1978 - Milwaukee ASA Go to Senneker

Bob Senneker waves to the crowd after winning the 150-mile American Speed Association race at the Milwaukee Mile - Stan Kalwasinski Photo

West Allis, Wis. (May 7, 1978) - Bob Senneker of Dorr, Mich., took home the top prize, three Wisconsin drivers made the top five finishers and 19-year-old Mark Martin of Batesville, Ark., gave his fans something to cheer about.

But the pace car also played a key, role Sunday in the first American Speed Association stock car race ever run on the Wisconsin State Fair Park one-mile paved track.

Senneker, 33, who like most ASA drivers is a veteran of years of short track competition, averaged 96.55 miles per hour and won the $3,950 first prize out of a total purse of $32,300, while 16,173 fans looked on despite the chilly, drizzly weather.

Larry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., finished second, followed by Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Larry Detjens of Wausau, Wis., and Dave Watson of Milton, Wis.

Senneker, Martin and Phillips, all driving Camaros, battled for nearly the first 100 miles of the 150-mile event, exchanging the lead several times and pulling away from the field before a spin-out caused the caution flag to go out on the 106th lap with Martin in front.

Many of the drivers headed for the pits under the caution flag, but Martin stayed on the track, with his pit crew frantically trying to have him come in for refueling.

"I didn't want to come in until the pace car was out," Martin said, adding that he did not know the pace car would try to move in front of his car "I had no idea I was leading the race.”

Officials said the drivers failed to slow down enough, and the pace car was sent out to take a position ahead of Martin and slow the field.

However, Martin collided with Randy Sweet's Firebird as the two tried to avoid the pace car and other cars that had already slowed, and Danny Darnell also nicked one of their cars There were no injuries.

"I was coming down the back straightaway, just maintaining the space behind the car ahead when I saw the pace car coming up,” said Martin, who was the ASA rookie of the year last season and had won the pole position with a track record 114.452 qualifying speed. "I just couldn't get it slowed down."

After repairs on damaged steering parts, Martin returned to the track, eventually finishing 15th.

“I don't know who to blame,” he said. "It's just one of those things.”

Wayne Doebling, an ASA spokesman, said they felt the drivers, most of them accustomed to shorter tracks, probably didn’t realize they still might have been traveling nearly 100 mph after slowing down somewhat.

Questions about the final standings kept officials busy several hours after the race, and they admitted a mistake was made in allowing Senneker’s car to advance with two other cars to the end of the field on the 112th lap.

However, Doebling said Phillips only gained one second on Senneker from the 125th lap, the first full lap after the caution flag was finally lifted, until the end, and the mistake thus would probably not have affected the outcome.

Watson, who competed in a Buick Regal, won two out of four United States Auto Club events on the State Fair track last season when he was named the USAC rookie of the year.

He said that in the ASA event, featuring lighter cars than are allowed in USAC races, there was “not a minute to rest out there” because of the stiff competition.

Watson, who battled with Trickle for the sixth position through much of the early going, said his strategy called for a late sprint.

“The rain hurt us,” he said "We were geared up to sprint to the end It was still a sprint to the end. but it wasn’t the same.”


Results –


1. Bob Senneker
2. Larry Phillips
3. Dick Trickle
4. Larry Detjens
5. Dave Watson
6. Bob Strait
7. John Anderson
8. Larry Schuler
9. Mike Miller
10.Don Gregory
11.Ed Hoffman
12.Ray Young
13.Arnie Christen
14.Jim Cushman
15.Mark Martin
16.John Knaus
17.Dick Anderson
18.Rusty Wallace
19.Danny Darnell
20.Evert DeWitt

1962 – Derr Sets 5 Records in Hawkeye 250

Ernie Derr

By Phil Maly
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 6, 1962) – National stock car champion Ernie Derr made a clean sweep of things at Hawkeye Downs on Sunday afternoon. An estimated 8,000 people saw Derr wheel his 1962 Pontiac to a world’s record in the Hawkeye 250.

Derr completely outclassed his colleagues as he whipped around the Downs’ half-mile dirt oval in 1 hour, 55 minutes and 46 seconds, shattering the old mark by more than three minutes.

It was not the only final time that told the story of Derr’s superb driving. The pride and joy of Keokuk, Iowa, also reeled off four other record-breaking performances during the afternoon program.

