This month in history

1995 - Gary Wright passed race leader Danny Lasoski on lap seven and then held off a hard-charging Jac Haudenschild to win the 22nd Annual Spring Nationals at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Tex., on March 18. The victory paid the Hooks, Texas veteran a whopping $9,000.



1989 - Dan Banker of Granger, Iowa, made the 10-hour drive to Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Okla., pay off as he won both ends of the Road Runner Twin 100's on Sunday afternoon, March 12th. Banker collected $1,200 in prize money plus contingencies for winning the two 100-lap features during the fourth annual pre-season race on the high-banked 1/2-mile dirt oval.



1988 - It was announced that Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., and Godfrey Speedway in Godfrey, Ill., would band together to form the "G.T. Racing Association". Bob Stanton and George Carroll would return to promote Godfrey and Vince Ghiradi was at the reins of Tri-City. Sportsman, street stocks and Detroit bombers were scheduled to run on Friday nights at Godfrey while Tri-City would host UMP late models on the 1/2-mile and sportsman, street stock, and super modifieds on the 1/4-mile.



1983 - Howard Tiedt, of Santa Fe Speedway in Hinsdale, Ill., was named "Promoter of the Year" at the 10th Annual Racing Promotion Monthly workshop in Daytona Beach, Fla. Tiedt, who owned and operated Santa Fe for more than 30 years, was picked from nine regional finalists.

The Iowa Challenge Cup (1971 - 1976)

Bill McDonough (left) of Cedar Rapids accepts the Ed Janey Memorial Trophy from the late Ed Janey's sons. From left to right; Irv, Chuck and Bob Janey. McDonough won the inaugural Iowa Challenge Cup on August 10, 1971.

By Kyle Ealy
Cedar Rapids, Iowa – It was a short-lived event but the Iowa Challenge Cup will go down as one the most star-studded and popular races ever held at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

Sponsored every year by the Cedar Rapids Jaycees, the late model get together brought in not only the elite of the Midwest dirt tracks but the stars of NASCAR as well. Because the event was run solely by the Jaycees, a good portion of the profits raised from these races always went to a deserving charity.

The first Iowa Challenge Cup was scheduled for Tuesday evening, August 10, 1971.To kick off what Jaycee officials were hoping would be the Midwest’s marquee late model event, they decided, “Why not bring in NASCAR’s marquee driver to be honorary starter?” Richard Petty of Randleman, N.C., spent most of his evening signing autographs and posing for the camera. He proved to be a popular choice.

An overflow crowd estimated at 9,000 thrilled as Cedar Rapids’ Bill McDonough and his 1965 Chevrolet held off the relentless bids of two big names; Ernie Derr and Ramo Stott, both of Keokuk, to capture the 50-lap feature and the top prize of $1,000. McDonough added another $920 in lap money, as he led the final 46 tours at $20 per lap.

He finished less than a car length ahead of Stott, who had taken the runner-up spot from Derr on the 48th lap. Less than a car length separated Stott's 1971 Plymouth from Derr's '71 Dodge at the checkered flag. Following Derr across the finish line were Roger Dolan of Lisbon, Ron Prymek of Iowa City and Bob Kilmer of Dysart.

The feature wasn't without red flags or controversy. When the race was stopped for the third time, with only 20 laps completed, Ed Sanger of Waterloo headed for the pits to refuel. That was a no-no, as it was explained in the driver's meeting before the race that cars could not refuel once the race began When Sanger, who was running second at the time, returned for the restart, he was disqualified.

Sanger, who was the point leader at Cedar Rapids, Independence and Waterloo at the time, protested vigorously. He contended that he wasn’t notified of the meeting, therefore did not attend. Despite pleas’ from Sanger and also a few fans in the stands, race officials of the sponsoring Jaycees did not rescind the ruling.

In other events, Iowa City's John Moss captured the 25-lap consy, Derr took the trophy dash and Darrel Dake of Cedar Rapids, Terry Ryan of Davenport, Ron Prymek of Iowa City and Lee Kunzman, the USAC ace from Guttenberg, copped heat events. McDonough was fastest in time trails clocking in at 25.01 seconds.

NASCAR star Buddy Baker was present of the second annual event, held on Tuesday, August 8, 1972. Like Petty was the year before, Baker was a busy man during his visit. He was the guest speaker at the Cedar Rapids Jaycees press luncheon that afternoon and then was Grand Marshall for the race that evening. In addition to Baker’s presence, 1970 Daytona 500 winner Pete Hamilton was also present for the festivities.

As good as the inaugural event was, the second annual event proved to be as spectacular and with even more controversy.

Verlin Eaker of Mechanicsville, Iowa, fresh off a third place finish in the USAC stock race at Pocono just a few days before, held off 25 of the top late model drivers to win the 50-lap Iowa Challenge Cup then had to fight off a protest by several of those same drivers before collecting his $2,140 purse.

Eaker, who started the feature in the fourth position, blasted out of the pack and grabbed second on the first lap, then shot by Joe Merryfield of Des Moines into the front spot on the fourth circuit. Displaying little handling difficulty on the rough, choppy, rain-soaked half-mile, Eaker set his own pace for the remainder of the race, surviving three yellow caution flags and finishing four seconds ahead of Waterloo's Ed Sanger and Bill McDonough of Cedar Rapids, last year's winner.

Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, won the rich ($2,100) Iowa Challenge Cup at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on August 8, 1972. Joining Eaker in victory lane is, left to right: NASCAR star Buddy Baker (serving as grand marshal), Terry Hoover, flagman Engel DeKock, Jeanie Kula, Eaker, Elaine Marquadt, Charlane Price and NASCAR driver Pete Hamilton. — Morris "Beetle" Bailey Photo

The victory paid Eaker $1,200 for first and he collected another $940 at $20 per lap for the 47 laps he led, but the USAC star had to wait until 1:15 a.m. Wednesday morning before race officials resolved a protest against his victory and made the pay-off.

The protest was a result of a mishap suffered by Eaker during the third yellow flag of the race on the 24th lap. Rules for procedures under the yellow flag had been explained at a pre-race drivers meeting and those rules stated that all cars would race to the flagman on each yellow before falling into single file for the restart.

In the incident in question, one of the trailing cars spun out in turn one just as the leaders were entering the back straight. The yellow flag came out and Eaker spun in turn three, getting passed by six cars. As the other drivers interpreted the rules, Eaker should have dropped behind the cars that passed him because he did not race on around to the flagman in the middle of the front straight.

Race officials disagreed, however, putting Eaker back on the pole for the restart and disallowing the post-race protests after a lengthy closed-door meeting in the Hawkeye Downs office.

Eaker dominated the race so easily that most of the interest shown by the 6,100 fans in attendance was directed to the battle for second place. A total of five different cars held the number two spot during the race with Ed Sanger finally nailing down the $800 runner-up purse.

Sanger, who started eighth, didn't begin to make his move until about the 15th lap so when fast qualifier Bill Beckman of Lisbon, running second at the time, spun out. Pokey West of West Chester took over Beckman's spot and Sanger slid through the slowed cars into fourth. He got by Bob Hilmer of Dysart into third on the 23rd circuit, then passed West for second on the 25th lap after a yellow flag had tightened the pack.

McDonough and John Moss of Iowa City' pulled up right on Sanger's heels five laps later and the best show of the final 20 laps was the back and forth battle between those three drivers. The second place finish for Sanger provided a small measure of compensation for his disqualification in last year’s Challenge Cup.

His 1972 showing may also have been a minor mechanical miracle and a major testimony for good old American ingenuity.

Sanger’s car broke a spindle in the final heat race and had to put a new spindle on during the semi, "The only problem was that the brake line wouldn't fit the new spindle,” Sanger mentioned. “I decided to run with brakes on just three wheels but we had to find some way to close off the loose brake line.

“We finally took a pair of vise grips and used them to pinch the end of the brake line, then wired the line and the vise grips up to the frame so that they wouldn't tangle with the wheel. It made it real touchy driving with brakes on just three wheels and if those vise grips had come loose, the fluid would have gone and I wouldn't have had any brakes."

In other races, Larry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., took a one length victory over Ed Sanger in the trophy dash; Bill Barthelmes of Troy Mills ran away with the first heat; Dr. A. E. Mayner of Winthrop nipped Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley in the second heat; Tim and Bill McDonough finished one-two in the third heat, and Benny Hofer of Rock Island, Ill., edged Red Droste of Waterloo in the fourth heat, which was called after nine laps due to Sanger's broken spindle and resulting spin. Bill Beckman of Lisbon was fast qualifier at 25.07.

Side note; Sixty-seven drivers, representing seven states (Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin) entered in this event. The quality of top-name drivers for this event was evident as neither Ernie Derr nor Ramo Stott cracked the top-20 in qualifying and only Stott made the feature, finishing 17th.

Rain came into play for the third annual Iowa Challenge Cup. The Jaycees decided to have the popular event in June instead of August that year and the May showers spilled over. Dark clouds hovered as the evening’s program started and in the middle of the third heat, the rains came. A delay of one hour and 50 minutes came with 45 minutes of it rain and the remaining time spent by tow trucks and stock cars drying out the surface as best they could.

When racing resumed, Verlin Eaker captured his second consecutive Iowa Challenge Cup in the 50-lap feature. Stan Stover of Reinbeck and Dike's Curt Hanson, finished second and third in the feature followed by Waterloo's Ed Sanger, who overcame a pair of accidents to take fourth place.
Stover, who also captured the fourth heat by 200 yards, held second for the first part of the race before losing it for a couple of laps. He regained his spot as Hansen grabbed third on the 25th lap and both drivers held those positions for the rest of the race.

Cedar Rapids’ Darrell Dake, the top qualifier (25.07), led through the first seven laps before limping off the track with a broken axle. Esker who was in first from the ninth lap on, picked up the $1,000 first place purse along with $840 in lap money, or $20 per lap for each circuit he led.

On the sixth lap, Sanger and Eaker spun between the first and second turns as Sanger was challenging for the lead. Sanger, who didn't lose his position to the restart, was vying for first again two laps later when his 1972 Chevelle slammed into the wall between the third and fourth turns. Sanger was able to get his car to the infield and changed the right front tire before the race was restarted.

