1976- Dolan gets star billing in Downs’ Late Show

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (April 30, 1976) - The "Late Show” at Hawkeye Downs Friday night certainly must have driven Johnny Carson's Nielsen ratings down.

Reason being, of course, the opening late model stock car program of the season on the refurbished half-mile oval and 3,670 paid customers stayed to watch Lisbon’s Roger Dolan roar to the 25-lap feature win that paid $500.

Rain had washed out the scheduled opener last week and threatening skies bode the same fare again Friday, but a serious parting of the heavens never came.

Time was of the essence, however, for new promoter Al Miller and his crew worked feverishly to get the track into running condition.

The extra manicuring set back the 7 p.m. time trials for over an hour but the crowd was surprisingly tolerant of the delay.

Even though the feature didn’t end until almost 10.30, action moved along smoothly once Miller and flagman Engel DeKock got the program underway.

The Downs has undergone a complete facelift since last season and despite some obvious flaws in the racing surface that cropped up during the evening, winner Dolan still praised the facility.

"One of the big reasons the drivers had become disenchanted with this track was the pattern of 'follow the leader’ that developed almost every week," explained Dolan.

"With the new banked turns and all, it was hoped passing would return and I think there was plenty of that tonight."

Vastly understated, Roger.

Even though a Downs laborer had neglected a water hose earlier in the day that had poured water onto the front stretch for two hours, the track was tacky enough to allow some heady maneuvering.

"When I first took my car onto the track for a couple of hot laps I thought the track was in awful shape,” added Dolan, "but by the feature it was in much better condition than I thought it could be.”

Dolan, in his tenth season of piloting racing machines, started in the front row on the outside and quickly sprinted into the lead ahead of polecat John Moss.

A restart was in the offing however, because Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids piled into the new wall coming out of the second turn of the initial lap. Verlin, driving Lem Blankenship's car, suffered a painful rap on the knee, and was through for the evening.

After the restart, Waterloo’s Bill Zwanziger overhauled Dolan on the fourth lap and held the lead until the Lisbon hotshoe maneuvered his 1975 Chevelle expertly through some tail-end traffic and bagged the lead on the eighth tour.

It was that way until 17 laps had been completed. A spinout then brought out the yellow flag but even after closing the gap, Zwanziger, who had set fast time with a 25.20 second lap, couldn’t squeeze in front of Dolan.

Billed as the "New Track”, Zwanziger’s 25.20 second qualifying lap becomes the new track record at The Downs.

"The car has been giving me some handling problems,” admitted last year's point champ at Eldon, "but it worked quite well tonight, despite some nasty bumps, especially on the back stretch.”

Results –

Heat #1 – Phil Larsen, Iowa City
Heat #2 – Stan Stover, Reinbeck
Heat #3 – Ron Prymek, Iowa City
Semi – Tom Stewart, Washington
Feature –
1. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
2. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
3. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
4. Curt Hansen, Dike
5. Don White, Keokuk
6. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
7. Jim Leverington, Freeport, Ill.
8. Ken Walton, Cedar Rapids,
9. Bill Rice, Des Moines
10.John Moss, Iowa City

1962 – Branson outraces Jones at Salem

Don Branson

Salem, Ind. (April 29, 1962) – Don Branson put forth a determined effort Sunday and came home the winner Sunday afternoon in the 30-lap United States Auto Club sprint feature.

Branson out charged Parnelli Jones at the start and led the entire distance to win his first feature since 1960 on the half-mile hi-banks.

Jones kept the pressure on Branson the entire way and finished second. Elmer George was pushed to third by Ronnie Duman as Duman finished fourth. Rounding out the top-five was Roger McCluskey.

Branson and Jones began to distance themselves from the rest of the field by lap 6 and by the halfway mark had lapped three cars. On lap 25 Chuck Rodee spun in turn one and Bud Tinglestad swerved to miss Rodee but, as Rodee regained control Hugh Randall was spinning to miss Tinglestad and they collided with Tinglestad continuing with a badly mashed front end and Randall out of the race.

As the green flag returned on the 27th lap Don Davis had an oil line break which gave him a hot foot as he left the race. Branson was really charging as Jones fell some 60 feet behind and Branson lapped the third-place car, Elmer George, just before the checkered drop.

Jones out charged Branson to win the first heat while Chuck Rodee held off Ronnie Duman to take the win in the second heat. Stan Bowman, last week’s winner at Eldora, won the third heat ahead of Hugh Randall. Don Davis won the semi-main.

