1994 - Randy Belk took advantage of Shane Essary's misfortune to win the late model feature at Monett (Mo.) Speedway on Sunday, June 26. Essary jumped to the early lead in the 25-lap encounter and was making shambles of the field when he suddenly pulled to the infield with engine woes with only a few laps left. Belk took over from there and grabbed the win, his first of the season. Rich Lebow, Darrell Mooneyham, Rex McCroskey and Leslie Essary followed Belk across the finish line. In other action, Kelly Bremer took top honors in the IMCA modified feature and super stock driver Brett Henry and Deana Stockton were married in a ceremony that took place on the frontstretch.
1988 - George Snider of Bakersfield, Calif., moved into the lead on round 87 and then went on to take the checkered in the 100-mile USAC Valvoline Silver Crown event Sunday afternoon, June 26th. Snider moved ahead of leader Steve Chassey of Carmel, Ind. and won by a two-second margin over Richmond, Ohio's Gene Lee Gibson. Fast qualifier Johnny Parsons (120.866 mph) of Speedway, Ind., finished third in a race that saw a record 8 lead changes amongst the 31 car field.
1983 - Dean Roper won his second consecutive USAC stock car race of the season on Saturday afternoon when he captured the DuQuoin 100 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on June 25th. Roper, the defending USAC champion, held off a late charge by Joe Wallace for the victory. Roper moved around Wallace on the sixth lap and paced all but two of the remaining go-rounds of the race. Wallace, Ramo Stott, Butch Garner and Rick O' Brien rounded out the top five finishers.
1977 - Bob Hilmer of Dysart, Iowa won the 25-lap late model feature at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Webster City, Iowa on Saturday, June 25. Hilmer started in the fourth row and had his work cut out for him but managed to work his way through the field. On lap 12 he passed Jerry Holtkamp of Williams for second and two laps later, overtook race leader Bruce Sommerfeld of Fort Dodge for the top spot and held on for the final 11 laps. Sommerfeld, Holtkamp, Dan Nesteby and Bob Shryock were the top five. In the sportsman feature, Al Urhammer of Radcliffe out dueled point leader Keith Conroy of Jefferson to win an exciting 15-lap feature.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
This week in history
Steve Kinser of Bloomington, Ind., continued his dominance of Hales Corner Speedway with his seventh win in nine tries.
1993 - Steve Kinser led flag to flag to win the rain-shortened World of Outlaws/Copenhagen -Skoal Shootout "Beertown Showdown" at Hales Corner speedway in Franklin, Wis., on June 20. The event was originally scheduled to be a two-day affair beginning on Thursday but rain forced the preliminary program to be canceled. Kinser outraced Kenny Jacobs to grab the lead of the 25-lap headliner and was lapping cars by the sixth circuit in what was a runaway. Mark Kinser, Andy Hillenburg, Stevie Smith and Jacobs were the top five finishers. The win was Kinser's seventh in nine events at Hales over the past few years.
1982 - If there was a "home track advantage", Bob Senneker made good use of it to win the 200-lap ASA Circuit of Champions event at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway Saturday night, June 20. Senneker won by one and a half seconds over Mike Eddy and Dick Trickle before a standing room only crowd of 14,000. Although Senneker led from lap 81, he was hounded the entire distance by Eddy ad Trickle, who managed to get within a second of Senneker late in the race but ffaded slightly before the finish as they relentlessly battled each other. For the victory, Senneker earned $5,420 out of $33,500 total purse. Senneker, Eddy, Trickle and Bruce Vanderlaan were the only drivers to finish on the lead lap.
1976 - Bob Kosiski of Omaha, Neb., won his fifth straight feature at Sunset Speedway on Sunday, June 20, upping the bounty placed on him several weeks ago to an even $1,000. Des Moines' Don Hoffman made the trip hoping to earn some extra cash but settled for second. Jim Cominoli of Omaha, driving a 1973 Chrysler kit car, led the first 13 laps before giving way to Kosiski. He would finish third ahead of John Oswalt of Kansas City and Jerry Wancewicz of Omaha.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The Belleville High Banks: Celebrating 100 years of racing
An aerial view of the famed Belleville Highbanks - Photo courtesy of Belleville High Banks
by Lee Ackerman
Belleville, Kan. - To drivers it is one of the scariest places in the world to race. “Man is this place fast,” said national known Iowa dirt late model driver Brian Birkhofer, after winning a Hav-A-Tampa race at Belleville in 2004. “The track is definitely flat out wide open all the way around.”
