1987 - Fischlein Takes 'Stroh's Nationals' at Marshalltown

 

Dale Fischlein hoists his trophy high after winning the “Stroh’s Nationals” at Marshalltown Speedway. The race, which was part of the IMCA Late Model Summer Series, was Fischlein’s second win in as many years. – Jerry Mackey Photo

Marshalltown, Iowa (June 17, 1987) – Dale Fischlein of Independence won his second straight Stroh’s Nationals in as many years Wednesday night at Marshalltown Speedway.

Fischlein took the lead from Darrel DeFrance on lap 31 of the 50-lap feature, which was part of the IMCA Late Model Summer Series.

The win was worth $2,400 to the young Fischlein.

It was evident early on that it was going to be a duel between Fischlein and the hometown favorite DeFrance. DeFrance had bested Fischlein in Tuesday night’s Race of Champions, Wednesday night’s trophy dash, and was sitting on the pole for the 50-lap feature.

Fischlein, on the other hand, had set fast time on Tuesday and was the defending champion of the event.

DeFrance took the lead from his front row starting position and fought off challenges from several different drivers. On about the 20th circuit around the quarter-mile oval, Fischlein really began putting pressure on DeFrance. He tried DeFrance several times on the low side but could do no better than pull even with him.

Then, coming out of turn four on the 30th lap, much to everyone’s surprise, Fischlein went high on the still tacky track and passed DeFrance in front of the grandstand. DeFrance would challenge several more times but would eventually fade back to third.

In one of the finest drives of the night, Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls would come all the way from the back to within a couple of car lengths of Fischlein at the finish. Aikey, winner of numerous features at Marshalltown this season, and the point leader of the Summer Series, finished second as the yellow flag he was waiting for never came out.

Another Marshalltown regular, Denny Osborn of Cedar Falls, drove a smooth race to finish fourth while Bob Hill of Story City worked his way from an early-race mishap to finish fifth in his first appearance at the track.

Other Stroh’s Nationals champions were Greg Kastli of Waterloo in the IMCA modifieds, Tommy Thompson of Marshalltown in the IMCA stock cars, and Ron Fenton of Des Moines in the thunder cars.


Results –

1. Dale Fischlein, Independence
2. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls
3. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown
4. Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
5. Bob Hill, Story City
6. Curt Martin, Independence
7. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo
8. Johnny Johnson, Wapello
9. Craig Jacobs, Des Moines
10.Rick Wendling, Hazelton
11.Scott Sells, Waverly
12.Steve Watts, Jimtown
13.Red Dralle, Evansdale
14.Ted Pallister, Wapello
15.Danny Breuer, Wapello

1981 - Sauter, Martin Win 75s in ARTGO Raceway Card

 

Mark Martin is joined by ARTGO promoter John McKarns and announcer Wayne Adams after Martin won the overall championship in the twin 75’s at Raceway Park. – Stan Kalwasinski Photo

Blue Island, Ill. (June 16, 1981) – Finishing eighth and first in the twin 75-lap features and setting fast time during time trials gave Mark Martin of Batesville, Ark., the overall championship in the ARTGO Racing late model special at Raceway Park on Tuesday night.

Sharing feature wins honors with Jim Sauter of Necedah, Wis., Martin’s victory was his first in ARTGO competition this year and his first win since last October for the 22-year-old speedster.

A starting field of 20 pounded the asphalt at the drop of the green flag in the first feature race. Coming from his outside front row starting position, Tom Jones moved his Camaro into the lead.

Jones set sail, building a healthy margin between himself and his nearest competitor, Frank Gawlinski. Sauter, meanwhile, began slicing through traffic, taking over the third spot on lap 15, and quickly moving into second place on the 24th lap.

Lap after lap, Sauter cut down the distance between himself and Jones, with Sauter slipping past Jones on lap 42 for the lead. On the next circuit, Jones pulled out of the action, his mount suffering a broken water pump pulley.

