Ron Hutcherson
Eldon, Iowa (August 14, 1970) – Ron Hutcherson of Keokuk drove his 1970 Ford Torino to his first-ever International Motor Contest Association victory in the 25-lap late model stock car feature at the Wapello County Fair.
Hutcherson missed the first spot in the heat race after hitting the fence in the third turn of the first lap, causing a half-hour delay getting his new Ford off the wire and wood, and cleaning up the track area.
Ernie Derr of Keokuk, who finished second in the feature behind Hutcherson, had earlier set a new track record for one lap with a time of 27.10 seconds around the half-mile oval.
It was the first time that the IMCA late models had ever run on the Eldon oval, so every time there was a new record. Derr went on to win the trophy dash, beating out George Barton of Ankeny by a foot at the finish line and setting a new track record of 2 minutes and 28.93 seconds for five laps.
Fred Horn of Marion won the first heat, leading Derr and Mel Morris of West Liberty to the checkers. Keokuk’s Lem Blankenship brought his 1969 Plymouth home in the second heat by a wide margin over Bill Schwader of McCausland. Gordy’s time of 3 minutes and 48.61 seconds was a new record for an 8-lap heat.
Hutcherson won third heat with Vern Covert of Topeka, Kan., finishing second and Bill Stark of Des Moines third.
The 25-lap main event had to be stopped before one lap was completed when two cars, including Mel Morris, spun and knocked Fred Horn out of competition and tearing a hole in the side of Morris’ 1969 Charger.
The victory by Hutcherson kept the young charger in third place in the point standings behind the defending IMCA champion Derr and second-place Horn.
Results -
Fast Time – Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa (27.10)
Heat #1 – Fred Horn, Marion, Iowa
Heat #2 – Gordon Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa
Heat #3 – Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
Trophy dash – Ernie Derr
Semi-main – George Barton, Ankeny, Iowa
Feature –
1. Ron Hutcherson
2. Ernie Derr
3. Gordon Blankenship
4. Bill Schwader, McCausland, Iowa
5. Mel Morris, West Liberty, Iowa
6. Jerre Wichman, Kansas City
7. Bill Stark, Des Moines
8. Verne Covert, Topeka, Kan.
9. Thurman Lovejoy, Kansas City
10.Bob McCall, Ottumwa, Iowa
No comments:
Post a Comment