They have been racing at this historical venue continuously for 100 years. The first documented race at Belleville was on July 4, 1910 when somewhere between 7,000 and 10,000 fans watched three cars raced around the half mile for ten laps with a winning time of 7 minutes and 10 seconds or 43 seconds per lap. On July 30, 2009 Terry McCarl turned the track in 14.32 seconds in a 410 Sprint car. Of course he had a little more banking and a lot more horsepower to work with.
It started as a flat ½ mile track but in the in 1932 it was changed to a high banked oval that in the 50’s saw 18 feet banking. While the banking has been lowered somewhat from those summit type banks it is still one frightening place to race. They don’t call it the World’s Fastest ½ mile dirt track for nothing.
The track itself is almost a circle and you don’t get the same perspective you do on most dirt tracks with their very distinctive corners. At Belleville it’s virtually flat out all the way around the track and its truly demanding on both driver and equipment. It’s seen sprint cars, late models, motorcycles and most everything in between and since 1978 it’s been home to the Belleville Midget Nationals.
In 1911, they raced again at Belleville with W. W. Brown of Kansas City, Missouri being declared the winner. While it's not known whether automobiles raced at Belleville in 1912, it is documented that they did return in 1913 with Belleville’s Harry White, the 1910 winner taking home top prize in the “Home Race” while Iona, Kansas Glen Breed won the Professional “Free for All Event.” A feat Breed would repeat in 1916.
In 1927 thru 1929 it was “Little Pat” Cunningham of St. Joseph, Missouri who dominated Belleville winning two features in each year and in 1928 setting a track record with a lap around Belleville of 28 seconds flat.
In the earlier 30’s winners at Belleville included the legendary John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa and a two-day sweep in September, 1931 by Iola, Kansas’ Lew Irwin.
In the late 40’s and early 50’s the roadster ran a number of times on the high banks with most of the races being dominated by Andy Anderson in “the Belle of Belleville” owned by Belleville resident Ray Goodrich.
The International Motor Contest (IMCA) would race for the first time at Belleville in 1951 with Frank Luptow winning in the Big Cars and Bob McKim in the Stock Cars.
They have been racing at this historical venue continuously for 100 years. The first documented race at Belleville was on July 4, 1910 when somewhere between 7,000 and 10,000 fans watched three cars raced around the half mile for ten laps with a winning time of 7 minutes and 10 seconds or 43 seconds per lap. On July 30, 2009 Terry McCarl turned the track in 14.32 seconds in a 410 Sprint car. Of course he had a little more banking and a lot more horsepower to work with.
It started as a flat ½ mile track but in the in 1932 it was changed to a high banked oval that in the 50’s saw 18 feet banking. While the banking has been lowered somewhat from those summit type banks it is still one frightening place to race. They don’t call it the World’s Fastest ½ mile dirt track for nothing.
The track itself is almost a circle and you don’t get the same perspective you do on most dirt tracks with their very distinctive corners. At Belleville it’s virtually flat out all the way around the track and its truly demanding on both driver and equipment. It’s seen sprint cars, late models, motorcycles and most everything in between and since 1978 it’s been home to the Belleville Midget Nationals.
In 1911, they raced again at Belleville with W. W. Brown of Kansas City, Missouri being declared the winner. While it's not known whether automobiles raced at Belleville in 1912, it is documented that they did return in 1913 with Belleville’s Harry White, the 1910 winner taking home top prize in the “Home Race” while Iona, Kansas Glen Breed won the Professional “Free for All Event.” A feat Breed would repeat in 1916.
In 1927 thru 1929 it was “Little Pat” Cunningham of St. Joseph, Missouri who dominated Belleville winning two features in each year and in 1928 setting a track record with a lap around Belleville of 28 seconds flat.
