1988 - Jeff Swindell Tops Santa Fe WoO

 

Jeff Swindell completed a sweep of the World of Outlaws sprint car feature at Santa Fe Speedway by topping the 30-laap headliner. Swindell also won the preliminary the night before. – Tony Cipolletti Photo

Willow Springs, Ill. (July 15, 1988) – Jeff Swindell notched his second victory in two days at Santa Fe Speedway as he topped the 30-lap World of Outlaws sprint car feature on Friday night.

Doug Wolfgang dominated most of the event as he led 28 of the 30 laps. Wolfgang paced Mark Kinser and Swindell until round 29 when Swindel slipped past Kinser and Wolfgang in turn two to gain the lead.

Swindell, who won Thursday night’s prelim, held off Wolfgang to the wire for the win. Mark Kinser finished third followed by Steve Kinser and Bobby Davis Jr.


Results –


1. Jeff Swindell
2. Doug Wolfgang
3. Mark Kinser
4. Steve Kinser
5. Bobby Davis Jr.
6. Sammy Swindell
7. Bobby Allen
8. Jac Haudenschild
9. Kenny Jacobs
10.Joey Allen

1973 – Shear Wins ‘White’ Race

 

Joe Shear won the 75-lap "White" race as part of the Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series at Wisconsin International Raceway. 

By Gary Vercauteren

Kaukauna, Wis. (July 15, 1973) – Joe Shear guided his 1973 Camaro to victory in the second race of the “Red, White, and Blue” State Championship Series at the Wisconsin International Raceway before a crowd of 8,396 race fans on Sunday afternoon.

Shear, a 29-year-old South Beloit, Ill., professional racer grabbed the lead from Bob Jusola of Burnsville, Minn., on the 38th lap of the 75-lap main event and won the contest by four seconds over Jim Back of Vesper. Back was also driving a 1973 Camaro.

During qualifications, Shear broke Back’s one-month-old track record with a time of 21.17 seconds. Back had established the time of 21.30 seconds during the first race of the “Red, White, and Blue” championship during June.

Steven Point’s Rich Somers bolted into the lead in the feature in his 1973 Mustang but was passed by Necedah’s Jim Sauter on the second round. Sauter held the number one position until the 8th lap when he was passed by Nekoosa’s Marv Marzofka.

Marzofka then battled wheel-to-wheel with Bob Jusola for several laps until Jusola surged into the lead. Jusola, a tough 20-year veteran of short tracks who has been crowned Minnesota state champion several times, lived up to his nickname “The Flying Finn” as he built up a three-second lead over the rest of the field.

However, Rich Davis of Highland, Ill., spun his 1973 Torino on lap 33 which caused the yellow flag to come out. This tightened up the field considerably with Marzofka and Shear glued to Jusola’s bumper on the restart.

Shear blazed past Marzofka on the restart and then moved up to challenge Jusola. The yellow flag waved again on lap 37 when Jim Pierson’s 1973 Camaro stalled on the frontstretch.

Shear would get the jump on Jusola on the restart and slipped into the lead entering the first turn on lap 38. Jusola would stay with Shear until the 56th circuit when he was forced out with a blown tire.

Back moved into second place following Jusola’s exit but couldn’t catch Shear. Milwaukee’s John Rank placed third in a 1973 Nova followed by Jim Sauter, also in a 1973 Nova. Dave Watson of Milton, driving a 1973 Camaro, rounded out the top five finishers.

Shear collected $750 for the victory while Back took home $575 and Rank $450.


Results –


1. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
2. Jim Back, Vesper
3. John Rank, Milwaukee
4. Jim Sauter, Necedah
5. Dave Watson, Milton
6. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa
7. Larry Detjens, Wausau
8. Rich Somers, Stevens Point
9. Mike Miller, New Prague, Minn.
10.Jack Brewer, Oak Creek
11.Jerry Smith, Medina
12.Boyce Sparkman, Rockford, Ill.
13.Paul Christianson, Mosinee
14. Rich Davis, Highland, Ill.
15.Jon Chrest, Hamel, Minn.

1966 – Ramo Passes Ernie to Win Fargo Fair Finale

 

Fargo, N.D. (July 15, 1966) – Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa, set a blistering pace to win the 100-lap IMCA stock car feature at the Red River Valley Fair.

Stott, the pole sitter, took the lead on the first lap and was half a lap in front when he made his mandatory pit stop on the 40th circuit. Ernie Derr, also of Keokuk, Iowa, then pushed his 1966 Dodge into first place.

A determined charge by Stott made up the ground lost on the pit stop and it was all over for Derr when he made his pit stop on lap 93.

Derr got out of the pits in time to claim second place ahead of Ed Negre of Monett, Mo., in a 1965 Plymouth.

