1968 - McCann Snatches Sterling Opener

Buzz McCann takes a ride around Speedbowl Park in the Hawkeye Racing News convertible after winning the 25-lap season opener. Joining the winner is (l-r) flagman Buzz Reed, McCann, track owner Lyle Frazier, and driving is HRN's Keith Knaack. - Roger Meier Photo

Sterling, Ill. (May 5, 1968) – Buzz McCann of St. Paul, Minn., won the season opener at Speedbowl Park, leading the 25-lap feature green to checkered.

Fans watched in amazement as McCann, Verlin Eaker, Bill McDonough, both of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Don Bohlander of Glasford, Ill., Darrel Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Jim Strube of Peoria, Ill., ran bumper to bumper and wheel to wheel for the entire 25 circuits.

At the finish, McCann edge Eaker, who started at the rear of the field, by less than half a car length. McCann was presented a large trophy by Keith Knaack, the owner and publisher of Hawkeye Racing News.

A total of 32 cars were on hand for the season-opening program.

Bill Forbes, driving a brand-new 1964 Pontiac GTO, set fast time for the night and showed he’ll be reckoned with for the rest of the season.

Don Bohlander won a hotly contested trophy dash in front of Tom Hughes of Monticello, Iowa.

Heat races were won by Darrel Dake, Daehle Reitzel of Sterling, Ill., Bohlander and Al Terrell of Peoria, Ill. The semi-feature was captured by Allan May of Brimfield, Ill.

Results –

1.    Buzz McCann, St. Paul, Minn.

2.    Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

3.    Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

4.    Don Bohlander, Glasford, Iowa

5.    Darrel Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

6.    Jim Strube, Peoria

7.    Tom Hughes, Monticello, Iowa

8.    Bill Forbes, Sterling 

9.    Allen May, Brimfield

10.  Jim Baker, Peoria

1980 – ‘Temporary’ Leavitt Wins Hulman Classic

Hulman Classic winner Eddie Leavitt is interviewed by Chris Economaki in victory lane.

Terre Haute, Ind. (May 3, 1980) – Competing on a temporary permit, World of Outlaws sprint star Eddie Leavitt of Kearney, Mo., captured Saturday afternoon’s 40-lap Tony Hulman Classic for United States Auto Club (USAC) sprint cars at the Terre Haute Action Track.

Leavitt, who also won the semi-feature to earn his main event starting berth, watched as Johnny Parsons and Larry Gates dominated the opening three-quarters of the feature, before finally taking the lead for good on the 33rd circuit.

Parsons led the first 27 laps before Gates took over on the 28th round.

Parson’s comeback hops were dimmed moments later, when he and Larry Rice spun and stalled while dicing for second place. The miscue forced both drivers to restart at the back of the field. Shortly after the restart, Gates’ mount developed mechanical problems, which helped Leavitt gain the upper hand and eventually force Gates from the contest.

Parsons and Rice exited the race a few laps later, when Parsons spun again and was hit by Rice.

Meanwhile, Leavitt had no problems running at the front of the pack and cruised to victory, crossing the finish line ahead of Steve Chassey, Pancho Carter, Sheldon Kinser, Bobby Olivero and Mack McClellan.

Gary Bettenhausen accounted for the day’s lone record, when he toured the half-mile dirt oval in 22.64 seconds during time trials to erase Bubby Jones’ year-old standard of 22.71 seconds. Bettenhausen also won the first heat but was sidelined early in the main event, in which he was credited for 15th.


