The Cornhusker-Hawkeye Challenge

By Lee Ackerman
Omaha, Neb. - As the late model class came into its own in the late 60’s and early 70’s, a series of big races or “specials” started to pop up at tracks across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa with the hopes of attracting big name drivers from outside the area. That didn’t seem to happen with much success. So in 1972 Sunset Speedway promoter Lyle Kline decided to try something a little different. He increased the purse and also decided to have the race late in the season when other tracks were shut down.

Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa won the 1972 Cornhusker - Hawkeye Challenge.

On October 2, 1972 the inaugural running of the Cornhusker-Hawkeye Challenge was held at Sunset Speedway northwest of Omaha. The race was designed to see whether eastern Iowans or eastern Nebraskans were better drivers. It would turn out over the years that the Hawkeyes would dominate the Cornhuskers. That October night turned out to be a disappointing time for local fans and drivers as Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s Verlin Eaker totally dominated the show, winning his heat, trophy dash and leading all 100 laps of the feature. In fact, Eaker finished a half lap ahead of runner up Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo, Iowa. Denny Hovinga brought home a third place finish for western Iowa fans with perennial Sunset points champion Bob Kosiski coming home fourth and Bob Hilmer of Dysart, Iowa rounding out the top 5. The event drew 55 cars with 29 coming from eastern Iowa.

In 1973, 2,350 fans showed up for the 2nd running of the October Classic which drew 63 cars. Unfortunately for the locals they would go home disappointed again as Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s Darrell Dake wheeled his 1972 white #8 Nova to the checkered flag. Unlike Eaker the year before, Dake had to do it the hard way. Dake won a consolation race and started the 100 lap feature in 21st place. By the halfway point of the race Dake was leading and went on to take first place money of $1,500 plus $250 lap money. Waterloo, Iowa’s legend Ed Sanger would bring his familiar #95 home in second place with Estherville, Iowa’s Bob Shryock in third. John Connolly of Delhi, Iowa finished fourth with Randy Sterner of Blair, Nebraska the leading Cornhusker in 5th place. Ed Morris of Omaha was the only other Nebraskan in the top ten with a 7th place run.

Bill Martin of Council Bluffs, Iowa

On October 6, 1974, after being rained out, the third annual Cornhusker Hawkeye Challenge was held at Sunset. Finally, the locals had something to cheer about. Bill Martin of Council Bluffs and a Sunset regular took the lead with 66 laps to go when leader and former winner Verlin Eaker’s engine quit. Martin would pocket $1,590 for winning the event. After the race Martin said, “The track was in such bad shape because of recent rains that I thought we would break something, but the car really worked good tonight.” To add to the local celebration, Omaha’s Jerry Wancewicz came home second. Bill Beckman of Lisbon, Iowa was third, Blair, Nebraska’s Randy Sterner fourth and Delhi, Iowa’s John Connolly fifth.

The local’s celebration was short lived as the eastern Iowa dominance was back in 1975. On October 4, 1976, Curt Hansen of Dike, Iowa wheeled his familiar blue #9 Camaro to the win after a see-saw battle with fellow eastern Iowan, Ed Sanger of Waterloo.

Hansen took control of the race on lap 70 and lead to the end in a race that saw Hansen leading 55 laps and Sanger 43. The vent was marred by tragedy as Jefferson, Iowa’s Rich Lyons was killed in a freak pit accident. It was the first fatality at Sunset in its 19 year existence. Duane Steffe of East Moline, Illinois completed the sweep for the invaders, with Omaha legend Bob Kosiski finishing fourth and Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo, Iowa fifth. Eastern Iowa drivers took 8 of the first 9 finishing spots.

The fifth addition of the annual event was ran on October 2, 1976 and saw the familiar blue #9 Camaro of Curt Hansen back in victory lane. Hansen took the lead on lap 35 when leader “Injun Joe” Merryfield of Des Moines lost his transmission. The 31 year old Hansen would sail to the win and a check of $1,525. Tom Stueding of Altoona, Wisconsin added some outside flavor to the race and finished second. Em Fretheim of Decorah, Iowa was third, young Joe Kosiski of Omaha fourth and George Barton of Ankeny, Iowa rounded out the top five.

