1965 – Foyt Wins Fourth Hoosier Race

 

A.J. Foyt unbuckles his chin strap after winning his record fourth Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Indianapolis, Ind. (September 18, 1965) – A.J. Foyt became the first driver to win the Hoosier Hundred four times as he romped to a 4.2-second victory over Mario Andretti in the 13th renewal of the event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

The triumph as Foyt’s third of the season and 30th of his career. But it wasn’t enough to keep the four-time national driving champion in the running for his fifth United States Auto Club title.

Andretti’s second place finish gave him 160 points to boost his season total to 2,650. That leaves Jim McElreath, who missed Saturday’s race, as the only man who can challenge the 25-year-old Italian immigrant for the championship, and Mario has to finish ahead of McElreath in only one of the three races remaining to wrap up the title.

Foyt’s victory was worth 200 points and boosted him into a tie with Gordon Johncock for third spot with 1,540 points. With only 1,000 first-place points still to be raced for, he cannot possibly catch Andretti.

But Saturday afternoon Andretti nor anyone else could catch the flying Texan as he once again proved he’s the best in the business on dirt. Foyt shoved his Sheraton-Thompson Special into the top spot early on when leader George Snider drifted high in the second turn on lap 15.

After that, there was no catching him over the slick rut-pocked surface. The field was to close up on him four times because of yellow flags but each time on the restarts, A.J. was equal to the occasion.

Because of the four slowdown periods, the race time was held to a slow 1 hour, 10 minutes, and 42.85 seconds for an average speed of 85.7 miles per hour.


Results –

1. A.J. Foyt
2. Mario Andretti
3. Jud Larson
4. Bobby Unser
5. Red Reigel
6. Johnny Rutherford
7. Carl Williams
8. George Snider
9. Bob Harkey
10.Lloyd Ruby
11.Gary Congdon
12.Billy Foster
13.Arnie Knepper
14.Don Branson
15.Bud Tingelstad
16.Jim Hurtubise
17.Greg Weld
18.Bruce Jacobi

A.J. Foyt

1988 – Moyer Wins Bolivar Shootout

 

Billy Moyer Jr. won the USAC dirt late model feature at Highway 13 Speedway.

Bolivar, Mo. (September 17, 1988) – Billy Moyer Jr. finished ahead of Ken Essary and Leslie Essary to win the USAC Late Model Series Fall Shootout 40-lap headliner Friday night at Highway 13 Speedway.

Bill Street led the first three laps of the contest before Ken Essary charged in front. One lap later, Moyer took command. He held off both Essary’s for the win. Willy Kraft finished fourth followed by Rex McCroskey.


Results –

1. Billy Moyer Jr.
2. Ken Essary
3. Leslie Essary
4. Willy Kraft
5. Rex McCroskey
6. Al Purkey
7. Bill Street
8. Johnny Bone
9. Bob Walker
10.Bill Frye

1967 - Gardner Out of Gas; Helm Cops Tipton Title

 

Bob Helms holds his trophy after his stunning victory in the season championship at Tipton.

Tipton, Iowa (September 17, 1967) – Jim Gardner of Tipton was 300 feet and a gallon of gas away from winning the 25-lap season championship here Sunday evening when the unbelievable happened.

Gardner took the white flag for the last lap followed closely by Bob Helm of Rochester. As the pair entered the final set of turns, Gardner suddenly slowed down – out of gas - and Helms passed him by and took the checkered flag.

It was a stunning loss for Gardner who had led the entire race but limped home to finish sixth.

Curt Long of Marion and Arlo Becker of Atkins were heat winners. Larry Curley of Oxford Junction was the evening’s only double winner, taking the third heat and the consolation.


Results –


1. Bob Helm, Rochester
2. Larry Schulte, Cedar Rapids
3. Walt Carney, West Branch
4. Pat Blake, Clarence
5. Fred Horn, Marion
6. Jim Gardner, Tipton
7. Perry Beckler, Tiffin

1960 – Biertzer Wins Hales Corner ‘50’

Etchie Biertzer carries the checkered flag signifying his victory in the 50-lap championship at Hales Corner Speedway.

By Jim Engel

Franklin, Wis. (September 17, 1960) – Saturday night action at Hales Corner Speedway provided fans with an abundance of racing thrills. Edwin “Etchie” Biertzer of Barton won the 50-lap championship and Greg Krieger of Milwaukee set a new one-lap record in time trials.