In the earlier 30’s winners at Belleville included the legendary John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa and a two-day sweep in September, 1931 by Iola, Kansas’ Lew Irwin.
In the late 40’s and early 50’s the roadster ran a number of times on the high banks with most of the races being dominated by Andy Anderson in “the Belle of Belleville” owned by Belleville resident Ray Goodrich.
The International Motor Contest (IMCA) would race for the first time at Belleville in 1951 with Frank Luptow winning in the Big Cars and Bob McKim in the Stock Cars.
IMCA would race at Belleville continuously through 1960 and then on and off again schedule with the final racing being a 1968 stock car race won by Ramo Stott. Ironically it was just 50 years ago this July 4th that 12-time IMCA stock car champion Ernie Derr won a 50-lap feature at Belleville. Perhaps the car that had the most success over the years at Belleville was Hector Honore’s Black Deuce. First with Bobby Grim driving and later with "Pistol" Pete Folse behind the wheel the car won 13 IMCA Big Cars Races at the High Banks, including the last 8 in a row.
Pete Folse and Hector Honore's legendary "Black Deuce" claimed many victories at Belleville - Kyle Ealy CollectionThe era of the Big Car Racing Association (BCRA) started at the high banks in 1965 and ran through 1976. Many of the best sprint car drivers in America would visit the famed high banks for either the Memorial Day event or the Fair races which both were held annually. Roy Bryant would drive the Red Forshee #84 to several feature wins at Belleville and win BCRA championships in 1968 & 69.
Lonnie Jensen behind the wheel of a number of different cars would win 6 BCRA features and would also claim the BCRA title in 70 & 72. The Pius Selenke #43, Williams-Swenson #24, Bill Smith 4x and Larry Swanson #14 were also multiple winning cars at Belleville in BCRA competition.
One of the benchmark events in Belleville racing history came during a BCRA on August 23, 1968 when Lloyd Beckman behind the wheel of the Larry Swanson Chevy broke the magic 20 second barrier when he toured the high banks with a lap of 19.94 seconds.
For more than two decades the O’Reilly National Championship Racing Association has been a staple at the High Banks. NCRA Outlaw Sprints, 360 Sprints, Late Models and Modifieds have all challenged the banks. Two stories of note about the NCRA, one was this writers experience at a NCRA 360 show. The feature went green, white, checker, and I recall saying out loud, “It’s over all ready.” It doesn’t take long to get around the high banks.
John Allen (98) and Jon Thompson (75) compete during an NCRA modified show at the Belleville High Banks. - Justin Sly PhotoThe other comes from Warren Hardy of the NCRA as he recalled the time Al Purkey came in second to Kelly Boen during an NCRA Late Model Show at Belleville a few years ago. After the checkers waved, Purkey got out of his car for the interview and asked “Did I win.” As Warren relates, “Al hadn’t seen the race winner (Boen) because Boen had lapped every car in the field except Purkey and he was only a couple of car lengths behind him at the line. All, in just 25 laps.”
This year to celebrate its 100-year history they are holding a very special race, the Belleville 100. Actually its 40 laps one day and 60 laps the next and the race will be for modifieds. The modifieds have run Belleville many times but certainly nothing as demanding as this race.
On Friday, July 2 they will run a full card of racing featuring heat races, consolation races and a 40 lap feature paying $5,000 to win and $500 to start. On Saturday, July 3 they will run another series of qualifying events, a 15 lap non-qualifiers race paying $2,000 to win and $300 to start.
Then comes the thrilling conclusion. 30 cars will race for 60 laps, with the winner getting $10,000 to win and the race paying $1,000 just to start. But there’s a catch. If the pole sitter for this race decides to start 30th and last and wins the race, that driver will receive a cool $100,000 for winning from the back of the pack. Veteran Lincoln, Nebraska flagman Larry White will be in the flag stand.
