Allen Crowe winner Ramo Stott is interviewed by announcer Bobby Baugh in
victory lane. – Terry Young Collection
By Hal Pilger
Springfield, Ill. (August 22, 1976) – Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa, utilized a lightning-fast pit stop to regain the lead on lap 66, then fought off a hard-charging Butch Hartman on Sunday afternoon to claim a six-second victory in the Allen Crowe Memorial 100-mile stock car race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Don White, another Keokuk driver, finished third in the United States Auto Club-sanctioned race after leading laps 62 through 65, and Springfield, Ohio’s Jack Bowsher was fourth.
Stott, who started in the third position in his full-sized Plymouth Volare, behind polesitter Bay Darnell and Harold Fair, inherited the lead on lap 26 after Darnell blew the engine in his Dodge. Stott held onto that lead until White edged past him on lap 62. But three laps later, Ken Simpson spun to bring out the yellow flag and many of the drivers used the slowdown to take their mandatory pit stop.
White, Stott, and Butch Hartman – all tightly bunched - were no exception. But Stott’s stop was so brief, many missed it, and the fast pit stop allowed him to hop back into the lead. Hartman emerged in second place with White third.
White fell back out of contention, but Hartman continued to challenge the leader, making his serious moves after the 90th circuit, when the two drivers were often only inches apart. But when Hartman, the South Zanesville, Ohio, veteran, attempted to overtake Stott by running high in the first turn of lap 95, he slid up into some loose dirt and had to slow down, allowing Stott to pull away.
There were no accidents to mar the race, which was the first Crowe Memorial victory for Stott. His winning time was 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds for an average speed of 87.891 miles per hour. His winning share of the $22,000 purse was expected to be $4,000.
Results –
1. Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Butch Hartman, South Zanesville, Ohio
3. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Jack Bowsher, Springfield, Ohio
5. Norm Nelson, Racine, Wis.
6. Sal Tovella, Addison
7. Dean Roper, Fair Grove, Mo.
8. Terry Ryan, Davenport, Iowa
9. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
10.Steve Drake, Bloomington
11.Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
12.Butch Garner, Decatur
13.Bob Brevak, Ashland, Wis.
14.Ken Simpson, Bedford, Ind.
15.Joe Booher, West Lafayette, Ind.
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