Sedalia, Mo. (August 28, 1976) - “Super” Joe Wallace doesn’t mind summer reruns — especially when they come in the form of back-to-back IMCA (International Motor Contest Association) late model stock car feature wins.
The 11-year veteran driver out of Kansas City returned to the Missouri State Fairgrounds at Sedalia on Saturday, fresh from an August 22 50-lap victory on the half-mile oval, to win the 100-lap event on the mile track.
But for Wallace, who took the lead in the 63rd lap, the race became reminiscent of the previous week when, two laps later, he again found Ferris Collier of Lampe, Mo., hugging his tailpipes and preparing for the opportunity to slip by and take the lead. It was Collier who had posted a strong second place finish behind Wallace on August 22.
Wallace was successful in holding off Collier for the entire race the previous week and it appeared he would do so again Saturday, until on the 90th lap, Wallace slid high into turn number two and was passed by Collier on the back straightaway.
The front-running Camaros dueled wheel to wheel through turns number three and four and down the grandstand straight-away, but it was Wallace edging out Collier as they went into the number one turn for the 91st time that afternoon, regaining a lead he would not again relinquish.
Wallace took the checkered victory flag nine laps later with Collier still glued to his rear bumper.
“The track was getting harder and slicker all the time,” Wallace said following the race, explaining the temporary lost lead. “The car hit a hump, the rear end of the car got up high, and Ferris (Collier) got by.”
Asked if he was confident he could regain the lead he had lost, Wallace said, “Oh no Ferris runs awfully strong I wasn't confident I could pass him until I did it.”
Mike Dibben of Kansas City, an early leader in the race, finished third in the grueling 100-miler that saw only 12 of the original 30 starting cars finish the race Mike Derr, a veteran driver out of Keokuk, Iowa, placed fourth, followed by Kansas City’s John Oswalt, fifth, and Eddie Gray of Jefferson City in the sixth spot.
An eight-car pileup in the first lap of the race was one of several accidents that resulted in injuries to three drivers.
Kansas City’s Ed Adkins and George Barton, Ankeny, Iowa, were treated and released at a local hospital, and Gary Truelove of Trimble, Mo., suffered a broken nose and was admitted to Bothwell Hospital in Sedalia for observation.
Results –
1. Joe Wallace, Kansas City
2. Ferris Collier, Lampe
3. Mike Dibben, Kansas City
4. Mike Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
5. John Oswalt, Kansas City
6. Eddie Gray, Jefferson City
7. Larry Ball, Springfield
8. Gary Jellison, Kansas City
9. Flea Atkins, Holts Summit
10.Bill Myers, Grand Island, Neb.
11.Kevin Gundaker, St. Louis
12.Vic Bentlage, Jefferson City
13.Jack Constable, Kansas City
14.Rick Kimberling, Slater
15.Jim Whisler, Kansas City
16.Bill Vaughn, Hartsburg
17.Vester Cates, Lawson
18.Steve Fraise, Montrose, Iowa
19.Ed Perry, Springfield
20.Roy McClellan, Riverside
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