1989 - Slinger National 100's to Bickle and Hansen

 

Winners of the two 100-lap late model features that comprised the first leg of the Slinger Nationals celebrated at Slinger Speedway. From left are Ms. Slinger Speedway Beth Maaske, the first winner Rich Bickle Jr., Pabst representative Bob Milkovich, second feature winner Scott Hansen, and Pabst representative John Laimon. – Al Fortner Photo

Slinger, Wis. (June 13, 1989) – A pair of dramatic finishes highlighted the first round of the Slinger Nationals as Rich Bickle Jr. and Scott Hansen each captured 100-lap late model features at Slinger Speedway on Tuesday night.

Bickle, established as the favorite in the two-round event by virtue of four consecutive regular season feature wins here, wasted little time justifying the pit talk as he cranked out a world record in qualifying, turning a lap of 11.456 seconds on the high-banked quarter-mile.

By virtue of his qualifying lap, Bickle was gridded far back in the 24-car field for the start of the first 100-lapper. NASCAR Winston Cup regular Dick Trickle started from the pole and dominated most of the first half of the race.

After running away from the field, Trickle had leads wiped out by cautions for spins by Conrad Morgan and Al Laufer on laps 16 and 47, respectively.

By the second caution, Bickle, the only driver effectively using the outer groove on the misty, foggy evening, was up to third behind Trickle and Joe Shear.

“I was running better on the outside but with all of the fog and grease on my windshield, I could hardly see anything,” Bickle said.

Despite the tough conditions, Bickle wasted little time driving around Shear, then dropping Trickle to the runner-up spot on lap 57. From there, it looked like clear sailing to the checkered, until Butch Miller worked his way into second place and began closing in on Bickle, who suddenly started having issues getting through the corners. On several occasions over the last 15 circuits, Miller pulled inside the leader only to fall back as Bickle used lapped traffic to perfection in holding off his pursuer.

At the wire, it was Bickle by less than one-car-length over Miller with Trickle, Shear, and Al Schill rounding out the top-five.

However, Bickle’s luck soured in the opening stages of the second 100-lap headliner as a broken right rear hub forced him to retire on lap 12.

Meanwhile, Dennis Lampman, a Slinger regular, was enjoying the ride of his life, running away from the field after starting on the outside of the front row. After a caution for a minor tangle, Lampman had opened up a 20-car-length lead with 25 laps remaining.

At that point, Hansen, who was hampered by mechanical and tire problems in the first race, took second place from Shear and set his sights on Lampman.

“We had to drop out of the first race with a pair of flat right-side tires, but we didn’t use up the left-side rubber,” said Hansen. “We had pretty good tires all around for the second race and that made a huge difference.”

With 15 circuits remaining, Hansen began diving under Lampman on each lap, but it took until the pair exited turn four coming down for the white flag before Hansen finally muscled his way into the lead.

Hansen led the rest of the way to score the victory with Lampman fending off Trickle, Miller and Shear to secure runner-up honors.

Seconds after the event, Trickle crashed hard into the back end of Hansen’s car, inflicting heavy damage.

“I couldn’t see the flagman because of the heavy fog,” Trickle explained. My crew was on the radio telling me what flag he was holding. They were yelling ‘white, white’ when the checkered actually fell. When I finally realized what was going on, it was too late.”


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton
2. Butch Miller, Coopersville, Mich.
3. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
4. Joe Shear, Clinton
5. Al Schill, Franklin
6. Al Laufer, Hartford
7. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
8. Dennis Lampman, Racine
9. Lowell Bennett, Neenah
10.John Ziegler, Madison


Feature #2 –

1. Scott Hansen, Green Bay
2. Dennis Lampman
3. Dick Trickle
4. Butch Miller
5. Joe Shear
6. Al Schill
7. Conrad Morgan, Dousman
8. Al Laufer
9. John Ziegler
10.Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.

1979 - Hansen Wins Hamilton County Futurity

 

Winners in the Hamilton County Futurity are shown in the winner’s circle. From left to right – Steve Shannon, Norwalk (sportsman), Dennis Pittman, Jefferson (street stock), and Curt Hansen, Dike (late model). – Margaret Gardner Photo

Webster City, Iowa (June 13, 1979) – Curt Hansen of Dike captured the fourth annual Hamilton County Futurity held Wednesday night at the Hamilton County Speedway.

Hansen had not been in the limelight the previous years, stating “This track has not been my best friend.” But every jinx can be broken, and Hansen proved it could be by winning the 50-lap main event.

