1975 – Schuler is Illiana Winner

 

Larry Schuler

Schererville, Ind. (May 11, 1975) – Larry Schuler dominated Sunday’s opening day late model stock car action at Illiana Motor Speedway, winning three events.

The 22-year-old Lockport, Ill., resident won the 25-lap feature, heat race, and trophy dash.

Dave Weltmeyer of Harvey, Ill., grabbed the lead in the feature and held it for the first four laps.

But Schuler knifed his way through the pack to take over the lead on lap 5 and was never headed. He finished the race in a record time of 9 minutes and 20.76 seconds.

Ray Young of Dolton, Ill., was third followed by Butch Miller of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Jim O’Conner of Kankakee, Ill.

Woody Pool of Blue Island, Ill., survived a six-car spinout to win the 15-lap semi-main. Chuck Merritt of Riverdale, Ill., was second and Larry Morris of Channahon, Ill., took third.

Miller set a track record during time trials, touring the half-mile paved oval in 21.67 seconds. Schuler and Young also broke Ed Hoffman’s old record of 21.96 seconds.

Heat wins went to Merritt, Weltmeyer, Schuler, and O’Conner.

1986 – Brown Holds Off Ridley for Nashville Victory

 

Darrell Brown

Nashville, Tenn. (May 10, 1986) – Darrell Brown withstood 10 caution flags and a strong challenge from Jody Ridley to win the All-Pro Nashville 200 Saturday night at Nashville Motor Speedway.

Fast qualifier Rusty Wallace, who set a track record of 114.799 miles per hour in Friday’s time trials, grabbed the early lead. When a caution appeared on lap 35, most of the field pitted, giving NASCAR star Bobby Allison the lead.

When the green flag returned, Allison retained the front spot and dominated the race until Mike Alexander squeezed by on lap 91. Ridley would power into the lead on lap 107 and hold the top spot until he pitted for fresh tires on lap 119. Allison regained the top spot but only until lap 159 when he pulled into the pits with an overheating motor.

Brown then took command of the race and outran Ridley for the remainder of the race to nab the victory. Ridley held on for runner-up honors followed by Gary Balough, Allison, and Tommy Evans.

“I was confident that I once I got to the front, I could hold the rest off after Rusty and Mike (Alexander) went to the pits,” said Brown, after pocketing $4,800.


Results –


1. Darrell Brown
2. Jody Ridley
3. Gary Balough
4. Bobby Allison
5. Tommy Evans
6. Harold Fair
7. Freddy Fryar
8. Jimmy Cope
9. Sterling Marlin
10.Ricky Crawford

1975 – Osborne Leads Early and Late at IRP

 

Six previous USAC champions were honored during the sprint car program at Indianapolis Raceway Park. From left to right; Greg Weld, Sam Sessions, Duane Carter, Rollie Beale, Gary Bettenhausen, and Larry Dickson. At the right is car owner Grant King’s wife, Doris. – Scattergood/Christie Photo

Clermont, Ind. (May 10, 1975) – USAC’s 1974 Rookie-of-the-Year Lee Osborne of Lebanon, Penn., led the last 21 laps to win the 40-lap United States Auto Club sprint car feature at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Saturday night.

Osborne started the event on the pole and led through the first seven circuits before dropping behind Tom Bigelow. Four laps later, Bigelow lost the top spot to defending USAC sprint king Duane “Pancho” Carter.

Carter continued to set the pace until lap 19 when a blistered tire caused him to slow and enabled Osborne to reclaim first place.

Carter ultimately dropped to 13th place at the finish, while Osborne was never again headed in registering the victory in the Stauffer Construction Chevy.

Chuck Gurney claimed second with Billy Cassella in third. George Snider took fourth and Bigelow rounded out the top five finishers.

Although he managed only a 14th place feature finish, Sam Sessions was the only driver to claim two firsts in the program by winning the trophy dash and topping Osborne in the semi-main.

Snider paced the field in qualifying, setting a new track record with a 22.53-second lap. Bill Puterbaugh held the previous mark of 22.64 set last year.

Carter, Rollie Beale, Jackie Howerton and Bo Richards scored heat victories.

The evening’s lone accident saw Sonny Ates crash into the turn one wall during the fourth heat. Ates was uninjured but his car was unrepairable.

As an added attraction, the track saluted nine previous USAC sprint car champions. In addition to Carter, Sessions, Gary Bettenhausen, Rollie Beale, and Larry Dickson, all of whom took part in Saturday’s racing program, former champions Parnelli Jones, A.J. Foyt, Johnny Rutherford and Greg Weld were also on hand for the festivities.


