1974 – Bettenhausen Memorial 100 to Reffner

 

Tom Reffner took top honors after capturing the 13th annual Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 stock car race at Illiana Motor Speedway. Presenting the trophy are starter Art Kelly (right) and assistant starter Bob Adams. – Stan Kalwasinski Photo

By Stan Kalwasinski

Schererville, Ind. (October 27, 1974) – Tom Reffner of Rudolph, Wis., captured the 13th annual Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 at Illiana Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

The 32-year-old driver was crowned the North American Short Track Champion in September.

Reffner drove a 1970 Ford Mustang to victory in the 100-lap late model stock car event which had previously been postponed three times. Reffner collected $1,500 of the $8,500 purse.

On lap 20, last year’s winner, Tom Jones, crashed through the outer guardrail at the end of the backstretch, flipping his Camaro several times and landing in a wooded area outside the track. Jones’ car was demolished but he escaped injury.

It was a highly competitive race with numerous lead changes. Six different drivers – Joe Shear (1-4), Ray Young (5-6), Larry Schuler (9-19), Tom Musgrave (20-37), Dick Trickle (38-72), and Tom Reffner (73-100) – took turns leading the talented field.

On the final lap, Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., drove hard into turn three to overtake Reffner, but Trickle’s Mustang slid high in the corner, letting a fast-closing Larry Schuler of Lockport, Ill., take over second at the finish.

Reffner paced a field of 66 entries during time trials with a 22.00 second clocking around the half-mile.

A large crowd was on hand for the program, which was held in conjunction with the Whitey Gerkin-Dennis Shelton Memorial Benefit program. Over $3,000 was collected for the families of the two men who lost their lives at the speedway last year.


Results –

1. Tom Reffner
2. Larry Schuler
3. Dick Trickle
4. Rick Knotts
5. Don Axtmann

1969 – Derr Claims #10 at Shreveport Finale

 

Ernie Derr receives congratulations from International Racing, Inc., promoter Verna Winkley after winning the IMCA stock car season finale at Shreveport. Joining them is announcer Nick Nachias. – Bill Causey Jr. Photo

Shreveport, La. (October 26, 1969) – Now that Ernie Derr has wrapped up his fourth straight International Motor Contest Association national point title after winning Sunday’s 150-lap feature at State Fair Speedway, the 10-time champion can now take a well-deserved rest since the racing season is over – right?

Wrong…

Even though Ernie Derr could probably take a long vacation after capturing the IMCA stock car division title by well over 1,200 points, he has something more important to take care of – like getting ready for next season.

“I plan to start building another Dodge Charger like the one I have now,” said Derr, moments after he drove his 1969 Dodge Charger across the finish line, beating his nearest competitor, Bill Ries of Shakopee, Minn., by over a lap.

Derr, who may be labeled the Babe Ruth of the racing world with the distinction of winning more feature races (250) than any other driver, not only setting an world IMCA record in winning the 150-lapper, but he also rewrote the IMCA record book with a record-setting time in the preliminary 10-lap race before a thrilled crowd of 6,800.

In the 10-lap STP run by the eight fastest qualifiers, the Keokuk, Iowa, native dashed to a record 3 minutes and 51.92 second clocking. He nipped the previous mark of 3 minutes and 52.29 seconds set by Freddy Fryar of Baton Rouge – a record that lasted exactly one week as Fryar set his record at State Fair Speedway a week ago Sunday.

Derr then took the checkered flag for the feature in 1 hour, 51 minutes and 54 seconds, to set a new 150-lap record. Through the two-weekend racing activity, Derr came within $10 of $1,700.


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Bill Ries, Shakopee, Minn.
3. Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
4. Phil Cronin, Houston, Tex.
5. Lewis Taylor, Shawnee, Kan.
6. Gene Newsome, West Monroe, La.
7. Bob Perry, Springfield, Mo.
8. Butch Hall, Russell, Minn.
9. Leon Bowman, Wichita, Kan.
10.Tony Bettenhausen Jr., Houston, Tex.
11.Dick Johnson, St. Paul, Minn.
12.Fred Horn, Marion, Iowa
13.Larry Jones, West Monroe, La.
14.Sonny Brown, Corpus Christi, Tex.
15.Jerre Wichman, Kansas City
16.Howard Hart, Kansas City
17.Tony Barcelona, Houston, Tex.
18.Sandy Sandstrom, Kansas City
19.Kent Stouffer, Independence, Mo.
20.Gordon Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa
21.Vic Elson, Ash Grove, Mo.
22.George Brooks, Dallas, Tex.
23.Ole Brua, Albert Lea, Minn.
24.John Tiller, Fridley, Minn.
25.Ray Putnam, Baton Rouge, La.

