1976 - Plank: Better late than never at River Raceways

Fountain City, Wis. (May 31, 1976) - Leon Plank found out Monday night it’s better late than never. Plank arrived at River Raceways late for the Memorial Day program, had to start on the tail end of the field for the late model feature, but rallied lo win the 2O-lap event.

The Mondovi native said later he hadn’t planned on being at River Raceways at all.

“We had gone over to a track near Green Bay,” he explained. “About 5:30, they rained out the program there. We called ahead here, found out they were still racing and came on.”

Plank took control of the race in the latter stages when he slipped by Red Steffen along the outside as the leaders rounded the sharp third turn. Then, he held off Steffen to win the last of three feature races.

“Anytime Red starts in front and you’re in back, it’s a problem,” said Plank. “When I finally got ahead of him I thought I could go ahead and win it.”

The race was red-flagged several times because of spin cuts, slight crack-ups and other problems on the track. It followed street and hobby stock features which were highlighted by spectacular crashes and rollovers.

“You watch those early races and you start wondering if there is something about the track that’s causing it,” said Steffen, “but the track was nice.”

One of the members of Plank’s pit crew remarked how you just don't pass somebody on the outside at River Raceway.

“I didn’t have any choice,” insisted Plank. “Red had the groove on the inside and I wasn’t getting anywhere trying to go past him that way.”

Plank, who races much of the time at Eau Claire, has won six late model features on five different tracks this season.

“We feel our machine is working for us,” he noted. “Sometimes, a whole lot of red flags like we had in this race can hurt you when you’re coming from behind. It might have helped me this time around.”

Plank and two members of his pit crew speculated they averaged no more than 80 or 85 miles per hour in winning the race.

The Wisconsin driver doesn’t run a whole lot at River Raceways. He made only four or five appearances here last year.

One of the members of his pit crew confided they nickname Plank “The Flying Farmer’ everywhere he goes. Monday night, the River Raceways public address announcer nicknamed his Camaro, “The Mean Machine.”

Wayne Kranz of Winona won the street stock feature and John Rogge of Winona was the victor for the 15-lap hobby stock feature.

The hobby stock feature was enveloped in controversy when Dave Tradup and Karl Fenske were black flagged out of the race for having pit crew members on the track during a red flag situation.

Tradup left quietly, but Fenske, the point leader here for the season going into the race, showed his displeasure by parking in front of the grandstand and coming up into the crowd to argue with track officials.

Fenske had flipped over on his side on the third turn but had been righted by pit crewmen and wanted to continue. His visit into the crowd earned the Winona driver a suspension from the program set this Friday night.

“Look, I’m a hometown guy here and I get treated worse on this track than anywhere else that I race,” he added. “I won the point standings here and the Dodge County Speedway last year.”

“This year, I’ve had nothing less than a third,” he continued. “I’ve had one second and one third and all the rest have been firsts. The only way to beat a winner is to keep him from racing.”

Fenske’s near-disaster was the first time he’s flipped.

“I’ve come close three other times but it’s never happened,” he said. “I think the only thing that worried me when it happened was how hard I was going over. The car really looks bad if you beat the top in good."

It didn’t seem to be Fenske’s night. His starter stuck before his heat and he didn’t get out on the track before the rest of the cars had been around once.

“It just locked everything up,” remarked Fenske. “It upset me that they wouldn’t even wait another lap for me so I could get on the track for the start.”

But Fenske showed his skill in surpassing the field in only one lap; however, he wasn’t able to make up the circuit he had lost.

“The car wasn’t hurt at all,” he continued. “It could still have won the race but the people didn’t want it to have the chance.”

Fenske discounted he had a villain-image with the fans, even though the youthful driver did get a good share of boos.

“Look, I could make racing my bread and butter if I wanted to,” he continued. “I’m not the first guy out here to get booed. It’s a habitual thing with a winner.”

Track owner Bob Hahn said Fenske’s car was disqualified not for the fact his pit crew put his car back on four wheels, but because they gave him a running start on the track to get him going again.

“He won’t be allowed to run this Friday night because of the fact he came up in the stands to argue with the officials,” said Hahn.

There were crashes a plenty in the earlier races but none of the drivers was injured to the extent he had to be removed to a hospital.

Scott Stephens flipped over five times on the back straight during the street stocks in addition to the three-car crash in front of the crowd.

The crowd was 1,608 paid admissions and the purse of $2,840 was the biggest in the two years that Hahn has running the facility.

1964 - Hutch Grabs Topeka Cash

Topeka, Kan. (May 29, 1964) – Ramo Stott made one bobble Saturday afternoon in the Memorial Day 50-lap late model stock car race at the Mid-America Fairgrounds, and Dick Hutcherson took advantage of it to grab the lead and make off with the victory.