Results –


1. Lee Osborne
2. Chuck Gurney
3. Billy Cassella
4. George Snider
5. Tom Bigelow
6. Joe Saldana
7. Bruce Walkup
8. Tommy Astone
9. Steve Chassey
10.Dana Carter
11.Bob Richards
12.Ronnie Burke
13.Duane Carter
14.Sam Sessions
15.Gary Irvin
16.Jimmy Caruthers
17.Chuck Booth
18.Jackie Howerton
19.Larry Dickson
20.Rollie Beale

1987 - Sills Leads All The Way in Indianapolis WoO Win

 

Jimmy Sills is interviewed by Larry Nuber after winning the World of Outlaws main event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. – Mike Killdoo Photo

Indianapolis, Ind. (May 9, 1987) – Jimmy Sills led wire-to-wire to claim the 25-lap World of Outlaws sprint car feature Saturday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Stevee Kinser jumped into the lead when the green flag waved, but “The King” was charged with a false start and the contest was restarted.

On that same faulty start, Ron Shuman and Andy Stapp flipped in turn one. Rich Vogler attempted to avoid the mishap but caused Johnny Herrera to flip as well.

Om the restart, Sills nabbed the lead from the pole position, and he was never passed as he toured the 10-mile dirt oval on both the inside and outside grooves.

Sills was never challenged and took the checkered six seconds ahead of runner-up Kinser. Sammy Swindell placed third, followed by Mark Kinser and Jac Haudenschild.

Seven drivers topped the previous track record during qualifying for the event with Swindell posting the top mark of 27.09 seconds.

Several engines were burned up over the course of the night, causing the B-main to be canceled.


Results –


1. Jimmy Sills
2. Steve Kinser
3. Sammy Swindell
4. Mark Kinser
5. Jac Haudenschild
6. Randy Smith
7. Brad Doty
8. Kenny Jacobs
9. Keith Kauffman
10.Lee Brewer

1981 – Detjens Sweeps Dells ARTGO Go

 

Larry Detjens dominated ARTGO's Twin 50’s action at the Dells Motor Speedway, winning both 50 lappers at the third-mile paved oval. - Stan Kalwasinski Photo

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (May 9, 1981) - Larry Detjens made a clean sweep of ARTGO Racing’s 10th annual Midwest Championships late model stock car special at Dells Motor Speedway on Saturday evening.

Detjens, a 36-year-old Wausau native, made off with both 50-lap features on the 1/3-mile paved oval in his 1981 Camaro.

He started the evening in second place in the ARTGO point standings and left with the point lead after his clean sweep.

Joe Shear, who started the evening as the ARTGO point leader, stayed in first place in the first 500-lapper until lap 33 when Detjens took command.

Detjens finished with a comfortable lead over Jim Sauter, Pat Schauer, Dick Trickle and Larry Schuler. Shear finished sixth.

In the second 50-lapper, Detjens took the lead on lap 37 and cruised from there.

Trailing Detjens at the finish were Sauter, Trickle, Schauer and Mike Miller.

Shear, who developed differential problems in the first contest, sat out the second race.

Detjens collected an extra $200 from ARTGO management for his clean sweep of the late model competition.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Larry Detjens
2. Jim Sauter
3. Pat Schauer
4. Dick Trickle
5. Larry Schuler
6. Joe Shear
7. Jim Weber
8. Kevin Stepan
9. Don James
10.Mike Miller


Feature #2 –

1. Larry Detjens
2. Jim Sauter
3. Dick Trickle
4. Pat Schauer
5. Mike Miller
6. Jim Weber
7. Frank Gawlinski
8. Alan Kulwicki
9. Wayne Lensing
10.John Knaus

1983 – Smith Takes Winged Sprint Main at Blue Grass

 

Randy Smith of Norwalk won the 25-lap winged sprint car feature at Hawkeye Raceway in Blue Grass. Promoter Verne Schumann (left) and flagman Larry Armstrong join Smith in victory lane. – Bernie Tappa Photo

Blue Grass, Iowa (May 6, 1983) – Despite threatening skies, six different racing divisions completed their events Friday night at Hawkeye Raceway.

Ina special appearance of winged sprinters, Randy Smith of Norwalk stated third and picked up the victory in the 25-lap headliner.