With Sauter driving a seemingly effortless race, a real battle developed for positions three through seven between Leo Mens, Jerry Kemperman, Burt Weitemeyer, Larry Schuler, and Dick Trickle, with the five jockeys battling bumper-to-bumper.

With nine laps to go and Sauter about to lap Trickle, Mens’ mount suddenly lost all power coming off the second turn due to a spark plug short, causing a chain reaction crash involving Kemperman, Schuler, Weitemeyer, Trickle and Sauter, which brought out the red flag. All drivers escaped injury, with Kemperman and Schuler unable to continue.

On the restart, Sauter set the pace, with Mens dropping out of the race on lap 67 and second place Gawlinski losing two spots because of a bad right front tire.

Sauter’s win was his second in ARTGO action this season. Following were Weitemeyer, Trickle, Gawlinski and Woody Church.

The second 75-lapper saw Mens guide his Camaro into the lead at the start of the race. Mens, who started on the pole position, was in command on lap 8, when the yellow flag flew, as Bob Weltmeyer, current ARTGO point leader Larry Detjens, and Jim Weber tangled in turn one, putting all three out of the race. As the pack circled the quarter mile under yellow, Mens suddenly pulled into the pit area with ignition ills.

Inheriting the top spot, Martin quickly began to pull away from the rest of the field, with Gawlinski, Schuler, Sauter and Jones in pursuit. Schuler, with Sauter right behind him, moved into second place on lap 18. Sauter battled a stubborn Schuler for second place as Martin maintained his lead. Sauter finally rolled past Schuler on lap 34and began setting his sights on the leader.

Lap 58 saw the race’s second yellow as Trickle did a quick spin in turn three and was joined by Wayne Kullman and Dave Weitemeyer, with Sauter slamming into the tail of Martin’s car as the leading duo braked hard to avoid a clogged turn three. The accident Sauter, whose mount received differential damage to the pits.

Two additional caution flags slowed the action, as Trickle once again looped his Camaro in turn three on lap 61, and Ray Young came to a halt in turn two on the 66th circuit.

The final laps to starter Bill Gronley’s checkered flag saw Schuler put heat on Martin for the lead, with Jones riding in third place right behind the leaders. Following were Gawlinski, Weitemeyer and Trickle.


Results –

Feature #1 –

1. Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
2. Burt Weitemeyer, Lansing
3. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
4. Frank Gawlinski, Lynwood
5. Woody Church, Palos Park
6. Pat Echlin, Calumet Park
7. Ray Young, Dolton
8. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
9. Wayne Kullman, Calumet City
10.Leo Mens, Chicago


Feature #2 –

1. Mark Martin
2. Larry Schuler, New Lenox
3. Tom Jones, Northbrook
4. Frank Gawlinski
5. Dave Weitemeyer, Harvey
6. Dick Trickle
7. Pat Echlin
8. Joe Shear, South Beloit
9. Woody Church
10.Wayne Kullman

1968 - Forbes Outduels Eaker at Speedbowl Park

 

Bill Forbes powered his Pontiac GTO to victory at Sterling Speedbowl Park. – Roger Meier Photo

Sterling, Ill. (June 16, 1968) – Bill Forbes of Rock Falls beat the best the Midwest had to offer Sunday at Speedbowl Park.

Forbes won his heat over Jim Baker of Peoria and Lloyd Ewing of Kewanee, then showed Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the fast way around the 1/3-mile track in the feature race.

Forbes, after a season in the cadet class in 1967, has demonstrated his skills in the late model division this season but Sunday night was his night. Following Forbes and Eaker to the finish line was Alan May of Peoria, Tom Hughes of Monticello, Iowa, and John Connolly of Delhi, Iowa.

Heat races were won by B.J. Higley of Sterling, Forbes, Dick Nesteby of Dubuque, Iowa, and Jerry Roedell of Peoria. Ewing took the trophy dash while Daehle Reitzel of Sterling took home the semi-feature win.