Ernie started the matinee off by setting a new mark in time trials. He had two opportunities to break the old mark of 25.96 seconds, and oddly enough he went under it both times. His record time was 25.80 seconds.

Although Derr won the time trials, the top eight qualifiers drew lots for positions. Derr started on the inside of the third row but he quickly shot into second place behind early leader Chub Liebe of Oelwein, Iowa, while Dick Hutcherson, also of Keokuk, piloted his 1962 Ford into third place.

Derr displayed his ability of endurance and speed from this point on. His speed was evident when he broke the 50-lap dirt track world’s mark in 22 minutes and 15 seconds. The 100 and 150-lap marks were also broken.

Hawkeye Downs, notorious for its fast racing surface, took its toll on the field of 17 cars as only seven were still upright when the checkered flag waved.

Darrell Dake’s 1962 Ford was one of four ’62 models that was forced to the sidelines and unable to finish. Dake dropped out after completing only 100 laps and wound up in 11th place, the position where he started.

At the end of 120 laps, the race had narrowed down to a three-way battle between Derr, Hutcherson and Gil Haugen of Sioux Falls, S.D.

Haugen, who finished the race in third place, rode in the second spot until lap 123. Hutcherson moved past him and came on to finish only one lap behind the winner.


Results –

1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk
2. Dick Hutcherson, Keokuk
3. Gil Haugen, Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. Bob Reynolds, Edmonds, Okla.
5. Ken Pratt, Darlington, Wis.
6. Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle
7. Ernie McMahan, Keokuk
8. Bob Dugan, Waukegan, Ill.
9. Roland Wilson, Bedford
10.Ramo Stott, Keokuk
11.Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
12.Frank Richards, Marion
13.Chub Liebe, Oelwein
14.John Mickey, Columbus Junction
15.Mert Williams, Rochester, Minn.

1975 – Carter Captures Hulman Crown

Pancho Carter

Terre Haute, Ind. (May 4, 1975) - Duane "Pancho” Carter won the fifth annual Tony Hulman Classic USAC sprint car race here Sunday afternoon on the half-mile "Action Track” after taking the lead in the Dobbins Chevy after only three laps from his sixth starting spot.

The race had to be stopped on the first lap when Jim McElreath flipped the Seibert Olds Sprinter after tangling with Chuck Booth going into turn one.

McElreath, making a rare sprint car appearance, flipped side over side several times then became airborne sailing over the guardrail. The Arlington, Tex., native was taken to the hospital with a dislocated elbow and held overnight for observation.

On the restart Gary Bettenhausen jumped into the lead from his fourth starting spot and was in command for only two laps when Carter took over with Joe Saldana hanging on his tail. Saldana, last year’s Hulman Classic winner, followed the young Carter for several laps as the two moved away from the rest of the field until the yellow flag came out on lap 21 when Larry Cannon spun in turn three.

With the field bunched up, it was Carter, Saldana, Bettenhausen, and Sheldon Kinser holding down the first four positions. At this point the real racing started as Lee Osborne was making a move in the Stouffer machine challenging Kinser for fourth.

On lap 29 Osborne shot around Kinser and set sail for Bettenhausen with George Snider, in the Elder Cadillac entry, also making his way up front as he got by Kinser on lap 35.

On lap 38 of the scheduled 40 circuits, Bettenhausen and Saldana spun in turn two creating a yellow flag finish allowing Osborne and Snider to claim second and third in the high paying event. Fourth went to Tom Bigelow with fifth going to Sheldon Kinser. Heat wins were recorded by Carter, Bigelow, Sam Sessions, and Thad Dosher. The semi-main was won by Bruce Walkup.


Results –


1. Pancho Carter, Huntington Beach, Calif.
2. Lee Osborne, Lebanon, Penn.
3. George Snider, Bakersfield, Calif.
4. Tom Bigelow, Whitewater, Wis.
5. Sheldon Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.
6. Jimmy Caruthers, Anaheim, Calif.
7. Thad Dosher, Topeka, Kan.
8. Steve Cannon, Danville, Ill.
9. Tom Astone, Fresno, Calif.
10.Sonny Ates, Sellersburg, Ind.
11.Bruce Walkup, Sullivan, Ind.
12.Larry Cannon, Oakwood, Ill.
13.Chuck Booth, Speedway, Ind.
14.Chuck Gurney, Livermore, Calif.
15.Gary Bettenhausen, Monrovia, Ind.
16.Joe Saldana, Lincoln, Neb.
17.Sam Sessions, Nashville, Mich.
18.Bill Engelhart, Madison, Wis.
19.Gordy Lee, Indianapolis, Ind.
20.Jim McElreath, Arlington, Tex.

