1966 – Illinois Driver Wins Missouri Futurity

Missouri Futurity winner Jim Moughan is congratulated by Missouri Agriculture representative Dexter Davis as IMCA’s Al Sweeney looks on. Announcer Jimmy Glenn (right) and starter Woody Brinkman (left) join in the ceremony. – Beetle Bailey Photo

Sedalia, Mo. (August 20, 1966) – Jim Moughan of Springfield, Ill., won the 30-lap Missouri Futurity for International Motor Contests Association sprint cars Saturday afternoon just before a downpour soaked the track and fairgrounds.

The feature, dedicated to the late Jud Larson, was Moughan’s first victory of the 1966 season. A crowd of 14,000 watched the opening day of automobile racing at the Missouri State Fair.

Finishing behind Moughan in the race were Jerry ‘Scratch’ Daniels of St. Paul, Minn., Grady Wade of Wichita, Kan., and Dale Reed, also of Wichita. The prizes for the top four finishers were $600, $500, $350, and $300.

Moughan also set a 10-lap record of 4 minutes and 11 seconds, beating the previous record of 4 minutes and 12 seconds set in 1960 by A.J. Shepard of Gardena, Calif.

Jerry Richert of Forest Lake, Minn., had the fastest time in qualifying, touring the half-mile in 24.07 seconds.

Bill Puterbaugh of Roxana, Ill., won the first heat in 3 minutes and 50 seconds with Richert in second, and Bill Utz of Sedalia, Mo., taking third.

Wade was the second heat winner in 3 minutes and 26 seconds with Gordon Woolley of Waco, Tex., in second and Dale Reed in third.

Ken William of Kansas City was the victor in the third heat with Jerry Weld and Wes Ferrand, both of Kansas City, taking second and third respectively. There was no time because of a restart.

The 5-lap handicap went to Grady Wade in a time of 2 minutes and 3 seconds bettering the old record set again in 1960 by Shepard of 2 minutes and 4 seconds.

Moughan also won the 10-lap semi-feature race. Ron Larson of White Bear Lake, Minn., was second and Ray Lee Goodwin of Kansas City took third. The time of 4 minute and 11 seconds beat Shepard’s 4 minute and 12 second mark set in 1960.


Results –


1. Jim Moughan, Springfield, Ill.
2. Jerry Daniels, St. Paul, Minn.
3. Grady Wade, Wichita, Kan.
4. Dale Reed, Wichita, Kan.
5. Jerry Richert, Forest Lake, Minn.
6. Bill Utz, Sedalia, Mo.
7. Gordon Woolley, Waco, Tex.
8. Bill Puterbaugh, Roxana, Ill.
9. Jerry Weld, Kansas City
10.Wes Ferrand, Kansas City

1960 – Packard Wins 100-Miler at Springfield

Jim Packard is joined in victory lane by his wife Betty after his win at Springfield. 

Springfield, Ill. (August 20, 1960) – Jim Packard of Speedway, Ind., with his motor purring like a kitten, lapped all but Eddie Sachs of Outer Valley, Penn., to win the 100-mile United States Auto Club championship race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Saturday afternoon.

Elmer George, also of Speedway, Ind., and participating in his first championship race of the year, finished third. Following behind were Lloyd Ruby of Houston Tex., and Wayne Weiler of Phoenix, Ariz.

The race paid a purse of $20,000 and was witnessed by an estimated 35,000 fans.

Several cars exited the race early on account of spinouts or mechanical issues. Several restarts were necessary due to the rough conditions of the track and heavy shower which occurred at the end of 20 laps.

Starter Billy Vandewater dropped the green flag, and it was pole-sitter Don Branson of Champaign, Ill., scooting out in front. Branson, who turned the fastest lap in qualifying with a time of 34.50 for the mile, would lead the first 16 circuits before dropping out with motor troubles.

With Branson out of the picture, the 28-year-old Packard, a veteran of five seasons, would take over the lead and never relinquish it.

