1969 - Minnesotan is Tri-State 100 Winner

 

Bob Jusola nabbed the first Tri-State 100 at Boone. Joining the winner is, left to right, Phil Stewart, promoter of the Tri-Circuit which includes Elko, Raceway Park, and Twin Cities, Jim Daley of Minneapolis, second-place finisher Jerry LeCroy, and flagman Floyd Mitchell. 

By Denny Sills

Boone, Iowa (October 4, 1969) – Bob Jusola drove over 250 miles from Minneapolis to Boone to compete in the Tri-State 100 at Boone Speedway on Saturday – and in his own words, “the trip was well worth it.”

Jusola, representing Elko Speedway, won the 100-lap Tri-State Championship feature worth $500. That made his trip to Boone about $2 per mile. Jusola picked up even more cash by sharing fast time honors with Mike Keen of Marshalltown at 18.87 seconds.

As the night ended on a happy note for Jusola, it was a different story for George Barton, the veteran driver from Des Moines.

Barton, winner of the three Grand National titles at Boone and the 1968-point champion at the Speedway, was driving one of his better races and had held down the lead for 70 laps but lost the race and the championship on the 99th go-round due to a mechanical problem.

The quick-change rear end on his Chevrolet went sour just as the white flag came out. As Barton started to slow, Jusola took advantage, quickly passing him and taking the checkered flag as Barton coasted to the finish line behind runner-up Jerry LeCroy of Des Moines.

Ame's driver Curt Houge finished fourth with Bob Bonzer of Liscomb taking fifth.

The race was slowed only twice. On the fourth lap, Larry Berrett of Boone went off the track and over the west wall, rolling end-over-end four times. He was taken to a local hospital where he was found to have a fractured wrist.

Four heat events during preliminaries were won by Don Hoffman of Des Moines, John Carlson of Ankeny, Curt Houge of Ames, and Larry McGee of Boone. Del Stokke of Ames, the season champion at Boone this year, won the 25-lap B-main.


Results –

1. Bob Jusola, Mound, Minn.
2. Jerry LeCroy, Des Moines
3. George Barton, Des Moines
4. Curt Houge, Ames
5. Bob Bonzer, Liscomb