Curt Hansen (#9) and Don Hoffman (#2) lead the field at the start of the 1977 Cornhusker - Hawkeye Challenge.

On October 2, 1977 the sixth version of the race was ran on Sunday afternoon, after being rained out the previous night. Despite a dusty track this would turn out to be one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the race. Two-time and defending champion Curt Hansen set on the pole and led for most of the race before giving way to Ed Sanger on lap 78. From there to the end it was a battle with Hansen pulling along side of Sanger several times but not able to make the pass. Midway through the final turn on the last lap, Hansen was able to get by Sanger and win the race by one-half car length to claim his third straight Cornhusker Hawkeye Challenge. Hansen pocketed $1,510 for his effort. Bob Kosiski upheld the local’s pride with a third place finish with Joe Merryfield of Des Moines fourth and Bob Shryock of Estherville, Iowa fifth.

Gary Crawford was the overall points champion of the two-day Cornhusker - Hawkeye Challenge in 1978.

In 1978 the race changed locations and formats. The event was actually a two day event, with the first race on September 30 at the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa followed by a companion event the next day at Midwest Speedway in Lincoln, Nebraska. Points were given for heats, trophy dashes and features and at the end of the two day affair; Gary Crawford of Independence, Iowa compiled 400 points and won the coveted trophy. Curt Hansen of Dike with a second at Harlan and a first at Midwest was second at 390 points. Dean Ward of Grand Island, Nebraska was third in points and Joe Merryfield despite a feature win at Harlan and a second at Midwest finished fourth in the points. Clayton Peterson of Grand Island, Nebraska with a third at Midwest claimed fifth in the overall points.

Mike Niffenegger is joined by promoter John Beaman (left) after winning the 1979 event.

In 1979, the event was a two day affair at the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan. A huge field of cars saw Friday night action include 8 heat races and 4 consolation races. On Saturday night a consolation race, trophy dash and semi precluded the 27 car, 75 lap main event. Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa took advantage of his pole position and jumped into the lead, by lap 19 Don Hoffman of Des Moines had moved up to challenge from his fifth starting position and finally on lap 18 took the lead from Niffenegger. The two literally ran away from the field with Niffenegger trying repeatedly to get the lead back. Finally after 10 laps of trying Niffenegger regained the lead and held it to the end of the race. An interesting note about Niffenegger’s car was that he was running Goodyear’s on the front and McCreary's on the rear. Don Hoffman held on for second with Tom Hearst of Wilton, Iowa third, Joe Merryfield of Des Moines fourth and Dick Schiltz of Waterloo, Iowa fifth giving the Hawkeye’s another sweep.

Kevin Gundaker is all smiles in victory lane after winning the 1980 Cornhusker - Hawkeye Challenge.

The ninth and what would be the last Cornhusker Hawkeye Challenge was run in late September of 1980 in Harlan. The 75-lap feature went to an outsider, as Kevin Gundaker of St. Louis, Missouri drover his #11 to victory. Second went to a young and up and comer out of Des Moines who would be destined for dirt late model greatness in Billy Moyer, Jr. Dick Schiltz was third and 1978 World 100 winner Ken Walton of Viola, Iowa was fourth.

So would come to an end the tradition of the Cornhusker Hawkeye Challenge. There is no doubt that drivers from eastern Iowa dominated the event. But then again if you look back at the 70’s, eastern Iowa drivers were a dominant force in dirt late model racing across the country. In fact, eastern Iowa drivers won the prestigious World 100 four times in a seven year span in the 70’s.

1977 - Merrick death stuns racing

Hutchinson, Kan. (October 26, 1977) - Midwest area race car drivers and enthusiasts were stunned Tuesday when they heard the news that Jack Merrick, the top racing promoter in the area, died Tuesday morning at Dodge City Regional Hospital.

Merrick promoted not only the McCarty Speedway’s super-modified and stock car racing weekly during the racing season, but also took on the National Super Modified races in Hutchinson in July, the Five-States races in Liberal and the State Championships at the Kansas State Fair.

