4. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs
5. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
6. Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
7. Leon Plank, Mondovi, Wis.
8. Tom Bartholomew
9. Curt Hansen, Dike
10.Rodney Combs, Cincinnati, Ohio
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