Lenny Funk of Otis, Kan., wheeled his 1964 Ford across the finish line to take fourth. Blaine Morrow of Mt. Joy, Ill., was fifth in a 1964 Plymouth.

Preliminary heats were won by Derr and Morrow.

A capacity crowd of viewed the program which was conducted by Frank Winkley’s Auto Racing Inc.


Results –

1. Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Ed Negre, Monett, Mo.
4. Lenny Funk, Otis, Kan.
5. Blaine Morrow, Mt. Joy, Ill.
6. Ole Brua, Albert Lea, Minn.
7. Wally Christiansen, Minneapolis
8. Paul Feldner, Colgate, Wis.
9. Butch Hall, Russell, Minn.
10.Karl Stauffer, Independence, Mo.

1984 – First ASA Triumph for Trickle at Springfield

 

Springfield, Mo. (July 14, 1984) – Dick Trickle outlasted the heat, humidity, and Alan Kulwicki to win the ASA-sanctioned Silver Creek 250 stock car race at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

It was Trickle’s first ASA victory of the season.

Kulwicki, who led 201 of the 250-lap contest recovered from a spin that allowed Trickle to take the lead for good, finished second, 2.5-seconds back. Bobby Dotter was third and Harold Fair fourth to round out the lead lap finishers. Mike Eddy came in fifth, one circuit in arrears.

Though Trickle played the role of the opportunist to pick up the $6,820 win, he never ranked worse than fourth at any point in the race.

Trickle credited a mid-race pit stop with giving him the winning edge.

“My guys got me ahead of everyone else,” Trickle said of the lap 106 caution which sent all of the contenders to the pits except Kulwicki. “And with everyone battling the heat, it made my job that much easier.”

Kulwicki blazed to a one-lap track record in qualifications, touring the flat, .525-mile oval in 20.100 seconds to put his Firebird on the pole for the start of the 28-car feature.

Rocketing away at the start, Kulwicki enjoyed as much as a straightaway lead over second place in the early going as his closest pursuer, Bob Senneker, was forced to make a green flag pit stop with a flat tire on lap 60….

Despite a quick stop, Senneker went a lap down, but returned to the track in form, eventually running down Kulwicki and engaging the pacesetter in a battle that lasted 100 circuits.

Although all the other contenders pitted during the mid-race caution necessitated by a Dave Jensen spin, Kulwicki elected to stay out and remain the lead.

“I just figured there would be another caution and I’d have an excellent set of tires,” Kulwicki explained. “It didn’t work out that way.”

Almost 100 rounds elapsed before Kulwicki finally saw the much-needed caution, ironically for his own spin on lap 201.

While Trickle inherited the lead when Kulwicki spun and pitted during the subsequent caution, it was Senneker who appeared to be in the catbird’s seat. Senneker, who had returned to the lead lap and was in third at the time of the yellow, appeared to have the fastest car on the track.

But Senneker’s race-long pursuit of Kulwicki had taken it’s toll on tires and the Dorr, Mich., ace was forced to make a second pit stop during the caution for Kulwicki. Senneker got trapped in the pits when all-out action resumed, putting him one circuit down for the second time. A tire problem late in the race necessitated a third stop, which resulted in a sixth-place finish.

Kulwicki closed in on Trickle during the waning laps but the undisputed leader of the “Wisconsin Gang”
would have none of that, maintaining a comfortable lead at the finish.


Results –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Alan Kulwicki
3. Bobby Dotter
4. Harold Fair
5. Mike Eddy
6. Bob Senneker
7. Ken Lund
8. Tom Harrington
9. Muttly Kurkowski
10.Ken Christenson
11.Dave Simko
12.Don Collins
13.Don Ely
14.Dennis Vogel
15.Jim Sauter

1982 – Kastli Wins Hap’s Memorial 50

 

Marshalltown, Iowa (July 14, 1982) – The Hap’s Memorial 50 at Marshalltown Speedway held on Wednesday night was a huge success.

Twenty-two late models entered along with 21 street stocks. The race was in tribute to “Hap” Antil of Hap’s Auto Supply in Ames. Boyd Antil was on hand to congratulate the winners.

The 50-lap late model headline promised to be a real battle as Dick Schiltz of Waterloo started on the pole and looked to be the favorite. Schiltz would take the lead at the drop of the green flag and set the pace with Greg Kastli, also of Waterloo, settling in right behind him.

On lap 33, the red flag would wave for Greg Hunter’s crash into the judge’s stand on the frontstretch. No one was injured but Hunter sustained heavy damage to his car and was unable to continue.

On the restart, Schiltz was still on top, but Kastli became a little more aggressive and stayed glue to Schlitz’s bumper for the next 10 circuits. On lap 44, Kastli made his move and got around Schiltz in the third turn to take the lead for the first time.