Merrick and his wife of 36 years, Esther, were involved with the State Fair races for 13 years, and the Nationals for 21 years. 1950 start

“Jack started in racing about 1950 with the IMCA sprint cars,” Mrs. Merrick said. ‘When he was young, he was interested in racing, and when he got out of the Air Force, some people got after him to help organize racing, to help with writing the rules and getting organized in 1945.”

“Jack knew everything about racing and knew about the necessity of things being done right, and done safely. He thought that if he started things right, it would catch on and others would follow, especially in the safety of racing. A lot of people have followed him, and most all of them have used his rules, with variations depending on their own tracks.”

“Racing was Jack’s hobby - his ‘only’ hobby. He worked as a Sales Representative for Colby Distributing since 1948, but racing was his way of relaxing. He could work four days a week then relax with his racing. He kept too busy, but he relaxed by being busy, and there was no way I could slow him down.”

Area drivers were full of praise for Merrick, who was on the Board of Directors of the National Championship Racing Association.

“I raced for Jack since 1969 and his races were the finest that I've ever been associated with,” Terry Uehling, Ness City super-modified driver, said. “I've run over a five-state area and I've been to races on the coast and of the organizations I raced for, Jack's was the best, developed and synchronized of all. We'll all definitely miss him for that.”

Fred Hembree, also of Ness City, echoed Uehling’s sentiments. “I started racing for Jack in 1972, and I enjoyed racing more for him than anyone else,” Hembree said. “Some people tried to organize racing at Wakeeney a few years ago, but no one could do the job that Jack could. I've been invited to race other places, but I'd always stay with Jack. I went to other places this past year, but I enjoyed racing for him the most.”

Jack and Esther worked hand in hand in the promotion business. “I had never seen a race before I met Jack,” Esther said. ‘At first, I always went with him but I stayed in the car. I wasn’t really too excited about it, but he was so involved, that I was bored if I wasn't helping him. I didn't get as involved as he did, but I helped in all aspects. It became interesting to me because he got me so involved because he was so involved. And he did need the help because you can only hire so many people. I was really glad to get involved.”

His witty sense of humor and ability to handle tough situations kept things moving smoothly both on the track and in the pits. “He teased people a lot, but when he did, they knew he liked them,” Mrs. Merrick said.

Merrick had been having breathing problems for some time. “Around the first of May Jack was working hard at the track trying to get it ready and he started having respiratory problems, shortness of breath,” Mrs. Merrick said. “I would have to take him in for oxygen every now and then when it would flare up. He had extensive tests run on him for heart trouble, but with the oxygen and some medication, he was doing just fine. The first of September, the shortness of breath came back. Monday night, his breathing was short, but I could tell something was different. He was on oxygen and he went to the hospital, but he slipped away.”

1976 - Appreciative Dake will return to racing next season

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (October 25, 1976) - It was a cold, windy afternoon at Hawkeye Downs on Sunday, not exactly your average stock car racing weather. But then again, this wasn’t just an average stock car race.

Sunday was Darrell Dake Day, at least in the minds of the 500 plus hearty racing fans, along with 18 of the areas top drivers, who turned out to make the Darrell Dake Benefit race a success despite the unseasonable weather. Dake, you’ll remember, perhaps one of the areas most popular drivers was injured in a spectacular crash at the Downs on August 6th.

The mishap placed him in serious condition for a number of days, prematurely ending his 1976 racing season. Well despite it all, Darrell was back at the Downs Sunday talking to his many well-wishers and friends, and playfully needling his fellow competitors.

“Don’t get too high on those turns," the 48-year-old Dake shot Eddie Sanger during a break in the action. “Yea, it's a regular dust bowl up there isn’t it?” grinned Sanger.

Such was the mood of the afternoon, with no one really caring who won, but putting on an exciting program nonetheless. “Why am I here?” Sanger later explained, “Because that could have been me in that car (Dake’s). Darrell is one of us. No matter where this race would have been, or how cold, we’d be there,” he continued, Dake was more than appreciative of the fan support as well as the drivers. "This is really great of everybody to come out in this cold weather," Darrell stated. “You know, I got more than 400 cards while I was in the hospital, a whole suitcase full. Racing fans are some breed of people, I just don't know how to say thank you,” he sighed.

