1982 - Phillips Class of 'World Championships'

Larry Phillips

Phoenix, Ariz. (April 10, 1982) – Missouri’s Larry Phillips was in a class by himself in the finals of the RC Cola/7-Up Western World Championships for late model stock cars at Manzanita Speedway.

Although the line-up for the 40-lap feature was studded with driving stars, no one could match Phillips and his lightning fast Camaro. Phillips started alongside Bill Cheesbourg but easily beat the Tucson veteran into the first turn. Even though he had to endure several cautions and a red flag for refueling purposes, Phillips still managed to lap all but nine cars en route to a $3,500 payday.

There was only one car that may have been able to run with Phillips. Don Hoffman of Des Moines, Iowa, made it into the feature by virtue of winning the 20-lap semi-main and was on his way to the front when disaster struck prior to the halfway point. Hoffman had moved his Camaro into fifth place and was challenging Cheesbourg for fourth when he jumped the cushion and slammed into the retaining wall, ending a beautiful drive.

While there was really no contest for the front spot, the action was hot and heavy behind Phillips. Throughout most of the race, there were six or seven cars in contention for the runner-up spot. Mike Gibson and Carl Trimmer swapped the second position two or three times and George Brazil Jr. was in the thick of the battle and finally took over that spot with only three laps remaining. However, tough luck that has plagued him the past two weeks struck again s he blew an engine on the white flag lap and pushed his car across the finish line in tenth.

Trimmer edged Charlie Swartz for second, Cheesbourg took fourth and Steve McGuire grabbed fifth.

Hoffman, who had problems during the qualifying races, was not seriously challenged in the semi. He started fifth and was in front before the first lap was completed.

The excitement in the semi was created by Roger Saathoff. The South Dakota driver started 15th and drove his way to second place even though he was losing his clutch in his Camaro. Gaylord Lippert finished third with his Thunderbird and qualified for the feature when Red Dralle scratched. However, Lippert had to scratch a well when his mount lost oil pressure. Saathoff would last only a few laps in the feature before his transmission went out.

Results –


1. Larry Phillips
2. Carl Trimmer
3. Charlie Swartz
4. Bill Cheesbourg
5. Steve McGuire
6. Mike Gibson
7. Ivan Russell
8. Bill Black
9. Buddy Murphy
10.George Brazil Jr.
11.Bill Brandon
12.Ken Hobson
13.Jim Maguire
14.H.D. Jackson
15.Herb Laing
16.Gary Thomas
17.Art Adams
18.Fred Lundock
19.Jerry McCurdy
20.Terry Green
21.Don Hoffman
22.Roger Saathoff

1972 - 'Big D' Struggles to Elko Victory

Dan Prizborowski

Elko, Minn. (April 9, 1972) – Although the weather that greeted race fans at Elko Speedway on Sunday afternoon was of the mid-winter variety, the type of racing presented was more like the heated competition of mid-summer.

Dan Prizborowski of Savage, Minn., took late model feature honors but not before Minneapolitan Dick Giles and Mert Williams of Rochester, Minn., issued a 22-lap challenge that forced the popular driver to go all out in his bid for the opening checkered flag ride of the season.

Giles, driving a sparkling new Ford, had won both his heat and the trophy dash while Williams was second in his heat and third in the dash. Prizborowski was fourth in his heat, but because the top heat winners were inverted for the main event, the defending track champion found himself on the pole position.

But, with only five laps gone, both Giles and Williams had already moved through traffic to touch Prziborowski’s bumper and from there on, the trio battled lap after lap, never more than a car length apart.

Despite constant pressure from Giles and Williams, though, Prizborowski was able to hold on, winning by a couple of car lengths at the checkers. Williams settled for second while Giles finish third. Dick Stang of Prior Lake was fourth and Larry Smith of Shakopee rounded out the top five.

Giles and Larry Behrens of Northfield were heat winners. Giles was also the trophy dash winner and Norm Setran of Bloomington was the consolation victor.

