1978 - Shryock Repeats at Black Hills Championships

 

Bob Shryock

By Pat Seyler

Rapid City, S.D. (September 9, 1978) – Bob Shryock of Estherville, Iowa, continued his domination of the late model field at the National Championship Races at Black Hills Speedway. John Stevenson of St. Paul, Minn., notched his first win here in the sprint class during the running of the sixth annual event.

Shryock and Stevenson both picked up $1,500 for their respective wins as they claimed their share of the $20,000 total purse that was up for grabs during the three days of racing.

Shryock took the lead away from Clayton Peterson Jr. of Grand Island, Neb., early on and then led the rest of the 50-lap race.

But for the first time, Shryock’s strongest competition came from a local racer as Les Staedel of Rapid City came from the back row, after winning the consolation to even make the field, and was on Shryock’s bumper for the rest of the race. Although Staedel pulled alongside Shryock on several occasions, he could not get around the elusive driver.

Trailing these two drivers across the finish line were Lynn Franz of Sturgis, Dan Nesteby of Waterloo, Iowa, and Ted Zieman of Mason City, Iowa.

Bill Liebig of Rapid City started on the pole alongside Peterson but cut a tire on the first lap and was forced to pit to change tires. Down two laps, Liebig charged through the field, passing all but Stadel and Shryock before the checkered flag fell.

Shryock has now won the Black Hills National Championship four times in the last six years, along with a second-place finish and a fifth-place finish.

Steven had little trouble picking up the sprint car victory as he easily won his heat race then led start-to-finish in the 40-lap feature.

Some of his major competition went out early as Bill Mellenberndt crashed into the wall on the third lap then bounced into traffic, with several cars tangling but everyone staying on their wheels. Mellenberndt, Darl Ellis, and Mike Foley were all knocked out of the race.

Jack McCorkell of Redwood Falls, Minn., ran second for a while but midway through the race his motor let go and put him out of action.

Don Reiners of Sioux Falls finished second with Jack Tennyson and Sam Liebig, both of Rapid City, and Marv DeWall of Jackson, Minn., rounding out the top-five.


Results –


Late Model –

Heat #1 – Bill Liebig, Rapid City
Heat #2 – Clayton Peterson Jr., Grand Island, Neb.
Heat #3 – Dennis Selting, Huron
Heat #4 – Bob Shryock, Estherville, Iowa
Consolation – Les Stadel, Rapid City
Feature –
1. Bob Shryock
2. Les Stadel
3. Lynn Franz, Rapid City
4. Dan Nesteby, Waterloo, Iowa
5. Ted Zieman, Mason City, Iowa

Sprint Car –

Heat #1 – Bill Mellenberndt, Sioux Falls
Heat #2 – John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn.
Heat #3 – Jack McCorkell, Redwood Falls, Minn.
Consolation – Jack Tennyson, Rapid City
Feature –
1. John Stevenson
2. Don Reiners, Sioux Falls
3. Jack Tennyson
4. Sam Liebig, Rapid City
5. Marv DeWall, Jackson, Minn.