1987 - Smith Tops Sioux Falls 'Cheater's Day'

Randy Smith won the annual “Cheaters Day” race at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds. It was Smith’s second career win in the annual event. – Phil Dullinger Photo

Sioux Falls, S.D. (September 27, 1987) – With the running of the 24th annual “National Cheater’s Day,” the racing season came to a close Sunday.

Cheater’s Day, held before a full grandstand at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds, brought 43 drivers from seven states to compete this year.

The 25-lap feature saw first and second heat winners, Tommy James of Meadow Vista, Calif., and Gary DeWall of Jackson, Minn., on the front row and they battled for the lead as they entered the first turn. But it was second row starter and fourth heat winner Randy Smith of Mt. Ayr, Iowa, passed both drivers in turn two and pulled away.

DeWall would lose his position shortly thereafter with a flat tire, allowing James to move into the runner-up spot. Smith was lapping one car after the other when a yellow came out, bunching the field for the restart. But with the power he had already shown, it was easy for Smith to put some distance between himself and the rest of the field.

By this time, Jerry Richert, who had won the Cheater’s Night feature at Jackson, Minn., the night before, had dropped out with a blown motor and the rest of the field was in a “follow the leader” mode.

On lap 21, another yellow wave and another restart was necessary but once again, Smith was up to the task and quickly separated himself from the competition. Tim Monson of Lakefield, Minn., was in second with John Sernett of Minneapolis, Minn., third.

On the white flag lap, Monson’s engine was smoking badly but he managed to push his car across the finish line ahead of Sernett. Marlon Jones of Sioux Falls was fourth wit Tommy James fifth.

Smith joined an elite group of drivers by winning the Cheater’s Day race, making him only the second driver to win the event two times. Smith’s other victory came in 1981. Bob Williams of Kansas City won the race twice, back-to-back, in 1967 and ’68.

Results –

Heat #1 – Tommy James, Meadow Vista, Calif.
Heat #2 – Gary DeWall, Jackson, Minn.
Heat #3 – Tim Monson, Lakefield, Minn.
Heat #4 - Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
Consolation – Jon Barger, Wentworth, S.D.
Feature –
1. Randy Smith
2. Tim Monson
3. John Sernett, Minneapolis
4. Marlon Jones, Sioux Falls
5. Tommy James
6. Gary Zitterich, Sioux Falls
7. Rich Brahmer, Wisner, Neb.
8. Denny Fredrickson, Anoka, Minn.
9. Rick Dump, Brandon, S.D.
10.Jerry Beeck Jr., Eagle, Neb.
11.Dave Eckern, Flandreau, S.D.
12.Danny Lasoski, Dover, Mo.
13.Jon Barger
14.Jim Lindberg, Sioux Falls, S.D.
15.Todd Wessels, Worthington, Minn.