Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 5, 1974) - Verlin Eaker slammed his 1972 Nova into the first turn, forcing three-abreast racing action on the first lap of the 25-lap late-model stock car feature Friday night at Hawkeye Downs.
It was a calculated move by the Cedar Rapids chauffeur before an estimated 7,500 All-Iowa fairgoers and it paid off handsomely. Eaker, who started the feature on the inside of the second row, continued on to set the pace the full distance.
“I was hoping I could stick down below and that the first row (Fred Horn and Ed Sanger) would go high,” Eaker said with a wry smile.
“That’s the nice thing about starting where I did - you can try something. But you’re almost afraid to try anything when you’re in the lead.”
Eaker stayed with the low groove for the most part and was chased by both Sanger and Curt Hansen. That was a battle, also, with the runner-up spot taking a switch on the 11th and 12th tours before Sanger settled down.
Sanger tried Eaker both high and low several times but couldn’t quite get the jo done and had to settle for second place by about five car lengths.
‘‘I don't think I could have won by staying high,” Eaker admitted. “I could run about anywhere, but the low side worked best for me.”
“I got a better bite on the inside coming out of the turns running about half throttle.”
Verlin, who posted his first feature triumph at the Downs since winning the Iowa Challenge Cup a month ago, also said he felt running the third heat (which he won) proved to be an advantage.
‘‘That gave me a good idea of what the track would be like in the feature,” he said.
Hansen, who captured last week’s Fair opener, took third, with Bill Zwanziger and Roger Dolan rounding out the top five.
Sanger and Horn also claimed heat victories. Horn’s win was the night’s thriller.
Fred and Hansen were in a wheel-to-wheel duel for the last three laps, with Zwanziger pushing the last two laps in the 10-lapper. It was; indeed, a blanket finish and the near-capacity crowd let its approval be known.
The semi went to Don Hoffman.
Results –
Heat #1 – Fred Horn, Marion
Heat #2 – Ed Sanger, Waterloo
Heat #3 – Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids
Semi-main – Don Hoffman, Des Moines
Feature –
1. Verlin Eaker
2. Ed Sanger
3. Curt Hansen, Dike
4. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
5. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
6. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
7. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
8. Fred Horn
9. Cal Swanson, Reinbeck
10.Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
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