Stover, who earned a total of $550 for the evening - $50 or the heat victory and $500 for second in the Challenge Cup couldn't catch Eaker although it appeared the USAC driver's engine was overheating during the final 20 laps.

In other action, Iowa City’s Mel Morris, Ron Prime of Iowa City, Roger Swenson of Watertown, S.D. and Stover won heat races. Due to a clause in their insurance contract, the sponsoring Cedar Rapids Jaycees had to conclude the races at midnight. After the rains subsided, the Jaycee officials decided to finish the final two heat events, then go directly to the feature. However, the feature ran to a little past midnight due to five restarts so neither the scheduled trophy dash or the consolation was able to be run.

When the checkers waved at the end of the fourth annual event on June 5, 1974, officials were seriously considering renaming the event to “The Eaker Cup”.

Eaker and his 1972 Nova led the final 29 laps of the 50-lap feature on the half-mile dirt at Hawkeye Downs to capture is third consecutive Iowa Challenge Cup victory before 6,000 race fans. The Mechanicsville pilot also pocketed the lion’s share of the record $7,000 purse offered by the sponsoring Jaycees.

He won $1,580 including $1,000 for the win and $580 in lap money at $20 per lap.

Mindful that winning just one Challenge Cup was nice. Eaker was quoted saying “Winning three of them in a row gives me a great feeling. From where I started, I didn't think I had a chance.”

“Other cars probably had more horsepower but I think we out-chassised them tonight,” he added. “Really, the car was set up so well, it made it look easy.

Eaker started eighth in the 24-car field. But he was up to third by the ninth lap and had moved into second by the 11th tour. Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley was the man to catch at that point. By virtue of his top clocking of 25.51 seconds in time trials, he had earned the pole position and was setting a fast pace for the first 12 laps. But on lap 13, Eaker and the rest of the field got a break when the second and final red flag came out bunching up the field with the leader. From that point, Eaker was right on Weedon’s bumper.

On lap 19 Weedon and Eaker were dueling wheel to wheel and at were in a dead heat starting lap 21. It was then Eaker got the best of their battle and took the lead going down the backstretch. Six laps later Weedon would drop out with a broken A-frame.

Eaker wasn’t pressed after Weedon dropped out, but a helluva battle ensued for runner-up honors between two long-time Hawkeye Down competitors. Ed Sanger and Darrell Dake had been going at each other for the entire race with Dake leading from lap 38. Sanger snuck by Dake on lap 46 but Darrell came back on the ensuing lap to regain the second spot and hung on by a few feet when the checkers waved. Dake would collect $650 for his finish and Sanger would cash in $550.

Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo and former winner Bill McDonough of Cedar Rapids would round out the top five finishers for the evening.

Sanger, McDonough, Bob Kosiski of Omaha, and Gordy Blankenship of Keokuk were heat winners while Zwanziger topped the six-lap trophy dash. Stan Stover of Reinbeck won the 25-lap consolation.

Verlin Eaker is interviewed by Roger Bear prior to the 1975 Iowa Challenge Cup. Eaker's chance for a fourth consecutive win in the event would not come to fruition. - Bernie Tappa Photo

The fifth annual event took place on June 3, 1975. After finishing second, fourth and third in the last three Challenge Cups, Ed Sanger finally put it all together. Sanger slipped by three-time and defending Challenge Cup winner Verlin Eaker on lap 25 of he 50-lap feature and breezed to his first title. The win netted Sanger $1,520 in prize money; $1,000 for the win and $520 in lap money.

Eaker, making his first appearance of the year at the Downs, borrowed Mike Frieden's car in hopes of winning his fourth Challenge Cup. He led the race up to that point, starting on the outside front row. But Sanger found a low passing groove on the hard, slick half-mile oval where no one else could run and went uncontested the final half of the race.

Eaker's car suffered a blow head gasket on the 26th lap after surrendering to Sanger. Fast-timer (25.13) Tom Steuding of Altoona, Wis., finished as runner-up with Curt Hansen of Dike a tight third. Roger Dolan and Steve Keppler of Marion rounded out the top five.

Don Hoffman of Des Moines won the six-lap trophy dash while heat wins went to Don Woodard of Boulder, Colo., Duane Van Deest of Grundy Center, Joe Merryfield of Des Moines and Karl Sanger of Waterloo. Jim Gerber of Long Grove took home the win in the consolation.

The sixth annual event, held on June 8, 1976, would mark the final Iowa Challenge Cup. Ed Sanger would claim his second consecutive victory but not without a little “lady luck” on his side.

Sanger would lead 45 of the 50 laps. But for the loss of Roger Dolan's clutch on the 44th tour, “Fast Eddy” probably would have had to settle for second.

Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa, would win the 1975 and '76 Iowa Challenge Cup. 

Sanger had started on the pole, thanks to a blazing one-lap time trial of 24.10 which set a Hawkeye Downs record, and led Dolan until the Lisbon hotshoe overtook him just before the start/finish line on the 38th tour.

