Jack Harrison
Dayton, Ohio (September 26, 1954) – Jack Harrison, a brash 24-year-old from Indianapolis, stole the show and the money from the veterans of the Midwest Association for Race Cars (MARC) circuit Sunday at Dayton Speedway.
Harrison, taking permanent command of the second annual Dayton 500 for late model stock cars on the 230th lap, zoomed to a 12-lap triumph over his closest competitor, leaving little for the 12,000 spectators in attendance to cheer about.
Once the former thrill show driver grabbed the lead, only Jimmy Ward of Chicago had any chance to catch his flashily painted 1954 Ford. Instead, Ward found himself taking a long ride to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital where he was treated for cuts on his elbow and released.
On the 321st lap, Ward threw his right front wheel heading down the backstretch and came to a rest in the middle of the track. Tom Boyd of Millbury, Ohio, with nowhere to go, whacked into him. It was one of several accidents that Boyd was involved in during the afternoon.
It became obvious early in the race that the defending race winner of the race, Iggy Katona of Milan, Mich., could not make the grade and repeat. On the 105th lap he had a blowout but would have been okay had Lloyd Moore of Frewsburg, N.Y., not clobbered him. Moore, driving Fonty Flock’s car at the time, after his own car failed to make it around even one lap after tangling with Don Oldenburg of Highland, Ind.
Flock turned his car over to Moore on the 101st lap and he, in turn, gave thee car to Oldenburg on the 227th circuit. Oldenberg, the victim of the tough luck on the first lap, finished ninth.
Harrison and Ward had a real duel going until the time of the accident. After Katona went to the pits on the 40th lap, Ward took over the lead. He held it until he made his first pit stop for tires and fuel on the 280th lap. Harrison jumped into the lead and piled up five laps while Ward was out of the running. Then, as Ward moved back on the track, Harrison made his first pit stop. His crew worked a little faster and when he came back onto the track, he was still a full lap plus 18 seconds ahead of Ward. Ward was closing the gap when he went out for good.
Harry Ranier of Prestonsburg, Ky., then moved into the second spot but relinquished that to Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, on lap 340. By the time Harrison had completed 380 laps, Derr was a full 10 laps behind the leader.
Harrison collected $2,000 in prize money from a $10,000 purse plus another $600 in lap money. Ward collected the other $400 in lap money.
Results –
1. Jack Harrison, Indianapolis
2. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Red Duvall, Hammond, Ind.
4. Jim Romine, Youngstown
5. Bobby Hunter, Indianapolis
6. Briar Johnson, Richmond
7. June Osborne, Winchester, Ky.
8. Russ Hepier, Clarion, Penn.
9. Don Oldenberg, Highland, Ind.
10.Bucky Sager, Toledo
11.Ken Netzel, Chicago
12.Harry Ranier, Prestonsburg, Ky.
13.Bill Brown, Chicago
14.Bryant Tucker, Oak Park, Ill.
15.Phil Rouse, Columbus, Ind.
16.Mason Bright, Detroit
17.Tommy Thompson, Louisville, Ky.
18.Iggy Katona, Milan, Mich.
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