The stands will be packed and the best of the best in modifieds will be at the Belleville High Banks on July 2nd & 3rd for the Belleville 100. - Justin Sly PhotoThe Belleville High Banks are located at the North Central Kansas Fairgrounds on the north side of Belleville, Kansas. For more information, go to http://www.belleville100.com/. While in Belleville you can also visit the High Banks Hall of Fame and National Midget Auto Racing Museum located just off highway 81.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
This week in history
1988 - Two-time Interstate Racing Association champion Jim Moulis abandoned his usual rim-riding style and used the low groove to score his first feature win of the season in the circuit's 25-lap headliner at Wilmot (Wis.) Speedway on June 11. Dennis Spitz paced the opening 23 circuits before Moulis dove low on him entering turn three. Moulis secured the lead coming out of turn four and never looked back in becoming the seventh different winner in eight events. Spitz settled for second followed by Frank Filskov, point leader Gib Wiser and Joe Roe.
1983 - Hometown favorite Don Weyhrich led the last 12 laps to win the late model feature at Riviera Raceway in Norfolk, Neb., on Saturday evening, June 11. Weyhrich passed early leader Mike Benson of Wakefield, Neb., on lap 13 of the 25-lap main and was never challenged after that. Weyhrich also won the first heat and trophy dash to make it a clean sweep.
Dave Bjorge of Austin, Minn., chalked up another late model victory at Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn., on June 12, 1977.
1977 - A swift, late surge by Dave Bjorge of Austin, Minn., was enough for him to capture the 30-lap late model feature at Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn., on Sunday, June 12. Bjorge, who started in the sixth row, passed five cars on the 26th lap to jump from sixth to first and go on to victory. Mert Williams and Wendell Kuehn, both of Rochester, Minn., took second and third respectively.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
This week in history
Steve Holzhausen of Bangor, Wis., made history by winning the first Miller 100 raced on the new asphalt of Hawkeye Downs Speedway.
1989 - Steve Holzhausen of Bangor, Wis., made history as he won the ARTGO-sanctioned 17th Annual Miller 100 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway on June 6. It was the first-ever Miller 100 on the new 1/2-mile asphalt track. Holzhausen, driving the only Ford in the field, grabbed the lead from Scott Hansen of Green Bay, Wis., on lap 47 and then held off fast qualifier Butch Miller of Coopersville, Mich., for the victory.
1978 - Tony Izzo of Bridgeview, Ill., captured the "Nifty 50" late model feature at Santa Fe Speedway in Hinsdale, Ill., on June 4. Izzo passed race leader Ken Widdes of Chicago early in the contest and finished far ahead of Pete Parker of Kaukauna, Wis. and John Provenzano of Glen Ellyn, Ill. Bill Knippenberg of Hinsdale won the 30-lap sportsman feature.
1967 - Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, driving a Dodge Charger, won two heat races and the 30-lap feature before 13,857 race fans at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 3. White, racing third for the first 20 laps, took advantage when Sal Tovella sent race leader Jack Bowsher into the south wall and White slipped by both of them. Tovella hung on to take second while Norm Nelson, Bill Shoulders and Bay Darnell rounded out the top five. Promoter N. Perry Luster announced that because of the higher than expected attendance, the original purse of $5,000 would be upped to $6,700. White earned $800 plus a bonus of $350 bonus with the pay raise.
1967 - Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, driving a Dodge Charger, won two heat races and the 30-lap feature before 13,857 race fans at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 3. White, racing third for the first 20 laps, took advantage when Sal Tovella sent race leader Jack Bowsher into the south wall and White slipped by both of them. Tovella hung on to take second while Norm Nelson, Bill Shoulders and Bay Darnell rounded out the top five. Promoter N. Perry Luster announced that because of the higher than expected attendance, the original purse of $5,000 would be upped to $6,700. White earned $800 plus a bonus of $350 bonus with the pay raise.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Tony Hulman Classic; The first 10 years
Tony Hulman
By Kyle Ealy
Terre Haute, Ind. – From its humble beginnings in 1971, it quickly became the crown jewel of USAC sprint car racing. At its peak, it was one of the richest prizes in all of sprint car racing. It’s a race that’s seen its share of controversy and great finishes.
This past Thursday, the Tony Hulman Classic celebrated its 40th anniversary right where it all started, the Terre Haute Action Track. The drivers that have either competed or won the event are practically all legends of the sport. The 1976 race was seen by millions on national television and brought in a whole new generation of sprint car fans.