Results –

1. Don Branson
2. Parnelli Jones
3. Elmer George
4. Ronnie Duman
5. Roger McCluskey
6. Stan Bowman
7. Leon Clum
8. Chuck Rodee
9. Dick Northam
10.Bud Tinglestad
11.Don Davis
12.Hugh Randall
13.Calvin Gilstrap
14.Jim Hemmings

1981 – Dirt Champs make debut at Eldora

Steve Kinser - Dennis Torres Photo

Rossburg, Ohio (April 26, 1981) – A first time ever was recorded with the appearance of the United States Auto Club’s Dirt Championship Cars.

Well known racer Tom Bigelow turned in a fast qualifying time of 17.113 seconds, which will stand as track record for future races at Eldora Speedway. The 24 entries were broken into two heat races, won by Tom Bigelow and the King of the Outlaw's, Steve Kinser.

A change in rules now makes it possible for drivers who are not sanctioned with USAC to compete on the Dirt Champ circuit.

The 100-lap feature was dominated by Steve Kinser, who took the lead with the drop of the green flag and held it the entire 100 laps.

The red flag was brought out on the 41st lap when Bobby Olivero hit the cement retaining wall in the fourth turn, sending his sprinter end over end, until finally coming to rest back on its wheels at the bottom of the track. Olivero escaped injury.

Larry Rice and Larry Dickson were also taken out of the action by separate accidents.

Sheldon Kinser, who was in the tangle with Rice, managed to escape damage, but was forced to return to the tail of the field, where as he was in second position.

Gary Bettenhausen, the defending Dirt Champ qualified his car, but put Steve Chassey in his place for the feature race, which meant by USAC rules that Steve would also start on the rear.

The end result of the feature was Steve Kinser in victory lane, then came Jack Hewitt, Steve Chassey, Paul Pitzer, and cousin to the winner, all-time favorite Sheldon Kinser.

By securing the second position, Jack Hewitt now leads the Silver Crown Series in points.

At the close of the activities Sunday, promoter Earl Baltes was given an award in appreciation of all he has done for this area's racing and in recognition of the fact that over $1 million dollars has been handed out in prize money since 1965.

Results –

1. Steve Kinser
2. Jack Hewitt
3. Steve Chassey
4. Paul Pitzer
5. Sheldon Kinser
6. Leland McSpadden

7. Steve Cannon
8. Chris Cumberworth
9. Bill Compton
10.Tom Bigelow
11.Larry Dickson
12.Bud Wilmot
13.Bobby Olivero
14.Billy Vukovich
15.Greg Leffler
16.Joe Saldana
17.Larry Rice
18. Lennie Waldo
19.Bill Tyler
20.Bill Engelhart

1960 - It's Foyt, Herk at Langhorne before 10,000

A.J. Foyt is interviewed by Chris Economaki following his 50-mile win at Langhorne.

Langhorne, Penn. (April 24, 1960) - A.J. Foyt of Houston, Tex., captured the overall sprint car championship at Langhorne Speedway on Sunday afternoon although a tire change forced him to lose his lead in the second half of the two 50-mile features.

A crowd of about 10,000 watched 25-year-old Foyt, who prefers to be called A.J., instead of Anthony Joseph, win the first half of the twin attraction, some 200 yards ahead of Don Branson, of Champaign, Ill.

Foyt was leading the second race when he was forced to make a pit stop on the 45th lap. He got back into the race but finished fourth. His total prize for the two legs of the unique double header was $1,258.

In the overall standings, Eddie Sachs, of Center Valley, Penn., was second, earning $900 Jim Hurtubise, of Lennox, Calif., who won the second race, and Branson tied for third place in the total standings for the two races.

Branson set a new world and American record in the time trials, when he toured the oval in 32.661 seconds (110.223 mph). The former record was held by Johnny Thomson, who was clocked at 109.379 miles per hour in May of 1955 at Langhorne.

The caution flag was out for six laps in the first race, from the 28th through the 34th. and this cut the speed down to 100.453 miles per hour.

The time for the first 50 laps was 29 minutes and 51.87 seconds. Ralph Liguori’s track record, 104.106 miles per hour and 28 minutes and 49 seconds still stands.

In the second 50-lapper, an accident in the first turn on the first lap halted the action. Everything went smoothly after that, but the time was still slower than the first race – 30 minutes and 12.84 seconds.

Foyt, the second fastest qualifier, was lined up with Branson in the first row. Racing into the first turn, the pair touched wheels a few times and Foyt raced into the lead. He stayed there throughout the entire 50 miles. Branson finished second, just nipping Eddie Sachs at the wire. Wayne Weiler of Phoenix, Ariz., was fourth and Fred “Jiggs” Peters of Neshanic, N.J., took fifth.

