1974 - Independence Championship to Dralle

 

Red Dralle won the late model season championship at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds. Presenting the trophy is Kathy Peterson, a Coca-Cola representative, sponsor of the event. Flagman Roger Beck and co-promoter Vern Weber joins the winner in victory lane.

Independence, Iowa (September 7, 1974) – Red Dralle accomplished what he had in mind, Saturday, at the Independence Motor Speedway, as he nabbed the late model season championship.

As the green dropped, point leader Bill Barthelmes of Troy Mills accelerated into lead with 22 competitors hot on his trail. Dralle overtook Dan Nesteby of Waterloo for second place on lap 7, then set out for Barthelmes.

For the next 33 laps around the 3/8-mile, Barthelmes and Dralle raced bumper-to-bumper, side-by-side. An outstanding duel, Dralle sneaked under Barthelmes on the 40th lap and drove the final 10 laps to grab the win.

Barthelmes settled for runner-up honors. Gary Crawford of Independence snuck by Nesteby on the last lap to finish third. Tom Bartholomew of Waterloo finished fifth.

Keith Braun of Cedar Falls, after a few weeks absence due to no engine, came back with a rebuilt engine that won him the sportsman season championship. Bob Schulte of Delhi finished second, Jim Buhlman of Cedar Falls was third, John Weers of Readlyn took fourth, and Jim Stodola of Shellsburg rounded out the top-five.

Mike Krall of Waterloo led start to finish in the 15-lap roadrunner season championship feature.


Results –

Late Model –

1. Red Dralle, Evansdale
2. Bill Barthelmes, Troy Mills
3. Gary Crawford, Independence
4. Dan Nesteby, Waterloo
5. Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo
6. Glen Martin, Independence


Sportsman –

1. Keith Braun, Cedar Falls
2. Bob Schulte, Delhi
3. Jim Buhlman, Cedar Falls
4. John Weers, Readlyn
5. Jim Stodola, Shellsburg
6. Tim Swope, Waterloo