At the beginning it was anyone’s race as Denny Hovinga of Pocahontas kept the lead for 32 laps. For a while, he looked like a sure winner, but he developed mechanical issues and had to pull into the pits.

Bill Davis of Des Moines took over the lead, thereafter, having run second behind Hovinga for those 32 laps. Davis led for the next seven laps until he drifted high, allowing Hansen to slide under him and take over on the 33rd lap as Davis settled into second.

During this time, Bob Shryock of Estherville had worked his way from his 23rd starting position, and on the 35th circuit, went to the high side to get by Davis. Heading down the backstretch on lap 36, Shryock appeared to pull ahead of Hansen only to lose momentum on the third and fourth turns.

Unable to hold his position on the outside, Shryock tried a few more times to the inside and it looked as though he may succeed, but on lap 39, Shryock suddenly slowed when something in his engine gave way and he limped to the pit area.

Denny Osborn of Cedar Falls was another driver who worked his way through the field from his 18th starting position. He was on Davis’s bumper for the remaining laps but settled for a third-place finish.

Arnie Braland of Boone was fourth and Billy Moyer Jr. of Des Moines finished fifth.

Ramo Stott of Keokuk drove Bob Harris’ car and sat back, holding the fourth spot for the first 23 laps before a rear shock gave way and the car began running hot. Ramo cooled it down and finished in ninth.

Steve Shannon of Norwalk copped the 30-lap sportsman main event. Shannon took the lead from Chuck Anderson of LeGrand on lap 13 and held on to score the victory. Wayne Larson of Ames was third.

Dennis Pittman of Jefferson took the street stock feature win easily over Dave Jones of Des Moines and Barry Nuese of Marshalltown.


Results –


Late Model -

1. Curt Hansen, Dike
2. Bill Davis, Des Moines
3. Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
4. Arnie Braland, Boone
5. Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
6. Willy Kraft, Lakefield, Minn.
7. Jerry Holtkamp, Williams
8. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
9. Ramo Stott, Keokuk
10.Greg Davis, Boone
11.Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo
12.Don Hoyle, Bagley
13.Bob Hill, Randall
14.Dick Schiltz, Waterloo


Sportsman –

1. Steve Shannon, Norwalk
2. Chuck Anderson, LeGrand
3. Wayne Larson, Ames
4. Mike Carlburg, Iowa Falls
5. Ray Kinnetz, Webster City


Street Stock –

1. Dennis Pittman, Jefferson
2. Dave Jones, Des Moines
3. Barry Nuese, Marshalltown
4. Veryle Gregerson, Fort Dodge

1982 – Birkhofer Wins West Liberty ‘Winston 50’

 

Dave Birkhofer

West Liberty, Iowa (June 12, 1982) – Dave Birkhofer of Muscatine took the lead away from Tony Stewart of Washington after 28 laps Saturday night and went on to win the “Winston 50” at the West Liberty Fairgrounds.

Stewart led the first 16 laps before giving way to Tom Hearst of Wilton, who later lost a tire and was hit by another car. Stewart regained the lead on the 19th circuit and held it until Birkhofer passed him and went on to win.

Stewart started up front in the 50-lap main event and sped into the lead at the onset. Hearst, however, began applying pressure after a few laps and final took the lead on lap 16.

A couple of laps later, Hearst had a tire go flat and he stopped his car near the outside wall on the front straight. A car driven by Brad Dubil of Davenport slammed into the rear of Hearst’s car, disabling both for the remainder of the event.

At that point, Stewart inherited the top spot, but Birkhofer got by 10 laps later for the victory. Rollie Frink of Davenport got past Stewart in the late laps to claim the runner-up position while Stewart hung on to finish third. Rounding out the top five were Ken Walton of Viola and Duane Steffe of Colona, Ill.

In other racing action, Tom Christensen of West Liberty won his second straight sportsman feature and Max Leonard of Atkins won his first IMCA modified feature of the season. Chopper Safley of Marion won the street stock feature.


