1985 – First ARTGO Win for Trickle at Capital

Dick Trickle recorded his first ARTGO Racing victory of the season at Capital Super Speedway. Ms. Capital, Corrine Chatman, joined the winner in victory lane. – Don Thies Photo

Oregon, Wis. (May 18, 1985) – Defending ARTGO Challenge Series champion Dick Trickle recorded his first win of the season on the circuit, as he drove to victory in Saturday night’s First Wisconsin Special 100 at Capital Super Speedway.

The 43-year-old racing legend from Wisconsin Rapids, wheeled his 1985 Firebird to the checkered flag in the 100-lap main event. It was the five-time ARTGO titlist’s 49th career feature win on the circuit.

Wrestling the lead away from pacesetter Joe Shear on the 93rd go-round, Trickle went on to take the checkered flag some four-car-lengths ahead of Shear. Rounding out the top-five were Mark Martin, Rich Bickle Jr., and Steve Holzhausen.

A field of 22 started the century grind with Tom Musgrave sneaking in from his second row outside starting position to take the lead on the first revolution. Musgrave was on top for only one laps before Holzhausen moved to the front. Holzhausen, who started on the front row, led until lap 5 when John Ziegler moved past him.

With 19 laps in the record books, the first yellow flag appeared as Jim Weber and Tom Reffner tangled in the third turn.

Lap 25 saw Ziegler still in command, followed by Shear, Trickle, Martin, and Ted Musgrave. Leading the race by about five-to-six car-lengths most of the way, Ziegler began to stretch his margin to 10 car-lengths as the event approached the three-quarter mark.

Looking to score hiss first-ever ARTGO feature win, Ziegler, however, began to slow and pulled into the infield on lap 68 when his Ford Thunderbird ran out of gas.

The race then featured a three-car battle between Shear, Trickle, and Martin, who ran bumper-to-bumper until lap 74, when Martin fell off the pace, dropping well back of the leaders.

Shear was still on top lap 75, pressed by Trickle with Martin, Holzhausen, and Bickle giving chase. After first trying outside to get around Shear for first place, Trickle snuck underneath the leader on lap 91. The pair then raced side-by-side for a couple of laps before Trickle finally took the lead away from Shear on lap 93.


Results –


1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Joe Shear, Lake Villa, Ill.
3. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
4. Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton
5. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor
6. Al Schill, Franklin
7. Bob Gunn, Madison
8. Dennis Lampman, Oak Creek
9. Tom Musgrave, Mundelein, Ill.
10.Don Leach, Beloit

Today in Racing History

 

May 17, 1981

May 17, 1990

1970 – Fatality Mars Knoxville Super-Modified Card

Joe Saldana

Knoxville, Iowa (May 16, 1970) - It was Joe Saldana night at the super modified season opener at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville Saturday night. Saldana, from Lincoln, Neb., was anxious to race after pulling to Knoxville the last two weeks only to find the races cancelled due to rain. In a new car with a new number, Joe captured the 25-lap super modified feature, the trophy dash and his heat.

Saldana took the lead on the third lap and continued leading to the 25th lap and the awaiting checkered flag. Seemed that nothing could stop him as he won by a considerable margin over the rest of the field. Dick Sutcliffe from Kansas City, Mo., finished second ahead of Jerry Blundy of Galesburg, Ill., in third spot.

On the field of 31 supers, Jerry Blundy set the fastest time of 22.11 seconds around the one-half mile oval in his red #33.

The trophy dash was won by Joe Saldana. Saldana fought off the challenges of Ray Lee Goodwin of Kansas City for the trophy. Bill Utz was third and James Bond, fourth.

Saldana then put his red #2 super into the first to cop the first 10-lap heat by a wide margin. In second was Jay Woodside. Stacy Redmond of Mason City placed third followed by Flea Atkins.