A.J. Foyt of Houston, Tex., and Bobby Grim of Indianapolis, Ind., would collide on lap 2 and retired for the day. Jim Hurtubise of North Tonawanda, N.Y., the rookie sensation, spun out on lap 10 but would battle back to finish tenth.

Branson would make the necessary repairs to his car, restart at the rear of the field and finish a respectable seventh.

Local favorite Tony Bettenhausen of Tinley Park, Ill., was unable to make the call after the rain-delay and was credited with 15th place.


Results –


1. Jim Packard, Speedway, Ind.
2. Eddie Sachs, Outer Valley, Penn.
3. Elmer George, Speedway, Ind.
4. Lloyd Ruby, Houston, Tex.
5. Wayne Weiler, Phoenix, Ariz.
6. Chuck Stevenson, Garden Grove, Calif.
7. Don Branson, Champaign, Ill.
8. Len Sutton, Portland, Ore.
9. Johnny Thomson, Boyertown, Penn.
10. Jim Hurtubise, North Tonawanda, N.Y.
11. Jack Rounds, Los Angeles, Calif.
12. Bill Homeier, Pacoima, Calif.
13. Roger McCluskey, Phoenix, Ariz.
14. Ernie Koch, Vancouver, Wash.
15. Tony Bettenhausen, Tinley Park, Ill.
16. Cotton Farmer, Houston, Tex.
17. A.J. Foyt, Houston, Tex.
18. Bobby Grim, Indianapolis, Ind.

1989 – Wolfgang Wins Fifth Title at Knoxville

Doug Wolfgang

Knoxville, Iowa (August 19, 1989) – Doug Wolfgang led all but briefly to win the 29th annual Knoxville National Sprint Car Championships Saturday night before 18,000 fans.

Wolfgang, of Sioux Falls, S.D., took the initial lead but lost it briefly in the first turn, regained it coming out of the second turn.

Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind., followed Wolfgang until he was sidelined on lap 20 with a flat tire.

Kinser had to go to the back of the field but recovered to finish sixth in the 30-lap feature.

Dave Blaney of Courtland, Ohio, was second followed by Steve Smith Jr., of New Oxford, Penn. Sammy Swindell of Bartlett, Tenn., was fourth and Bobby Davis Jr., of Memphis, Tenn., rounded out the top five.

It was Wolfgang’s fifth national title. He also won in 1977, 1978, 1984, and 1985.

Swindell set a new track record in the 5-lap dash. A regular weekly competitor at Knoxville, Swindell turned in a time of 1 minute and 22.7 seconds, breaking his own record he set back in April.

Jac Haudenschild, Jason McMillen, Randi Turner and Bobby Marcum won preliminary features.

Haudenschild, of Millersburg, Ohio, won the 22-lap “B” feature. McMillen, of Carmichael, Calif., won the 15-lap “C” feature. Turner, of San Jose, Calif., won the 12-lap “D” feature and Marcum, of Tucson, Ariz., won the 10-lap “E” feature.


Results –


1. Doug Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2. Dave Blaney, Courtland, Ohio
3. Steve Smith Jr., New Oxford, Penn.
4. Sammy Swindell, Bartlett, Tenn.
5. Bobby Davis Jr., Memphis, Tenn.
6. Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.
7. Kenny Jacobs, Holmesville, Ohio
8. Keith Kauffman, Mifflintown, Penn.
9. Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
10.Andy Hillenburg, Broken Arrow, Okla.
11.Frankie Kerr, Selinsgrove, Penn.
12.Chris Eash, Woodbine, Md.
13.Ricky Hood, Booneville, Ind.
14.Mark Kinser, Oolitic, Ind.
15.Bobby Allen, Hanover, Penn.
16.Don Kreitz Jr., Sinking Spring, Penn.
17.Jeff Swindell, Memphis, Tenn.
18.Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, N.M.
19.Joe Gaerte, Rochester, Ind.
20.Rocky Hodges, Danville, Ind.
21.Jac Haudenschild, Millersburg, Ohio
22.Ray Lipsey, Lincoln, Neb.
23.Jeff Gordon, Pittsboro, Ind.
24.Tim Green, San Jose, Calif.