When Dolan went around he was putting pedal to the medal and quickly opened a four to five car length lead. "Roger would have had to make a major tactical mistake for me to overtake him,” admitted the Waterloo driver.

The fateful break came for Dolan coming out of the second turn on the 44th lap. Dolan, always the gentleman, concealed his disappointment well. “It's the first time I've lost a clutch this year. At first, I thought the car had jumped out of gear, but then I realized I was through.”

Duane Steffe of East Moline, Ill., finished second and Curt Hansen of Dike third. Bill Beckman, who won the trophy dash, was fourth and Mike Frieden fifth.

Heat winners included Bill Martin of Council Bluffs, Jim Burbridge of Delhi and Tim McDonough of Cedar Rapids. Dick Schiltz of Waterloo won the consolation.

With the growing popularity of a new late model event, the Keith Fleck-sponsored Falstaff Classic, and its charitable donations as a result, the Cedar Rapids Jaycees decided not to continue on with the event for the 1977 season

The Iowa Challenge Cup became one more piece of Hawkeye Downs Speedway history.

Results – 1971 to 1976

August 10, 1971
Feature –
1. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
2. Ramo Stott, Keokuk
3. Ernie Derr, Keokuk
4. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
5. Ron Prymek, Iowa City
6. Bob Hilmer, Dysart
7. Mel Morris, Atalissa
8. Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk
9. Fred Horn, Marion
10. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo


August 8, 1972
Feature –
1. Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville
2. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
3. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
4. John Moss, Iowa City
5. Pokey West, West Chester
6. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
7. Mike Niffenegger, Kalona
8. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
9. Blackie Lyons, Cascade
10. Ron Smith, Millersburg, Ohio


June 20, 1973
Feature –
1. Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville
2. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
3. Curt Hansen, Dike
4. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
5. Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids
6. Bill Beckman, Lisbon
7. Ray Guss, Milan, Ill.
8. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
9. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley
10. Bill Which, Kennard, Neb.


June 4, 1974
Feature –
1. Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville,
2. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
3. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
4. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
5. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
6. Mel Morris, Atalissa
7. Ken Walton, Viola
8. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
9. Duane Steffe, East Moline, Ill.
10. Don Hoffman, Des Moines


June 5, 1975
Feature –
1. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
2. Tom Steuding, Altoona, Wis.
3. Curt Hansen, Dike
4. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
5. Steve Keppler, Marion
6. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
7. Bill Wrich, Kennard, Neb.
8. Fred Horn, Marion
9. Don White, Keokuk
10. Dave Chase, Council Bluffs


June 8, 1976
Feature –
1. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
2. Duane Steffe, East Moline, Ill.
3. Curt Hansen, Dike
4. Bill Beckman, Lisbon
5. Mike Frieden, Cedar Rapids
6. Bob Helm, Andalusia, Ill.
7. Red Dralle, Waterloo
8. Jim Burbridge, Delhi
9. Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville
10. Jerry Wancewicz, Omaha

The United States Auto Club and the Bulldog 150

A souvenir program from the 1974 USAC-sanctioned Bulldog 150 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. - Photo courtesy of Lee Ackerman

by Lee Ackerman
Omaha, Neb. - The half mile at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines has played host to a multitude of different type racing events throughout its long and glorious history. For two years in 1974 and again in 1975 it hosted the Stock Cars of the United States Auto Club in a race called the Bulldog 150.

On September 14, 1974 Jack Housby and Ventures Ltd. brought the USAC Stock Cars to the Iowa State Fairgrounds for the inaugural running of the Bulldog 150. Leading up to the 1974 the list of champions of the USAC Stock Car division read like a who’s who of racing; Fred Lorenzen, Paul Goldsmith, Norm Nelson, Don White, Parnelli Jones, A. J. Foyt, Roger McCluskey and three time and defending champion Butch Hartman.

The September 14 race in Des Moines would be the last race of the 1974 stock car season and saw Norm Nelson leading defending champion Butch Hartman by just 30 points in the championship chase. The Bulldog 150 would decide the 1974 USAC Stock Car Championship. Coming into the 1974 season, Nelson who had returned to action in the middle of the 1973 after a layoff of 18 months because of back injuries, and Hartman were the series only three time winners.

A crowd estimated at 6,500 fans showed up on race day. They didn’t have to wait long to cheer a home state driver as Keokuk’s Dick Hutcherson set fast time in the Jack Housby #02 with a lap of 25.54 seconds. Butch Hartman won the trophy dash and Davenport, Iowa’s Terry Ryan won the 10 lap consolation to finish setting the 24 car feature for the Bulldog 150.

Butch Hartman won the USAC-sanctioned  Bulldog 150 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on September 14, 1974. 

Fast Qualifier Dick Hutcherson would lead 42 laps, another Keokuk driver Ramo Stott (who was driving with first and second degree burns he had received on his hands the previous Sunday in a racing accident at Milwaukee) would lead the most laps, 57 in the Jack Housby #2 before cutting a tire when he ran over a piece of exhaust pipe. A third Iowan, Irv Janey would also lead for a few laps. But it was Butch Hartman, who picked up the lead on lap 107 and went on to win take the win and the lion’s share of the $16,650 purse. The race took 1 hour 8 minutes and 48 seconds. There was only 1 caution for 5 laps.