Results –

1. Bill Forbes, Rock Falls
2. Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
3. Alan May, Peoria
4. Tom Hughes, Monticello, Iowa
5. John Connolly, Delhi, Iowa
6. Roger Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa
7. Jim Baker, Peoria
8. Lloyd Ewing, Kewanee
9. Biil McDonough, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 
10.Dick Nesteby, Dubuque, Iowa

1988 - Hood Tops Kokomo Klassic

 

Rick Hood receives congratulations from promoter Bill Lipkey after winning the 40-lap Kokomo Klassic sprint car race at Kokomo Speedway. – Jack Gladback Photo

Kokomo, Ind. (June 15, 1988) – Rick Hood became the first repeat winner in the 14-year history of the Kokomo Klassic sprint car event, Wednesday night at Kokomo Speedway.

Hood trailed 1987 winner Dave Darland throughout the 40-lap main event’s first 14 circuits before taking charge on the 15th time around.

Darland fell from contention on lap 29 when he slammed into the third turn wall after tangling with Terry Shepherd.

Steve Butler took over second place after all-out racing resumed, but Hood led the rest of the way despite a late spin. Butler came in second with Jack Hewitt, who had started 15th, finishing third to complete a clean sweep of former Klassic winners. Tony Elliott was fourth followed by Jeff Donelson.


Results –


1. Rick Hood
2. Steve Butler
3. Jack Hewitt
4. Tony Elliott
5. Jeff Donelson
6. Kurt Hawkins
7. Randy Woodling
8. Bob Kinser
9. Tim Bookmiller
10.Ray Kenes

1968 - Columbus Junction Honors to Prymek

 

Ron Prymek, driving John Mullink’s 1956 Mercury, won the Mississippi Valley Speed Club feature at Columbus Junction.

By Mary Ann Harris

Columbus Junction, Iowa (June 15, 1968) – Ron Prymek of Iowa City held off Mark Mosier of Washington for the last nine laps of the feature here Saturday night to score his first Mississippi Valley Speed Club victory of the season.

Stan Crooks of Muscatine had led the 20-lap feature for the first 11 circuits until a blown engine sent him to the sidelines. On the restart, Prymek jumped into the lead and was able to hold it the remainder of the way.

Mel Morris of West Liberty took fast time in time trials, circling the big half-mile in 27.40 seconds. Dan Robertson of Muscatine had second fastest time with 27.75 seconds.

The first event of the evening, the trophy dash, was won by Bob Helms of Rochester. Morris won the first heat while Mosier took honor in the second heat. John Moss of Iowa City was the third heat winner and Tom Harris of Iowa City picked up the checkered in the fourth heat.

On the 11th lap of the 15-lap B-main, Bill Douglas of West Liberty took a nasty tumble in the third and fourth turns. He wasn’t hurt but the top of his car was peeled back to look like a convertible. Byron Buchele of Muscatine was the winner of the event.


Results –

1. Ron Prymek, Iowa City
2. Mark Mosier, Washington
3. John Moss, Iowa City
4. Dan Robertson, Muscatine
5. Bud Darting, Wilton Junction
6. Byron Buchele, Muscatine
7. Bill Newman, Burlington
8. Larry Jenkins, Wilton Junction
9. Roy Stutzman, Lockridge
10.Richard Hamilton, Muscatine

1977 - Horn Outduels Zwanziger for Falstaff 100 Victory

 

Fred Horn won the annual Falstaff 100 late model stock car race at Hawkeye Downs. Joining Horn in victory lane is trophy girl Loydene Short, promoter Al Miller, and race sponsor Keith Fleck. – Earl Schwartz Photo

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (June 14, 1977) - Dueling Stock Cars. An old tune put to different lyrics.

And to say that the 28 cars that started the fifth annual Falstaff 100 Tuesday night at Hawkeye Downs dueled furiously and intensely is a vast understatement.