1972 – Unser Scores on Dirt at Springfield

Jack Bowsher (21) leads Al Unser (15) during the USAC stock car 100-miler at Springfield. Unser would take the lead midway through the contest and eventually take the win.

Springfield, Ill. (August 19, 1972) – The flat, one-mile dirt tack proved to be the turning point for Al Unser on Saturday afternoon as he powered his 1971 Ford Torino to a convincing victory in the United States Auto Club late model stock car race at the Illinois State Fair.

The race was but three laps old when Jim Tobin and Sal Tovella lost control in the third turn causing mass confusion behind them. Jigger Sirois’ 1970 Mustang suffered severe damage to the rear end while Verlin Eaker’s 1969 Dodge ran up onto the inside guard rail, tearing up the fencing and almost tumbling into the ditch below.

After a 45-minute delay to clear the cars and debris from the track, 27 of the original 30 starters lined up for the restart.

Jack Bowsher immediately pressured the front-running Unser and the two veterans exchanged the top spot twice before Bosher decided to take his mandatory pit stop on lap 20. Unser, however, decided to stay out on the track and build a lead.

Unser’s strategy proved advantageous on the 44th lap as Bowsher blew his engine coming out of the fourth turn bringing out the yellow flag.

During the caution, Unser pitted, got back on the track and proceeded to coast to an easy victory, thus breaking a streak of bad luck that had plagued him on and off throughout the year.

Butch Hartman, the 1971 USAC stock car champion, finished second with Ralph Latham taking third and Don White grabbing fourth. Sal Tovella, after his lap 3 wreck, charged back to round out the top five.


Results –


1. Al Unser
2. Butch Hartman
3. Ralph Latham
4. Don White
5. Sal Tovella
6. Roger McCluskey
7. Harold Fair
8. Ramo Stott
9. Terry Ryan
10.Paul Feldner
11.Bruce Jacobi
12.Lem Blankenship
13.Dan Dickey
14.Bay Darnell
15.Joe Booher

1962 – Race Victory to Scroggin; 13,500 Watch

Colby Scroggin

Des Moines, Iowa (August 19, 1962) – Pete Folse was only two miles away from a $700 payday on Sunday at the Iowa State Fair, but it might as well have been a thousand as far as the veteran Tampa, Fla., dirt track champion was concerned.

Colby Scroggin of Eagle Rock, Calif., claimed the 20-lap big car feature before 13,500 fans as Folse, the three-time International Motor Contest Association titleholder, watched from the pit area.

Folse, dogged by bad luck for most of the 1962 campaign, had the main event won with a 300-yard lead over the rest of the field when his car blew a rear-end gear on the 16th lap of the 10-miler.

Gordon Woolley, Waco, Tex., and Herschel Wager, Hickman Mills, Mo., finished second and third respectively. Johnny White of Warren, Mich., romped home in fourth place.

The victory was the ninth in his last eleven starts for Scroggin, the 37-year-old roofer who pilots Kenny Worth’s fuel-injected Chevrolet.

But it was only the second victory for the California Racing Association leader in two years of competition in IMCA-sanctioned affairs.

Ill fortune also struck another driver as Johnny Rutherford, the IMCA point leader, blew up the engine in his Dave Beatson Chevrolet during heat action. Rutherford had led 35 cars through time trials with a time of 24.65 seconds on the half-mile.

It wasn’t a totally wasted afternoon for the Ft. Worth, Tex., star, as he took over Gordon Herring’s Offenhauser out of Denver, Colo., a car qualified for the 14th spot. Rutherford managed to earn a sixth-place finish in the feature, worth $150 in winnings.

Scroggin’s triumph, plus second fastest time in qualifying and two fourth-place finishes in heat races bulked his total to $810 for the afternoon.