In winning the event Hartman was able to pass Nelson (who finished fifth in the race) and snare his fourth straight USAC Stock Car Championship. Following Hartman at the line were, Irv Janey, Dick Hutcherson, Ernie Derr, Nelson, Ramo Stott, Terry Ryan, Butch Garner, Paul Feldner and Fred Zack

The second annual Bulldog 150 took place on July 3, 1975 and saw a large crowd show up to see 30 cars attempt to qualify for the race. For the second straight year a driver from Keokuk, Iowa set fast time. This time it was Gordon Blankenship behind the wheel of his own #17 Plymouth. Blankenship tripped the clocks at 26.36 seconds. Iowa veteran Darrell Dake won the 4 lap trophy dash and Deerfield, Illinois’ Bay Darnell won the 15 lap last chance race.

At the start pole sitter Blankenship led for three laps before surrendering the lead to Dake in the Marty Sixt #78. Dake then led for 107 laps and looked like he was on the way to victory lane when he shredded a tire and had to make an unscheduled pit stop. The Cedar Rapids veteran would make a second pit stop with just nine laps to go that would and would finish fifth. Wily Iowa veteran Ernie Derr assumed the lead in his own #23 Dodge and would never relinquish it. Derr would go on to pick up the winners’ share of the $13,750 purse.

Four time and defending USAC Stock Car champion and current point leader Butch Hartman was running second when he was forced out on lap 125. The DNF would hurt him in his quest to win a fifth straight championship and Ramo Stott would ultimately win the 1975 USAC Stock Championship.

Keokuk, Iowa's Ramo Stott poses with car owner and Bulldog 150 promoter Jack Housby. - Photo courtesy of Kyle Ealy

Following Derr to the checkered flag was Stott in the Housby #3 with Jack Bowsher third, Don White fourth and Darrell Dake fifth. Hawkeye drivers had once again had a banner day in USAC Stock Car racing taking four of the top five stops.

The USAC Stock Car Series would return to the Iowa State Fairgrounds one more time in September, 1981 when Joe Wallace would win a 100-lap event. As the years went on the series seem to die a slow death and in 1985 was replaced by a late model series for four years. But for two years the Bulldog 150 brought outstanding stock car racing to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Midwest Racing Archives - Advertistments from the past

Oregon Legion Speedway -Oregon, Wisconsin - 1953

Alton Speedway - Alton, Illinois - 1951

65 Speedway - Branson, Missouri - 1973

Hawkeye Downs Speedway, Independence Motor Speedway and Tunis Speedway - 1968

Springfield Speedway -Springfield, Illinois - 1973

1968 - The “Original” World 100

 

An advertisement announcing the 1968 World 100 Super Modified Championship at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids.

By Kyle Ealy
Cedar Rapids, Iowa – In 1971, promoter Earl Baltes created an event like no other. The very best drivers from all parts of the United States would come together in Rossburg, Ohio and compete against each other in a 100-lap race at his track; Eldora Speedway.

As we all know, the event was a smashing success from the beginning and developed into one of the crown jewels of grass roots racing. It was called the World 100.

But it wasn’t the first World 100…

Frank Winkley and his Auto Racing Inc., was a long-time promoter of IMCA stock cars, big cars (sprints) and midgets on the “fair circuit” for many years. Hawkeye Downs Speedway was, among others, one his venues in which he promoted events. One of the more popular events he promoted there was the Hawkeye 200 for IMCA stock cars held in late April.

In January of 1967, “Wink” as he was called, signed a contract with the All Iowa Fairboard and took over the weekly racing program there, which had gone into decline over the past few years.

When Winkley came aboard in January, he announced that a new race for super modifieds would be held on Memorial Day Weekend. And this wouldn’t be just any race…

Instead of the standard 25-lap feature that super modifieds were accustomed to, the feature would go 100 times around the quarter-mile. Winkley also set the purse much higher than what cars of this nature ran for; $4,200. His thinking was with the higher purse, he would lure the very best talent in the world of super modified racing.

Winkley appropriately named his new event; “The World 100”.

It would be a two-day event with time trials and preliminary events on Tuesday, May 30th with the consolation, STP trophy dash and 100-lap main event on Wednesday, May 31st.

With 100 laps of racing, fuel consumption would be the biggest concern for drivers. Jerry Blundy played the role of a miser with his gasoline and captured the feature. The Galesburg, Ill., veteran, in his 19th season of auto racing, measured practically every drop of fuel that went into his tank prior to the 100-lapper.

Jerry Blundy won the Frank Winkley-promoted World 100 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. - Bob Mays Collection

Jerry Blundy had enjoyed a big night in the preliminaries Wednesday, when he set the fastest qualifying time. But he admitted before the feature his strategy was merely to make sure he finished the race. He let someone else set the pace. Any fuel worries Jerry possessed were for naught, however. At the end of the marathon he still had "about 10 gallons" remaining.

Blundy's big advantage actually was the fact he didn't have to pit for fuel. "I started to worry about my strategy," he said. "For awhile I didn't know if it was going to work."

