Midwest Racing Archives

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Monday, September 28, 2015

1958 – Tape check spoils Derr’s victory at the Downs’

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (September 28, 1958) - Don White won the Midwest’s final IMCA late model stock car event of the season at Hawkeye Downs Sunday, but not until a check of the official lap sheet showed a pit stop hadn't cost the Keokuk Komet the lead.

The championship trophy in the 200-lap event had already been presented to White's brother-in-law, Ernie Derr, also of Keokuk, when IMCA officials discovered White was the actual winner.

The mix-up was a result of White’s hurried pit stop on the 60th lap for gas. Promoter Frank Winkley thought Derr passed White while a field of 30 cars was on a caution flag.

Actually White held nearly a full lap lead when he pulled into the pit and he returned to the track before Derr could complete another lap. So unknown to most of the 8,500 fans in attendance, White was adding to his lead in the final 140 laps in the two-man fight.

Derr went the full 200 laps without a stop.

The IMCA point leader also got credit for a new world’s record for 100 miles. The clock caught Derr in 1 hour 33 minutes and one second, slightly under the 1957 mark of 1 hour, 33 minutes and 24 seconds established by Johnny Beauchamp at Hawkeye Downs. White will be given the 2nd place time as a new record although he had to run nearly 20 seconds ahead of it with a three-quarters lap lead at the finish.

White's 1958 Ford never trailed after starting from the pole position with the top time trial of 26.53 seconds.

Results –

1. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Frank Lies, Wichita, Kan.
4. Lennie Funk, Otis, Kan.,
5. Larry Odo, Chicago, Ill.
6. Sonny Gross, Quincy, Ill.
7. Whitey Treador, Milwaukee, Wis.
8. Vince Rizzo, Chicago, Ill.
9. Bob Hilmer, Dysart, Iowa
10. Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
11. Frank Richards, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
12. Darwin Smith, Keokuk, Iowa
13. Art Brady, Peoria, Ill.
14. Don Lewis, King, Wis.
15. Jack Leverenz, Lakefield, Minn.
16. Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
17. Jim Schaefer, St. Paul, Minn.
18. Ralph Wilhelm, Milwaukee, Wis.
19. Lou Fegers, Glenview, Ill.
20. Murray Folson, Mechanicsville, Iowa
21. Mert Williams, Rochester, Minn.
22. Bob Potter, Duluth, Minn.
23. Dick Santee, Bellflower, Calif.
24. Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle, Iowa
25. Carl Olson, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
26. Bruce Nystrom, Oshkosh, Wis.
27. Herb Shannon, Peoria, Ill.
28. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa
29. Bob Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
30. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Friday, September 25, 2015

Today in Racing History

September 25, 1975

Thursday, September 24, 2015

1971 - Rockford's Short Track Crown Won by Retallick

Bill Retallick in victory lane shortly after winning the National Short Track Championship 200 at Rockford.

Rockford, Ill. (September 24, 1971) – “At no time did Dick Trickle have enough power to get around me,” said Bill Retallick of his victory Sunday by less than a car length in the 200-lap National Short Track Championship at Rockford Speedway.

“His car was handling a little better, but he seemed to be trying too hard and would lose it every once in a while.”

Retallick, of Madison, Wis., driving a 1969 Chevrolet won $1,500 plus $910 in lap money in defeating Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

Retallick, starting on the outside of the front row, took the lead on the 18th lap coming out of turn two from Larry O' Brien of Harvard, Ill., who led the first 18 circuits coming from his pole position start. O' Brien would finish 10th.

Retallick did own more than a lap lead over Trickle, who spun on the back straightaway before the tight battle developed on the 106th lap when a crash in turn two forced a complete restart.

Dan Prziborowski of Savage, Minn., stopped along the wall to avoid hitting a spinning Tom Jensen of New Lisbon, Wis., while running second, but several seconds later was walloped by Ed Hume in the rear. Prziborowski was towed to the pits where he made miraculous repairs and returned later.

Mike Miller of New Prague, Minn., who took over second after the crash, was spun out two laps later allowing Trickle, who made up a lap deficit to grab second. Retallick and Trickle then started their nip-and-tuck battle to the delight of the 7,200 fans in attendance.

Defending champion Wayne Stallsworth of Denver, Colo., failed to finish in the top 20 as did five-time Rockford Speedway track champion Joe Shear of South Beloit.

Winners of the four 30-lap qualifying races Sunday were Bob Jusola of Shakopee, Minn., Duane Walsh of Madison, Wis., Rich Bickle of Edgerton, Wis., and Terry Bivins of Kansas City, Mo.

Results –

1. Bill Retallick, Madison, Wis.

2. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

3. Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.

4. Bill Schmid, Madison, Wis.

5. Dick Stang, Prior Lake, Minn.

6. Roy Schmidtke, New Lisbon, Wis.

7. John McNamara, Baraboo, Wis.

8. Eric Johnson, Chicago

9. Larry O’ Brien, Harvard

10. Norm Setran, Bloomington, Minn.

11. Terry Bivins, Kansas City, Mo.