Des Moines, Iowa (August 17, 1980) – Luck changed dramatically for Doug Wolfgang on Sunday night.
After week of mishaps which kept the Sioux Falls, S.D., sprint car driver from victory and from the main event of the Knoxville Nationals, Wolfgang finally made it to the winner’s circle.
He snared the lead on the 20th lap and dashed away to the win in the 30-lap feature on the half-mile dirt at the Iowa State Fair. National Speedways Contest Association sanctioned the program.
Earlier Sunday, Wolfgang had to withdraw from the C-feature at the fog-delayed Knoxville Nationals program with a broken axle.
“We thought we had that fixed before we left the pits at Knoxville (in the afternoon),” said Wolfgang. “The car was working really well tonight.”
Wolfgang had been leading the feature in Kansas City on Tuesday night when he had to retire due to oil pan problems. On his qualifying night at Knoxville, he broke the one-lap track record but then was sidelined with mechanical issues.
Finishing behind Wolfgang was Rick Ferkel of Findlay, Ohio, with Knoxville Nationals champion Steve Kinser of Bloomington taking third.
Kinser, at first, didn’t want to compete on Sunday night at Des Moines. But car owner Bob Trostle said he was going anyway, and Kinser changed his mind. Kinser collected $1,000 in addition to his $6,000 winnings from that afternoon in Knoxville.
“I might have done better but the brakes were gone, and my headers were caked with mud,” Kinser said. “I just rode it out.”
There was near tragedy for Kinser. His Knoxville Nationals championship ring, which had 30 diamonds, was dropped by a friend who was admiring the jewelry. The incident happened in the pit area at Des Moines. Tragedy was avoided, however, when his friend found the ring with the help of a flashlight.
Wolfgang, who collected $1,500 for the victory, had to borrow a wing from Trostle.
Danny Smith of Hendersonville, Tenn., was fourth and Gary Patterson of Carmichael, Calif., completed the top-five.
Although John Stevenson of St. Paul, Minn., and Tom Corbin of Carrollton, Mo., fared poorly, Stevenson nailed down the National Speedways Contest Association sprint car title. Stevenson had a 200-point lead over Corbin and only one race meet – Saturday on the mile track at the Missouri state Fair – remains. Stevenson finished 10th while Corbin was 13th.
Ken Potter of Kansas City, Ron Wiuff of St. Paul, Minn., Bob Geldner of St. Peter, Minn., and Randy Smith of Norwalk were het winners. Mikee Thomas of Des Moines won the B-main.
Results –
1. Doug Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2. Rick Ferkel, Findlay, Ohio
3. Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.
4. Danny Smith, Hendersonville, Tenn.
5. Gary Patterson, Carmichael, Calif.
6. Tim Green, Sacramento, Calif.
7. Jimmy Sills, Sacramento, Calif.
8. Bill Robison, Topeka, Kan.
9. Shane Carson, Oklahoma City, Okla.
10.John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn.
11.Randy Smith, Norwalk
12.Bob Geldner, St. Peter, Minn.
13.Tom Corbin, Carrollton, Mo.
14.Lenard McCarl, Des Moines
15.Mike Thomas, Des Moines
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