For the first 50 laps it was a battle between Earl Wagner, who held the lead, and Russ Laursen and Blundy, who exchanged second place three times in that distance. Only a car length separated the trio most of that time.

Blundy made his bid for the lead on lap 65, dipping down inside Wagner on turn four to move out in front. Three laps later, Wagner headed for the pits for fuel and a tire change. Then, on the 70th circuit, Laursen made the first of his two fuel stops which proved disastrous.

In the meanwhile, Lee Kunzman of Guttenberg had made his move from the rear of the pack and zipped into second when Wagner and Laursen made their stops. Kunzman, the former Downs late model ace, finished on the same lap with Blundy although he ran out of fuel on the final tour.

Blundy took home a sizable paycheck for his two nights of work. Jerry won $750, including $500 for winning the main event. The near-capacity crowd not only appreciated Blundy’s victory but the skills displayed by the other top finishers.

For Winkley though, the race was not a success. Only 11 cars showed up after it had been advertised that no less than 24 drivers had already filed entries and a field of 30 was expected when the usual late-comers arrived.

Winkley was beside himself when he discovered the number of absent drivers. "I'm slowly losing faith in a driver's word," Winkley was quoted in the Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette. "A signed entry form is the same as a contract and it should be honored by both parties at all times”.

“I wish I had an explanation for it. I don’t know if the drivers (who failed to appear) found a better deal somewhere else,” a disgusted Winkley told the paper. “We do know that a few attended the funeral of a friend and competitor, Harry Kern in St. Paul late Wednesday afternoon.” Kern had been killed a week before in the Little 500, the same race many of the missing drivers had competed in.

"If I knew this was going to happen, I would have cancelled the program. But I had close to $1,000 already invested in advance publicity.”

Then “Wink” made an unprecedented move. It was a move that made him one of the best promoters of his era. He took the microphone prior to the first race and announced that all adults would be granted a $1 admission ticket to be applied toward any future race that season at Hawkeye Downs.

Over 3,400 tickets were shelled out for the event but Winkley felt he had to make the gesture and nobody argued with it. "I don't think it was a matter of guts," he said. “It simply was necessary. I don't want the race fans to feel like they've been taken.”

Despite the low car count and losing a little money, Winkley was encouraged by the competitiveness of the race and the crowd response. “We’ll definitely have this race again next season,” Winkley mentioned. “I won’t let a good idea die”.

But unfortunately, the idea did die along with a great promoter. Two months later, while coming home from a race, Frank Winkley lost control of his vehicle on a two-lane highway near his home of Minneapolis and was killed instantly. Verna Winkley, his widow, took over the reins for the 1969 season but didn’t continue on with the super modified special for one reason or another.

The original World 100, like a lot of other Frank Winkley promoted races of that era, was history. But it is just that, a piece of history that an innovative promoter can lay claim to as being the first with the idea.


World 100 Results –

1. Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill. (100 laps)
2. Lee Kunzman, Guttenberg (100)
3. Earl Wagner, Pleasantville (97)
4. Russ Laursen, Cumberland, Wis. (96)
5. Dale McCarty, Kansas City (93)
6. Butch Smith, Des Moines (87)
7. Stan Borofsky, Raytown, Mo. (82)
8. Burt Sonner, Des Moines (69)
9. Johnny Babb, Ottumwa (49)
10. Phil Reece, Des Moines (49)

Trophy Dash –

1. Earl Wagner
2. Jerry Blundy
3. Russ Laursen
4. Phil Reece
5. Butch Smith

Consolation –

1. Dale McCarty
2. Lee Kunzman
3. Johnny Babb
4. Stan Borofsky

1989 - Five races, five faces in All Star tilt at Volusia

by Kyle Ealy

Barberville, Fla. (February 8-12, 1989) - An all star cast of top-notch sprint car drivers headlined the All Star Sprint Winternationals at Volusia County Speedway.

But unlike previous years, the winners were not the familiar household names you come to expect in victory lane. Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Dave Blaney and Jack Hewitt were all in attendance but new names dotted the headlines at the end of the five consecutive nights of racing.

Bobby Davis Jr., piloting the Casey Luna Gambler, won the opening night of the All Star Sprints Winternationals at Volusia County Speedway. Davis would go on to win the World of Outlaws title that season as well.

On Wednesday night February 8th, Bobby Davis Jr. was the class of the 20-car field and took home the $3,000 payday shelled out by track owner Dickie Murphy. Davis started on the front row opposite Robbi Stanley and quickly darted out to the lead and never slipped in the 20-lapper.

Davis was so fast that prior to the first and only caution flag that waved on lap 16, he had put top-name drivers such as Danny Lasoski, Jac Haudenschild and Steve Smith Jr. a lap down. When the checkers waved, he had added Bobby Allen, Kenny Jacobs and Rocky Hodges to that list.

Fast qualifier Sammy Swindell grabbed runner-up honors while Keith Kauffman, Stanley and Randy Kinser rounded out the top-five.

"We had a pretty good run tonight," Davis said in victory lane after the race. "Pretty good" was an understatement.