After a 45-minute intermission the cars lined up for the second race in the order they finished the first event.

Foyt and Branson were again in the front row, but this turn Foyt had the pole. Foyt took the lead on the first turn, but behind him, Roger McCluskey of Tucson, Ariz., bounced off the fence and Al Chamberlain of Altoona, Penn., spun off the track.

The lap counted for all, and the race resumed with a single-file start. Foyt immediately built up a good-sized lead and seemed to be on his way to another victory. Then, on the 45th lap, his right rear tire ripped, and he hobbled in for a quick change.

With only five miles to go there wasn’t enough time for A.J. to catch up. Hurtubise, Sachs and Branson staged a thrilling duel behind Foyt during this race.

Hurtubise, who was 16th in the opener due to tire trouble, took the lead and beat Sachs by 14 seconds. Peters snuck in for third spot ahead of Foyt with Branson in fifth.

The total prize fund was $9,000.

Results - 


Feature #1 –

1. A.J. Foyt, Houston, Tex.
2. Don Branson, Champaign, Ill.
3. Eddie Sachs, Centerville, Penn.
4. Wayne Weiler, Phoenix, Ariz.
5. Fred Peters, Neshanic, N.J.
6. Roger McCluskey, Tucson, Ariz.
7. Al Farmer, Fort Worth, Tex.
8. Jim McWithey, Anderson, Ind.
9. Bob Tattersall, St. Louis, Mo.
10.Bill Randall, North Reading, Mass.


Feature #2 -

1. Jim Hurtubise, Lennox, Calif.
2. Eddie Sachs
3. Fred Peters
4. A.J. Foyt
5. Don Branson
6. Al Farmer
7. Bill Randall
8. Bob Tattersall
9. Chuck Arnold, Stamford, Conn.
10.Jim Packard, Indianapolis

1977 - Watson nips Martin at Springfield

Wisconsin's Dave Watson won the 75-lap feature during the "Springtime Warmup" at Fairgrounds Speedway. 

Springfield, Mo. (April 22, 1977) – Dave Watson, the national short track champion from Wisconsin, held off a strong charge by Mark Martin on Friday night to win the 75-lap “Springtime Warmup” late model stock car feature at Fairgrounds Speedway.

It was another fender-to-fender finish for the 18-year-old Martin, but for the first time in three weeks, he did not win.

Traffic around the half-mile asphalt track thwarted Martin’s bid for another last lap victory. He drove outside of Larry Schuler, Lockport, Ill., out of the final turn of last week’s race to win by a fender.

A fourth-turn maneuver on the track apron wasn’t enough this time. Watson, winner of the Fairgrounds’ Missouri Asphalt Championship last year, won by a car length.

Martin pulled to Watson’s bumper on lap 47. He fell back four laps later when Watson found the quickest way through a group of slower cars.

Martin quickly made up the ground, but traffic on the final lap worked against him.

Watson and Martin stayed bumper-to-bumper around two cars through the first two turns on the last circuit. Martin’s dive under Jim Cook on the track apron wasn’t enough as the leaders entered the main straight.

“I had less hope this time than I did last week,” Martin said afterward. “I knew there wasn’t any chance.”

Martin, of Batesville, Ark., was not in the running until lap 35. He was in fifth place before moving past Ed Hoffman of Niles, Ill., through the second turn of that lap.

Martin caught the third-place car, Fred Tiede of Marionville down the front straightaway three laps later. In another two circuits, he was around Mike Eddy of Kawkawlin, Mich.

After a short stoppage on lap 40 because of rain, Watson and Martin battled nose-to-tail.

The Watson – Martin duel took away from some of the tight racing back in the pack. Hoffman held on for third but David Goldsberry of Bolivar, Mo., made a late charge past Tiede and Eddy for fourth. Eddy pitted a few laps away from the finish with engine trouble.

Other favorites, Larry Phillips of Springfield and Bob Senneker of Dorr, Mich., were cut down by mechanical issues. Senneker never started the main event and Phillips dropped out on lap 13 while running in second place.

The late models raced for a $5,516 purse, of which $1,000 went to Watson and $800 to Martin.


Results –

1. Dave Watson
2. Mark Martin
3. Ed Hoffman
4. David Goldsberry
5. Fred Tiede
6. Bob Menzie
7. Jim Cook
8. Bob Schippers
9. Mike Eddy
10.Roy Hansen
11.Darrell Holt
12.Roger Chism
13.Larry Peterson
14.Bill Allen
15.Dave Phillips
16.Larry Phillips
17.Dan McCoy

1974 – Martin tops Knoxville Corn Belt

Bill Martin

Knoxville, Iowa (April 21, 1974) – Remember the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?”. Twenty-six thousand apple trees kept Bill Martin of Council Bluffs, Iowa, away from auto racing last year.

