1981- Mid-Continent Crown to Martin

 

Bill Martin Council Bluffs, Iowa, won the ninth annual Late Model Nationals at Mid-Continent Raceways. Congratulating Martin on his victory is B-main winner Gary Tigges of Durango, Iowa. – John Vass Photo

Doniphan, Neb. (August 9, 1981) – Bill Martin of Council Bluffs, Iowa, won the ninth annual Late Model Nationals on Sunday afternoon at Mid-Continent Raceway. The vent had been washed out Saturday.

Martin diced with Leon Plank of Eau Claire, Wis., for much of the contest and took the lead on the 49th of the 50-lap championship feature.

Finishing third was Dave Chase of Council Bluffs, Iowa, while Joe Kosiski of Omaha was fourth and Ken Walton of Viola, Iowa, took fifth.

Martin won $6,000, Plank pocketed $3,000 and Chase took home $2,000.

Larry Philips of Springfield, Mo., who dominated the Race of Champions on Friday night, dropped an engine early on in the feature.

Gary Tigges of Durango, Iowa, won the B-main to earn a spot in the feature along with three others. Plank earned the pole position by winning the trophy dash, open to the eight heat winners – four each from Thursday and four more from Friday’s qualifying races.

Phillips was Thursday’s fastest qualifier while Chase was Friday’s quickest.

Thursday heats were won by Phillips, Dhon Hauserman of Wichita, Kan., Plank, and Martin. Friday’s heat winners were Chase, Joe Kosiski, Rick Haas of Lincoln, and Dave Hoffman of Renfrew, Penn.

Bobby Allison of Hueytown, Ala., NASCAR Grand National driver, finished fourth in his heat and ran tenth in the Race of States on Friday.


Results –

1. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs, Iowa
2. Leon Plank, Eau Claire, Wis.
3. Dave Chase, Council Bluffs, Iowa
4. Joe Kosiski, Omaha
5. Ken Walton, Viola, Iowa
6. Dhon Hauserman, Wichita, Kan.
7. Craig Spetman, Omaha
8. Dave Hoffman, Renfrew, Penn.
9. Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
10.Bill Beckman, Lisbon, Iowa
11.Steve Kosiski, Omaha
12.Les Siebert, York
13.Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
14.Jay Stearns, Grand Island, Neb.
15.Lyle Roucka, Fremont
16.Gary Tigges, Durango, Iowa
17.Johnny Johnson, Morning Sun, Iowa
18.Jim Jorgenson, Omaha
19.Al Humphrey, Giltner
20.Mel Sorenson, Elkhorn
21.Terry Holliman, Hamburg, Iowa
22.Curt Hogue, Ames, Iowa
23.Roger Thompson, Junction City, Kan.
24.Lance Matthees, Winona, Minn.