Marion's Fred Horn steered his sleek 1977 Camaro to the checkers abut a car length in front of Waterloo's Bill Zwanziger to put the finishing touches on a dazzling stock car program that delighted 6,500 race fans.

“I just wanted to run flat out and the car performed,” breathed Horn after outlasting Zwanziger's 1977 Nova in a heated battle that went bumper-to-bumper and side-by-side for the final 30 laps of the 100-lapper.

“This is probably my greatest racing win. I won the Iowa 300 IMCA race once, but this is probably the most prestigious, the top short track drivers in the Midwest, maybe the whole country, were here tonight.”

“I sure feels good to win and I'm telling you; I have to pay the highest tribute to Bill Zwanziger. We were right together through those last laps, and he didn't touch me once.”

Kalona's Mike Niffenegger won the pole position with a 24.76 lap in time trials, but Zwanziger, a former Falstaff winner, moved to front on the second lap.

That changed one lap later when defending champion Curt Hansen of Dike took over and led until Zwanziger took over on the 35th tour. And while the record crowd feasted on the front-running action, Roger Dolan of Lisbon and Bill Rice of Des Moines were steaming like there was no tomorrow.

Dolan started 16th but was running fifth on the 35th lap. That was just one lap before Waterloo's Ed Sanger, another former winner, went to the pits with engine problems. Sanger was driving his backup car.

Rice started even farther back, 19th on the grid, and he maneuvered relentlessly until finally moving into his eventual fourth-place finishing spot on the 94th lap.

Dolan opted for tile high groove from the beginning and had pedal to the metal until he went around Zwanziger on the 60th lap. The Lisbon veteran was making a run at Horn going into the second turn on the 69th lap when he spun out and lost six positions. He came back to finish sixth.

Horn picked up $1,600 for the win and confided later he loves longer races. “I've like to go 100 laps or more, it’s more appealing racing. It gives you a chance to really see what your car can do.”

“I’m driving a lighter car this year, but tonight I think we were about 2, 850 pounds because we added some weight. It was a good test for the Camaro. I want to give my brother Ed some hard-earned credit. He maintains the car and really had it set up right tonight.”

Rice was racing for the fifth straight day and arrived late Tuesday night after pulling almost 500 miles from Fargo, N.D., where he won $1,100 for winning a special Monday night.

“After we timed and had to run that heat race we seriously thought about loading up and heading for Des Moines,” said Rice. “We've been on the road constantly all weekend and everybody in the crew/w is really tired.”

Bill can temper his worn-out feeling when he totals up his earnings since last Friday night. In the money at Boone, Mason City, Des Moines, and Fargo and then in the Falstaff, his earnings total $2,930.

Mike Frieden won the 20-lap consolation and picked up $200.

Pit Stops: Lisbon's Roger Dolan wowed the crowd of course, with his brilliant drive from 16th and after cooling off with a beverage after the 100-lapper mused, facetiously, “That's what I get for driving so conservatively.” On the 59th lap, Dolan scraped the wall in the back stretch and sparks flew, but in the process passed Curt Hanson into second place behind Horn . . . Most observers were amazed that 10 cars all finished on the same lap, let alone go the entire 100 tours. “It was amazing,” said veteran race announcer Tony Dean, now of Huron, S.D., “that 21 of the 28 starters were still racing at the finish.” Dean got his start announcing races at various Eastern Iowa tracks.


Results -

1. Fred Horn, Marion
2. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
3. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
4. Bill Rice, Des Moines
5. Curt Hansen, Dike
6. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
7. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
8. Ken Walton, Viola
9. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
10. Duane Steffe, Colona, Ill.
11. Gary Crawford, Independence
12. Red Dralle, Evansdale
13. Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville
14. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo
15. Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo
16. Tom Hearst, Wilton
17. Dan Dickey, Packwood
18. Gail Brenner, Wilton Junction
19. Steve Keppler, Marion
20. Dave Chase, Council Bluffs
21. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
22. Larry Schulte, Delhi
23. Gary Webb, Davenport
24. Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
25. John Engelkens, Morrison, Ill.

