Bruce Walkup
By Bob Speedy
Rossburg, Ohio (July 13, 1974) — Bruce Walkup of St. Paul, Ind., held off a late race charge by Duane “Pancho” Carter to win the 40-lap feature tor USAC sprint cars here Saturday night on the Eldora 7/16-mile dirt oval.
Walkup, driving the Siebert Olds Sprinter, took home $2,073 from the $11,018 purse swelled by an overflow crowd while George Snider of Bakersfield, Calif., took second place money of $1,523 after Carter hit the wall and broke a wheel on lap 35.
At the drop of the green, Greg Leffler shot into the lead and managed to build up a small margin until the red flag flew on lap 8 when Jan Opperman spun coming out of turn two.
While everybody was watching Opperman, young Tommy Astone hit the wall in turn one and flipped cleanly over the guard rail landing about 50 yards away from the track in the Bob Jones Special. Astone was unhurt in the wild ride and Opperman was able to continue.
On the restart Leffler led for only three more laps when he slowed, and Sheldon Kinser shot past him as did Walkup. Kinser spun on lap 14 giving the front spot to Walkup and setting the stage for the sensational Carter who had worked the Dobbins sprinter into second after starting 17th in the 20-car field.
Carter and Walkup ran side-by-side and nose-to-tail until lap 35 when Carter momentarily lost control and crashed almost head on into the fourth turn guard rail breaking his right front wheel and ending the fantastic racing for the night.
Chuck Gurney look third with Leffler holding on for fourth spot followed by Rich Leavell, Jackie Howerton, Larry Cannon, Rollie Beale, Duane Carter and Jan Opperman.
Heat wins were recorded by Steve Chassey, Ponzini, Walkup and Rollie Beale. The semi-feature was taken by Tom Bigelow followed by Kinser, Leavell, and George Snider.
Fast time for the 30-car field was turned in by Sheldon Kinser with a clocking of 18.58 seconds in the Dave McIntire Special.
Results –
1. Bruce Walkup
2. George Snider
3. Chuck Gurney
4. Greg Leffler
5. Rich Leavell
6. Jackie Howerton
7. Larry Cannon
8. Rollie Beale
9. Duane Carter
10. Jan Opperman
11. Tom Bigelow
12. Sam Sessions
13. Gary Ponzini
14. Bill Puterbaugh
15. Sheldon Kinser
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