1979 - Shuman Claims Knoxville Sprint Nationals

Ron Shuman

Knoxville, Iowa (August 11, 1979) – “The Flying Shoe”, Ron Shuman of Mesa, Ariz., was flying in high gear as he won the 30-lap A-main, which highlighted the four-day 19th annual Knoxville Sprint Nationals at the Marion County Fairgrounds.

The victory was worth $5,000 to Shuman, bringing his total earnings for the event to $7,920

Polesitter Tim Green of Des Moines led the early stages of the feature with Shane Carson of Oklahoma City running second and Shuman in third. After taking second from Carson, Shuman was allowed to close in behind the pacesetting Green when the yellow flag came out on lap 9.

Green successfully defended his lead when all-out action resumed and remained in front until lap 15, when a broken rocker arm stud forced him to slow his pace, allowing Shuman to claim the top spot. Green would withdraw from the feature moments later and be credited with 18th place in the 21-car field.

Once in front, Shuman never relinquished the lead, surviving a lap 24 caution flag and restart, and then sailing to the win. Randy Smith brought home second place and Sammy Swindell of Memphis, Tenn., took third.

Swindell turned in the outstanding performance of the evening. He started at the tail of the field after winning B-main and used both the low and high groove to wind his way through the field.

John Stevenson of St. Paul, Minn., was fourth and Shane Carson rounded out the top five.

Results –

1.    Ron Shuman, Mesa, Ariz.

2.    Randy Smith, Norwalk, Iowa

3.    Sammy Swindell, Mesa, Ariz.

4.    Shane Carson, Oklahoma City

5.    John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn.

6.    Danny Smith, Danville, Ill.

7.    Gary Rush, Sydney, Australia

8.    Ralph Blackett, Des Moines

9.    Lee James, Northridge, Calif.

10.  Larry Clark, Tolleson, Ariz.

11.  Buster Bernard, Putin, Calif.

12.  Paul Pitzer, Seven Valley, Calif.

13.  Jerry Potter, Kansas City

14.  Bill Mellenberndt, Sioux Falls, S.D.

15.  Al Hagar, Fostoria, Ohio

16.  Lee Osborne, Jamestown, Ind.

17.  Doug Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, S.D.

18.  Tim Green, Des Moines

19.  Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.

20.  Eddie Leavitt, Kearney, Mo.

21.  Rick Ferkel, Findlay, Ohio

1971 – McDonough Wins Iowa Challenge Cup

 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (August 10, 1971) – Bill McDonough started his ’64 Chevelle on the pole and then outraced IMCA champion Ernie Derr and ARCA champion Ramo Stott to win the first annual Iowa Challenge Cup Tuesday night at Hawkeye Downs. The win was worth $2,190 to the popular Cedar Rapids driver.

It was a capacity crowd off over 8,000 in attendance at Hawkeye Downs, as more than 2,000 more race fans were turned away at the gate. Richard Petty, the NASCAR “king” made a personal appearance, announcing, “Gentlemen, start your engines” to begin the 50-lap main event.

The top 24 in time trials took the green with McDonough on the pole by virtue of his 25.00 second clocking on the half-mile. Jim Gerber of Mt Joy, Iowa, was second fastest with 25.19 seconds and Roger Dolan of Lisbon, Iowa, was at 25.48 seconds.

Gerber would jump off to a small lead at the start of the feature with McDonough, Ron Hemsted of Lone Tree, Iowa, Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa, and Dolan in hot pursuit. Gerber would lead for three laps before dropping out with mechanical problems, giving the top spot to McDonough.

Ed Sanger would settle into second by lap 11 with Derr running third and Hemsted dropping back to fourth.

On a red flag, Sanger pitted to gas up and was immediately disqualified drawing unfavorable reaction from the sellout crowd. The show would be delayed almost 30 minutes to settle the issue with Sanger. He would eventually lose his argument and load his car.

The feature restarted, and Stott, back in eighth, started to move forward through the pack. Ramo would get by Derr on the 48th lap but it would be too little, too late in reaching McDonough as the checkers waved.

Derr would end up in third, Roger Dolan would take fourth and Ron Hemsted would settle for fifth.

Derr would win the trophy dash while heat wins went to Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Lee Kunzman of Guttenberg, Iowa, Ron Prymek of Iowa City, Iowa and Terry Ryan of Davenport, Iowa. The consolation winner was John Moss of Iowa City, Iowa.

Results –

1.    Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2.    Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa

3.    Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa

4.    Roger Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa

5.    Ron Hemsted, Lone Tree, Iowa

6.    Bob Hilmer, Dysart, Iowa

7.    Dean Montgomery, Milan, Ill.

8.    Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa

9.    Fred Horn, Marion, Iowa

10.   Lee Kunzman, Guttenberg, Iowa

1968 – Parkinson Wins Three Events at Wausau

Ralph Parkinson

 

Wausau, Wis. (August 8, 1968) – Ralph Parkinson of Wichita Falls, Tex., was the night’s top winner as he captured three events at the IMCA grand championship sprint car races at the Wisconsin Valley Fair on Thursday night.