Darrell needn’t have worried about thanking anyone. It was evident that the only thanks the fans wanted was the knowledge that he would be on the track next year. Dake didn't disappoint them. “I really feel good now,” Dake told the crowd between events. “I still go for therapy on my hand every day because it swells up every now and then, but it’s coming along. I’ll be back next year, in fact, I already have a car three-fourths of the way built.” Dake’s last words were silenced by the roaring approval of the crowd.

“I’m tickled to death he’ll be back next year,” smiled “Big John” Moss from Iowa City.

“I think Darrell looks and feels real good. You know, he helped me a lot when I first started racing 20 years ago, and I'm just glad I can finally help him out in some small way. He’s one of a kind.” Moss marveled. Added Shellsburg’s Jim Stodola, “Darrell’s given racing a lot of support over the last few years it's about time he's recognized.”

All of the drivers were racing for trophies, and no one went away empty-handed.

Stodola swept the Sportsman division which showed, only four entries, as he took the checkered flag in both heat races and also the feature. The only mishap of the day occurred when Jack Siegal hit the wall coming out of turn two in the feature. Siegal suffered only a slight leg injury.

In the Late Model division it was Ed Sanger who finished first in the 15 lap feature, pursued closely by Ron Weedon and Roger Dolan. Sanger and Weedon put on quite a driving exhibition as the lead changed hands between the two, three times on the eighth and ninth laps. Bob Schulte and Tom Bartholomew each claimed heat victories, while Dolan took the checkered flag in the trophy dash and Moss copped the Semi.

Some of the drivers even let the race officials drive their cars to add a little fun to the afternoon. In the six-lap “Officials Feature”, Phil Kraft took the checkered flag while piloting Stodola’s car, while Ed Otten took second hi Jerry Brumley’s ride. Flagman Engel DeKock and Promoter Al Miller finished third and fourth in cars owned by Tim McDonough and Sanger respectively.

Following the trophy presentations, and after the crowd had dispersed, Sanger and Dake acted out a fitting ending to the days’ events. “See ya in the spring, Darrell,” Sanger yelled across the infield.

“Yea, you betcha,” smiled Dake.

1941 - Schrader killed in race wreck at Shreveport

Shreveport, La. (October 22, 1941) – Gus Schrader, 47, of Newhall, Iowa, died of a broken neck suffered when the car he was driving in a race at the state fair hurtled through a fence.


Schrader, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was driving just behind Jimmy Wilburn, Portland, Ore. Both machines were “wide open” – estimated to be going more than 60 miles per hour - and ahead of the field when Schrader's front wheel locked with Wilburn's back wheel.

Schrader was thrown through the inside fence, landing on his head. His auto tore through the outside fence. He died two hours later in a hospital. Wilburn was not injured.

The accident occurred at the first turn on the one-mile track in the last of a series of races. Mrs. Schrader was in the stands. Schrader had planned to return to Cedar Rapids and later to race in Canada.

Gus Schrader was a familiar figure in Iowa racing circles for a number of years.

He had been talking about retiring for the last two years. When in Des Moines for the 1941 races at the Iowa State Fair, he informed his friends that this would be his final year of competition.
Schrader had competed at the state fair annually. He had purchased a farm with part of prize money he earned.
In more than 20 years, he had competed in more than 1,100 races and won an average four out of seven starts.

He competed once in the Indianapolis 500-mile race - in 1935. He was forced to withdraw after 116 miles when his car developed motor trouble.

Schrader started his career as a motorcycle rider. Soon after his discharge from the army during the First World War, he began racing cars. In 1932 he won his first of eight national dirt track championships under the auspices of the International Motor Contests Association.

During his lengthy career, Schrader had only two serious accidents, neither was in auto races. In 1926, he was tossed from a motorcycle in a race at Anamosa, and in 1937 he was hurt in a highway accident in California.