Meanwhile, 45 hobby stocks checked in and produced the same close-knit action. Joe Ritchie of Minneapolis was the feature winner followed by Dewey Gustafson of St. Paul and Al Pearson of Richfield.

Sunday’s doubleheader was accident free except in warmups when John Boegeman of Shakopee flipped his Superamerica Chevy but escaped injury.

The biggest surprise to track owner/operator Phil Stewart was the splendid turnout of fans, nearly 2,200 total.

“With the temperature around 35 degrees I anticipated maybe a quarter of this for fans but with 1,700 passing through the turnstiles plus the youngsters, I was pleasantly pleased,” Stewart said. “With warmer temps, we’ll be on our way.”

Results –

Late Model –

1. Dan Prizborowski
2. Mert Williams
3. Dick Stiles
4. Dick Stang
5. Larry Smith
6. Norm Setran
7. Mike Miller
8. Larry Behrens
9. Harry Bahr
10.Ray Forsythe
11.Mike Murgic
12.Dave Noble


Hobby Stocks –

1. Joe Ritchie
2. Dewey Gustafson
3. Al Pearson
4. Lynn Peterson
5. Mike Blass

1956 – White Wins Gulf States Marathon

Don White accepts his Gulf States Championship trophy from country and western singing star, Johnny Horton. 

Shreveport, La. (April 8, 1956) – An Iowa speed demon looms as the favorite in the 1956 chase for the International Motor Contest Association stock car championship.

Don White, IMCA’s 1954 and ‘55 national champion, began defense of his crown Sunday afternoon by shattering a world’s IMCA 50-mile record while taking first place in the second annual Gulf States Championship race at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds.

White, the driver of a 1956 Dodge, finished the 100-lap marathon in 50 minutes and 8.15 seconds to shatter a previous record – 51 minutes and 51.25 seconds – which he established on September 1, 1955, at Sioux Falls, S.D.

The two-time national stock car champion annexed his latest triumph in what was one of the most exciting races promoted here in recent years. His Gulf States success climaxed a three-event program.

Johnny Beauchamp, driver of a 1956 Chevrolet from Harlan, Iowa, led the field to take the checkered flag in the opening 15-lap event, winning in 7 minutes and 57.8 seconds. He was followed by Newt Bartholomew of Carlisle, Iowa, Shreveport’s Roxy Dancy and Bobby Brown of Springfield, Mo.

The second 15-lapper was captured by White in 7 minutes and 39.8 seconds. Preacher Durr, driving Herschel Buchanan’s Ford Thunderbird, finished second ahead of Dick Houdek of Wichita, Kan.

Two drivers made trouble for White in the main event. Roxy Dancy grabbed the lead on the first lap and stayed ahead of the talented field for the first 48 trips around the half-mile dirt oval. Beauchamp overtook Dancy on lap 49 and he retained the lead until the 68th go-round when his car started overheating and White assumed command until the end.

White won his Gulf States crown before a capacity crowd which also had spectators watching the action from the infield.

Herschel Buchanan, Shreveport’s veteran driver, was fastest qualifier with a time of 30.65 seconds. Unfortunately, Buchanan was forced to withdraw from competition after timing his car, which gave the pole position to the second fastest qualifier, Roxy Dancy with a time of 30.91 seconds.


Results –

1. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Sonny Morgan, Beaumont, Tex.
3. Preacher Durr, Shreveport
4. Dick Houdek, Wichita, Kan.
5. Shorty Ebert, Kansas City, Mo.
6. Ralph Dyer, Shreveport
7. Roxy Dancy, Shreveport
8. Bobby Brown, Springfield, Mo.
9. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan, Iowa
10.Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1974 – Hinshaw Scores First ASA Victory

Shorty Hinshaw ended a long dry spell on the ASA Circuit of Champions by winning the 50-lapper at Winchester Speedway. 

Winchester, Ind. (April 7, 1974) – Although he finished third in the series point standings last year on the American Speed Association “Circuit of Champions” late model stock car circuit, Shorty Hinshaw of Mooreland, Ind., had never been to victory lane in an ASA-sanctioned race.

