Norm
Nelson poses with his trophy after winning the 100-lap USAC late model stock
car race at Illiana Motor Speedway. – Wayne Bryant Omega Photo
Schererville, Ind. (July 4, 1965) – Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis., continued his drive for his second United States Auto Club late model stock car national championship by winning the 100-lap feature here on the half-mile paved banks of Illiana Speedway on Sunday afternoon.
The “Great Dane” was the complete master of the field. He set the fastest qualifying time, then tore into the lead at the start of the main event and won the race going away.
Nelson, who scored his 18th career USAC stock car win, never looked better. His 1965 Plymouth, tuned to razor sharp performance by Jerry Kulwicki and the Nelson crew, dusted off his competitors with relative ease.
Bobby Isaac, Catawba, S.C., winner of the 100-lap stock car race here on May 23 when he sailed past Nelson midway in the race, settled for runner-up honors. The talented southern star drove a 1964 Dodge prepared by Ray Nichels of Highland, Ind.
Third place went to Jim Hurtubise of North Tonawanda, N.Y., who was in a second 1965 Plymouth entered by Nelson. It was good to see Hurtubise finish the race up near the front. After recent mishaps, the third-place finish just might be the shot in the arm the likeable driver needs to come up with a maximum effort in the Milwaukee 200-miler next weekend.
Although he wasn’t there, Chrysler Corp.’s Ronnie Householder must have been all smiles when he heard of the clean sweep of the Plymouth and Dodge entries. The crowd was estimated at more than 8,000.
Nelson indicated after the race that while it was a fast race, his mount handled beautifully, and he set the pace pretty much as he wished. But he also remarked that Isaac would have to be ruled as a prime favorite in the big race at Milwaukee this Sunday.
Results –
1. Norm Nelson
2. Bobby Isaac
3. Jim Hurtubise
4. Don White
5. Sal Tovella
6. Billy Foster
7. Bob Chapman
8. Ted Hane
9. Elmer Musgrave
10.Dave Kruckenberg
11.Bay Darnell
12.Joe King
13.Bill Lutz
14.Mike Pangborn
15.Gary Bettenhausen
16.J.C. Klotz
17.Lou Burmeister
18.Mark Thomas
19.Bud McGauhey
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