1989 – Heroics by Holzhausen Highlight Racefest ‘89

 

Steve Holzhausen is congratulated by promoters John McKarns and Harry Molenaar after winning the ARTGO-style late model headliner at Illiana Motor Speedway. – Al Fortner Photo

Schererville, Ind. (October 22, 1989) – Steve Holzhausen made a dramatic pass of four-time track champion Frank Gawlinski on the 121st circuit and went on to win Sunday afternoon’s 129-lap ARTGO-style late model feature that highlighted Racefest ’89 at Illiana Motor Speedway.

Gawlinski, who had scored a dozen regular feature wins at the 1/3-mile paved oval this year, charged past early pacesetter Tony Raines to take the lead on lap 39 of the ARTGO-style late model headliner, which was scheduled for 125 laps.

With no yellow flags to slow them, Gawlinski and second-running Raines opened up a substantial lead over their closest pursuers, Dave Weltmeyer, Len Nowosel, and Holzhausen.

The fireworks began on lap 89, when Nowosel and Weltmeyer bumped in turn two, dropping Weltmeyer all the way back to eight position and resulting in a stop-and-go penalty for Nowosel. The incident necessitated a restart in which Holzhausen got around Raines for second.

Another yellow on lap 113 put the leaders in single-file once again with Gawlinski shaking up the field with a lightning-fast restart. But, within five circuits, Holzhausen had closed the gap and was nipping at Gawlinski’s heels.

Holzhausen finally got around Gawlinski on lap 121 then outran his rival to the checkers, which was extended to 129 laps by a caution period that regrouped the field on lap 124. Tracy Schuler came in third followed by Steve Carlson, Weltmeyer, and Raines.

In other action, Joe Witowski won the 50-lap sportsman feature Steve Christman was the E-mod winner. Kevin Cywinski took the NASCAR late model feature and David Dotter grabbed street stock honors.


Results –

1. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis.
2. Frank Gawlinski, Lynwood, Ill.
3. Tracy Schuler, Lockport, Ill.
4. Steve Carlson, La Crosse, Wis.
5. Dave Weltmeyer, Harvey, Ill.
6. Tony Raines, LaPorte
7. Tony Hertko, Joliet, Ill.
8. Tom Jones, Northbrook, Ill.
9. Lem Nowosel, Grayslake, Ill.
10.Dale Hirschfield, Alsip, Ill.

1972 – Cronin Tops in IMCA

Phil Cronin of Houston is joined by trophy queen Ms. Ann Wallace after winning the trophy dash and the 50-lap feature at State Fair Speedway. – Farris Baughman Photo

Shreveport, La. (October 21, 1972) – Phil Cronin of Houston Tex., made a clean sweep of the International Motor Contest Association late model stock car program at State Fair Speedway, winning the trophy dash, heat and the 50-lap feature on Saturday afternoon.

The veteran Cronin gunned his Chevelle to new track records in both the 12-lap heat and 50-lap feature.

Vance Cook of Jonesboro, Ark., finished second in both the first heat and feature.

Cronin’s record-setting 12-lap time was 4 minutes and 29.63 seconds, less than a second faster than Norman Blythe’s winning time of 4 minutes and 30.15 seconds in the third heat.

Blythe finished second behind Cronin in the trophy dash but could only manage a seventh-place finish.


Results –

Heat #1 – Phil Cronin, Houston, Tex.
Heat #2 – Gerry Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
Heat #3 – Norman Blythe, Houston, Tex.
STP trophy dash – Phil Cronin
Consolation – Freddy Cook, West Monroe, La.
Feature –
1. Phil Cronin
2. Vance Cook, Jonesboro, Ark.
3. Tony Bettenhausen Jr., Houston, Tex.
4. Willie Crane, Springfield, Mo.
5. Gerry Harrison
6. Gordon Blankenship, Keokuk, Iowa
7. Norman Blythe
8. Jim Hagar, Liberty, Mo.
9. Gene Newsome, West Monroe, La.
10.Warren Hughes, Houston, Tex.

1986 – Moyer Wins Pennsboro ‘World Championship’

 

Billy Moyer Jr. won the sixth annual Dirt Track World Championships at the legendary Pennsboro Speedway. – Ashley Ness Photo

Pennsboro, W.Va. (October 19, 1986) – Billy Moyer Jr., of Batesville, Ark., celebrated his 29th birthday by winning $40,000 at the sixth annual Dirt Track World Championships at Pennsboro Speedway.

Moyer, who led the final 46 laps of the 100-lap STARS-sanctioned race for late model stock cars, was followed under the checkered flag by Willy Kraft of Lakefield, Minn., Jeff Purvis of Clarksville, Tenn., Gary Stuhler of Westminster, Md., and two-time DTWC winner Freddy Smith of Kings Mountain, S.C.

Kraft, who battled his way into the main event by winning the 40-lap consolation, started 25th on the grid of 30 cars and earned $10,000 from a purse exceeding $100,000.

