Harold Mueller takes a victory lap after winning the late model
championship at the Russ Laursen Memorial Classic.
Superior, Wis. (September 12, 1971) – Barry Kettering of Richfield, Minn., streaked to victory in the modified feature and Harold Mueller of Eau Claire scored late model honors to highlight the first annual Russ Laursen Memorial Classic – Superior’s top stock car racing attraction – Sunday night at the Tri-State Fairgrounds.
It was Kettering’s second straight modified victory in as many years here and Mueller is a former champion of Superior’s Late Model Invitational.
The classic will enter into the books as a record-breaking event as over 3,000 race fans saw the modifieds and late models battle for trophies and big cash prizes.
Mrs. Russ Laursen was on hand to present first-place trophies in each class. Linda Backlund, Miss Speedway for 1971, presented the second-place trophies and Miss Jeanne Thompson, this year’s runner-up, made third-place trophy presentations.
The modified record of 21 seconds flat, held by Laursen since 1966, fell by the wayside as Wyman Wade timed his car in at 20.9 seconds only to be topped by Kettering a few minutes later at 20.4 seconds. John Stevenson of St. Paul, Minn., however, topped them all with a time of 20 seconds flat, which drew the pole position for the 25-lap feature.
John Jones and Johnny Johnson’s record of 22.1 seconds set this past August was eclipsed by Mueller in late model time trials when he steered his 1970 Monte Carlo around in 22 seconds flat. That gave Mueller the pole position for the 25-car, 35-lap feature.
The race took 40 minutes to complete with six yellow flags waved. Bud Havel, Roydon Williams, and Lou Rigey were just some of the drivers involved in accidents. Havel had a burned out wheel and his car caught on fire as he smacked head-on into a pole.
A burning wheel bearing also put an end to Phil Prusak’s bid for the second spot with only a few laps remaining. Chuck Stutzman and Ron Boss tangled on the airport turn and Williamson sailed over the turn to avoid hitting them.
Johnny Johnson had started the event by sailing into the pit area, narrowly avoiding hitting the announcer’s car when the cars were coming out of the fourth turn in hopes of receiving the green flag to start the feature.
Mueller would cross the finish line ahead of John Jones, Dick Breismeister, and Tom Nesbitt running very closely behind him.
In the 25-lap modified feature, Kettering sailed to victory in a smooth running race until the white flag lap. That’s when Steve Shwitzberg flipped on the airport turn and ended up on his side. He was not injured but quite upset with himself.
Results –
Late Model –
Heat #1 – Dick Breimeister, Rice Lake
Heat #2 – Harold Mueller, Eau Claire
Heat #3 – John Jones, Thunder Bay, Ont.
Heat #4 – Bud Havel, Rice Lake
Feature –
1. Harold Mueller
2. John Jones
3. Dick Breismeister
4. Tom Nesbitt, Thunder Bay, Ont.
5. Riece Stewart, Thunder Bay, Ont.
6. Dennis Osborne, Thunder Bay, Ont.
7. Loren Pagel, Eveleth
8. Les Buchanan, Superior
9. Jerry Amundson, Rice Lake
10.Steve Caron, Virginia
Modified –
Heat #1 – Don Mack, East Grand Forks, Minn.
Heat #2 – Dick Kelly, North St. Paul, Minn.
Feature -
1. Barry Kettering, Richfield, Minn.
2. John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn.
3. Dick Kelly
4. Lynn McIntosh, Thunder Bay, Ont.
5. Dennis Olson Braham, Minn.
6. Harry Johnson, Grand Rapids, Minn.
7. Ron Belland, St. Paul, Minn.
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