Rodger Ward is joined by his beautiful wife, Jo, after winning the
150-mile national championship late model stock car race at the Milwaukee Mile.
Milwaukee, Wis. (August 23, 1959) – Rodger Ward of Indianapolis continues to have the King Midas touch.
The 1959 Indianapolis 500 winner moved into the lead on the 124th lap and went on to victory in the 150-mile national championship late model stock car race at State Fair Park Speedway. Ward averaged 82.815 miles per hour to win the rain-riddled race that was witnessed by a crowd of 16,098.
Fred Lorenzen of Elmhurst, Ill., picked up the Perry Luster silver tray as the fast qualifier in his 1958 Ford with a time of 40.16 seconds (87.649 mph).
Four separate accidents saw the yellow caution lights flash for 27 miles while another nine miles were lost as cars circled the track in helping it dry out.
Iggy Katona spun his 1958 Ford in the south turn on the 58th mile and was hit by Bill Shoulders and Jack Holbrook. On the 75th mile, Joe Noeske of Freeport, Ill., spun off the track. On the 109th mile, Roy Czach of Rockford, Ill., spun and hit the north wall. On the 115th mile, Bill Schultz of Chicago blew his motor and hit the outer north turn wall. Czach was the only serious injury with possible broken ribs and a back injury. He was taken to an area hospital.
Lorenzen took the lead in the first turn and was followed closely by Ward, Don White, Nelson Stacy, and Norm Nelson. Lorenzen eased away from the rest of the field to a seven and a half second advantage by the 27th mile. On the 33rd mile, the rain came with a storm that had all the fury of the tropics. Lightning struck a transformer in the Fair park and about half the power for the activities was lost.
After getting things rolling again, race promoter Tom Marchese and his crew of officials saw more rain fall. This time the drivers elected to sit it out inside their cars. After another 10-minute delay, the cars were lined up and sent out for 27 minutes of track drying.
On the restart, Lorenzen once again shot into the lead with Ward in hot pursuit. Another battle was starting to brew between Nelson and Stacy for fourth place. In between was Don White, running alone in his 1959 Ford in the third spot. Nelson hounded Stacy but the “Great Dane’s” 1598 Mercury couldn’t stand the gaff, and his motor soon went up in smoke. That gave Stacy fourth place all to himself and he would move up another spot later when White’s motor expired as well.
Brothers Dick and Jim Rathmann both came up with good paces and finished in the top-10. Sal Tovella of Chicago came up with the best showing he had ever had in Milwaukee.
Tony Bettenhausen of Tinley Park, Ill., qualified a 1958 Mercury owned by John Miller of Waukegan, Ill. However, Bettenhausen could do no better than 24th and did not continue after the restart because of handling issues.
Results –
1. Rodger Ward
2. Fred Lorenzen
3. Nelson Stacy
4. Dick Rathmann
5. Don Oldenberg
6. Mike Klapak
7. Sal Tovella
8. Elmer Musgrave
9. Jim Rathmann
10.Bill Lutz
11.Bill Brown
12.Dave Hirschfield
13.Gordon Gorman
14.Ed Kozbiel
15.Jack Bowsher
16.Johnny Allen
17.John Rostek
18.Cliff Rowland
19.Darel Dieringer
20.Les Scott
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