Parkinson, who was listed as a “darkhorse” entry prior to the program, won the first heat, Australian Pursuit and led all 25 circuits in the feature event. Parkinson also set a new track record in the main event, touring the 25 laps in 13 minutes and 6 seconds.

Jerry Richert of Forest Lake, Minn., took runner-up honors while rookie-of-the-year candidate Lee Kunzman of Guttenberg, Iowa, took third.

A spectacular crash in the feature hospitalized Wayne Funk of Humboldt, Iowa, in the feature. Funk slammed his Chevy-powered sprint car into the retaining wall on the northwest curve.

Results –

First heat – Ralph Parkinson, Wichita Falls, Tex.

Second heat – Jerry Richert, Forest Lake, Minn.

Australian Pursuit – Ralph Parkinson

Trophy dash – Jerry Richert

Feature –

1.    Ralph Parkinson

2.    Jerry Richert

3.    Lee Kunzman, Guttenberg, Iowa

4.    David Heskin, Crystal, Minn.

5.    John Stevenson, Elmo, Minn.

6.    John Hesselgrove, St. Paul, Minn.

7.    Buzz Rose, Manhattan, Calif.

8.    Al Futrell, Collinsville, Ill.

9.    Robert Reznicek, Minneapolis

10.  Ron Belland, St. Paul, Minn.

1980 – Gundaker nips Moyer at Oskaloosa

Oskaloosa, Iowa (August 6, 1980) – A pair of hard-charging youngsters swapped the lead three times in the final three laps and had a large crowd of fair-goers on their feet as the National Speedways Contest Association late models invaded the half-mile at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds.

In front when it counted, though, was Kevin Gundaker of St. Louis, only a matter of feet ahead of Billy Moyer Jr. of Des Moines.

So hotly contested was the race, in fact, that Moyer stopped his car right in front of Gundaker’s on the front straight after the checkered flag flew and had a few words with the St. Louis speedster. It was obvious that the two cars touched on the final lap as Gundaker overtook Moyer for the win.

Gundaker, who started sixth in the field, and Moyer, who started seventh, worked their way steadily through the pack with Moyer glued to the rear bumper of Gundaker’s Camaro. After one lap they were running fifth and sixth and after only three laps they had both advanced two notches to run third and fourth behind Pete Parker of Kaukauna, Wis., and Fred Horn of Marion, Iowa.

Gundaker got around Horn on lap 10 and Moyer moved around Horn and into third place on the 15th lap, one lap after Gundaker passed Park for the top spot. Moyer got around Parker and into second on lap 16 and it was a sprint to the finish.

Running side-by-side often in the final nine laps, Moyer got by Gundaker to take the white flag first. However, the final lap saw Gundaker regain the lead for the $1,000 win.

It was Gundaker’s fourth trip to Oskaloosa this season to run a NSCA-sanctioned event and it marked the fourth time he had lowered the track record there. Arriving late Wednesday, Gundaker was the final car to time and he went out and shattered his own record with a 21.750 clocking. The old mark was 22.060 seconds set on July 2.

Tom Hearst of Wilton, Iowa, won the trophy dash, Bill Breuer of Wapello, Iowa, scored the victory in the first heat, Johnny Johnson of Morning Sun, Iowa, ruled the second heat and Fred Horn toped the field in the third heat. Lynn Richard of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, won the Australian Pursuit.

Results –

Time trials – Kevin Gundaker, St. Louis (21.750)

Trophy dash – Tom Hearst, Wilton, Iowa

First heat – Bill Breuer, Wapello, Iowa

Second heat – Johnny Johnson, Morning Sun, Iowa

Third heat – Fred Horn, Marion, Iowa

Australian Pursuit – Lynn Richard, Mount Pleasant, Iowa

Feature –

1.    Kevin Gundaker

2.    Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines

3.    Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.

4.    Ken Schrader, Fenton, Mo.

5.    Tom Hearst

6.    Dan Dickey, Packwood, Iowa

7.    Johnny Johnson

8.    Bill Beckman, Monticello, Iowa

9.    Bill Breuer

10.   Lynn Richard

11.   Fred Horn

12.   Darrell Sells, Waverly, Iowa

13.   Joe Kosiski, Omaha

14.   Bill Rice, Des Moines

15.   Wendell Folkerts, Albia, Iowa

16.   Vic Bentlage, Jefferson City, Mo.

17.   Joe Merryfield, Des Moines

18.   Ken Walton, Viola, Iowa

19.   Tony Stewart, Washington, Iowa

20.   Don Hoffman, Des Moines

1979 – Jones masters Terre Haute – Wins USAC headliner

 

Terre Haute, Ind. (August 5, 1979) – Bubby Jones continued his domination of USAC sprint car races at the Terre Haute Action Track Sunday afternoon, by guiding his Siebert Olds racer to victory in the division’s 40-lap main event.

The win was Jones’ fourth in the circuit’s last five features at the track. His only non-winning performance during that time came in last May’s Hulman Classic, when he flipped his mount while leading the race.