For the first 15 laps of the feature, it appeared that Folse had the Hector Honore Offenhauser buzzing. He had a 50-yard lead on Scroggin at the end of four laps and continued to widen his margin as the laps clicked off.

“I’d never have caught him,” Scroggin admitted afterwards.

Another of the luckless drivers was Harold Leep, who drove the Lempelius Offy to victory in the Hawkeye Futurity in June.

Leep didn’t place in a qualifying heat and was fifth in the consolation – one spot away from a berth in the feature.

Results –


Time trials – Johnny Rutherford, Ft. Worth, Tex. (24.65)
Heat #1 – Russ Long, Los Angeles
Heat #2 – Arnie Knepper, Belleville, Ill.
Heat #3 – Buzz Rose, Indianapolis
Trophy dash – Jerry Daniels, St. Paul, Minn.
Consolation – Gordon Woolley, Waco, Tex.
Feature –
1. Colby Scroggin, Eagle Rock, Calif.
2. Gordon Woolley
3. Herschel Wagner, Hickman Mills, Mo.
4. Johnny White, Warren, Mich.
5. Jerry Daniels
6. Johnny Rutherford
7. Russ Long
8. Jack Brunner, Los Angeles
9. Buzz Rose
10.Ted Ready, St. Paul, Minn.
11.Ned Kirkpatrick, Wood River, Ill.
12.Jerry Manns, Wood River, Ill.

1959 – Bumper crop of fans see Folse win in Algona

Pete Folse 

Algona, Iowa (August 19, 1959) – A bumper crowd of race fans saw a real “Duel in the Sun” at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds track in Algona, Iowa, on Wednesday afternoon.

The duelists were Pete Folse and A.J. Shepherd, and their battle for the top money in the 15-lap feature was one that the old-timers will be talking about in 20 years.

Folse pushed his Honore Offy to the front in the first turn, while Shepherd tucked the Abajian Offy in close behind and gave Folse a good working over that lasted for the full 15 circuits.

Folse hurried home to grab the checkered flag and set a new 15-lap track record of 6 minutes, and 8 seconds. His record run in the main event rounded out a near perfect afternoon for Folse, who earlier had topped the best of a stellar field in the 5-lap dash and his 7-lap heat race.

The popular point leader was topped only in time trials, with Shepherd setting quick time in 24.45 seconds around the 4/10-mile.


Results –


1. Pete Folse
2. A.J. Shepherd
3. Parnelli Jones
4. Bob Mathouser
5. Dick Ritchie
6. Bill Holland
7. Jimmy Jones
8. Colby Scroggins

1974 –Sedalia ARCA 100 to Hutcherson

Ron Hutcherson

Sedalia, Mo. (August 18, 1974) – Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa, ran away with the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) stock car race on the half-mile dirt at the Missouri State Fair on Sunday afternoon.

Hutcherson’s win came easily. He finished nearly two laps ahead of the second and third-place drivers, Mike Dibben, Kansas City, and Jim Tobin, Hudson, Ill. The rest of the field was two or more laps off the pace.

Bud Dibben, Kansas City, took fourth and Tony Schiller, Frankfort, Ky., rounded out the top five.

Hutcherson, whose last appearance here was in 1971 with the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA), had only one serious challenger - Mike Derr, Keokuk, Iowa, who was about a half lap back when he retired to the pit area on the 51st lap with a broken valve spring. Derr had lapped virtually all of the field at least once before his exit from the race.

Derr, who was behind the wheel of his father’s #23 United States Auto Club 1972 Dodge, was running on a temporary permit with ARCA.

Hutcherson, a two-time ARCA national champion, set the pace in his 1971 Mercury, setting fast time and winning the trophy dash.

It was ARCA’s first-ever appearance at the Missouri State Fair.


Results –


1. Ron Hutcherson
2. Mike Dibben
3. Jim Tobin
4. Bud Dibben
5. Tony Schiller
6. Jerry Hufflin
7. Wayne Trinkle
8. Eddie Gray
9. Flea Atkin
10. Fred Kirk