We’ll take a look at the first 10 years, the races that shaped the history of this great Indiana spectacle.
The inaugural race was a tribute to Anton (Tony) Hulman, a native of Terre Haute, the owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and one of the biggest names in racing at the time. The event, which would coincide with the opening of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the month of May, would be televised live on ABC Wide World of Sports for a full hour on Saturday afternoon, May 1, 1971. "It will be the first sprint car race ever televised live on a dirt track," mentioned director of competition Don Smith.
Smith added that with a purse that was expected to be near $25,000, he was hoping that it would attract the top drivers from all over the country. It did exactly that…top names like Gary Bettenhausen, Larry Dickson, Carl Williams, George Snider and even the legendary A.J. Foyt were entered for what was quickly becoming the race of races.
Come the day of the event, an estimated 14,000 fans were on hand to view the race that was covered live by ABC's Wide World of Sports and broadcast nationwide. The purse that officials were hoping would reach the $25,000 mark exceeded that, paying out a whopping $28,538 in cash and merchandise. It was the richest purse ever for a USAC sprint car race.
Terre Haute, Ind. – From its humble beginnings in 1971, it quickly became the crown jewel of USAC sprint car racing. At its peak, it was one of the richest prizes in all of sprint car racing. It’s a race that’s seen its share of controversy and great finishes.
This past Thursday, the Tony Hulman Classic celebrated its 40th anniversary right where it all started, the Terre Haute Action Track. The drivers that have either competed or won the event are practically all legends of the sport. The 1976 race was seen by millions on national television and brought in a whole new generation of sprint car fans.
We’ll take a look at the first 10 years, the races that shaped the history of this great Indiana spectacle.
The inaugural race was a tribute to Anton (Tony) Hulman, a native of Terre Haute, the owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and one of the biggest names in racing at the time. The event, which would coincide with the opening of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the month of May, would be televised live on ABC Wide World of Sports for a full hour on Saturday afternoon, May 1, 1971. "It will be the first sprint car race ever televised live on a dirt track," mentioned director of competition Don Smith.
Smith added that with a purse that was expected to be near $25,000, he was hoping that it would attract the top drivers from all over the country. It did exactly that…top names like Gary Bettenhausen, Larry Dickson, Carl Williams, George Snider and even the legendary A.J. Foyt were entered for what was quickly becoming the race of races.
Come the day of the event, an estimated 14,000 fans were on hand to view the race that was covered live by ABC's Wide World of Sports and broadcast nationwide. The purse that officials were hoping would reach the $25,000 mark exceeded that, paying out a whopping $28,538 in cash and merchandise. It was the richest purse ever for a USAC sprint car race.
George Snider won the inaugural Tony Hulman Classic in Terre Haute, Ind., on May 1, 1977. - Bob Mays Collection
The official results of the feature were not obvious at the finish as Nordhorn, who finished second, protested for what he thought was a violation of USAC racing regulations.
Nordhorn's protest originated between the first and second turn when Johnny Parsons Jr. lost a tire with only three laps remaining in the 40-lap feature event. The accident forced the waving of the yellow flag until the car could be removed from the track.
Under USAC rules, laps on the yellow flag do not count so as a result of the cars and their drivers circled the track awaiting the final three laps to begin. At this point in the race, Nordhorn was in first place, a lead that he had taken away from George Snider only the lap before.
After circling the track for about four revolutions, the green flag was finally dropped. It was here that George Snider shot around Nordhorn and into the lead. Nordhorn seemingly had momentary engine trouble but quickly recovered only to finish second.
On his return lap around the track, Nordhorn pulled his sprint car up in front of the control tower and jumped out, yelling at anyone who would listen. "I was trying to run a fair race. Snider went around me before the green flag went out," he asserted. He then ran up the stairs, followed closely by his mechanic and one member of his crew. Once in the tower, Nordhorn exclaimed, "You are not going to do that to me this time."
Don Nordhorn (7) races against Tom Bigelow (25) and Leigh Earnshaw (27) during action at the Tony Hulman Classic on May 1, 1971. Despite protests, Hordhorn would be credited with runner-up honors. - Bob Mays Collection
He protested that Snider had passed him before the green flag went out. Nordhorn maintained his poise but was vehement in his protest. USAC officials called for Snider and then asked for Sam Sessions, who was behind both drivers.