Dick Sutcliffe took the lead on the first lap and was never headed to cop the second 10-lap heat. Sutcliffe was leading by one-fourth lap ahead of the second place Lennie Jensen at the checkers. Keith Hightshoe finished in a very close third.

The only flag of the evening came on the first lap of the second heat when newcomer Jay Opperman of Beaver Crossing, Neb., flipped wildly over the third turn fence, landing some 80 feet from the track. Opperman lost his life in that accident and the Van's Mobile Home Special super modified was totally demolished.

Officials said Opperman's car struck the wheel of another auto in the first lap of the second heat.

Ralph Blackett of Des Moines grabbed a good-sized lead to win the third 10-lap heat event. In the battle for second spot it was Wib Spalding finishing second. Next across the finish line were Del Schmidt, Jerry Blundy and Bill Utz.

Bill Utz led all the way to victory in the 10-lap consolation. James Bond was second and Roger Abbott of Lincoln, Neb., in a close third. Following were Bob Fisher of Des Moines, Curt Houge of Ames, Steve Schultz of Chillicothe Mo., and Bruce Sommerfeld of Fort Dodge.


Results –


Time Trials – Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.
Trophy dash – Joe Saldana, Lincoln, Neb.
Heat #1 – Joe Saldana
Heat #2 – Dick Sutcliffe, Kansas City
Heat #3 – Ralph Blackett, Des Moines
Consolation – Bill Utz, Sedalia, Mo.
Feature –
1. Joe Saldana
2. Dick Sutcliffe
3. Jerry Blundy
4. Del Schmidt, Topeka, Kan.
5. Lonnie Jensen, Lincoln, Neb.
6. Bob Williams, Independence, Mo.
7. Jay Woodside, Kansas City
8. Ray Lee Goodwin, Kansas City
9. Bill Utz
10.Stacy Redmond, Mason City, Iowa

1977 – Trickle’s Brand-New Firebird Outruns Field in Spring 50

Dick Trickle accepts congratulations from starter Bill Gronley after winning the Spring 50 at Wisconsin International Raceway. Trickle’s wife Darlene joins them in victory lane. – Gary Vercauteren Photo

By Gary Vercauteren

Kaukauna, Wis. (May 15, 1977) – Dick Trickle, driving a newly built 1977 Firebird, scored a one-car-length victory in the Spring 50 for late models at Wisconsin International Raceway Sunday afternoon before a crowd of 4,283.

It was an impressive debut for the Wisconsin Rapids driver with the gleaming white racer, which was just completed Saturday night.

Trickle took the lead on the 20th lap when he slipped to the inside of Jimmy Pierson of Janesville. Tom Reffner of Rudolph, wheeling his 1977 Hornet, quickly moved past Pierson but could not close in on Trickle.

On the 32nd lap Pierson was able to repass Reffner and finish second. Reffner placed third, followed by Roger Regeth of Kimberly, Jim Back of Vesper, and Stevens Point’s Rich Somers.

Before a lap could be completed, the race was stopped twice due to pileups in the third turn. The first stoppage came when Gene Coleman, Larry Nipple, and Arnie Christen crashed. Coleman and Nipple were both eliminated.

On the restart, Regeth and Gary Hemmerling locked bumpers in the first turn with Al Schill also spinning.

Regeth took the lead when the green flag was dropped with Jerry Eckhardt locked on his rear bumper as the pair fought for the lead.

Pierson advanced his drive to the front when he slipped to the outside of Eckhardt on the backstretch of the 10th lap and powered past Regeth on the front chute as the drivers entered the 11th lap on the half-mile paved oval.

Trickle, meanwhile, threaded his way to the front, passing Regeth for second place on lap 13 with Reffner breathing down his tailpipe.

A yellow flag on lap 17 tightened the field behind Pierson, Trickle was able to take the lead on the 20th round.

Two more cautions periods were required before the race’s conclusion. On lap 24, Eckhardt’s motor blew on the backstretch and on the 47th circuit, Gordy Mudlaff spun in the fourth turn. On each occasion, the field tightened up behind Trickle, but both times he was ready for the challenge and held off Pierson and Reffner for the victory.