A crowd of 6,200 sat through the speed, and wreck-filled program and quickly learned why Hutcherson, Stott and Ernie Derr have dominated the late model stock car division of the IMCA circuit for so long.

Stott had his 1964 Plymouth on the pole position by virtue of his record time trial and jumped into the lead. But coming out of turn four, Stott skidded just a little bit and Hutcherson leaped alongside him. Entering turn one as lap 5 began, Hutcherson sneaked past Stott and was off to the races.

Hutcherson finished the race in 22 minutes and 54 seconds, nearly two minutes faster than the old record.

Lennie Funk, in a 1963 Ford, passed Derr at the start of lap 21 when the axle on Derr’s 1964 Plymouth gave way, and was content to sit in third for the final two laps. Before going out with a broken axle, Derr was pushing hard on Stott’s rear bumper.

Funk made a final bid to catch Stott but the wheat farmer failed by just three-fourths of a car length at the checkered flag.

An unofficial record was broken by Bill Gibson who left a tire mark at the top of the west wall when his 1962 Pontiac tried to get out of the park. Gibson managed to get his car back on the track without any problem.

In the consolation event, Gibson gave his pit crew a thrill when the steering box broke on his car as he entered the pit area at full bore. He got the car stopped in time with only a water can getting damaged.

Results –
Fast Time: Ramo Stott (26.01 – new track record)
First Heat: Ramo Stott
Second Heat: Dick Hutcherson
Third Heat: Bump Willert
Match Race: Dick Hutcherson

Feature:
1. Dick Hutcherson
2. Ramo Stott
3. Lennie Funk
4. Gil Haugan
5. Bob Jusola
6. Johnny Jones
7. Bill Thomas
8. Roland Wilson
9. Bump Willert
10. Dave Steffens

May 27-28, 1972

This Week in Racing History

2000 – Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., picked up the biggest win of his career, winning the 8th annual Show-Me 100 at West Plains (Mo.) Motor Speedway on May 28. Cook came from the seventh row, taking the lead on the 92nd tour and then won a three-way duel with Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., and Davey Johnson of Greensburg, Pa., as the race went the full 100 laps without a caution after being delayed a night due to rain. Phillips led the first 57 laps of the event before Johnson took over. Phillips regained the point on lap 72 but Johnson would come right back 11 laps later and take the top spot. Cook would soon join the leaders and going three-wide on lap 85, Phillips was able to regain the point. Phillips’ lead would be short-lived, however, as Cook worked past him coming out of turn four on lap 92 and then opened up a 10-car advantage at the checkers. Phillips, Davey Johnson, Wendell Wallace and Scott Bloomquist rounded out the top five.

1990 – Steve Kosiski continued his winning ways by picking up the NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour victory at the Mid-Continent Raceways on Saturday, May 26. The triumph, Kosiski’s second in two nights, was worth $3,000 and came before a huge crowd on hand for the Busch Tour’s first appearance at the Doniphan, Neb., dirt oval. Kosiski waged a strong battle with his brother Joe for much of the 50-lap chase, but finally overtook the defending series’ champion on the 30th circuit. Another Kosiski brother, Ed, joined the family parade by finishing third. Earlier in the evening, Ed scored his first-ever pole award, setting fast time in 20.04 seconds. Steve Fraise of Montrose, Iowa and Gary Webb of Davenport, Iowa, took fourth and fifth respectively.

 

1984 – Wisconsin’s Dick Trickle was the overall winner in the ASA-ARTGO Challenge Series “Chicagoland Showdown” at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Ind., on May 26. The fifth annual running saw Trickle and Frank Gawlinski of Lynwood, Ill., share victory honors in the twin 50-lap feature competition. Gawlinski, the defending Showdown champion, wheeled to victory in the opening 50-lapper by six car lengths over Trickle. Rounding out the top five were Mark Martin of Batesville, Ark., Bobby Dotter of Chicago and Burt Weitemeyer of Lansing, Ill. Trickle, the four-time ARTGO champion, came back to win the second 50-lap installment, winning by four car lengths over Mel Whalen of Shakopee, Minn. Scott Hansen of Green Bay, Wis., Larry Schuler of New Lennox, Ill., and Joe Shear of Beloit, Wis., would follow Trickle and Whalen across the finish line. Gawlinski would get involved in an accident midway through the second race and finish 19th, giving Trickle the overall championship. 