Sessions later said, "I saw the green flag go out and Snider was entirely right. When the green flag goes out, you're supposed to stand on it. Nordhorn was caught sleeping, plain and simple."
After a few moments Nordhorn settled down and discussed the problem in a quiet manner with USAC officials. At one point in the discussion Nordhorn remarked that this was not the first time a flagman had cost him prize money.
After about a 30-minute discussion USAC officials declared George Snider the winner with Nordhorn finishing second. They did state, however, that Nordhorn had the right to protest the results.
Probably the loudest protesters of the afternoon were the fans, most of who felt that Nordhorn was in the right. A young race fan approached Sessions afterwards, saying that was the dirtiest deal he had ever seen giving Nordhorn second place. The usually congenial Sessions momentarily lost his cool. "What did you expect Snider to do?" he yelled. "Wait up for him?"
Rains forced a one-day delay in the second running of the Hulman Classic but the ending couldn't have been more exciting. Toss in the spectacular flips, the over-flow crowd and the celebrities on hand and you have an event that would be regarded as one of Terre Haute's finest.
On Sunday, April 30, 1972, Bruce Walkup and George Snider nearly repeated the same dramatics that happened in the inaugural event as the race once again went down to the wire.
The rich ($22,000) race was won by the popular Hoosier, Bruce Walkup. Walkup had led 17 laps and then Snider took the lead. He kept it until the lap 23 when a young USAC sprinter named Billy Cassella ran into some traffic, making contact and then slowing Snider just enough for Walkup to regain the lead. Snider, in fact, was fortunate he didn't incur more serious damage.
Bruce Walkup (29) of St. Paul, Ind., slides thru traffic en route to winning the 2nd Annual Tony Hulman Classic - Bob Mays Collection
Walkup maintained his lead until the third turn of the final lap, the 40th go-round. Then, Snider passed him - just a few yards from where he had made his 1971 move. But Walkup wasn't to be denied a win, and he passed Snider in the final turn and held last year's winner off by a "hair" to triumph. After a not so great 1971 season for the St. Paul (Ind.) resident, the victory meant the world to Walkup.
He started the feature on the pole, while Snider was second fastest qualifier among the 20 cars in the feature and was farther back in the lineup. Even though the Saturday "live" telecast was called off because of the rains, ABC-TV recorded Sunday's show and showed an hour-long replay a week later.
The race was highlighted by some spectacular flips and rolls. Karl Busson flipped right on the starting line on a restart during the semi-feature. Busson was okay but had a badly damaged car and wasn’t able to make the feature. Gary Bettenhausen made contact with another car on the first turn on the third lap of the feature. In spite of flipping two or three times and nearly landing on the outside railing, Gary scampered free of the vehicle and wasn't hurt. On the 22nd lap of the feature, Dick Tobias started going sideways in traffic on the back stretch and flipped. He was treated and released at a local hospital.
In addition to Walkup and Snider, Sam Sessions, Lee Kunzman, Larry "Boom Boom" Cannon, Jim McElreath, Tom Bigelow, Don Nordhorn, Billy Puterbaugh, Larry Dickson and Carl Williams rounded out the top 10.
Lil' Joe Saldana avoided all the bumps and bruises on the track to win the 1973 Tony Hulman Classic. - Bob Mays Collection
Beale, of Toledo, Ohio, went the final five laps with smoke streaming from his car, and trailed Saldana by only two seconds at the checkered flag, while third place finisher Don Nordhorn of Wadesville, Ind., and Bruce Walkup of St. Paul Ind., were well behind the leaders. Sammy Sessions, defending USAC sprint champ, took fifth place, despite spinning his car out in the middle of the race. John Toth, Lee Kunzman, Tony Simon, Jerry Poland and Johnny Parsons followed the top five.
There were no serious accidents, but drivers experienced overheating problems because of mud being kicked up on the wet track.
On April 14, 1974, before another capacity crowd and a national television audience watching, Gary Bettenhausen grabbed the lead after a yellow late in the race and roared on to win the 40-lap feature on a Sunday afternoon.