Jones started Sunday’s main event from the 12th starting spot on the grid, after timing in only 12th fastest and finishing third in his heat.

Polesitter Billy Cassella jumped into the lead at the start and held the top spot until Paul Pitzer, the fastest qualifier, took over. Cassella regained the front-running position on the fourth go-round, but two laps later, Pitzer was back in front.

Jones moved into the lead on lap 19 and Dana Carter, who started on the outside of row two, pulled into second place on the following circuit.

However, Carter’s hopes ended on lap 35, when he spun, allowing Gary Bettenhausen to claim the runner-up spot.

Although Bettenhausen appeared ready to seriously challenge Jones for the lead a couple of times, he was unable to improve his position and settled for second place.

Results –

1.    Bubby Jones

2.    Gary Bettenhausen

3.    Paul Pitzer

4.    Tom Bigelow

5.    Larry Rice

6.    Jerry Weeks

7.    Greg Leffler

8.    Dana Carter

9.    Rich Vogler

10.  Steve Chassey

11.  Jeff Bloom

12.  Mack McClellan

13.  Gary Gray

14.  Chuck Gurney

15.  Billy Cassella

16.  Bruce Walkup

17.  Sheldon Kinser

18.  Bob East

19.  Junior Parkinson

20.  Duke Cook

1967 – Blundy beats Corbin in Knoxville Thriller

Jerry Blundy

Knoxville, Ill. (August 4, 1967) – Jerry Blundy of Galesburg, Ill., and Tom Corbin of Carrollton, Mo., divided the honors in the IMCA-sanctioned sprint car races at the Knox County Fair on Friday night before a packed grandstand.

Blundy won the hard-fought 20-lap feature event after a hard tussle with Corbin who took the lead from Blundy through the turns in the last five laps but couldn’t hold it and had to be satisfied with second place.  Blundy came from the last starting spot in his heat race to the front of the field on the first lap.

Corbin turned in the fastest time out of a field of 19 cars with a clocking of 25.42 seconds on the big half-mile. Corbin also came from his last starting spot to pass Jim Moughan of Springfield, Ill., on the last lap to win the first heat. Corbin was also the winner of the four-car 5-lap trophy dash.

Results –

Fast time – Tom Corbin, Carrollton, Mo.

Trophy dash – Tom Corbin

First heat – Tom Corbin

Second heat – Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.

Feature –

1.     Jerry Blundy

2.     Tom Corbin

3.     Chuck Lynch, Springfield, Ill.

4.     Grady Wade, Wichita, Kan.

5.     Jim Moughan, Springfield, Ill.

6.     Lee Kunzman, Guttenberg, Iowa

7.     Don Daniels, St. Paul, Minn.

8.     Bob Herring, Denver, Colo.

1975 – Hartman Returns to Winning Form at I-70

Butch Hartman

Odessa, Mo. (August 3, 1975) – Butch Hartman once again demonstrated his ability to come through under pressure Sunday night when he won the 150-lap USAC stock car feature at I-70 Speedway.

Hartman, who won each of last year’s final three outings to win the stock car division point title by 30 points over Norm Nelson, badly needed a win to protect his current lead.

After being disqualified after finishing first in the circuit’s last event at Michigan Int’l Speedway two weeks ago, Hartman found his point lead shaved to only 30 markers over Ramo Stott entering evening’s action.

But while Stott had his problems, bowing out with a blown engine after 55 trips around the half-mile oval, Hartman charged to the front of the pack on lap 59 and stayed in complete command to the checkered to record his third triumph of the season and increase his point lead to 140 over Terry Ryan, whose fifth-place finish enabled him to move past Stott in the standings.

The win earned Hartman $2,012 of the $10,950 purse.

Hartman started sixth and deliberately worked his way toward the front while polesitter Jack Bowsher and Len Gittemeier dominated the opening stages of the event.

Bowsher led the race’s initial 34 circuits before Gittemeier, a rookie from St. Charles, Mo., who was the evening’s second fastest qualifier, took charge on lap 35.

The home state favorite remained in command until lap 58, when Bowsher regained the top spot during a caution period necessitated when Larry Moore blew an engine and spun on lap 59.

Hartman used the caution period to make a quick pit stop for fuel and returned to the track in time to take the lead from Bowsher on lap 59.

Thee green reappeared on lap 70 and Hartman remained in control of the race for the rest of the way, despite a second caution later for Ryan’s spin on the frontstretch.

Bowsher placed second and the surprising rookie, Gittemeier, third. Terry Bivins took fourth, one lap off the pace with Ryan rebounding from his spin to grab fifth.

Results –

1.    Butch Hartman

2.    Jack Bowsher

3.    Len Gittemeier

4.    Terry Bivins

5.    Terry Ryan

6.    Paul Feldner

7.    George Coonrod

8.    Dave Whitcomb

9.    Harold Fair

10. Lee Pinckney

11. Fred Whisler

12. Larry Cope

13. Ramo Stott

14. Larry Moore

15. Bay Darnell

16. Kenny Simpson

17. Cleve Smith

18. Irv Janey