1976 – Sanger is Eldon Champ

 

Ed Sanger won the season championship and the point title at Eldon Raceway. Flagman Cy Bohr is joined by trophy girls Candi Niner and Barb Cox. Sanger gives a little shove to promoter Ron Stockstell. - Ken Starkweather Photo

By Jeanne Niner

Eldon, Iowa (September 4, 1976) – The season championship and point title went to Ed Sanger Saturday night at Eldon Raceway. It was feature win #40 for the Waterloo hotshoe in what has been a phenomenal season.

In the sportsman division, Jerry Pilcher of Ottumwa won the season championship race, but Kenny Fenn of Washington clinched the point crown.

Sanger and Roger Dolan of Lisbon started side-by-side on the front row with Sanger shooting out front at the drop of the green flag and never looking back, leading all 20 laps.

Curt Hansen of Dike, Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo, and Fred Horn of Marion, all jockeyed back and forth challenging Dolan until the ninth lap when Dolan retired with a mechanical issue. This put Hansen in second place on the restart where he remained, with Zwanziger third and Horn fourth.

The sportsman finale turned into quite a fender bender. Kenny Fenn, driving Dan Beaver’s car because of mechanical trouble on his own, had the pole position but couldn’t keep the lead for one lap.

Jerry Pilcher forged in front and was able to remain there only to blow his motor on the backstretch of the final lap. He was far enough ahead of second place Gary Thomas to coast across the finish line and take the checkered flag.

In that race, Jim Dorothy of Keosauqua got cross-wise coming out of turn four and was hit by Rodney Wilcoxsen of Fairfield and Bill Pumphrey of Batavia. On lap 7, Marion Sherman of Tracy got a little too close to the wall, bounced off and into the path of Wilcoxsen who hit the front end, making it look like an accordion. Luckily, none of the drivers were hurt.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Ed Sanger
2. Curt Hansen
3. Bill Zwanziger
4. Fred Horn
5. Dan Dickey
6. Mike Frieden
7. Dick Lewis
8. Lem Blankenship
9. Pokey West
10.Dan Beaver


Sportsman –

1. Jerry Pilcher
2. Gary Thomas
3. Doug Schmuecker
4. Bernie Frieden
5. Denny Banks
6. Tom Essary
7. Paul Lanphier
8. Bill Pumphrey
9. Dick Allen
10.Kenny Fenn