1968 - Derr Wins Iowa 300 Again

A grimy-faced Ernie Derr gets a kiss from Miss Iowa 300, April Andrews, after his triumphant run. STP representative Everett Dixon makes the trophy presentation - Fraser & Fletcher Photo

Des Moines, Iowa (July 7, 1968) - Misfortune struck hard at Ramo Stott of Keokuk Sunday and helped fellow townsman Ernie Derr win his third consecutive Iowa 300 new-model stock car race at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in record time.

Stott, driving a 1967 Plymouth Roadrunner, led for 203 of the 300 laps and held nearly a three-lap advantage over Derr on the 95th lap. Stott’s collision with Ole Brua and later spinout were the breaks Derr needed for his victory in a 1968 Charger before 12,300 fans.

Derr’s time of 2 hours 29 minutes and 27.61 seconds was a 150-mile record for the State Fairgrounds’ one-half mile dirt track. Stott had set the old mark of 2:35:39.96 in 1965.

Derr won $1,100 for first place. Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids finished second in Derr's 1967 Charger, winning $900. But 60 percent of Eaker’s winnings will go to Derr.

Stott’s bad luck wasn't over after he fell back into second place on the 236th lap. He had a blowout with 10 laps remaining, which allowed Eaker to take over second. Stott finished third, winning $610 including $60 time trial money.

The lead changed hands eight times and 13 yellow flags were dropped. Three of the yellow were because of accidents. Metal had to be removed from the track six times and twice the race was delayed while push trucks attempted to start cars. Spinouts accounted for the remaining laps.

Three cars were involved in a crash on the seventeenth lap. Irv Janey of Cedar Rapids and Bill Schwader of McCausland were able to continue but Leon Bowman of Wichita, Kan., was sidelined when the front end and radiator of his car were smashed.

Lenny Funk of Otis, Kan., hit the wall on lap 54 and, on lap 264, Dick Johnson of St. Paul, Minn., smashed into the wall.

Bill Moyer of Des Moines jumped to the lead with his 1968 Corvette, but Stott moved ahead on the second lap. Derr passed Stott on lap 28, but Ramo whizzed by Derr six laps later.

Eaker grabbed his only lead - for 23 laps - when Stott went to the pits on the 71st lap. Stott breezed ahead and by the 147th lap, was two full laps ahead. He set a 150-lap record of 1 hour, 14 minutes and 25 seconds, breaking Dick Hutcherson’s record set on July 9, 1962.

Stott and Brua of Albert Lea, Minn., collided on lap 228 and Ramo spent approximately three laps in the pits while his crewmen pulled a fender away from the left-front tire. Stott zoomed past Derr on lap 236. He spun seven laps later and Derr took the lead for good.

“Man, isn't that a son of a gun,” Stott said after the race. “I don't know what happened but Brua got into my car,” he added, referring to the accident, which accounted for his big lead dwindling.

Derr, the eight-time International Motor Contest Association champion, received $100 for just appearing at the race as the titleholder. He also was paid for being second fastest qualifier.

Eaker had the fastest time, 27.40 seconds. The one-lap record is 25.83 seconds, set last year by Hutcherson.

Hector (Pappy) Honore of Pana, Ill., was honored in pre-race ceremonies for his contribution to sprint car racing during a 32-year career.

Honore, now retired, owned the Black Deuce Bardahl Special, which won 434 features and 704 heat races from 1953-1967.


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
3. Ramo Stott. Keokuk, Iowa
4. Ole Brua, Albert Lea, Minn.
5. Ken Pankratz, Mosinee, Wis.
6. Fred Whisler, Independence, Mo.
7. Lennie Funk, Otis, Kan.
8. Roland Wilson, Bedford, Iowa
9. Elmer Walton, Liberty, Mo.
10. Chuck Berg, Des Moines, Iowa
11. Roger Brown, Waverly, Iowa
12. Bill Schwader, McCausland, Iowa
13. Dick Johnson, St. Paul, Minn.
14. Bill Stark, Des Moines, Iowa
15. Bill Eastman, Dallas, Tex.
16. Jerre Wichman, Kansas City, Mo.
17. Sandy Sandstrom, Kansas City, Mo.
18. Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
19. Lewis Taylor, Shawnee Mission, Kan.
20. Ron Larson, White Bear Lake, Minn.
21. Blaine Morrow, Joy, Ill.
22. Bob Dalsky, Wausau, Wis.
23. John Tiller, Fridleyville, Minn.
24. Hal Freeman, Fort Worth, Tex.