Veteran Gary Bettenhausen slipped past former winner George Snider to win the 4th Annual Tony Hulman Classic on April 14, 1974. - Bob Mays Collection
The Indianapolis 500 veteran flashed past George Snider with about 10 laps to go. Snider had pulled ahead of the pack after early leader Jackie Howerton brushed the wall for the second time on the ½-mile dirt track. Jan Opperman, the fastest qualifier during Saturday qualifying, came in second ahead of Snider, who couldn’t keep up the pace in the late stages. A.J. Foyt and Duane "Pancho" Carter brought up the top five.
A sick engine didn’t prevent Duane "Pancho" Carter from winning the Hulman Classic on Sunday, May 4, 1975 but tinkering with it almost did.
Carter said the engine felt unresponsive when the race started, but a spectacular first-lap crash involving Chuck Booth and Jim McElreath red-flagged the race. Before the 40-lap feature was restarted, Carter's crew made adjustments they hoped would remedy engine problems. "We were running a lean fuel mixture and on the restart we leaned it down even more, thinking that would correct the problem," the defending USAC sprint car champion said. "Instead we made it worse."
Duane "Pancho" Carter won the Tony Hulman Classic on May 4, 1975, despite engine woes early in the contest. - Bob Mays Collection
But a combination of a new set of tires and a deteriorating track gave Carter a traction advantage over the rest of the field. He led all but the first two laps around the ½-mile Vigo County Fairgrounds dirt oval, picking up an estimated $12,000 of an estimated $40,000, still considered sprint car’s richest prize.
Defending Hulman champion Gary Bettenhausen, who led the first two laps was the victim of two near spins and finally looped his machine into the wall on the last circuit that eliminated him. The race, which had been postponed from Saturday, when it had been scheduled for national television, ended on a yellow caution light, which, according to the rulebooks, it cannot do. Caution laps are not counted but the officials' decision was not challenged.
Jim McElreath suffered a dislocated elbow and other minor injuries when his car became airborne on the first turn, left the track and flipped into the parking lot. Carter, who was also the fastest qualifier, was trailed to the finish line by Lee Osborne, George Snider, Tom Bigelow and Sheldon Kinser.
It was 1976 and "Speedy" Bill Smith had entertained the thought of taking on the USAC drivers in their neck of the woods. He could think of only one driver to pilot his new ride, the hippie Christian from Montana, Jan Opperman.
Two other USAC-sanctioned events earlier in the spring had netted Opperman sixth and second place finishes. There was no doubt that he was ready to take on the best of the best on their own turf.
The May 1, 1976 Hulman Classic pitted the brightest and best USAC had to offer, Duane "Pancho" Carter, against the "King of the Outlaws" Jan Opperman. It was almost more than any promoter could dream of. The race drew an estimated 8,000 race fans and with the race being intercut with the Kentucky Derby on national television, millions more were watching at home.
The "long-haired hippie" Jan Opperman, powered the Speedway Motors sprinter to victory in the Tony Hulman Classic before a nation-wide audience on May 1, 1976 - Bob Mays Collection
Opperman qualified fifth fastest in time trials and won his heat. He started on the front row alongside one of his best friend’s, Bubby Jones. Carter would start behind Opperman in the inside second row. Opperman would quickly grab the lead, using the upper cushion to his advantage. Carter, Jones and Jimmy McElreath followed suit and also rode the cushion. In trying to keep up with Opperman, Carter’s driving was so erratic that at one point, he got up on two wheels, almost tagging the corner fence.
A yellow flag came out with 10 laps to go for lost wheel on Tom Bigelow’s ride. It also bunched up the field and gave the Carter the opportunity he was looking for. As the green waved restarting the race, Opperman went from his high cushion driving that got him a healthy lead and dropped to mid-track. He was now in defensive mode, able to block any attack that Carter put on him from every angle.
It worked perfectly for the remaining laps. Opperman held Carter at bay and snatched victory from USAC’s elite, collecting $11, 429 from the rich $43,000 purse.