Results –


1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Jim Pierson, Janesville
3. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
4. Roger Regeth, Kimberly
5. Jim Back, Vesper
6. Rich Somers, Stevens Point
7. Bob Gunn, Madison
8. Fred Bender, Sun Prairie
9. Al Schill, Franklin
10.John Speer, Janesville
11.Roger Paul, New London
12.Gordy Mudlaff, Wind Lake
13.Larry Nipple, Albany
14.Jim Sauter, Necedah
15.Jerry Eckhardt, Watertown

1971 – Stock Opener to Sanger

Ed Sanger

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 14, 1971) – When the gates open, you walk through, according to Ed Sanger.

Sanger should know - he’s been walking through quite a few of them lately.

Friday night, it was the 25-lap late model stock car feature at Hawkeye Downs and the Waterloo dandy raced off with the season opener before an anxious crowd of 4,200.

Remarkably, it was Easy Ed’s sixth straight feature triumph of the young season in the 1970 Monte Carlo he drove to season championships at Independence and Waterloo and a third-place finish here at Cedar Rapids.

In this one, though, someone from up above must have been smiling down on Sanger, who started 10th in the 18-car field on the quarter-mile dirt track.

Polesitter Chub Liebe of Oelwein and Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo waged a bumper-to-bumper duel for the first 12 laps, with Zwanziger’s ’70 Nova holding the front spot over Liebe’s ’67 Ford.

Then, right at the start/finish line on the next tour, the two machines got together and Zwanziger spun out, nearly clipping the infield guardrail.

Sanger shot by and into the lead, as Liebe slowed considerably. Zwanziger was down nearly a lap before he was able to recover.

From that point on, it was clear sailing for Sanger, as he pocketed $350 for his victory.

Liebe finished second with Karl Sanger of Waterloo, Ed’s brother, in third, Curt Hansen of Dike in fourth and Cal Swanson of Reinbeck finishing fifth.

“When the gate’s open, you’re supposed to walk through,” a smiling Sanger said afterwards. “I had clear sailing after Bill and Chub got together, but I was picking up on them pretty good before it happened.”

“Liebe kind of got into Bill…guess that’s part of racing.”

Zwanziger was bitter and didn’t spare his feelings.

“There was only one way Liebe could get around me and that was to spin me,” he said. I was in the lead, and I had the groove - I was entitled to it.”

Red Droste of Waterloo, last year’s champion at The Downs, finished seventh behind Independence’s Glen Martin.

Zwanziger did walk off with two checkered flags in the 15-lap semi-main and the second heat. Sanger claimed the 10-lap dash and Liebe was the winner of the first heat. The 10-lap consolation went to Benny Hofer of Rock Island, Ill., after a four-year absence.

Dave Trower of Waterloo carved his niche in the sportsman division, winning his heat and the 15-lap feature.


Results –


Trophy dash – Ed Sanger, Waterloo
Heat #1 – Chub Liebe, Oelwein
Heat #2 – Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
Semi-main – Bill Zwanziger
Consolation – Ben Hofer, Rock Island, Ill.
Feature –
1. Ed Sanger
2. Chub Liebe
3. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
4. Curt Hansen, Dike
5. Cal Swanson, Reinbeck
6. Glen Martin, Independence
7. Red Droste, Waterloo
8. Bill Barthelmes, Troy Mills
9. Dr. Al Mayner, Independence
10.Joe Schaefer, Waterloo

1967 - Eaker Beats Dake to Capture Davenport Win

Verlin Eaker receives the checkered flag from starter Obie Beals after winning the 25-lap late model modified feature at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.

Davenport, Iowa (May 13, 1967) – Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids wheeled his red 1964 Plymouth hemi to a feature victory in the late model modified feature at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds on Friday night.