The next night, Thursday, February 9th, the biggest upset of the five nights would occur. Steve Stambaugh, running the Apple Chevrolet sponsored Gambler for only the second time, shocked a chilled crowd, finishing first ahead of four of the top drivers in the country.

Jac Haudenschild jumped into the lead of the $3,000-to-win 20 lap event. It was a matter of three laps later when Sammy Swindell, driving a brand new Gaerte-powered Challenger, took charge on the outside of turns three and four, taking the point coming down the front stretch.

Steve Stambaugh shocked a chilly crowd by capturing the second night of the All Star Sprints Winternationals. Stambaugh passed Sammy Swindell and then held off a stellar field of sprint car drivers to post the victory.

Just as Swindell looked to be on his way to a "sure" win, the chassis mysteriously stopped working on lap 8. Stambaugh, now running second after starting fifth, sped past the fading Swindell and never looked back in picking up the win in what would be the shocker of all five races. Stambaugh held off Haudenschild, previous night's winner Bobby Davis Jr., the fading Swindell and Bobby Allen.

Friday night, February 9th, yet another new winner in victory lane. The newly-formed Petitte-Cook sprint car team with Keith Kauffman behind the wheel, snared the $3,000 first-place money out of Steve Stambaugh's hands.

Stambaugh started on the pole with Kauffman to the outside of him. Dave Blaney and Sammy Swindell were settled in on the second row with Fred Rahmer and Bobby Allen next.

It was Kauffman who surged into the lead with Stambaugh, Swindell and Blaney following. As lapped traffic quickly came into play, Stambaugh poured it on and passed Kauffman on lap 7. What should of been "money in the bank" for Stambaugh was quickly withdrawn when a drive line failed and he pulled into the pits on lap 17 as Kauffman happily took over the top spot and held it to the checkers.

Swindell held strong for second while Rahmer enjoyed his best finish of the tour in third. Bobby Allen, the only driver to crack 15 seconds in time trials, crossed the finish line in fourth ahead of Dave Blaney.

The '89 Winternationals hadn't been too kind to Frankie Kerr. He had been battling pneumonia for the past couple of days, which had kept him on the sidelines. On Saturday, February 11th, Kerr spent most of the day in bed but managed to get himself up and despite getting to the track late, qualified sixth fastest out of 58 cars. After qualifying in his heat, Kerr started on the pole opposite Keith Kauffman.

The difference between Kerr and everyone else that night was the tire and shock set-up. Track owner Dickie Murphy used a citrus pulp mixture in his track preparation each night and like every other evening, it had the driver's guessing on proper set-up. Kerr guessed right; "We went with ProShocks and Goodyear's tonight. The compound was probably too hard, but it worked."

Kerr qualified through his heat, started on the pole and completely dominated the 30-lap, $5,000 to win main event. Bobby Davis Jr., Bobby Allen, Dave Blaney and Danny Lasoski tried to keep up with Kerr but it was to no avail.

It was just what the doctor ordered...

The finale, on Sunday evening, February 12th, produced the fifth new face to to the winner's circle. Once again, a driver who hadn't had the best of luck on their trip down south, took the win. "I would have been happy just to win a heat, things have been that bed, said Kenny Jacobs, after earning $5,000 in a thrilling 30-lap finale wrapping up the Winternationals.

Kenny Jacobs, piloting the Weikert Livestock Special, won the 30-lap finale of the All Star Sprints Winternationals at Volusia County Speedway. - Jim Fisher Photo

Jacobs started on the front row opposite Tommy Estes who immediately grabbed the lead and looked like another "sure" winner this night. Estes, piloting the J & J built, Bill Beaman owned sprinter, took charge at the drop of the green and built his lead up to five seconds in no time.

But, like Swindell a few nights before, Estes mysteriously slowed and Jacobs, who was running second, caught up to Estes, went to the bottom and easily sped past him into the lead. A battle ensued between Estes, Swindell and Dave Blaney for second allowing Jacobs to widen his lead.

However, with 5 laps to go, a yellow came out bunching the group together for what would shape up to be a helluva finish.

Jacobs started on the inside with Swindell on the outside and Blaney waiting for the chance to take either or both. Swindell tried to take the lead from Jacobs on the front stretch but ran out of room, climbing the wall in front of the flag stand. Swindell miraculously managed to come back down on the track but lost several spots in the process.

Jacobs crossed the finish line pumping his fists in the air with Blaney, Jac Haudenschild, Tommy Estes and Keith Kauffman following behind.

Even though it was "see your breath" weather for the five nights, race fans "held their breath" for five nights of thrilling, suspense filled racing at the 1989 All Star Sprints Winternationals.

The National Outlaw Stock Car Association - Late Models with Wings

Kenny Walton (02) of Viola, Iowa and Kenny Schrader (68) of Fenton, Mo., battle during the inaugural National Outlaw Stock Car Association (NOSCA) late model event at 65 Speedway near Branson, Mo., on April 5, 1976. Joe Merryfield of Des Moines, Iowa, won the event. — Al Steinberg Photo

by Lee Ackerman
Omaha, Neb. - It came about almost by accident. The idea was an extension of the “run what you brung” rules of the SnowFly Nationals held in Topeka, Kan. In November of 1979, they ran the SnowFly Nationals at Mid-American Fairgrounds.” It was to be the last major dirt late model race of the decade,” says Promoter Mike Means.