Results –

Heat #1 – Dick Schiltz, Waterloo
Heat #2 – Tom Hearst, Wilton
Heat #3 – Tony Stewart, Washington
Feature –
1. Dave Birkhofer, Muscatine
2. Rollie Frink, Davenport
3. Tony Stewart
4. Ken Walton, Viola
5. Duane Steffe, Colona, Ill.
6. Mike Frieden, Swisher
7. Kenny Fenn, Washington
8. Jim Thruman, Freeport, Ill.
9. Hal Russell, Blue Grass
10.Ron Pallister, Wapello
11.Ken DeGood, Hills
12.Tom Hearst
13.Brad Dubil, Davenport
14.Dick Schiltz
15.Johnny Johnson, Morning Sun

1988 – Egersdorf Wins Cedar Lake Outlaws

 

Rick Egersdorf upset a stellar late model field in the World of Outlaws/ALMA 50-lap feature at Cedar Lake Speedway. - Chris Loberg Photo

Somerset, Wis. (June 11, 1988) – Rick Egersdorf, who finished Friday night’s preliminary feature, passed World of Outlaws/American Late Model Association kingpin Billy Moyer Jr., on lap 30, then took the checkered flag 20 circuits later to win the late model main event Saturday night at Cedar Lake Speedway.

Egersdorf, who qualified second and started on the third row outside, blew by Moyer on the back straightaway and beat polesitter Tom Nesbitt to the finish line for the $7,000 first prize.

Nesbitt, who finished fourth in Friday’s preliminary feature, led the first lap before surrendering the lead to Willy Kraft. Kraft was ahead of the pack for 21 laps before being passed by Moyer on the 23rd lap.

Egersdorf took the lead eight laps later and never looked back. Following Egersdorf and Nesbitt across the finish line were Moyer, Rick Aukland, and Terry Phillips.


Results –

1. Rick Egersdorf
2. Tom Nesbitt
3. Billy Moyer Jr.
4. Rick Aukland
5. Terry Phillips
6. Charlie Swartz
7. Tommy Joe Pauschert
8. Joe Kosiski
9. Jeff Hinkemeyer
10.Steve Kosiski

1972 – Jusola Wins First Leg of Challenge Series

 

Bob Jusola

By Dave Anderson

Owatonna, Minn. (June 11, 1972) – Burnsville’s Bob Jusola, a 40-year-old mechanic who makes auto racing a full-time vocation during the summer months, won the 50-lap feature event on the Steele County Fairground’s half-mile clay track on Sunday afternoon.

Jusola, driving a 1970 Chevelle, started on the pole position of the 30-car field, claiming the top spot by winning an 8-lap heat race in the preliminary dueling. The Metro Tri-Circuit champion of 1970 led start to finish, lapping the entire field at least once.

The first Midwest Auto Racing Conference-sanctioned program attracted a crowd of 3,127 spectators.

Wendell Kuehn, driving a 1970 Mustang, and Paul Fitzpatrick, piloting the Dave Noble-owned 1971 Monte Carlo, finished second and third. Both drivers hail from Rochester. Along with Blooming Prairie’s Joe Wurst, who finished tenth, they were southeastern Minnesota’s only representatives in the top-10.

The initial field was quickly peeled to 25 after two “false” starts, precipitated by clouds of dust. Rochester’s Dale Bakeer and Minneapolis’ Billy Oas were among the five drivers who failed to complete a single lap due to varying reasons.

Roger Schurr of Fridley, Jusola, Fitzpatrick, and Kuehn were heat winners. The 10-lap consolation was won by Jack McCorkell of Redwood Falls, who moved from his 24th starting position in the main event to an impressive fifth-place finish.


Results –

1. Bob Jusola, Burnsville
2. Wendell Kuehn, Rochester
3. Paul Fitzpatrick, Rochester
4. Darrell Heuer, Chokio
5. Jack McCorkell, Redwood Falls
6. Norm Setran, Bloomington
7. John Boegeman, Shakopee
8. Vern Mondry, Lake Elmo
9. Dick Collins, St. Louis Park
10.Joe Wurst, Blooming Prairie

1984 – Trickle Adds RWB Main to Kaukauna Win Skein

 

Dick Trickle (left) and Roger Regeth won their respective late model and sportsman features Sunday afternoon in the Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series at Wisconsin International Raceway. Miss Debbie Ashauer made the trophy presentations. - Russ Lake Photo

By Gary Vercauteren

Kaukauna, Wis. (June 10, 1984) – Dick Trickle beat Joe Shear to the finish line by three-car-lengths to the win the 60-lap feature in the first race of the Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series at Wisconsin International Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

Trickle, a six-time point champion in the 13-years the series has been held on the Kaukauna half-mile paved oval, won his tenth feature in the last 11 special events.

High winds seemed to bother most of the drivers but not Trickle. “The wind actually felt pretty good,” Trickle joked.

Several major wrecks marred the afternoon’s contest, although there were no serious injuries.