1979 – Curt Hansen of Dike, Iowa, remained one of the hottest late model drivers in Iowa, winning three consecutive features on three consecutive nights. Hansen would start at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, May 25. Escaping a first-lap pileup that took out several top drivers, including Ed Sanger, John Moss, and Rick Wendling, Hansen made his way thru the pack and passed Cedar Rapids’ Mike Frieden with only a few laps remaining to win the 25-lapper. The next night, May 26, at the West Liberty Fairgrounds, Hansen dominated the action, taking the lead away from Johnny Johnson of Morning Sun, Iowa, on lap three and holding it to the checkers. Sunday, May 27th saw Hansen and Ed Sanger stage a classic confrontation at Tunis Speedway in Waterloo, Iowa. Hansen and Sanger raced nose to tail for 25 laps before Hansen prevailed at the end to take his third victory of the weekend.

2002 – This Bud’s For You; The Open Late Model Shootouts

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – One of the most popular racing events in Iowa was the Budweiser Open Late Model Shootouts. Promoted by Keith Simmons Promotions, the highly competitive series featured the Midwest’s finest late model drivers.

It was 10 years ago this Memorial Day Weekend, that Simmons held a special four-day, four-event at some of the Midwest’s most popular late model venues. Farley Speedway, West Liberty Raceway, Dubuque Speedway and the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport would play host to the four late model slugfests. Simmons would put up a massive purse of $100,000 for the four-race event, with the winner of each 50-lap feature receiving $6,000.

Denny Eckrich lofts his $6,000 check after winning the Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout at Farley Speedway. - Speed Shots Photo 

The “Palace of Speed” would be the opening act on Friday night, May 24th with 48 late models taking part in festivities. Steve “Ace” Ihm of Hazel Green, Wis., Darren “The Thriller” Miller of Chadwick, Ill., Denny Eckrich of Tiffin, Mitch Johnson of Fargo, N.D., and Dave Eckrich of Oxford would snare heat wins while Matt Furman of Iowa City and Dan Galant of Clinton would take consolation victories. Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Mo., took the non-qualifier’s feature over Monte Ohrt of West Branch.

Darren Miller would score the win in the fast dash and sit on the pole for the 50-lapper. Miller would lead early in the event before giving way to Denny Eckrich. Eckrich used the wide track to his advantage, getting through lapped traffic with little difficulty and built a healthy lead in the process.

Denny Eckrich speeds down the backstretch at Farley Speedway. - Speed Shots Photo

Meanwhile, Eckrich’s brother Dave was in a tough battle with Rob Toland of Hillside, Ill., for the second spot. Eckrich and Toland swapped that position for last 10 laps of the event.

A late caution would bunch up the field but neither Dave Eckrich nor Toland had anything for Denny Eckrich, as he sped to an easy victory and a $6,000 payday. Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls, Iowa would finish fourth and Curt Martin of Independence, Iowa, would round out the top five.

The following night, May 25, would see a new race track and a new winner. West Liberty Raceway had a full house and 52 late models for their Saturday night show. Hometown hero Steve Boley brought the crowd to their feet by winning the first heat. Brian Harris of Davenport, Friday night’s feature winner Denny Eckrich, Darren Miller and Rob Toland were the other heat winners. Matt Furman and Todd Davis of Iowa City took consolation prizes and Mark Burgtorf of Quincy, Ill., was the non-qualifier feature winner.

Once again, it was Darren Miller winning the fast dash to take the pole position. Once again, Miller would hold the top spot for just a few circuits before yielding it to someone else. This night it was Ray Guss Jr. of Milan, Ill., who took over from Miller and went on to provide the fans with a dominating performance.

Ray Guss Jr. is joined by his mother after winning the Budweiser Late Model Shootout at West Liberty. - Speed Shots Photo

Guss was masterful in working traffic in the 50-lapper. The only challenge came on lap 27 after a caution flag was thrown for Rusty Zook’s stalled car. Denny Eckrich, running in second at the time, would make a couple attempts at Guss on the ensuing laps, but Ray proved to be too strong. He again pulled away from the field, negotiated lapped traffic and stood in victory lane hoisting the $6,000 check.

Eckrich would hold on for runner-up honors while Gary Webb of Blue Grass would finish third. Rob Toland would score his second straight top-five finish with a fourth place showing and initial race leader Darren Miller would hold on for fifth.

Round three of the Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout would take place on the high-banked 3/8-mile Dubuque County Fairgrounds on Sunday, May 26th. Another capacity crowd and 43 late models checked in for the evening.

One late model hot shoe that was unable to attend the first two events at Farley and West Liberty made himself available for the final two stops and he would prove to be the top gun in both contests.

Brian Birkhofer (15B) gets around Sonny Findling on his way to the Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout win at Dubuque. - Enhance Racing Images

Steve Boley, Darren Miller, Clint Hines of Andalusia, Ill., and Curt Martin would score heat wins while Terry Neal of Ely would win one of the consolations. The other consolation winner was Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, who was forced out of his heat race with oil filter problems.