July 6, 1951

1981 - Martin, Sauter Capture Capital “50” Features

Mark Martin is joined by his crew chief, Banjo Grimm, after winning the second 50-lap feature. 

Oregon, Wis. (July 5, 1981) - Mark Martin and Jim Sauter, a pair of rising stars on the ARTGO racing circuit, each dominated the twin 50-lap feature races run during Sunday’s final day of Capital Super Speedway's Fourth of July weekend of racing. Approximately 4,500 race fans witnessed the action.

Watertown’s Pat Schauer took early control of the first feature, but Sauter of Necedah emerged from a tight bunch midway through the race to challenge for the lead. He accomplished that on the 35th lap, passing the fading Schauer.

Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, who, like Sauter, is experiencing a good season on state ovals, took advantage of Schauer's fading act to assume the second place position.

In the second feature, Martin, who hails from Batesville, Ark., and who holds the track record for the fastest lap, took the lead from Rockford, Ill., driver John Knaus on lap 11 and had little trouble the rest of the way.

Joe Shear of South Beloit, Ill., moved up to second place after claiming fifth in the first feature. Trickle managed a third place, while Knaus slipped back to the fourth spot.


Results –


Feature #1 -

1. Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
2. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
3. Pat Schauer, Watertown, Wis.
4. Larry Detjens, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
5. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.


Feature #2 -

1. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
2. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
3. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
4. John Knaus, Rockford Ill.
5. Rusty Wallace, St. Louis, Mo.

Fast Qualifier: Mark Martin (18.602)

1974 – Clean sweep by Schwader in Twin 100’s

Des Moines, Iowa (July 4, 1974) - Bill Schwader defied two racing superstitions Thursday night and won both ends of the Twin 100 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

According to local racing veterans, the color green and No.13 are taboo at races. Somebody had better tell Schwader.

The Riverside, Iowa native drove his green, number 13, 1971 Ford Torino to the checkered flag in both 100-lap features collecting $500 payouts in both before a crowd of 6,500.

Bad luck was a reality for Schwader for the first 25 laps as he failed to crack the top 10.

But by the halfway mark of the first 100-lap event, he had climbed to third place behind Ferris Collier and Gerry Harrison.

Then more luck headed Schwader's way as he overtook Harrison on lap 75. On lap 78 Schwader edged alongside Collier only to be tampered by a slower car, and fell to second.

On lap 80, Schwader bumped Collier going through the third turn. Collier and Schwader bounded into the infield and Harrison grabbed the lead momentarily. However, on the backstretch of the same lap, Schwader was able to power by Harrison for the lead. He would go untouched after that.

Schwader said he felt bad about his run-in with Collier on the 80th lap. "My wheels locked," he said, "and I just couldn't help it. I feel real bad about Ferris because we're good friends, but that's going to happen sometimes. That’s part of racing.”

"I slowed down after I hit him to see if he could catch up. I would have let him by. He didn't make it, so I just got back into the race.”

Gordon Blankenship was in command of the second race until hitting the wall in the third turn of the 61st lap. Schwader, who started in the seventh row and moved to third place by the eighth lap, took over and was not seriously challenged the remainder of the race.

Billy Myers finished second and Russ Derr of Keokuk, son of racing veteran Ernie, was third.

George Barton of Ankeny, one of the point leaders on the Saturday night circuit, recorded the fastest qualifying time turning the half-mile oval at 26.55 seconds. Barton was second until a flat tire caused him to pit on lap 39. Then he developed motor trouble, later in the race and finished seventh. He failed to repair his car in time for the second race.