Al Schill came off the front row to set the pace in the 20-car field for the first 27 laps. Trickle moved into third place on the 13th lap when he roared by Bob Iverson.

On the 18th round he got around Gordie Sannes Jr., for the second position. A yellow flag flew on lap 26 just as Trickle was closing in on Schill for the lead.

Trickle would go to the outside on the restart and had command by the time the crossed the start/finish line for lap 27.

Shear, in perhaps his finest performance of the season, shot past Schill on lap 28 and stayed right on Trickle. Tom Reffner, who would finish third, got around Schill on lap 36 and then battled wheel-to-wheel with Shear for the runner-up spot.

With nine laps to go, another caution flag flew when Mike Kelly spun in the fourth turn. That bunched up the field for the restart, but Trickle was ready for the challenge from Shear and Reffner and he pulled away to the three-car-length win.

Only three of the 16 cars still on the track at the end were lapped as the entire pack remained in tight formation throughout the contest.

The crowd of 4,329 was treated to an excellent race in the 25-lap semi-feature as sensational rookie Doug Herbst of Wausau slipped by Rich Bickle Sr. on the final lap and won by less than a car-length.

Roger “The Bear” Regeth won the 20-lap sportsman feature by two-car-lengths over Rod Wheeler with Dennis Dietzen third and Fred Gignac fourth.


Results –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
2. Joe Shear, Beloit
3. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
4. Al Schill, Franklin
5. Tony Strupp, Slinger
6. Bob Iverson, Hyde, Mich.
7. Gordie Sannes Jr., De Pere
8. J.J. Smith, Appleton
9. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
10.Scott Hansen, Green Bay
11.Dave Valentyne, Appleton
12.Lowell Bennett, Neenah
13.Mike Kelly, Vulcan, Mich.
14.Thom Lamon, Hales Corner
15.Robbie Reiser, Allenton

1956 – Flaherty Wins Rex Mays Classic

 

Milwaukee winner Pat Flaherty and announcer Ed “Twenty-Grand” Steinbock share a laugh after the Chicago tavern owner won the 100-mile USAC national championship race. – Steve Noffke Collection

Milwaukee, Wis. (June 10, 1956) – Pat Flaherty of Chicago, winner of the Indianapolis 500, roared to his second victory in a row Sunday when he won the 100-mile Rex Mays Classic at a record 98.958 miles per hour.

The red-haired tavern keeper raced from his 11th starting post to win before 22,564 fans on the one-mile asphalt State Fair track and collect $5,488 of the $22,540 purse.

Flaherty finished about two-thirds of a mile ahead of Johnny Thomson of Springfield, Mass., last year’s winner, and his time of 1 hour and 37.884 seconds beat Thomson’s 1955 track record by more than four seconds.

The veteran started out in 11th and moved up to sixth after just 10 miles. He passed two more cars to reach fourth in the second 10 miles, after 25 miles he was third, and after 27 miles, he was running in second.

For the next 22 miles he ran behind leader Troy Ruttman of Indianapolis. At the halfway point of the race, Ruttman was running a blistering pace, with a record time of 30 minutes and 30.618 seconds.

But then Lady Luck frowned on Ruttman. His clutch went out and on the 52nd circuit, Flaherty got around the 1952 Indianapolis 500 winner on the backstretch and Ruttman was forced to drop out a lap later.

Flaherty was never seriously threatened for the remainder of the race, taking the checkered flag 20 seconds ahead of Thomson, almost the identical lead he had on Sam Hanks in the “500”.

Actually, the best racing – After Ruttman dropped out – was between Bob Sweikert, the 1955 “500” champion, and Jimmy Bryan, his long-time rival who was the 1954 driving champion. Sweikert and Bryan raced neck-and-neck almost the entire way. Sweikert finished third with Bryan a car-length behind in fourth.

Flaherty earned $5,448 for his victory, a popular win for the Irishman. Milwaukeeans feel he’s almost a hometown boy, owning a tavern less than a 100 miles away.


Results –

1. Pat Flaherty
2. Johnny Thomson
3. Bob Sweikert
4. Jimmy Bryan
5. Johnny Boyd
6. Don Freeland
7. Jimmy Reece
8. Gene Hartley
9. Al Keller
10.Bob Veith
11.Pat O’Conner
12.Keith Andrews
13.Jack Turner
14.Bill Garrett
15.Rex Easton
16.Shorty Templeman
17.Johnnie Parsons
18.Elmer George
19.Jim Rathmann
20.Troy Ruttman
21.Dick Rathmann
22.Danny Kladis