Under cold, blustery skies, the diminutive, mustached driver baptized ahis new Camaro at Winchester Speedway with a wire-to-wire victory in the 50-lapper.

Hinshaw’s faultless drive netted him his first big win, but he was followed to the checkers by a persevering Kenny Simpson of Bedford, Ind., the 1973 ASA “Rookie of the Year” who battled the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune all day.

Secure in the trophy dash with a third-fastest qualifying time, Simpson appeared to have the race won on the last lap when Conan “Moose” Myers, in a passing attempt, apparently broke a tie rod end that sent both cars into the backstretch wall of the half mile. Myers’ car was damage extensively, but Simpson was able to start his heat race, albeit with much flapping sheet metal.

Closely following Jim Hines and Mike Eddy in his heat, Simpson was sent headlong into the fence when the pair crashed, dislocating Simpson’s rear axle and necessitating non-stop work for him to join the feature field.

Hinshaw shot into an immediate lead in the 50-lap feature, out dragging Jim Hines into the first turn. In the early going, Hinshaw was pursued by Harold Scott and the two built a 3 second lead on a pack consisting of Hines, Gene Prosser, and Simpson, locked in a battle for the third spot.

Denny Miles brought out the first caution flag on lap 26 as he spun entering the first turn. With the order unchanged, all clear condition resumed at lap 28 only to have the yellow reappear on lap 32 when Gene Fullen spun entering the backstretch.

All the more determined after the constant misfortune of the day, Simpson immediately attacked Prosser when the green was displayed on lap 33, passing for fourth through the first two turns. Carrying his momentum, Simpson overhauled Hines on the same lap to secure third.

With Hinshaw conducting the pace from the lead, Simpson set out after Scott and hounded him incessantly until he commandeered second place on lap 39. Although attempting to catch Hinshaw boxed in slower traffic during the final 10 circuits and drawing to within 2 seconds of the leader, Simpson could not overhaul the flying Hinshaw who was not to be denied his first major win.

At the finish, Hinshaw and Simpson were followed by Scott in third; Hines in fourth; and Gene Prosser in fifth. Young Mike Eddy maintained a narrow lead a narrow lead in ASA points with a sixth-place finish.


Results –


1. Shorty Hinshaw
2. Kenny Simpson
3. Harold Scott
4. Jim Hines
5. Gene Prosser
6. Mike Eddy
7. Ray Fullen
8. Jiggs Myers
9. Jackie Neal
10.Don Keevin
11.Ron North
12.Dennis Miles

1970 - I-70 Features to Blundy, Morris

Jerry Blundy

Odessa, Mo. (April 5, 1970) - Jerry Blundy, who made the long trip to I-70 Speedway Sunday afternoon from Galesburg, Ill., didn’t travel the distance for an afternoon joy ride around the half-mile asphalt oval.

Blundy copped one of the two heat events for the super-sprints as well as winning the sprint feature on a cool, windy afternoon.

Blundy took the lead on the eighth lap of the 20-lap feature and crossed the finish line ahead of Don Mack. Mack had earlier in the afternoon set a new season’s track record during the time trials by turning in a time of 18.56 seconds.

The East Grand Forks, Minn., driver had traveled the oval in a first-lap time in at 18.80 seconds.

Eddie Leavitt of Kearney, Mo., ran third in the sprint car feature, while Ralph Parkinson of Kansas City finished fourth.

Sedalia’s Bill Utz tested the asphalt for the second time this season at I-70. The best he could muster was a fourth-place finish in the first sprint car heat race and an eighth-place finish in the feature.

The Sunday afternoon program at I-70 was another combined show of super-sprinters and late model stocks.

Mel Morris of West Liberty, Iowa, powered his 1970 Dodge Charger to the late model feature win. Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa, who had broken the old one-lap time trial record earlier in the day with a time of 20.48 seconds, finished second. Roy McClelland of Independence, Mo., was third, while Terry Bivins of Kansas City finished fourth.