Carter of Brownsburg, Ind., settled for runner-up honors. Bubby Jones was third and Carter's brother, Dana took fourth. Bruce Walkup, who had to qualify for the main event through the semi-feature, finished fifth. Chuck Gurney of Hayward, Calif., got into trouble on some loose dirt and went over the wall. Bruised but not battered, Gurney was credited with a sixth-place finish and a trip to the local hospital.
James McElreath displays perfect form en route to winning the 1977 Hulman Classic.
On Saturday, May 7, 1977, a young 23-year-old Texan decimated the field in a wreck-marred Hulman Classic. While his 49-year-old father was in Indianapolis preparing for the 500, Jim McElreath Jr’s margin of victory was nearly 10 car lengths ahead of pole sitter Clark Templeman.
McElreath started fourth and grabbed the lead on lap 16 of the 40-lap contest kept it up front for the remainder of the race. Roger Rager was third, Billy Cassella took fourth and Jerry Weeks fifth in the $52, 000 grinder.
Before a full lap was even turned, Joe Saldana flipped over the third turn fence escaping with a small cut. A little later on, Steve Chassey was battling for sixth when he was bumped and began flipping in the third turn. In the melee, Bob Frey hit Chassey’s ride and suffered a bad gash on his right arm.
Dick Tobias is interviewed after his Hulman Classic victory.
Dick Tobias was towed into the winner’s circle after his Hulman Classic victory on May 6, 1978. Mere moments after taking the checkers at the eighth annual event, Tobias’ rear torsion bar gave way. They say timing is everything and it couldn’t of been truer in this race. Tobias, of Lebanon, Pa., was only seconds ahead of Duke Cook of Sidney, Ohio when he finished the 40 laps of the feature event. Leland McSpadden of Tempe, Ariz., was third, followed by Rich Leavell of Elwood and Rick Vogler of Glen Ellyn, Ill.
On Saturday, May 5, 1979, Bubby Jones of Danville, Ill., chances of winning a Hulman Classic went from hope to heartbreak. Jones was leading the 40-lap feature when his car broke a front axle and flipped over a guardrail during the 28th circuit.
Running second behind Jones at the time, Duane Carter of Brownsburg, Ind. took the lead after the accident and held it the rest of the way. Sheldon Kinser, Larry Rice, Johnny Parsons and Bob East, who qualified through the B-main, rounded out the top five.
Eddie Leavitt is interviewed by Chris Economaki after winning the 1980 Hulam Classic.
As the event started a new decade, it was Eddie Leavitt of Kearney, Mo., who already owned two Knoxville Nationals titles, adding a different trophy to his ever-growing mantle as he took home the Hulman Classic win on May 3, 1980. Leavitt out dueled Steve Chassey for top honors. "Pancho’ Carter, Sheldon Kinser and Bobby Olivero rounded out the top five.
As the years have gone by, some of the biggest names in sprint car racing have won the Tony Hulman Classic; Sheldon Kinser (1981), Jack Hewitt (1983 & 1995), Ron Shuman (1985), Rich Vogler (1986 &1989), Steve Butler (1987 & 1988), Dave Darland (1993), Tracy Hines (2001), J.J. Yeley (1997 & 2003), three-time champion Levi Jones (2005, 2008 & 2009)) and most recently Jerry Coons Jr.
Still, there were other big name drivers who never saw victory lane. Norman "Bubby" Jones of Danville, Ill., was one of the most successful sprint car drivers in his era, yet "Stormin’ Norman", as he was sometimes called, took third in 1976, sixth in 1977, was leading the 1979 race when he broke and finished fifth in 1981, but that was as close as he ever got.
The event has also made some unknown drivers household names after winning. Cary Faas was just another face in the crowd, winless in a four-year career, when he won the Hulman Classic in 1992. Faas would go on to add two more Hulmans in 1994 and 1998. The "Sikeston Sawblade" Daron Clayton etched his name into Hulman Classic history in 2006 with a dazzling performance.
Forty years down for the Tony Hulman Classic; an impressive list of winners and memories to last a lifetime. Open Wheel Times’ Kevin Eckert said it best; Christmas used to come in May to those who won the Tony Hulman Classic, once the richest prize in all of sprint car racing.
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