Results –

 

Heat #1 – Gary Bettenhausen
Heat #2 – Mark Alderson
Heat #3 – Joe Saldana
Heat #4 – Sheldon Kinser
Semi-feature – Eddie Leavitt
Feature –
1. Eddie Leavitt
2. Steve Chassey
3. Pancho Carter
4. Sheldon Kinser
5. Bobby Olivero
6. Mack McClellan
7. Gary Lulg
8. Jerry Weeks
9. Larry Dickson
10. Phil Miller
11. Johnny Parson
12. Larry Rice
13. Larry Gates
14. Rich Vogler
15. Gary Bettenhausen
16. Curt Kelley
17. Mark Alderson
18. Paul Pitzer
19. Bill Tyler
20. Tom Bigelow
21. Joe Saldana

1981 – Gundaker edges Roper, Wins Capital USAC Go

Kevin Gundaker

Jefferson City, Mo. (May 2, 1981) – Missouri drivers stole the show in the 50-lap USAC stock car season-opening feature at Capital Speedway on Saturday night. Kevin Gundaker of St. Louis nipped Dean Roper of Fair Grove by less than a foot to score the victory.

Another home state chauffeur, Ken Schrader of Fenton, Mo., crossed the finish line in third, ahead of Rick O’Brien of East Peoria, Ill., former five-time USAC titlist Butch Hartman of South Zanesville, Ohio and Bob Brevak of Ashland, Wis.

Gundaker, who had never won an USAC event, arrived late at the track late but still earned a starting spot by piloting the former Rusty Wallace Firebird to a fourth-place finish in his heat race.

Schrader, who had started on the outside of the first row after winning the first heat, took the early lead when polesitter Roper nearly spun at the opening green and slipped into fourth in the process.

However, Roper, who had claimed top honors in the second 15-lap preliminary contest, rebounded quickly, passing O’Brien for third and Joe Wallace for second before picking off Schrader to annex the top spot on lap 10.

The event’s lone caution period, required to move debris from the track, slowed laps 21 through 24.

Hartman who had started 14th, claimed first place on the 30th trip around the half-mile dirt oval and remained in front until tire problems slowed his Camaro in the closing rounds, allowing Gundaker to take charge on lap 49.

Gundaker would then hold off Roper for the win.

 

Results –


1. Kevin Gundaker
2. Dean Roper
3. Ken Schrader
4. Rick O’Brien
5. Butch Hartman
6. Bob Brevak
7. Terry Deatherage
8. Ken Rowley
9. Sal Tovella
10. Ramo Stott
11. Don White
12. Bay Darnell
13. Tom Meinberg
14. Bill Schwister
15. Joe Wallace
16. Terry Pearson
17. Gordon Blankenship
18. Russ Peterson

1976 – Wolfgang Captures Knoxville Super Opener

Doug Wolfgang won his first feature ever at the Marion County Fairgrounds. At left is car builder and car owner Bob Trostle. Race director Ray Grimes is right of Wolfgang and starter Gail Miller is on the far right. - Craig McGee Photo

Knoxville, Iowa (May 1, 1976) – Doug Wolfgang, a 23-year-old speedster from Lincoln, Neb., was the fastest qualifier, finished second in the trophy dash, won the fourth heat, and then capped off a great night by winning the 25-lap feature a super sprint car racing opened the season at the Marion County Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

“It was my first feature win ever,” a happy Wolfgang exclaimed after many congratulations from well-wishers and relatives.

“Boy, it was a lot of fun,” he added. “The car was really working beautifully.” The Chevrolet-powered sprinter is owned by Dave Van Patten from Des Moines. And Des Moines is where he’ll call home as he was planning on relocating from Lincoln to Des Moines first thing on Sunday morning.

Wolfgang earned $450 for the triumph. Bill Mellenberndt of Sioux Falls, S.D., was second followed by Dick Morris of Sioux City, Iowa. Lenard McCarl of Des Moines, who started on the pole, took fourth and Eddie Leavitt of Kearney, Mo., rounded out the top five.

Leavitt won several features at the fairgrounds last year including the super modified national championship in August.

McCarl led the first six laps of the feature before Wolfgang slid by him on the backstretch to take the lead.