1970 - Frustration Over for Ramo Stott

Ramo Stott

Keokuk, Iowa (October 18, 1970) – The years of frustration are finally over for Ramo Stott of Keokuk. He has reached the top at last as late model stock car racing champion of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA).

“I’m just tickled to death,” Ramo, 36, said as he reminisced about the 1970 season and the seven years, he was runner-up in the International Motor Contest Association.

Stott earned the title with 2,130 points, Iggy Katona of Detroit finished second with 1,845 and Andy Hampton of Louisville, Ky., took third with 1, 390.

“I won 10 ARCA features,” Ramo proudly disclosed by telephone. “There were 19 races and I finished in the top 10 in 18 of them and in the top five in 15.”

“I won approximately $38,000 for the season, which includes some other races, and my expenses were approximately $20,000. It was my greatest year for earnings.”

IMCA records show Ramo started competing in that organization in 1957, finishing in a tie for 40th that year. He was seventh in 1958 and fourth in 1959. He bounded up to second in 1960, was third in 1961 and ‘62 and then spent the next six years as runner-up to national champions Ernie Derr and Dick Hutcherson, also of Keokuk.

Ramo went to ARCA for the 1969 campaign and finished third, missing three early races. Asked to explain his current success in relation to his days of frustration in IMCA, he replied, “All (ARCA) races were run on asphalt tracks, and I seem to do better on asphalt than I do on dirt (most IMCA races are held on dirt tracks). Even Ernie will tell you I do better on asphalt.”

Does he consider Katona and Hampton harder to beat than Derr? “They’re all tough,” Ramo said, refusing to be drawn into a comparison. “One of the big things in my success was that I finished in all but one of the races, helping to keep my point lead,” he said. “I led all the way. In IMCA, I failed to finish sometimes because of mechanical problems."

He said dirt track racing is harder on cars than asphalt racing. “Parts last longer,” he said, “particularly the engine and suspension.”

Among Ramo’s feats with a 1970 Plymouth were the winning of the ARCA 300 at Daytona Beach, Fla., and the Vulcan 500 at Talladega. He also finished eighth in NASCAR’s Daytona 500 and Talladega 500.

What’s in the future?

“I'm going to run ARCA in ‘71,” Ramo said. “I've got a reputation to live up to now.”

October 17, 1982

1974 - Benefit race set Sunday at Illiana

William "Whitey" Gerken

Schererville, Ind. (October 16, 1974) - One of the final stock car racing events in the Midwest will take place this Sunday afternoon, October 20, as the Illiana Motor Speedway presents the Whitey Gerken-Dennis Shelton Memorial Benefit race program, in honor of the veteran driver and pit crew member who were killed in an accident at the speedway last year.

With most of the tracks in the Midwest closed for the season, a record number of entries are expected for this open competition late model card. Drivers from both paved and dirt tracks will be on hand to give it one last fling before Mother Nature puts an end to racing in this area.

Most of the area's top drivers are expected to compete, including: 1974 Illiana champion Bobby Wawak; this year’s Waukegan Speedway champ Bob Roper of Chicago; Grundy County Speedway champ Tom Musgrave of Mundelein, Ill.; Ray Young of Dolton; Ed Hoffman of Niles; Tom Jones of Northbrook; Larry Schuler of Lockport; Dave Evans of Crystal Lake; Jerry Kemperman of Blue Island; Larry Middleton of East Hazel Crest; Larry Berwanger of DeMotte, Ind.; Darrel Lohman of Gary, Ind.; Don Axtmann of Chicago; Stash Kullman of Calumet City and Bob Schacht of Lombard.

The afternoon's racing activity will include twin 20-lap feature events on the wide Illiana half-mile paved oval, in addition to a full program of time trials, a trophy dash and heat races.

Net gate proceeds from the event will go to the Gerken and Shelton families. A rain date of Sunday afternoon, October 27, has been set for this event, the final one on the 1974 Illiana racing calendar.

Time trials are slated for 1 p.m., with the first race set to go at 2:30 p.m. Illiana Motor Speedway is located near Schererville, Ind.