1955 – Fitzpatrick, Elgin Win Stock Car Championships

 

Paul Fitzpatrick displays a big smile to go along with his City of Rochester championship stock car trophy he won at the Olmstead County Free Fair.

By Dave Pennington

Rochester, Minn. (August 10, 1955) – A 1946 Hudson showed its wheels to the rest of the field at the Olmstead County Free Fair on Wednesday night as it carried Paul Fitzpatrick and Sue Elgin to the City of Rochester stock car titles before a crowd of 2,000.

The heap, owned by Fitzpatrick, was the class of the field of 57 cars, the largest in three years of racing here. Fitzpatrick steered to victory in both the feature and the City of Rochester championship while Miss Elgin took it over to cop the women’s city title.

There were thrills and spills galore as crackups and rollovers sent three drivers to the hospital for medical treatment. Al Babcock of Northfield, Rod Herman of St. Charles, and Johnny Pfaff of Rochester were all treated and released with minor cuts and bruises in the city championship.

Fitzpatrick, who ranked seventh in the point standings before the races, proved his merit in both the feature and the City of Rochester championship. He led from the sixth lap on in the feature to beat out Pfaff and Roy Smith of Rochester.

In the City of Rochester feature, Mert Williams of Rochester, the leading driver here this season, started on the pole position for the first time this season. He usually starts near the rear of the field because of his fast times in qualifying. Tonight, cars started in order of the point standings.

Unfortunately, Williams’ position didn’t help him in the title race as Fitzpatrick, driving smartly, passed Williams on the 17th lap and won rather easily with Williams settling for second, Bud Kutina of Rochester third and Roy Smith fourth.

Heat winners were Dick Harwick of Rochester, George Kramer of Rochester, Dale Schillinger of Hayfield, and Don Herrick of Rochester, Bill McDonough of Faribault won semi-main.

Kutina was the fastest in time trials, turning in an 18.7 second clocking.

Miss Elgin had no issues winning the women’s city title, holding the lead from start to finish. Pat Deyo of Rochester finished a distant second.


Results –


Heat #1 – Dick Harwick, Rochester
Heat #2 – George Kramer, Rochester
Heat #3 – Dale Schillinger, Hayfield
Heat #4 – Don Herrick Rochester
Semi – Bill McDonough, Faribault
Feature –
1. Paul Fitzpatrick, Rochester
2. John Pfaff, Rochester
3. Roy Smith, Chester
4. Ole Brua, Albert Lea

City Championship –
1. Paul Fitzpatrick
2. Mert Williams, Rochester
3. Bud Kutina, Rochester
4. Roy Smith

Dale Schillinger helps Sue Elgin remove her driving gear after she won the City of Rochester women’s stock car championship at the Olmstead County Free Fair.