As the crowd of 7,000 settled on the golden hillsides of Pennsboro for the feature, they were as quickly on their feet as a first lap tangle on the backstretch eliminated two former DTWC winners, Charlie Swartz (1982) and Jack Boggs (1984) and banged up much of the field.

After repairs were made, the field was relined and the start saw Roy Miller of Quaker City, Ohio, running strongly in front for the first 36 laps before being overtaken by John Mason of Millersburg, Ohio.

A red flag stopped the action on lap 34, and the leaders pitted. At that point, Moyer may have made some race-winning decisions as he changed both tires and gearing on his race car while Mason settled for fuel and tire pressure changes.

When action resumed, Mason roared past Miller to lead laps 37 to 53. But Moyer was moving up from his 13th starting position and overtook Mason on lap 54. He would never relinquish the lead and win by a straightaway’s margin. Mason was eventually knocked out of the race when Mark Banal of Dillonvale, Ohio, bounced off the concrete stage of turn one, triggering a chain-reaction accident which brought out the second red flag on lap 79.


Results –

1. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
2. Willy Kraft, Lakefield, Minn.
3. Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
4. Gary Stuhler, Westminster, Md.
5. Freddy Smith, Kings Mountain, S.C.
6. Mike Duvall, Gaffney, S.C.
7. Buck Simmons, Cowpens, S.C.
8. Larry Moore, Dayton, Ohio
9. Donnie Moran, Frazeysburg, Ohio
10.Randy Boggs, Webbville, Ky.
11.Bob Wearing, Callery, Penn.
12.Steve Baker, Morgantown, W.Va.
13.Roy Miller, Quaker City, Ohio
14.Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.
15.Mark Banal, Dillonvale, Ohio
16.John Mason, Millersburg, Ohio
17.Tom Hearst, Wilton, Iowa
18.Paul Davis, Louisa, Ky.
19.Rodney Franklin, Winchester, Va.
20.Bob Adams Jr., Racine, Ohio

1979 – Wolfgang Wins at Tri-City

 

Doug Wolfgang reaps the rewards of victory at Tri-City Speedway. 

Granite City, Ill. (October 18, 1979) – Doug Wolfgang led all 35 laps to win the World of Outlaws winged sprint car feature at Tri-City Speedway.

Wolfgang took the lead from his outside from row starting position and was never headed.

However, Lee James challenged for a while until getting too high in the fourth turn and dropping back two positions. Two laps later, James’ car drifted high again, caught the wall and flipped. He escaped without injury.

Jim Linder won the B-main.


Results –

1. Doug Wolfgang
2. Rick Ferkel
3. Shane Carson
4. Steve Kinser
5. Tom Corbin
6. Jim Linder
7. Allen Barr
8. Lee Osborne
9. Danny Smith
10.Jeff Swindell
11.Steve Perry
12.Tom Mislich

1976 – Jones Captures Western

 

Bubby Jones (center) celebrates his victory in the Western United States Sprint Car Championships at Manzanita Speedway. He's joined on the podium by runner-up Ron Shuman (left) and third-place Fred Linder (right). 

Phoenix, Ariz. (October 17, 1976) – Norman “Bubby” Jones has been on that podium for three years now, always looking for a way to that top step.

Saturday night, the Danville, Ill., youngster climbed two steps, all the way to the top of the Western United States Sprint Car Championships at jam-packed Manzanita Speedway.

And he did it in the most dramatic way, passing local favorite and defending champion Ron Shuman in turn three of the final lap.

Shuman, bidding to win his second straight Western, had led comfortably with up to a four-second lead for 49 and 3/4 laps in his backup Gary Stanton Chevy.

But Jones, who has finished second once and third twice in the past three Western’s, finally broke loose from the pack that included Lil’ Joe Saldana and Rick Ferkel and started to apply pressure on Shuman the last two circuits.

Shuman still looked like he could keep his lead despite running into heavy traffic.

This time, however, it wasn’t meant to be. Jones drove underneath in turn three while Shuman maintained his ride in the high groove.

By the time the ARA point leader realized what happened, Jones was home free by a car length.

“I had no brakes left,” Jones said from the top step on the podium. “I just about didn’t go back out after the red flag (on lap 14 when Leroy Van Conett tore a hole in the turn four fence). But I’m sure glad I did.”

The fastest car on the track at the finish, though, was Fred Linder of Fremont, Ohio, in his experimental all-aluminum Nance-built sprinter (the frame weighs 37.5 pounds).

Linder, unbelievably, came from the back row after winning the 25-lap semi to finish third ahead of 1974 Western champ Rick Ferkel and Saldana, who ran second to Shuman for most of the night before yielding to Jones on lap 35.


Results –

1. Bubby Jones
2. Ron Shuman
3. Fred Linder
4. Rick Ferkel
5. Joe Saldana
6. Dub May
7. Chuck Amati
8. Lealand McSpadden
9. Eddie Leavitt
10.Lee Osborne