1975 – 10,013 See Hoffman Win Opener

Don Hoffman copped the season opening late model feature at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway. The Des Moines driver is joined in the winner's circle by Rita Nielson and Nancy Cauterucci. - AMR Photo

 

Des Moines, Iowa (May 3, 1975) - Don Hoffman capitalized on Bill Rice’s wrong guess Saturday night to capture the late model stock car feature race at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Glenn Woodard's “racer’s edge” proved too much for the other sportsman drivers as he breezed to victory in the 15-lap main event.

Hoffman and Rice thrilled the opening-night crowd of 10,013 with a bumper-to-bumper battle before Hoffman prevailed to seize the $550 top prize.

Rice put his 1973 Camaro in front at the start and remained there until the 18th lap, when Hoffman got past him high in the second turn.

“We had on the wide-tread tires because we figured that early in the year the track wouldn't dry out, but it did,” related Rice. “Don was getting better bite in the corners and that’s where he got around me."

Hoffman, who finished second in last season’s point-standings agreed with Rice.

“The car seemed to be working better through the corners,” the Des Moines native said. “It was the third time out with the new car (Camaro) and it was running pretty good…not too many problems.”

Rice, who picked up $400, and Hoffman posted heat victories. Dave Bjorge of Austin, Minn., was third followed by Keokuk’s Lem Blankenship and Council Bluffs’ Dave Chase.

Woodard, of Des Moines, was the class of the sportsman feature as he put his Camaro ahead of his brother Leonard, who won the first heat, on the second lap and was never pressured.

Glenn felt he might have had little edge in winning the $275 first-place money.

“For most of these guys, tonight was their first time out. I’ve been running at the quarter-mile track in Stuart the past three weeks and that helped,” explained Woodard, who is driving a new car this season.

“The new car isn’t any lighter, it just seems to run better,” he said. “We’ve been working the bugs out the last few weeks and it was running really good.”

Last year's point champion Fred Knapp drove his 1968 Camaro to second place and Dave Farren of Des Moines finished third.

Woodard also added a heat victory.

The youngest driver at the track, Dennis Rosenberg, 19, led all the way to win the 12-lap sportsman consolation race. The Grimes driver followed that triumph with a ninth-place finish in the feature.

Last season’s late model point champion, Stan Stover of Reinbeck, grabbed the lead from the pole in the consolation and held on for victory.

Stover led all 12 laps but had to hold off a late charge by Phil Reece of Des Moines. Reece pulled up on the bumper of Stover’s 1974 Chevelle on the last lap but couldn't get around off the final turn.

Ron Perdock finished third while Larry Embrey of Grimes and Mike Fordice were fourth and fifth, respectively.


Results –


Late Model - 

Heat #1 – Bill Rice, Des Moines
Heat #2 – Lem Blankenship, Keokuk
Heat #3 – Don Hoffman, Des Moines
Consolation – Stan Stover, Reinbeck
Feature - 
1. Don Hoffman
2. Bill Rice
3. Dave Bjorge, Austin, Minn.
4. Lem Blankenship
5. Dave Chase, Council Bluffs
6. Ron Perdock, Washington
7. Phil Reece, Des Moines
8. Bob Hilmer, Dysart
9. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
10.Don Davidson, Des Moines
11.Lefty Robinson, Des Moines
12.Earl Tice, Ames
13.Larry Embrey, Grimes
14.Mike Fordice
15.Lee Pinckney, Des Moines


Sportsman - 

Feature - 

1. Glenn Woodard, Des Moines
2. Fred Knapp, Des Moines
3. Dave Farren, Des Moines
4. Bill Davis, Des Moines
5. Rocky Hodges, Des Moines
6. Leonard Woodard, Des Moines
7. Rick Merryfield, Des Moines
8. Jim Anderson, Des Moines
9. Denny Rosenberg, Grimes
10.Bob Thompson, Des Moines
11.Larry Jones, Des Moines
12.Bill Carter, Ankeny
13.Lloyd Henderson, Ankeny
14.Bob Smith, Bondurant
15.Ken Cortum, Des Moines