Results –

Feature #1

1. Bill Schwader, Riverside
2. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
3. Gary Lindgren, Ogden
4. Jim Anderson, Kansas City, Mo.
5. Billy Myers, Grand Island, Neb.
6. Russ Derr, Keokuk
7. Vern Mondry, Lake Elmo, Minn.
8. Allen Chancellor, Buckner, Mo.
9. Jim Hanson, Des Moines
10. Gary Truelove, Trimble, Mo.

Feature #2

1. Bill Schwader
2. Shorty Acker, Windsor, Mo.
3. Russ Derr
4. Jim Still, Topeka, Kan.
5. Jim Hanson
6. Allen Chancellor
7. Bland Robinson, Des Moines
8. John Lavin, Berryton, Kan.
9. Bill Harrison
10. Gerry Harrison, Topeka, Kan.

Today in Racing History

 

July 3, 1973

 

 

1969 - Morris wins fast main at Oskaloosa

Mel Morris

 

 

Oskaloosa, Iowa (July 2, 1969) – In a demonstration of driving skill and speed seldom equaled on the fast half-mile dirt track at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds, Mel Morris held off a challenging John Moss to win the feature event of the super stock car program at Oskaloosa Wednesday night.

Drivers were turning the half-mile in just over 24 seconds as the West Liberty driver led 16 cars to a fast start in the 15-lap main event and held off some of the fastest drivers in the Midwest, including former Southern Iowa Racing Association champ John Moss of Riverside.

Moss challenged the leader on several occasions but was never more threatening than the thundering flight down the front stretch for the checkered flag when he made a last-second bid for the win.

Morris met the challenge, however, and held Big John to second place finish, gaining an even greater lead as top point holder going into next week’s mid-season championship competition.

Mel will rate top billing with his first place in point standings as drivers compete for a $1,800 purse next Wednesday night. Highlight of the S.I.R.A. mid-season championships will be a 30-lap feature event.

In the 5-lap trophy dash, traditional opening of the super stock card here, Del Stokke of Ames topped the field of 5 cars to claim his first trophy of the current season at Oskaloosa.

Ron Perdock of Washington and newcomer Lyle Behne of Moline, Ill., were side by side going into turn one in the first of three 8-lap heat events. Perdock made the turn and Behne cleared the fence as he went high.

John Moss took the lead from Slim Doonan of Brooklyn in the second lap of that event and held it to cross the finish line ahead of Tom Stewart, Washington, who placed second.

Newcomer Don Davidson of Des Moines suffered from car trouble on the first lap of the second heat event, but it didn’t compare with the woe felt by Joel Rasmussen of Ames as he lost a wheel and tie rod to a three-car tangle involving him, Bill Quick of North English and Curt Hanson of Dike.

Nor was Bill Hudson of Montezuma any too happy when he lost his driveshaft on the front stretch, was prevented from pulling into the pits when he was blocked by a slower car and then was plowed into by cars coming behind him between turns one and two.

Mel Morris was probably the only driver who was happy in the second heat, as he claimed the win from Pokey West of West Chester, who finished second.

Dan Clements of Rhoads won the uneventful third heat of the evening which gave fans a chance to catch their breath before the Australian Pursuit which followed.

After Tom Stewart and Pokey West tangled in turn three of lap 4 of that six-lap race, officials ruled Stewart could resume the place he held on the previous lap. An angry Mel Morris proceeded to pass all three cars remaining, including Stewart, as if to show his disapproval of the judge’s decision.

Of the 16 cars posted for the 10-lap consolation event, only 10 were able to make the track, and Bob McCall, Irvin Phillips and Jim Westercamp claimed the first three places in that race to qualify for the main.

Today in Racing History

Jerry Suhr of Norfolk, Neb., won the modified A-main at his hometown track of Riviera Raceway on July 1, 1973. — Jim Ivy Photo