In 1981 Means became the promoter for a new series called the “National Outlaw Stock Car Association.” Unfortunately the season had one major adversary, the weather. The series opener was to be “the 1st Annual Ozark Outlaw Nationals” to be held at 65 Raceway Park in Branson, Mo., on March 20 through 22. When the event was finally put in the record books on April 5, it was done so under threatening skies and with a certain amount of controversy.

Changing weather conditions and a fluctuating wind made the track hard to predict and presented a real challenge to the drivers. The feature would see Larry Phillips on the pole (Phillips had won the feature the night before in Tucson, Arizona). The outside front row would have Billy Moyer Jr. off a second place finish the night before in the Frostbuster 10,000 at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia. The two would put on an outstanding battle for 25 laps before the race was stopped because of a driver being struck in the face by a rock. That driver was John Seets of Peoria, Ill.

On the restart Joe Merryfield of Des Moines had moved up from the back of the pack to join the battle. With just 11 laps to go Moyer and Ken Schrader tangled in turn 4, caused by dusty track conditions when a car entered the infield. After some discussion, Moyer was given his position at the front of the pack back. From that point on it was Moyer and Merryfield battling to the end with Moyer edging out Merryfield at the checkers.

Larry Phillips (75) and Billy Moyer Jr. (21) bring the field to green during the 1st Annual Ozark Outlaw Nationals at Branson, Mo., on April 5, 1981. - Photo courtesy of Lee Ackerman

The race judges then got together and after more discussion awarded the race to Merryfield with Springfield, Missouri’s Jake Deemer second, Larry Phillips third and Billy Moyer Jr. was awarded fourth place. A special feature of the NOSCA show was the “Outlaw Shootout” a series of one-on-one races among the top eight qualifiers. Larry Phillips would pick up the $200 first prize with Kansas City’s Gene Claxton finishing second.

On Monday, May 25, round two of the NOSCA season was completed at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia. Gene Claxton of Kansas City, Mo., was fast qualifier. Roger “The Racing Lawyer” Thompson of Junction City, Kan., would lead the first 29 ½ laps before being trapped by a lapped car and Kevin Gundaker would slip by and take the lead and the win. Ken Walton would finish third, Don Hoffman fourth and Joe Merryfield fifth. The race would be called the “Missouri Outlaw Stock Car Classic.”

The next scheduled race for NOSCA was to be held on Sunday, June 21 at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill. The weatherman decided to change that and the event was rescheduled for July 12. Kevin Gundaker continued his winning ways by posting a clean sweep. He set fast time, won his heat and then came back to lead the entire 30 laps of the feature event driving his familiar #11 Camaro. Steve Kosiski would finish second, Bo Smith third, Ken Walton fourth and Larry Phillips fifth.

Action moved to Fun Valley Speedway in Hutchinson, Kan., the next weekend. On Friday night, Kansas driver Clarence Bontrager would set fast time with Larry Phillips setting second quick time. Heats would go to Steve Kosiski and Phillips. On Saturday night Phillips would take the lead from his outside front row starting position and drive a flawless race in taking his winged Interstate Towing Camaro to victory land and a $2,000 first prize. Dhon Hauserman of Wichita would come from the third row to finish second followed by Joe Kosiski, Steve Kosiski and the pole setting Bontrager.

Billy Moyer Jr. of Batesville, Ark., speeds around 65 Speedway in Branson, Mo., during NOSCA late model action. - Photo courtesy of Lee Ackerman

After a mix up in booking dates and more bad weather, round five of the series was completed on Sunday, August 23 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. After completing the first night of racing on August 15, heavy rains forced a one week postponement of the second day of the two day show.

Buck Cadwell of Arnett, Okla., would set a new track record in qualifying as he turned the half mile in 22.90 seconds over one and a half seconds off the old record of 24.58 seconds. The outlaw shootout was won by Ken Walton over fast qualifier Cadwell. Last chance qualifiers went to Larry Phillips and Junior Slay.

In the feature event of the day it was Ken Walton adding another $2,000 to the $200 he picked up in the shootout making it a $2,200 pay day. Following Walton to the line was Larry Phillips, Roger Thompson, Dhon Hauserman and Ferris Collier.

The next round of the NOSCA season was to be the North Iowa Outlaw Stock Nationals to be held on September 5 and 6 at the Mason City Speedway in Mason City, Iowa. That event does not appear to have been held.

The final event of the NOSCA racing season was to have been a three day affair to be held October 2, 3 and 4th at George Butland’s Colorado National Speedway. That event was cancelled when the money behind the NOSCA series disappeared.

“The thing I remember about running with the wing on the car is you had to take drive out of the car so you could get through the corners,” recalls Joe Kosiski. “It was tough on equipment and you could easily blow a motor,” remembers Steve Kosiski.

So ended, the one year life of the Winged Outlaw Late Models called the National Outlaw Stock Car Association. Weather and the lack of funding put a premature end to a novel concept.