1992 - Kosiski Posts Fifth Davenport Tour Win

Steve Kosiski won the NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour late model feature at Davenport Speedway. Joining Kosiski are flagman Johnny Oberthien and Don Soppeland. - Barry Wayne Johnson Photo

Davenport, Iowa (May 1, 1992) – Defending NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour champion Steve Kosiski posted his fifth consecutive Davenport Speedway tour victory on Friday night, taking advantage of another driver’s misfortune late in the 40-lap main event.

Ray Guss Jr. of Milan, Ill., had taken the lead from Curt Martin of Independence, Iowa, on the fourth turn of lap 27 and appeared unstoppable en route to the checkered flag.

But a slower car in Guss’ groove hampered the leader and Kosiski, from Omaha, Neb., who was running on Guss’ rear bumper, was able to slip by on lap 39 for the lead and eventual win.

Guss finished second behind Kosiski, as he had when the last NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour last competed at the Davenport half mile in July 1991. Martin was third at the end.

The race winner had not really expected to end up in victory lane.

“I’m definitely surprised. Ray definitely had the fast car tonight; he ran a strong race,” Kosiski said. “He came flying right by me. He had the groove.”


Results –

 

1. Steve Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
2. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.
3. Curt Martin, Independence, Iowa
4. Joe Kosiski, Omaha Neb.
5. Gary Webb, Davenport
6. Bob Hill, Story City
7. Bob Helm, Milan, Ill.
8. John Provenzano, Chicago, Ill.
9. Ed Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.
10. Tom Hearst, Wilton
11. Willy Kraft, Lakefield, Minn.
12. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington
13. Sonny Smyser, Lancaster, Mo.
14. Jay Johnson, West Burlington
15. Sonny Findling, Kirksville, Mo.
16. Bob Wood, Metamora, Ill.
17. Kyle Berck, Marquette, Neb.
18. Terry Ryan, Davenport
19. Jerry Wancewicz, Omaha, Neb.
20. Tom Svoboda, David City, Neb.

1978 – Trickle Survives Wall, Wins Grundy ARTGO Opener

Spring Classic winner Dick Trickle is joined by ARTGO president Art Frigo in victory lane.

Morris, Ill. (April 30, 1978) – Dick Trickle overcame a mishap early in Sunday afternoon’s 100-lap ARTGO Spring Classic feature at the Grundy County Speedway to win the event in a photo finish over Denny Nyari and Larry Detjens. The victory, which was worth $1,855 to Trickle, was his ninth feature win of the young season, with triumphs in seven different states.

It was also Trickle’s third victory of the weekend, coming on the heels of a Friday win at Capital Super Speedway (Oregon, Wis.) and a Saturday night win in Elko, Minn.

Sunday’s race might more appropriately been called the Artic Classic, since unseasonably cold weather saw temperatures stay in the 40’s while a crisp North wind added to the chill factor throughout the afternoon.

Polesitter Steve Burgess paced the 22-car field through the first seven laps of the event,

A lot of action took place on lap 8. Bob Senneker took the lead from Burgess while Trickle, who was running several positions back in the pack, slid against the second turn wall and dropped an additional half-dozen spots.

The yellow flag came out at the conclusion of lap 8 when Bobby Dotter and Dave Evans collided with the first turn wall.

On the restart, Senneker was in command with Larry Phillips on second and Detjens in third.

Trickle pulled off a sensational three-car pass to vault into sixth place on lap 13 and continued to master the outer groove on the freshly repaved track, taking fifth from Mike Miller on the 22nd lap. Five circuits later Trickle moved ahead of Nyari to claim fourth.

Phillips bounced off the backstretch wall in heavy traffic on lap 31, allowing Detjens to gain the number two spot.

After another caution on lap 44, Detjens darted ahead of Senneker on the restart to claim the top spot and six circuits later Trickle moved into second place.

A broken lower radiator hose forced Miller to stall on the backstretch bringing out the yellow on lap 63 and on the restart Trickle grabbed the lead from Detjens.

