Rocky
Hodges is all smiles after winning a thrilling feature at the fifth annual
Jackson Nationals. – Action Photos
Jackson, Minn. (August 20, 1983) – Rocky Hodges waited until just two laps from the end of the race, then shifted into high gear and put on a spectacular driving show to win the fifth annual Jackson Sprint Nationals at VFW Speedway on Saturday night.
Hodges trailed Danny Smith of Henderson, Tenn., for most of the 40-lap feature race, drawing alongside a couple of times, but seemingly unable to slip by the “outlaw” driver. Then, with a lap and a half left, Smith dove low to pass a slower car and Hodges put the pedal to the floor, went high around both cars entering the third turn, and coming out of turn four with a two-car-length lead, which he held to the checkered flag.
The victory was worth $7,500 to the Des Moines driver, who had been the excitement for the fans all week.
Early on in the feature, it seemed that Smith had the race all locked up as e kept pulling away from the rest of the field. However, a red flag flew when Ken Chapman flipped his sprinter, giving Hodges a chance to replace a broken spark plug and from then on, he was back in contention.
Twice he pulled alongside Smith only to fall back in line. Once, T.J. Giddings, who finished third, pulled ahead of Hodges for a moment, but could not make it stick.
Than came the last-lap movements, which put the near-capacity crowd on it’s feet as the checkered flag fell.
Following Hodges across the finish line were Danny Smith, Giddings, Randy Smith, and Doug Wolfgang.
Wolfgang had put on his own brand of heroics, starting in the back row after winning the B-main and then threading his way through the field for the fifth place finish.
But the race and the glory belonged to a jubilant Hodges, who thanked the Jackson crowd for their money and commented, “I came up here and did what I intended to do.”
In a rain-delayed B-main, Wolfgang had it all to himself although a good fight for second and right to advance to the main event continued until Linus Mack was able to pull ahead of Todd Mack just at the checkered flag.
Denny Houseman, making his first-ever appearance in an unlimited sprint car, won the C-main.
Results –
1. Rocky Hodges, Des Moines
2. Danny Smith, Hendersonville, Tenn.
3. T.J. Giddings, Kansas City
4. Randy Smith, Norwalk, Iowa
5. Doug Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, S.D.
6. Bob Hop, Mendota
7. Glenn Hughes Jr., Denver, Mo.
8. John Stevenson, St. Paul
9. Keith Frantsen, Windom
10.Linus Mack, East Grand Forks
11.Lou Kennedy, Winnipeg, Manitoba
12.Bob Geldner, St. Peter
13.Rich Brahmer, Wisner, Neb.
14.Marv DeWall, Jackson
15.Denny Houseman, Estherville, Iowa
16.Stacy Redmond, Mason City, Iowa
17.Gary Lusk, Jackson
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