1960 - McGee Wins State Stock Car Diadem

 

Cigar-chomping Fibber McGee won the Illinois State Championship at Peoria Speedway. – PORC Collection

Peoria, Ill. (October 1, 1960) – Fibber McGee of Galesburg survived a crash with defending champion Herb Shannon of Peoria on the 96th lap and went on to win the ninth annual Illinois State Championship stock car race Saturday night before 11,000 fans.

Shannon, who led most of the time from the 46th lap on, couldn’t avoid hitting a wall after tangling with McGee’s 1958 Plymouth and couldn’t finish the race. There was so much turmoil at the end of the race that it was impossible to determine immediately who had finished in second and third place and race officials were pouring over the lap-by-lap reports to make a final decision.

McGee, who won the 1952 state title, started eighth in a field of 24 cars and was never in the lead until his tangle with Shannon. However, he was running among the leader most of the way and was second on lap 69.

Sentimental favorite Jim Strube made a gallant comeback after a spinout on lap 62 dropped him from the lead which he had held for some 15 laps. Shannon took command after that, and he and McGee waged a torrid battle when Strube once again forged his way back into the picture. He passed McGee on the 80th lap and was going neck-and-neck with Shannon down the front straightaway on lap 82.

However, on the next lap, Strube’s engine blew up and caught fire, and he was forced to withdraw from the race.

Peorian Bob Rutledge led for the first 19 laps but couldn’t match Shannon’s pace and fell from contention. By that time the race had been stopped twice because of wrecks and officials were forced to call another halt for a crash that occurred on lap 28.

Ironically, McGee was involved in one of the earlier accidents but managed to keep his car in the race and went on to get the victory.


Results –


Trophy dash – Arnie Gardner
Heat #1 – Veral Boken
Heat #2 – Fibber McGee
Heat #3 – Leroy Thacker
Heat #4 – Ernie Schaffer
Consolation #1 – Art Brady
Consolation #2 – Arnie Gardner
Semi – Ernie Schaffer