1955 - National title, rich purses to lure top field

Huron, S.D. (August 31, 1955) - A national championship rating has been awarded speedway-type big car races scheduled at the South Dakota State Fair in Huron on Friday, September 9.

And, the prize purse of $2,500 for the star-studded, seven-event program is the biggest being offered at any mid-western state track this season with the exception of the five-day program at the Minnesota State Fair.

In addition, the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA), who are sanctioning the races, wrote two new rules into the racing book last winter, which will make the Huron meet one of the most competitive in history.

Under National Championship rules a total of 25 national championship dates have been awarded licensed IMCA promoters, and all drivers of IMCA are eligible to compete at any national championship meet. This means the field will be larger and three times as many points will be awarded to money-winning drivers.

“Points” determine the standing of the driver and also determine his slice of the IMCA's huge cash point fund at the end of the season. As a result of this change drivers throw caution to the winds because they can win two ways - on the local level, and in national competition.

Program for Friday's races includes time trials, three preliminary qualification heats, match races, handicap races and a 20-lap feature in which more than a dozen cars will jockey around the track simultaneously.

Frank Winkley, president of Auto Racing Inc., promoter of the auto races, has brought many of the nation's top drivers to South Dakota, including such headliners as Emory Collins, Jimmy Wilburn, Russ Lee and Deb Snyder. Several world record holders such as Marvin Pifer, Jim McWithey, Red Amick and Harvey Porter also are expected on Huron's fast, half-mile oval.

August 30, 1977

This Week in History

1994 – Veteran Bob Senneker took advantage of a late caution and made a daring four-wide pass on the outside with 27 laps remaining to score his first win of the year in the AC-Delco Challenge Series Badgerland 150 on August 28 at the Milwaukee Mile. After a “competition yellow” restart, Senneker bolted to the high side while Ken Schrader hugged the low groove on the green flag. In a spectacular four-wide race down the backstretch, Senneker and Schrader (both with fresh tires) swept past both Brad Loney and Bryan Reffner with Senneker securing the lead over Schrader as they entered turn three. From there, the Michigan ace pulled away and took the checkered flag a little over two seconds ahead of Schrader. Mike Eddy, Steve Holzhausen and Harold Fair rounded out the top five.

1988 – Billy Moyer completed a successful World of Outlaws/American Late Model Association season with his sixth feature win of the campaign at Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway on Saturday, August 27. Larry Phillips paced the first 10 laps before giving way to Ken Essary on round 11. A broken right front shock then knocked Essary out of the lead on lap 22 allowing Moyer to charge to the top. Once in front, Moyer, driving the Larry Shaw #21 Camaro, was unstoppable and won by a comfortable five-car lengths. Ray Guss Jr., Ken Essary, Larry Phillips and Rex McCroskey followed Moyer across the finish line.

1983 – Stan Fox swept the midget action at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway this season by winning the 50-lap World of Outlaws Midgets (WOOM) feature on Sunday afternoon, August 28. Fox, who established a WOOM qualification mark of 32.161 seconds (11.397 mph), began the afternoon on the sixth row, in the partially inverted, three abreast field of 36 midgets. Swiftly making his way through the field, Fox took the top spot on lap 24 when race leader Bob Cicconi's gearbox broke. The Janesville, Wis., driver was never seriously threatened after that, picked up the checkers and the $2,000 first prize. Jim McLean of Crest Hill, Ill., Jim Gates of Plano, Ill., Bill Engelhart of Madison, Wis., and Larry Hillerud of Arlington Heights, Ill., rounded out the top five that saw only 10 cars still on the race track at the finish.

1977 – Veteran Paul Feldner scored his first victory ever on the USAC stock car circuit, August 28, by winning the division’s 100-mile race at the Du Quoin (Ill.) Fairgrounds. Feldner inherited the top spot on lap 53 when race leader Charlie Glotzbach pitted during a yellow flag. With his 1974 Charger running to perfection, Feldner opened up a comfortable advantage and won by half a straightaway. Feldner averaged 73.968 miles per hour in recording the victory, despite the frequent appearance of the caution flag. Sal Tovella, starting 17th in the 28-car field, took runner-up honors, while Jim Hurlbert, Bay Darnell and Glotzbach followed.

1977 - Hansen Wins Point Title

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (August 26, 1977) - Winning four track titles wasn’t Curt Hansen’s goal when he began the late model stock car campaign in April.

But after winning the 25-lap season championship race and the inherent point title Friday night at Hawkeye Downs, the Dike driver is on the threshold of attaining his non-goal.

“I’ve got that in mind now,” breathed Hansen after holding off Ken Walton of Cedar Rapids in a bumper-to-bumper duel through the last four laps. “I've already clinched the point title at Des Moines and I’ve got pretty comfortable leads at Oskaloosa and Waterloo (Tunis).”