1989 - Slinger National 100's to Bickle and Hansen

 

Winners of the two 100-lap late model features that comprised the first leg of the Slinger Nationals celebrated at Slinger Speedway. From left are Ms. Slinger Speedway Beth Maaske, the first winner Rich Bickle Jr., Pabst representative Bob Milkovich, second feature winner Scott Hansen, and Pabst representative John Laimon. – Al Fortner Photo

Slinger, Wis. (June 13, 1989) – A pair of dramatic finishes highlighted the first round of the Slinger Nationals as Rich Bickle Jr. and Scott Hansen each captured 100-lap late model features at Slinger Speedway on Tuesday night.

Bickle, established as the favorite in the two-round event by virtue of four consecutive regular season feature wins here, wasted little time justifying the pit talk as he cranked out a world record in qualifying, turning a lap of 11.456 seconds on the high-banked quarter-mile.

By virtue of his qualifying lap, Bickle was gridded far back in the 24-car field for the start of the first 100-lapper. NASCAR Winston Cup regular Dick Trickle started from the pole and dominated most of the first half of the race.

After running away from the field, Trickle had leads wiped out by cautions for spins by Conrad Morgan and Al Laufer on laps 16 and 47, respectively.

By the second caution, Bickle, the only driver effectively using the outer groove on the misty, foggy evening, was up to third behind Trickle and Joe Shear.

“I was running better on the outside but with all of the fog and grease on my windshield, I could hardly see anything,” Bickle said.

Despite the tough conditions, Bickle wasted little time driving around Shear, then dropping Trickle to the runner-up spot on lap 57. From there, it looked like clear sailing to the checkered, until Butch Miller worked his way into second place and began closing in on Bickle, who suddenly started having issues getting through the corners. On several occasions over the last 15 circuits, Miller pulled inside the leader only to fall back as Bickle used lapped traffic to perfection in holding off his pursuer.

At the wire, it was Bickle by less than one-car-length over Miller with Trickle, Shear, and Al Schill rounding out the top-five.

However, Bickle’s luck soured in the opening stages of the second 100-lap headliner as a broken right rear hub forced him to retire on lap 12.

Meanwhile, Dennis Lampman, a Slinger regular, was enjoying the ride of his life, running away from the field after starting on the outside of the front row. After a caution for a minor tangle, Lampman had opened up a 20-car-length lead with 25 laps remaining.

At that point, Hansen, who was hampered by mechanical and tire problems in the first race, took second place from Shear and set his sights on Lampman.

“We had to drop out of the first race with a pair of flat right-side tires, but we didn’t use up the left-side rubber,” said Hansen. “We had pretty good tires all around for the second race and that made a huge difference.”

With 15 circuits remaining, Hansen began diving under Lampman on each lap, but it took until the pair exited turn four coming down for the white flag before Hansen finally muscled his way into the lead.

Hansen led the rest of the way to score the victory with Lampman fending off Trickle, Miller and Shear to secure runner-up honors.

Seconds after the event, Trickle crashed hard into the back end of Hansen’s car, inflicting heavy damage.

“I couldn’t see the flagman because of the heavy fog,” Trickle explained. My crew was on the radio telling me what flag he was holding. They were yelling ‘white, white’ when the checkered actually fell. When I finally realized what was going on, it was too late.”


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton
2. Butch Miller, Coopersville, Mich.
3. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
4. Joe Shear, Clinton
5. Al Schill, Franklin
6. Al Laufer, Hartford
7. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
8. Dennis Lampman, Racine
9. Lowell Bennett, Neenah
10.John Ziegler, Madison


Feature #2 –

1. Scott Hansen, Green Bay
2. Dennis Lampman
3. Dick Trickle
4. Butch Miller
5. Joe Shear
6. Al Schill
7. Conrad Morgan, Dousman
8. Al Laufer
9. John Ziegler
10.Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.