John Ziegler won the 303-lap National Short Track Championship feature
at Rockford Speedway. He was joined by Winston Racing team manager Rancy Chapel
and promoter Jody Deery for post-race ceremonies. – Russ Lake Photo
Rockford, Ill. (September 18, 1988) – Johnny Ziegler held off Scott Hansen and Rich Bickle Jr. to win the 303-lap National Short Track Championships late model feature Sunday afternoon at Rockford Speedway.
Ziegler took home a ARTGO record $11,814 for his win in the event co-sanctioned by ARTGO and NASCAR. Hansen, Bickle, Tom Carlson, and Steve Carlson trailed the Madison, Wis., chauffeur to the checkered, which was interrupted by rain in the closing circuits.
“This was our greatest racing day,” said Ziegler, a veteran oof more than 20 years of racing. “Those last 15 laps were tough after the rain delay because the engines were shut down and the tires had cooled down. Our tires were almost gone so the delay probably helped us. I just tried to keep Scott (Hansen) and Rich (Bickle) in my rear-view mirror.”
Ziegler also won the overall title of the three-race NASCAR/ARTGO Challenge Series over Bickle, Steve Holzhausen, Stanley Smith, and Hansen, which netted Ziegler an additional $5,000 bonus.
Don Jenkins established a one-lap track record of 13.212 seconds on the quarter-mile during Saturday’s time trials, but since the 12 fastest qualifiers were gridded at the front of the 30-car field, George Prziborowski opened the event on the pole with Ziegler starting alongside him.
Ziegler grabbed the top spot on the opening green with Hansen, Dave Mader III, David Green, and Jim Weber behind him. Mader tried to move around Hansen on the backstretch on lap 29 and the two exchanged paint before Mader slid into the infield and ended up against the retaining wall.
Bickle, who started 11th, moved up to second by lap 86 and then made several unsuccessful attempts to get around Ziegler before finally taking the top spot on lap 119. Bickle was still in front when the mandatory 20-minute pit stop occurred on lap 155. By then, only six cars remained on the lead lap.
After the break, Bickle opened up a huge lead over runner-up Green who was followed by Hansen, Steve Carlson, Ziegler, and Tom Carlson. Hansen, who had problems with his car’s fire extinguisher earlier, took second from Green on lap 234.
After relinquishing the lead to Hansen, Green found himself locked in a side-by-side battle with Ziegler.
Bickle appeared to have the race in his possession until Pete Moore spun in turns three and four, triggering a caution-producing incident which also eliminated Don Jenkins. As the caution flag waved, Bickle, Hansen, and Green spun to avoid Moore and Jenkins. Ziegler moved low in the turn, avoided the mishap, and emerged as the new leader. Green recovered to take second ahead of Hansen and Bickle.
As the remaining laps wound down, threatening weather which had been in the area all weekend, moved in and produced a 36-minute rain delay.
When action resumed, Ziegler was on top, followed by Green, Hansen, Bickle, Tom Carlson, and Steve Carlson, who rounded out the drivers still on the lead lap.
The event’s final caution came on lap 296 when Green had a left rear tire go down, sending him spinning into the infield. He pitted for new tires and rejoined the field at the rear.
Since the caution extended through lap 301 and the event’s rules required the final two circuits be contested under the green, the race was extended to 303 laps. That proved little problem for Ziegler, however, as he hung on for the victory.
Results –
1. Johnny Ziegler, Madison, Wis.
2. Scott Hanen, Green Bay, Wis.
3. Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton, Wis.
4. Tom Carlson, La Crosse, Wis.
5. Steve Carlson, La Crosse, Wis.
6. Al Schill, Franklin, Wis.
7. Robbie Reiser, Allenton, Wis.
8. Mark Green, Owensboro, Ky.
9. David Green, Madison, Tenn.
10.Lee Faulk, Crossville, Tenn.
11.Stanley Smith, Chelsea, Ala.
12.John Olson, Stoughton, Wis.
13.Mark Day, Clarksville, Tenn.
14.Jerry Wood, Sun Prairie, Wis.
15.Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis.
16.Don Jenkins, Antioch, Tenn.
17.Dave Mader III, Homewood, Ala
18.Pete Moore, McFarland, Wis.
19.Pete Berken, Appleton, Wis.
20.Dennis Lampman, Racine, Wis.
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