Results –

Fast qualifier – Doug Wolfgang (21.268)
Trophy dash – Lenard McCarl
Heat #1 – Gary Johnson
Heat #2 – Dennis Olson
Heat #3 – Dick Sutcliffe
Heat #4 – Doug Wolfgang
Consolation – Lenard McCarl
Feature –
1. Doug Wolfgang
2. Bill Mellenberndt
3. Dick Morris
4. Lenard McCarl
5. Eddie Leavitt
6. Ron Milton
7. Dick Sutcliffe
8. Don Maxwell
9. Bill Robison
10. Mike Brooks
11. Gary Dunkle
12. Mike Thomas
13. Stacy Redmond
14. Gary Johnson
15. Dennis Olson

1978 - Anderson Wins at Salem

John Anderson

Salem, Ind. (April 30, 1978) – John Anderson of Massillon, Ohio, drove a flawless race Sunday afternoon at Salem Speedway, to score his first American Speed Association stock car win of the season, leading the last 80 circuits of the 100-lap, caution-free race.

Anderson set a new record of 29 minutes and 56 seconds (108.195 miles per hour) on the .54-mile high-banked paved oval.

Don Gregory of Columbus, Ohio, was five seconds back in second place and Bob Sensiba of Middleville, Mich., was third.

For the second time in 24 hours, the ASA drivers completed a 100-lap event with no caution flags as Bob Senneker of Dorr, Mich., won a 100-lapper at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway on Saturday afternoon.

Anderson’s Camaro never faltered in the feature as he moved from his sixth starting spot in the 24-car field to pass early leader Gregory, who momentarily slowed after Ken Harrison blew an engine on lap 19, producing plenty of smoke, but no oil on the racing surface.

Anderson’s victory earned him $1,625 from a $9,650 purse. Despite rain in virtually every area surrounding the track, 5,093 fans braved the elements, and were rewarded with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s.


Results –


1. John Anderson, Massillon, Ohio
2. Don Gregory, Columbus, Ohio
3. Bob Sensiba, Middleville, Mich.
4. Mike Eddy, Kawkawlin, Mich.
5. Randy Sweet, Bremen, Ind.
6. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
7. Carl Smith, West Jefferson, Ohio
8. Rodney Combs, Mason, Ohio
9. Jimmy Pierson, Janesville, Wis.
10. Dave Watson, Milton, Wis.
11. Ray Young, Dolton, Ill.
12. Dave Roahrig, Plymouth, Ind.
13. Harold Scott, New Castle, Ind.
14. Don Wilbur, West Carrollton, Ohio
15. Jeep Pflum, Cincinnati, Ohio.
16. Denny Miles, Muncie, Ind.
17. Ken Tingwald, Milwaukee, Wis.
18. Don Flory, Dayton, Ohio
19. L.J. Lines, Greensboro, Ind.
20. Terry Senneker, Grand Rapids, Mich.

1973 – Stott Wins Knoxville USAC Race

Ramo Stott won the 100-lap USAC stock car feature at the Marion County Fairgrounds, Track promoter Marion Robinson is on Stott's immediate right while Jack Housby (on Stott's immediate left) is the owner of the car. - Beetle Bailey Photo

Knoxville, Iowa (April 28, 1973) – Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa, finally got his car together at 3:30 am on Saturday morning and then worried well into the afternoon and evening whether everything was secure.

It was, and Stott won the 100-lap United States Auto Club late model stock car feature Saturday at the Marion County Fairgrounds before a crowd of 11,000. Stott earned $1,600 for the victory.

Ramo had been working on his 1973 Plymouth for nearly 20 hours a day since Monday and his effort to get it ready for the four-race program.

“The car worked just fine,” Stott remarked as he signed autographs for fans. “I worked until 3:30 this morning, then went to bed until 8 o’clock and then I returned to work on the car.”

“I tried to sleep on the trip to Knoxville, but I’m kept thinking, ‘Did I do this? Did I get that bolt tight? Will everything stay together?’”

Second place went to Jack Bowsher of Springfield, Ohio, Ernie Derr of Keokuk finished third and Butch Hartman, the defending USAC stock car champion from South Zanesville, Ohio, took fourth.