The victory was an important one for Biertzer as he earned 300 points towards his season championship standings. Those 300 points, coupled with the 55 points he earned by being third fastest in time trials, moved him 10 points ahead of Miles Melius of Slinger. Biertzer had trailed Melius by 345 points going into the evening’s action. His 10-point lead was earned when Melius failed to appear because of apparent car trouble.

Feature action was stopped twice because of accidents. The first occurred on the fifth lap when Linus Peters of West Bend spun out and caused an eight-car tangle which blocked the west turn.

Norbie Klemp of Fredonia, who had been leading from the first lap, maintained the lead on the restart and held it until the ninth go-round when he spun completely around. He immediately got back into the race, dropping back to second, and giving the lead to John Reimer of Caledonia.

All went smoothly until the field came around for the completion of lap 12. A seven-car entanglement occurred when Arron Solsrud of Brookfield spun, collecting Ken Tiougan and Bill Schwister, both of Milwaukee. Bob Karry of Lake Villa, Ill., driving hard into the corner, hit several of the stalled cars and literally “dove” over them, continuing. However, Karry’s car, having suffered a broken spindle, flipped over one complete time on the west turn, bringing out the red flag.

Schwister performed a remarkable job of coming back to finish fourth in the event. After the second restart, he found himself one lap down but in the remaining 37 laps managed to unlap himself (passing leader Reimer) and charged through the field to finish fourth, less than an 1/8 of a lap behind Biertzer.

As it turned out, the race was a four-car battle for the top spot between Reimer, Biertzer, Klemp, and Billy Johnson of Oconomowoc, from the 32nd lap on, and when Schwister moved into fifth on lap 47, it became a five-way tussle.

Biertzer took over the lead from Reimer on lap 42 and on the 44th circuit, Johnson moved into second. Klemp also got by Reimer for third and Schwister took Reimer for the fourth spot on the white flag lap.

Biertzer’s average speed of 55.62 miles per hour failed to establish a new record because of the accidents. The top five positions all finished within a 1/8 lap of each other and proved to be one of the most competitive 50-lapper seen in quite a while.

Schwister had turned in two record breaking performances in time trials when he shattered the then existing record (17.48 seconds) turning 17.40 and 17.44-seconds on his qualifying runs. Krieger, however, came back to put his name in the record book with a time of 17.35 seconds, for a lap speed of 60.52 miles per hour. Krieger broke an axle in the main event and placed 14th in the final rundown.


Results –

 

1. Etchie Biertzer, Barton
2. Billy Johnson, Oconomowoc
3. Norbie Klemp, Fredonia
4. Billy Schwister, Milwaukee
5. John Reimer, Caledonia
6. Paul Feldner, Colgate

1989 – Svoboda, Droud Jr. Top ‘Nebraska Cup’

 

Starter Larry White presents the checkered flag to the winners of the Nebraska Cup at Eagle Raceway. Don Droud Jr. (center) won the sprint car feature and Tom Svoboda (right) won the late model main event. – Joe Orth Photo

Eagle, Neb. (September 16, 1989) – Eagle Raceway hosted their third annual Nebraska Cup featuring NASCAR late models and modified winged sprint cars. Wheel-to-wheel excitement, season high car counts in both classes and a smooth racing surface made for one of the season’s best shows on the 1/3-mile track.

Tom Svoboda of David City drove wire-to-wire in the 30-lap NASCAR late model feature and Don Droud Jr. of Lincoln won the sprinter’s 30-lap main event.

Each driver took home $1,000 for their efforts and both had to qualify through the last chance race. Droud won the sprint car last chance, and keeping his qualifying time from earlier, started on the third row. Svoboda finished second to Jay Cooper in the late model last chance and earned the pole position in the feature by being sixth quickest of the six inverted cars.

Svoboda took the lead at the drop of Larry White’s green flag and drove flawlessly through lapped traffic en route to his second career Nebraska Cup victory. Al Zeitner followed close behind Svoboda from start to finish but didn’t have the motor to get by him. Mel Zeitner finished third followed by Ed Kosiski and fast qualifier Dave Chase.