They won’t this year. Martin opened the 1974 racing season with a stock car feature victory at the Marion County Fairgrounds Sunday.

"I changed jobs and started to manage my dad's apple farm," the 29-year-old said, after receiving his victory laurels.

“We grow vegetables too, so I had a lot to learn so it didn't leave a lot of time for racing." Fact is, Martin raced a total of four times that year.

The former truck driver hasn’t forgotten his lessons of five years of racing. He won the fourth heat, finished second in the trophy dash before winning the 20-lap feature in his 1972 Chevelle.

“What a great way to start out again,” he remarked.

Martin had a tough battle with Waterloo, Iowa's Red Dralle before he could collect the $600 winner’s share.

Dralle, also driving a 1972 Chevelle, was leading until Bill took over the point on lap 10. Dralle didn't give up and stormed back to overtake Martin on lap 15. A couple of laps later, though, Martin grabbed the lead and made it stick, capturing the checkers on the historic half-mile.

“It was a great race,” said Martin. “It was really fun having someone like Red (Dralle) beating on your door.”

Dralle would settle for second while Omaha's Bob Kosiski, Ken Walton of Viola, Iowa and Don Hoffman of Des Moines would round out the top five. In addition to Martin winning his heat, Dralle, Omaha's Ed Morris and Council Bluff's Dave Chase were winners. Dralle would also cop the trophy dash money. John Connolly of Delhi, Iowa, won the consolation and Council Bluffs' Bob Jiskra was tops in the Australian Pursuit.

The car Martin drove to victory lane was owned by Larry Kelley of Omaha. It was a car previously driven by Ed Sanger the year before in which "Fast" Eddie won a staggering 44 times in it. Martin mentioned after the race, "I hope we can win half or a fourth of that total this year."

Chuck Berg of Des Moines has had a change of jobs too. He was the flagman Sunday, the first time he had that responsibility for auto races. Usually, he’s behind the wheel of a race car.

“I didn’t have a ride in stock car going, so I thought I’d give this a try,” he said.


Results –


Heat #1 – Red Dralle, Waterloo, Iowa
Heat #2 – Ed Morris, Omaha
Heat #3 – Dave Chase, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Heat #4 – Bill Martin, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Trophy dash – Red Dralle
Consolation – Larry Jiskra, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Feature –
1. Bill Martin
2. Red Dralle
3. Bob Kosiski, Omaha
4. Ken Walton, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
5. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
6. Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa
7. Mel Morris, West Liberty, Iowa
8. John Connolly, Delhi, Iowa
9. Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
10.Dan Nesteby, Waterloo, Iowa
11.Bob Bonzer, Liscomb, Iowa
12.Leonard Woodard, Des Moines
13.Russ Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
14.Bugs Vincent, Nevada, Iowa
15.Dave Chase

1975 – Dickson takes Winchester feature

Larry Dickson in victory lane at Winchester. 

Winchester, Ind. (April 20, 1975) - Larry Dickson of Marietta, Ohio, picked up his second feature win of the 1975 season in the USAC “Thunder and Lightning” sprint car division at Winchester Speedway Sunday afternoon.

Dickson, driving the Ernie Ensign Maude Special, also tied the one lap world record in qualifications of 16.16 seconds around the high banked one half-mile paved oval. Co-owner of the record, Bruce Walkup, originally set the mark July 28. 1974 The average speed for this time is 111 386 mph.

Billy Cassella, driving the Louis Seymour Enterprises machine led only two laps of the 40-lap feature before the yellow flag came out due to a spin on the backstretch by Jerry Poland

When the track was cleared and the green-flag fell, Dickson streaked past Cassella on the third lap and built up a sizable lead proving to the crowd he is the King of the USAC sprints with 37 sanctioned feature wins to his credit.

Second place went to Cassella followed by Pancho Carter, a former California resident now living in Brownsburg, Ind. Bruce Walkup was fourth and Gary Bettenhausen was fifth.

Heat races were won by Billy Englehart, Bruce Walkup, Pancho Carter, and Sheldon Kinser.

Rich Leavell hit the wall on the backstretch on the first lap of the fourth heat ripping off the right front wheel and putting his car out of commission for the day

He was not injured.


Results –


1. Larry Dickson
2. Billy Cassella
3. Pancho Carter
4. Bruce Walkup
5. Gary Bettenhausen
6. Greg Leffler
7. Bill Engelhart
8. Sam Sessions
9. George Snider
10.Sheldon Kinser