Al Unser of Albuquerque, N.M., the 1970 and ’71 Indianapolis 500 winner, fell out early and finished 19th. He said the problem was a broken axle.

Stott took the lead on lap 10 and was in command the rest of the way, pulling away from most of the field.

Hartman would manage to pass Stott later during the race, but it was quickly ruled that Hartman was still a lap down. Ramo dueled with Hartman for a few laps but decided to back off.

“I didn’t think he could make up that big of a deficit but I didn’t like seeing him go by either. However, I thought if I tried to push the car needlessly, something might happen and I lose the race.”

Stott would finish nearly a half-mile ahead of Bowsher with the first four cars completing all 100 laps.

Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, would get the jump when the green flag waved but it was Ernie Derr passing White between turns one and two on the first lap. White would go around Ernie on lap 3 and lead until Stott took command on lap 10.

Overheating seemed to be a problem for a few drivers. Derrr said his car was running hot towards the end and he had to let up and allow Bowsher to slip by for second while Derr settled for third.

“I had two choices,” Derr said, “I could try and get my position back and possibly burn all of the hoses off or cruise along and get a high finish.”

White was also plagued with heating problems as was Irv Janey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the defending International Motor Contest Association national champion.

Roger Dolan of Lisbon, Iowa, driving a car owned by Tom Spagnola of Des Moines, finished a respectable eighth.


Results –


1. Ramo Stott, Keokuk,
2. Jack Bowsher, Springfield, Ohio
3. Ernie Derr, Keokuk
4. Butch Hartman, South Zanesville, Ohio
5. Bay Darnell, Deerfield, Ill.
6. Jim Tobin, Bloomington, Ill.
7. Paul Feldner, Richfield, Wis.
8. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
9. Steve Drake, Bloomington, Ill.
10. Don White, Keokuk
11. Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids
12. John Schultz, Appleton, Wis.
13. Mike Flora, Muncie, Ind.
14. Bob Whitlow, Chicago, Ill.
15. Larry Moore, Greenville, Ohio
16. Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids
17. Ken Reiter, Louisville, Ky.
18. Terry Ryan, Davenport
19. Al Unser, Albuquerque, N.M
20. John Reimer, Caledonia, Wis.
21. Ray Blonder, Knowles, Wis.
22. Jigger Sirois, Hammond, Ind.

1960 – ‘Old’ Late Model Still Derr’s Pet

Hutchinson, Kan. (April 24, 1960) – Ernie Derr, the red-hot stocker from Keokuk, Iowa, milked another big win from his 1957 Pontiac in the Jayhawk 100 late model stock car race on Sunday afternoon.

With a new 1960 Pontiac in his garage at home awaiting the heavy fair season, Derr is still grabbing top money in his ’57.

During Sunday’s 100-lapper on the Kansas State Fairgrounds’ half-mile, Derr took the lead from Bob Kosiskie on lap 83 after trailing the Omahan’s Thunderbird for 64 laps. Kosiskie would finish a close second.

A spin on the third lap eliminated three pre-race favorites, Dick Hutcherson (’57 Pontiac), Ramo Stott (’60 Ford) and Darrell Dake (’60 Chevy). Ralph Wilhelm of Milwaukee had just lost the lead to Kosiskie and spun going in to hard, causing the pileup.

Derr set a qualifying record of 29.11 seconds and won the first 15-lap heat in a record breaking 7 minutes and 7 seconds. Kosiskie took the second preliminary.

Results –

1.   Ernie Derr

2.   Bob Kosiskie

3.   Lenny Funk

4.   Herb Shannon

5.   Newt Bartholomew

6.   Gerry Harrison

7.   Phil Cronin

8.   Ralph Wilhelm

9.   Art Brady

10.  Wayne Lee

11.  Dick Hutcherson

12.  Ramo Stott

13.  Dick Hendershot

14.  Darrell Dake

15.  Buzz McCann