In the modified sprint main, Mike Chadd grabbed the lead from pole position and led the first eight laps before a caution slowed the field. Chadd took charge again on the restart but lost control and tangled with quick timer Lonnie Jensen. Both cars went for wild flips and were demolished. Jensen was transported to a local hospital with a should injury.

When the mess was cleaned up, Droud Jr. assumed the lead on the restart and never relinquished it. Regan Kitch capped a disappointing season with an impressive runner-up finish and was followed by Keith Hightshoe, Dennis Parker, and Terry Holliman.


Results –


Late Models –

1. Tom Svoboda, David City
2. Al Zeitner, Omaha
3. Mel Zeitner, Omaha
4. Ed Kosiski, Omaha
5. Dave Chase, Omaha
6. Jeff French, Des Moines, Iowa
7. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs, Iowa
8. Craig Spetman, Omaha
9. Kent Tucker, Aurora
10.Tony Gregg, Hastings


Modified Sprints –

1. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln
2. Regan Kitchen, Lincoln
3. Keith Hightshoe, Ashland
4. Dennis Parker, Council Bluffs, Iowa
5. Terry Holliman, Hamburg, Iowa
6. Chuck Eighamy, Lincoln
7. Rick Ideus, Lincoln
8. Rodney Droud, Lincoln
9. Todd Dreifurst, Columbus
10.Mike Parker, Lincoln

1967 - Teenager Lynn Idler Wins Nashua Title

 

Lynn Idler, an 18-year-old from Ionia, won the 50-lap season championship at Big Four Speedway in Nashua.

By Davy Crockett

Nashua, Iowa (September 16, 1967) – It was a big night for an 18-year-old farm lad Saturday night.

Lynn Idler of Ionia drove a beautiful race all the way and earned himself a season championship trophy at the Big Four Speedway. Idler was top point man all season long, thus earning him the pole position for the race. He grabbed the lead immediately and stayed there for all 50 circuits.

The race stopped on the fourth lap when Jerry Lewerke rolled his Ford in turn three. He was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released. A lap later, a four-car pileup stopped the action momentarily.

Idler was chased most of the way by Lurton Grummit of Fredericksburg until he lost a rear wheel on lap 48. Dale Osborn of Waterloo, who was right on his tail, took over and finished second.

Ron Schaufenbuel of New Hampton, who was second in points behind Idler, struggled with motor trouble all night long and managed a fifth-place finish. Tim Wood of Waverly also experienced issues which caused him to finish eighth.

Lurton Grummit won the second heat and 20-lap consolation to become the evening’s only double winner. Dick Newman of Clermont and Gene Mitchell of Waterloo were the other heat winners.


Results –

1. Lynn Idler, Ionia
2. Dale Osborn, Waterloo
3. Wilber Kotz, New Hampton
4. Leroy Rover, Charles City
5. Ron Schaufenbuel, New Hampton
6. Lurton Grummit, Fredericksburg
7. Larry Finnegan, New Hampton
8. Tim Wood, Waverly
9. Jerry Sherbon, Cedar Falls

1956 – Bob Nips Carroll for Tunis Championship

 

Bob Hilmer

Waterloo, Iowa (September 16, 1956) – Dysart’s Bob Hilmer took the lead on the 33rd lap Sunday night and held on to win the 75-lap season championship for stock cars at Tunis Speedway.

Bill Zwanziger led the field for the first 25 laps but was forced out with mechanical difficulties and Carroll Hilmer, the Hawkeye Racing Association point leader, took over.

He Hilmer brothers then waged a battle for the rest of the way with Bob taking over on lap 33. The two brothers were never more than a car-length apart. Carroll won the season championship last year and captured the mid-season title this season.

Bob, in winning the main event, was the only double winner of the evening, as he earlier paced the field in the third heat.

Les Johnson of Vinton captured the 25-lap consolation for race cars that didn’t qualify for the championship race. Johnson led all the way to grab the win.


Results –


Heat #1 – Bob Ledge
Heat #2 – Vic Payton
Heat #3 – Bob Hilmer
Consolation – Les Johnson
Feature –
1. Bob Hilmer
2. Carroll Hilmer
3. Gene Petersen
4. Carroll Jensen
5. John Mullink
6. Chub Liebe
7. Cal Swanson
8. Jack Hickman
9. Jerry Sherbon
10.Carl O’Dean