Schiltz started slowing immediately thereafter, and would drop a couple of more positions, with Darrel DeFrance of Marshalltown and Denny Osborn of Cedar Falls getting by as well. After the race, Schiltz would say he lost tire pressure, causing him to slow his pace.

Kastli would pull way in the remaining few laps to secure the win. DeFrance, Osborn, Dan Nesteby of Waterloo, and Schiltz would round out the top five finishers.

Ron Cochran of Des Moines, Dan Nesteby, and Denny Osborn were heat winners. The semi-main was won by Ed Sanger of Waterloo.

Street stock racers put on an excellent show as well with Bob Thompson of Des Moines holding off Dale DeFrance of Marshalltown to win the 20-lap main event.


Results –

Heat #1 – Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
Heat #2 – Dan Nesteby, Waterloo
Heat #3 – Ron Cochran, Des Moines
Semi-main – Ed Sanger, Waterloo
Feature –
1. Greg Kastli, Waterloo
2. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown
3. Denny Osborn
4. Dan Nesteby
5. Dick Schiltz
6. Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
7. Johnny Johnson, Morning Sun
8. Ed Sanger
9. Curt Martin, Independence
10.Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo

1974 - McDonough Nabs Des Moines Mid-Season

 

Bill McDonough had his hands full on the track, fending off some tough late model competition to win the 35-lap mid-season championship at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. He also had his hands full with these trophy girls, Paula Lamb (left) and Nancy Cutercucci. – AMR Photo

Des Moines, Iowa (July 13, 1974) – Bill McDonough of Cedar Rapids won the 35-lap late model mid-season championship at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

Des Moines’ Don Hoffman grabbed the early lead, but it didn’t take long before Stan Stover of Reinbeck got by Hoffman for the lead and took command. While Stover was out in front, the real battle was for second place with Bob Bonzer of Luscomb and Bill Martin of Council Bluffs fighting it out.

McDonough, who started in the seventh position, worked his way through traffic and found himself on Stover’s rear bumper on lap 17. The two drivers raced side-by-side for the next several laps with McDonough finally securing the lead on the 24th circuit. He would run unchallenged for the remaining 11 laps to score the victory.

Stover finished second with Bob Bonzer taking third. Bill Martin came home in fourth with Bill Rice of Des Moines rounding out the top-five finishers.

Stover and Cal Swanson of Reinbeck were heat winners and Joe Merryfield of Des Moines won the consolation.

Leonard Woodard of Des Moines won the sportsman mid-season title over Cliff Van Zandt, also of Des Moines.


Results –

Late Model –

1. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
2. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
3. Bob Bonzer, Luscomb
4. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs
5. Bill Rice, Des Moines
6. Mike Pinckney, Des Moines
7. Chuck Smith, Des Moines
8. Chris Maurer, Des Moines
9. Ken Davidson, Des Moines
10.Kent Tucker, Aurora, Neb.


Sportsman –

1. Leonard Woodard, Des Moines
2. Cliff Van Zandt, Des Moines
3. Phil Reece, Des Moines
4. Glenn Woodard, Des Moines
5. Jerry Campbell, Des Moines
6. Ken Paulding, Des Moines
7. Bill Olson, Grimes
8. Dave Allison, Des Moines
9. Ron Van Roekel, Otley
10.Fred Knapp, Des Moines

1958 – 7,000 See Branson Win Out at Winchester

 

Don Branson is joined by Winchester Speedway owner Frank Funk after the Champaign, Ill., driver won the USAC sprint car feature. – IRMA Photo

Winchester, Ind. (July 13, 1958) – Don Branson, a 38-year-old veteran of 13 years of automobile racing, took the lead on the final lap to win the United States Auto Club sprint car feature Sunday afternoon at Winchester Speedway.

Branson, driving the Park Lumber Special, which is the old #98 that carried Troy Ruttman to so many triumphs on the Midwest high banks, earned $1,312 for the win.

An estimated crowd of 7,000, the largest at Winchester in the last eight years, watched Branson finish a few yards ahead of A.J. Foyt in second place, Eddie Sachs in third, and Elmer George in fourth.

Ed Elisian, injured in a crash at New Bremen two weeks ago, came back to finish fifth in the McNamara Special.

The program was delayed two hours because of rain showers. The feature got underway at 6:30 p.m.

George, the defending Midwest sprint champion, was the top qualifier at 18.839 seconds in the HOW Special.


Results –


1. Don Branson
2. A.J. Foyt
3. Eddie Sachs
4. Elmer George
5. Ed Elisian
6. Rex Easton
7. Bob Wente
8. Len Sutton
9. Curly Boyd
10.Jimmy Florian
11.Ronnie Duman
12.Bob McLean