“I didn't think much about winning all four championships, but then at mid season everything seemed to be going in our direction.”

“I’m thrilled about winning at Hawkeye Downs because I really love this track. It was pretty tacky and muddy, but I just prayed everything stayed together when Walton came rushing up behind me.”

It was Hansen’s second point title at The Downs, the first coming in 1974.

Hansen, who started on the pole by virtue of point lead in a straight up start on the grid, picked up $500 for winning, but said his oil pressure readings scared him throughout the race.

“The gauge went up to 310, but then I got cooled down to 300 and then Walton came breathing down my neck again. It was up to 320 at the finish.”

“I don't know if it’s quite right, but I hugged the inside through those last few laps. I gave Kenny all the outside if he wanted it.”

A crowd estimated at 3,000 watched the late-starting program that didn’t begin until 9:15 because promoter Al Miller’s crewmen were busily putting the half-mile dirt oval in racing shape after heavy rains had turned it into a quagmire earlier Friday.

Steve Becker of Atkins roared in front of the field after starting on the pole and breezed to the sportsman season championship. Becker also won the point title in that division and pocketed $100 for his win.

Results

Late Model -

1. Curt Hansen, Dike
2. Ken Walton, Viola
3. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
4. Fred Horn, Marion
5. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
6. Gary Crawford, Independence
7. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
8. John Moss, Iowa City
9. Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids
10. Bob Schulte, Delhi
11. Jim Burbridge, Delhi
12. Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
13. Tim McDonough, Cedar Rapids
14. Dave Sidwell, Iowa City
15. Bob Kinsella, Dubuque

Sportsman -

1. Steve Becker, Atkins
2. Bob Jaeger, Dubuque
3. Larry Schulte, Cedar Rapids
4. Gary Duggan, Hiawatha
5. Chuck Lukemyre, Tipton
6. Bernie Frieden, Fairfax
7. Roger Ockenfels, Cedar Rapids
8. John Ward, Bernard

1974 - Darnell upstages USAC vets for Century win

Bay Darnell is all smiles after winning the Indiana State Century for USAC stock cars at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It was Darnell's first career USAC stock car victory. - Kyle Ealy Collection 

Indianapolis, Ind. (August 25, 1974) - Bay Darnell, a little round man with a big smile, has finally stepped into the winner’s circle after 13 years of trying. 

The 43-year-old driver from Deerfield, Ill., outdueled the top names in U.S. Auto Club stock car racing to win Sunday’s 11th annual Indiana State Fair Century 100-miler and about $4,500. He did it driving the wrong car, heavily taped, because of a broken shoulder and fighting the burden of never having won a feature race in 13 years on the USAC tour. 

Darnell, known as “The Great Pumpkin” because of the bright orange driving suit he wears when racing, said, “I can't even tell you how I felt when I saw the checkered flag out there. There were just too many things to think about.” “I won with a 1974 Dodge and it’s my asphalt (track) car. I totaled out my dirt car and broke my shoulder last week at Springfield, Illinois, and I didn’t even think I’d be here,” Darnell said. 

But he credited a “miracle doctor” with patching him up well enough to go a grueling 100 laps on the Indiana State Fairgrounds’ mile dirt track. The shoulder “didn’t give me any trouble. I didn’t even feel it once we got started. I put this thick padding in back of me in the seat. It was so comfortable. It’s never coming out of there.” 

USAC stock car division leader Norm Nelson finished second, followed by defending USAC stock car champion Butch Hartman and former USAC national driving champion Roger McCluskey. Paul Feldner was fifth. 

The 5-foot-8, 200-pound Darnell started sixth in the 28-car field. Hartman held the lead for the first 44 laps, Nelson kept it until McCluskey look it for one lap while Nelson pitted on lap 69, then Nelson held it again until Darnell took over for good on lap 95. 

Results – 

1. Bay Darnell 

2. Norm Nelson 

3. Butch Hartman 

4. Roger McCluskey 

5. Paul Feldner 

6. John Schultz 

7. Ramo Stott 

8. Rick O’ Brien 

9. Frank Freda 

10. Ralph Latham 

11. Sal Tovella 

12. George Coonrod 

13. Ernie Derr 

14. Steve Drake 

15. Paul Sizemore 

16. Joe Booher 

17. Mickey Flora 

18. Keith Ploughe 

19. Chuck McWilliams 

20. Ralph Baker 

21. Jim Marshall 

22. Bob Schippers 

23. Don Lamb 

24. Ken Rowley 

25. Larry Cope 

26. Jigger Sirois 

27. M.J. McBride 

28. Jim Hurlburt

August 24, 1983

August 23, 1951