Darren Mish of Cassville, Wis., would take fast dash honors and start on the pole for the 50-lap main event but it would be Steve Boley taking the lead as the green flag waved and he would maintain the top spot for the first 36 caution-free laps. Gary Webb would hound Boley throughout the contest and the two veterans knifed through traffic until the first yellow flag waved on lap 36.

The restart had Boley out front with Webb, Darren Miller and Denny Eckrich. Brian Birkhofer, who had started 22nd had worked his way to the seventh spot and two laps later, passed two more cars and now had only Boley, Webb, Miller and Eckrich to deal with.

Brian Birkhofer is joined by his family after winning the Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout at Dubuque. - Enhance Racing Images

The final 12 laps of the race are still considered as one of the most exciting finishes ever at Dubuque as Boley, Miller, Webb and Birkhofer all took turns being in the lead, but when the smoke cleared, it was Brian Birkhofer taking the victory and the $6,000 payday.

Webb would settle for the runner-up position while Miller took third. Eckrich hung for fourth and Boley, after leading the majority of the race, was shoved back to fifth spot.

The fourth and final Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout would head to Davenport, Iowa, on Monday, May 27. Another full grandstand and 45 late models were signed in for the Memorial Day event on the historic half-mile.

Chris Smyser, Dan Galant, Birkhofer, and Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., would claim heat wins while Monte Ohrt and Joe Izzo of Bridgeview, Ill., would take consolation wins. Brian Harris would win the non-qualifier feature.

Rob Toland tangled with Gary Webb at the Budweiser Shootout at Davenport. Toland's car was destroyed bu Webb managed to finish in the top five. - Dennis Krieger Imagery

Brian Birkhofer would win the fast dash and put himself on the pole position for the 50-lap A-main but would trail Jay Johnson of West Burlington for the first seven laps of the event. Johnson, however, would jump the cushion and make contact with the retaining wall, sending him to the pit area for repairs.

Birkhofer would take the point on the restart and lead the remaining 43 laps to score his second straight Budweiser Shootout win and add another $6,000 to his bank account.

Ray Guss Jr., who started 15th, would have the drive of the day, working his way steadily through the field and taking second just ahead of Kurt Stewart of Ainsworth, who turned in a fine performance himself. Gary Webb would pass the most cars, starting in 25th and finishing in the fourth position and Darren Miller would round out the top five.

Four days, four races and four tracks; The Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout on Memorial Day Weekend of 2002 will go down as one of the most exciting late model events in Iowa racing history.

May 23, 1970

1970 - Want to race? Then buy the race track…

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 22, 1970) – What do you do when you want to go racing, but there’s no one holding a race nearby?

Well, if there’s a race track available, you might buy the track for one night and schedule your own race.

That’s just about what the brothers Cahill – Kenny and Larry – did when they arranged for an IMCA sprint car show to be held Saturday night, May 30, at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids.

The Cahill’s, a couple of Iowa City, Iowa farm boys, will sponsor the program through their Burger King Restaurant chain, in conjunction with National Speedways, Inc.

“It all came about when we found out there was no race scheduled here that night,” said Larry Cahill, who like his brother used to drive midgets and sprint cars.

“We wanted one here, so we talked with Al Sweeney (NSI president) and he gave it the okay. It cost us $5,500, which goes to IMCA, and they pay the $3,500 purse. If there’s a good turnout, we may hold another one later this year.”

The brothers also sponsor a car on the IMCA circuit and naturally, it’s called the Burger King Special. They bought it from Buzz Rose a year ago and Rose is now the pilot.

“I guess once racing gets in your blood you can’t stay away,” said Larry. “We had been out of racing for six years, but we still were great fans.”

“We saw Buzz at Knoxville, Ill., last year and he had a new car be wanted to sell, so we bought it. We just wanted to be around racing; we both enjoy working on a race car.”

Larry said they got out of racing to begin with because they were too preoccupied with their restaurants. They now have five, including one in Cedar Rapids. And the race car is not used as a tax deduction. It’s a separate corporation and the Burger King name is on the car strictly for advertising.

Buzz Rose behind the wheel of the Burger King Special - Coastal 181 Photo

The black sprinter with a Chevy engine hasn't seen any competitive racing since last September. That’s when it was totaled out, as Rose flipped eight times at Topeka, Kan. It’s taken all winter to get it back together. “We got fast time the day it was wrecked,” remembers Larry.

The brothers tried to qualify the car for this Saturday’s Little 500 at Anderson, Ind. Buzz wasn’t able to make the trip so Kenny renewed his driver’s license. Their plans had to be aborted, though, because the drive twisted off the end of the crank shaft and they couldn’t run.” But there’ll be no problem having it ready for the May 30 race,” promised Larry.

That’s good. But when the public address announcer says “Here comes the Burger King Special”, please don’t look frantically for someone carrying a hamburger, fries and malt.