With the track conditions slippery during the next few laps, dirt track ace Tony Izzo became one of the fastest drivers in the competition, and unlapped himself on the 78th circuit.

Another caution necessitated 11 laps from the finish, when Rusty Wallace, Burgess and Larry Nipple tangled in turn three, bunched the leaders for a dramatic sprint to the finish.

On lap 93 Nyari moved to the outside and passed Detjens for the runner-up position.

Then on the final lap Nyari swept wide pulling alongside Trickle as the pair headed for the finish. However, Nyari’s bid fell short and he had to settle for runner-up money, with Detjens finishing a close third. Tom Reffner finished fourth with Wallace in fifth.

Three-time Grundy late model driving champion Ed Hoffman set fast time with a near-record 15.65-second lap in time trials but failed to score in preliminary races. In the feature Hoffman dropped back steadily at the outset, then seemed to gain momentum midway through the contest, but was forced from action on lap 77.

Results –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
2. Denny Nyari, South Bend, Ind.
3. Larry Detjens, Wausau, Wis.
4. Tom Reffner, Rudolph, Wis.
5. Rusty Wallace, St. Louis, Mo.
6. Tony Izzo, Bridgeview
7. Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh, Wis.
8. Joe Shear, South Beloit
9. Larry Nipple, Albany, Wis.
10.Dave Evans, Crystal Lake, Ill.
11.Steve Burgess, Eau Claire, Wis.
12.Larry Schuler, Lockport, Ill.
13.Ed Hoffman, Niles, Ill.
14.Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.
15.Arnie Christen, Mineral Point, Wis.
16.Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
17.Larry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
18.Chuck Sproull, Verona
19.Bob Strait, Flossmoor
20.George Hill, Oak Forest
21.Woody Church, Chicago
22.Bobby Dotter, Chicago

1979 - Eddy wins Salem ASA Raider 150

Mike Eddy

Salem, Ind. (April 29, 1979) – Mike Eddy of Midland, Mich., continued his domination of American Speed Association events at Salem Super Speedway Sunday with a victory worth $3,055 in the Raider 150 as his competition wilted.

Eddy took the lead from Rick Knotts on lap 16, withstood challenges from Mark Martin and Randy Sweet, but had more than a full lap lead at the finish as others suffered assorted problems.

Sweet was running a strong second when a broken valve sidelined his Camaro with only 13 laps remaining, continuing a streak of bad luck that has Plagued Sweet throughout the young season.

Martin, who was Eddy’s most serious challenger through the middle 50 circuits, lost three laps when he had to pit under green to change a punctured tire on his Camaro.

A surprised Bob Sensiba finished second followed by Terry Senneker, Ray Young and Rodney Combs.

Rick Knotts grabbed the early lead from his pole position, but his Camaro gave way to Eddy and then faded into fourth place before retiring with transmission troubles at the 100-lap mark.

Terry Senneker brought out the first caution on lap 32 with a spin in turn two. Eddy was leading Knotts, Martin and Dave Roahrig. At that point things remained that way until Dave Watson brought out the second yellow by crashing into the main stretch wall on lap 47.

Several more cautions, including one for a yellow flag that broke off the rear of the pace car, dotted the event.

Eddy, Martin and Sweet continued their three-car dash until lap 117 when Martin stopped. Sweet’s misfortune, despite hi signal’s crew to “be patient,” sealed the win for Eddy.

Sweet established a new one-lap track record in time trials at 17.044 seconds (114.058 miles per hour), erasing hiss own record set in 1977 at 17.171 seconds.

Results –

1. Mike Eddy, Midland, Mich.
2. Bob Sensiba, Middleville, Mich.
3. Terry Senneker, Grand Rapids, Mich.
4. Ray Young, Dolton, Ill
5. Rodney Combs, Loveland, Ohio
6. Don Gregory, Columbus, Ohio
7. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
8. Larry Schuler, Lockport, Ill.
9. Dave Evans, Crystal Lake, Ill.
10.Randy Sweet, Kalamazoo, Mich.
11.Don Johnson, Hillard, Ohio
12.David Hall, Grandview, Mo.
13.Tom Brown, Louisville, Ky.
14.Terry Shirley, Seymour, Ind.
15.Bob Theriault, Chicago