Manny Rockhold of Pekin, Ill., finished fourth in the sprint car feature after flipping onto its side earlier in the contest. Rockhold spun to avoid hitting cars in front of him that were slowing due to a caution flag but was able to continue when his car was put back on it’s wheels and a tire changed.

Tim Baker of Sioux City, the heat winner, was not so fortunate. His car flipped onto it side on the feature and could not continue.

In the winged three-quarter midgets, Bruce Moore of Moline, Ill., made a clean sweep, winning his heat and feature.

Rick Hixson of Coal Valley, Ill., won the bomber feature race and Mike Kennedy of East Moline, Ill., went all the way in the mini-stock main event.

Jim Mettlin of Cambridge, Ill., led wire-to-wire in the IMCA modified feature and Gary Reinhart of Moline, Ill., made it two in a row, winning the sportsman feature.


Results –


Winged Sprint Cars –

1. Randy Smith, Norwalk
2. Mike Pinckney, Des Moines
3. Mike Thomas, Des Moines
4. Manny Rockhold, Pekin, Ill.
5. Steve Morris, West Burlington

IMCA Modified –

1. Jim Mettlin, Cambridge, Ill.
2. Tom Herbert, Silvis, Ill.
3. Jack Lueth, Davenport
4. Ken Raabe, Davenport
5. Robert Dlouhy, Tipton

Bomber –

1. Rick Hixson, Coal Valley, Ill.
2. Wayne Sperry, Davenport
3. Darrel Beauchamp, Davenport
4. Rod Stevens, Davenport
5. Mel Reicks, Davenport

Sportsman –

1. Gary Reinhart, Moline, Ill.
2. Ron Van Gothem, Moline, Ill.
3. Jim Ross, Thomsen, Ill.
4. Al Yerington, Rock Island, Ill.

1984 – Johnson Tops Corning’s NASCAR Invitational

 

Johnny Johnson is joined by his crew and Debbie Bohr in victory lane after winning the NASCAR late model season opener at Adams County Speedway. – Jerry Adams Photo

By Jim Brennan

Corning, Iowa (May 5, 1984) – Mother Nature decided to relax Saturday night and allow the Adams County Speedway to kick off their season under the NASCAR Winston Racing Series banner.

An excellent crowd saw an exciting show with 60 cars – 38 late models and 22 street stocks – doing battle on the half-mile oval.

A power failure that took out half of the track lighting and took almost an hour to repair failed to dampen the enthusiasm of fans or racers.

In late model action, Jeff French of Mt. Ayr took the lead from his outside front row starting position and held it until lap 6 when Johnny Johnson of Wapello overtook him and led until the finish, which was shortened to 40 laps due to running over the town’s curfew.

Tom Hearst of Wilton, the 1982 Winston Racing Series national champion, had moved into second position on lap 10 and was challenging Johnson when mechanical difficulties forced him to the infield.

Next to challenge Johnson was Joe Kosiski of Omaha, but a broken rear suspension forced him to the sidelines. Kosiski was able to make repairs but had to restart at the rear of the field. He fought his way back and finished eighth.

Ron Tilley of Council bluffs, who had earned a starting position through one of two consolation races, moved into second when Kosiski dropped out and held it to the end. Rounding out the top-five were Glenn Robey of Omaha, French, and Bill Leighton of Omaha.

Heat races were won by Jim Jenkins of Council Bluffs, Kosiski, Rick Beebe of Overland Park, Kan., and Hearst. Consolation winners were Tilley and Don Weyrich of Norfolk, Neb.

In the street stock feature, John Mensing of Fontanelle came from his seventh row starting position to capture the 15-lap contest. Mensing, who had mechanical problems in his heat, finished second in the consolation to earn a starting spot in the feature. He worked his way through the field and passed David Weeda on lap 12 to take the lead. Weeda held on to second in a close finish with Doug Lund.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Johnny Johnson, Wapello
2. Ron Tilley, Council Bluffs
3. Glenn Robey, Omaha
4. Jeff French, Mt. Ayr
5. Bill Leighton, Omaha
6. Denny Rosenberg, Grimes
7. Keith Mander, Omaha
8. Joe Kosiski, Omaha
9. Don Weyrich, Norfolk, Neb.
10.Randy Sterner, Blair, Neb.


Street Stock –

1. John Mensing, Fontanelle
2. David Weeda, Mt. Ayr
3. Doug Lund, Fontanelle
4. Cliff McKinney, Omaha

5. Larry Robinson, Omaha