Eaker flashed across the finish line ahead of Darrell Dake, also of Cedar Rapids, in his new Ford sedan. Two more Cedar Rapids chauffeurs, Bill McDonough, and John Schlemmer took third and fourth, respectively.

There were more than 30 cars in the modified field and competition was keener than in many years.

Four cars were eliminated on the first lap of the feature in a big tangle. Wreckers pulled Dick Nesteby of Dubuque and Red Droste of Waterloo into the pit area. Dean Montgomery of Milan, Ill., and Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley had to be cut apart before being towed away.

After the smoke cleared, the main event went off smoothly without those four competitors.

Ray Cox of Davenport continued his mastery over the novice drivers as he copped another feature win – his third of the young season – two here and one at Cedar Rapids.

Schlemmer won the first modified heat, Droste bagged the second, and Cal Swanson of Reinbeck was the third heat winner.

Fred Strube of Peoria, Ill., won the semi-main, a few feet ahead of Johnny Beauchamp of Atlantic, the former IMCA national stock car champion. Dean Montgomery finished third.


Results –


Heat #1 – John Schlemmer, Cedar Rapids
Heat #2 – Red Droste, Waterloo
Heat #3 – Cal Swanson, Reinbeck
Semi-main – Fred Strube, Peoria, Ill.
Feature –
1. Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids
2. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
3. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
4. John Schlemmer
5. Jim Gerber, Mt. Joy

1984 – Sanger Takes Twin-50’s at 34 Raceway

Waterloo's Ed Sanger swept both ends of a twin 50-lapper at Burlington. - Lee Johnson Photo

Burlington, Iowa (May 12, 1984) – The three-and-half hour trip down from Waterloo was well worth it for Ed Sanger as he captured both features during the NASCAR Twin 50’s at 34 Raceway on Saturday night.

Jay Johnson grabbed the lead at the outset of the first 50-lapper before Bob Lekander swept by on lap 7. Johnson, Rollie Frink, and Mike Klinkkammer gave chase as Lekander opened up a respectable margin. Frink moved up to challenge for the lead midway through the contest while Sanger gradually worked his way through the strong field.

Sanger, with Johnny Johnson hot on his heels, moved past Frink on lap 42 and then set his sights on Lekander. Two laps later, Sanger sped to the outside of turn three to get past Lekander and take the victory. Lekander managed to hold off Johnson for second with Frink fourth and Bill Breuer fifth.

The second 50-lapper was missing some top contenders due to misfortunes in the first feature, including Bruce Hanford, Steve Fraise, and Mark Keltner. Ken Jackson opened up an early lead on his hometown track, but it only took until the fifth lap before the pair of Sanger and Johnson worked their way up to challenge.

Jackson held the speedy duo off until lap 9 when Johnson made a nifty move to go from third to first on the backstretch. Sanger kept the pressure on, however, and it paid off when Johnson tangled with lapped traffic in turn four, bringing out the caution on the 21st lap.

It was “Fast” Eddie’s race the rest of the way with Johnson making a charge through the pack to take second on the last lap. Lekander took third with the brothers, Ken, and Ron Jackson, grabbing fourth and fifth, respectively.

In other action, Randy Samberg of Burlington won the street stock feature.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
2. Bob Lekander, Burlington
3. Johnny Johnson, Wapello
4. Rollie Frink, Davenport
5. Bill Breuer, Wapello
6. Dave Goble, Burlington
7. Steve Watts, Danville
8. Mike Klinkkammer, West Branch
9. Del Lankford, Macomb, Ill.
10.Ken Jackson, Burlington


Feature #2 –

1. Ed Sanger
2. Johnny Johnson
3. Bob Lekander
4. Ken Jackson
5. Ron Jackson, Burlington
6. Jim Hollenbeck, Burlington
7. Rollie Frink
8. Dave Birkhofer, Muscatine
9. Mike Klinkkammer
10.Del Lankford