Results –


Super Sprints - 

1. Jerry Blundy
2. Don Mack
3. Eddie Leavitt
4. Ralph Parkinson
5. Bob Williams
6. Jan Opperman
7. Dale McCarty
8. Bill Utz
9. Roy Hibbard
10.Daryl Dawley


Late Models -

1. Mel Morris
2. Ed Sanger
3. Roy McClelland
4. Terry Bivins
5. Dave Wall
6. Jim Still
7. Gary Martin
8. Jim Hager
9. Ray Littrell
10.Tom Stewart

1965 – Derr Roars to Win in Pelican

Ernie Derr exits his car after winning the 1965 Pelican 200 at Shreveport. Derr’s mechanic offers up a cold beverage while starter Bernie Carlson presents the checkers. – Bill Causey Jr. Photo

Shreveport, La. (April 4, 1965) – Ernie Derr may be getting older but he still has the know-how when it comes to winning stock car classics as evidenced on Sunday afternoon when he chalked up his fourth championship in the Pelican 200 marathon before a crowd of 8,000 at State Fair Speedway.

The Pelican officially opened the Golden Anniversary season of the International Motor Contest Association and when the checkered flag was handed to Derr, the race had produced two new world records.

Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa, finished in the 14th position, but was the man who grabbed the new marks while battling with Derr and a field of 18 drivers.

Four drivers alternated as leaders of the Pelican before the title was decided. Don White, the former three-time IMCA national champion and one-time USAC king, grabbed an early lead for three laps but was overtaken on the fourth by Lenny Funk of Otis, Kan., who gave in to Stott on the 12th lap.

Stott, one of the “Keokuk Komets” and second in points for the 1964 season, set his first world standard when he finished 25 laps in 10 minutes and 6.73 seconds. He picked up another record for 50 laps with a time of 20 minutes and 34.76 seconds.

Derr forged to the front on lap 97 when Stott was forced to the pits because of rear-end troubles. Derr had made his pit stop for gas on lap 83.

Funk, riding in third place behind Derr and White, went to the pits for fuel on lap 117. Stott returned to the track on lap 131 after losing 38 laps due to repairs. Two laps later, he retired for good when he was forced to the pits again with his left front tire almost off the car.

The field, paced by Derr, completed the 200 laps in 1 hour and 36.42 seconds.

Results –

1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Lenny Funk, Otis, Kan.
3. Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Blaine Morrow, Mt. Joy, Ill.
5. Bill Gibson, Kansas City
6. Buzz McCann, St. Paul, Minn.
7. Bill Thomas, Lake Elmo, Minn.
8. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
9. Ernie Shirley, Kansas City
10.Dean Huckaby, Kansas City
11.Jerry Spray, Grandview, Mo.
12.Dean Roper, Springfield, Mo.
13.Lewis Taylor, Shawnee, Kan.
14.Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
15.Leon Fellers, Flemington, Mo.
16.Roland Wilson, Bedford, Iowa
17.Bob Gray, Raytown, Mo.
18.Vic Elson, Ash Grove, Mo.

1982 – Hearst Wins Sedalia Frost Buster

Tom Hearst

Sedalia, Mo. (April 3, 1982) - Tom Hearst of Wilton, Iowa, made it two in a row in the late model division of the Frost Buster, winning the event for the second successive year as the 1982 Missouri State Fairgrounds racing season kicked off.

Hearst, a National Speedways Contest Association regular, passed Bill Moyer of Des Moines in turn one of lap 10 and was never really pressured for the rest of the 30-lap late model feature,

Ronnie Hoover of Fulton, Mo., jumped into the lead at the drop of the green flag, but was overtaken by Moyer on the second lap Moyer led for the next nine laps until he was passed by Hearst.

The real battle was for second spot, as Moyer fought to hold off Bill Martin of Council Bluffs. Iowa, and Kevin Gundaker of St Louis. Gundaker passed Martin on lap 15 to move into third.

Lap 18 almost proved disastrous for the leaders, as cars driven by Bill Breuer of Wapello, Iowa and Craig Spetman, Omaha, Neb., spun in turn two. Hearst, Moyer and Gundaker had to drive high to avoid the spin.

Gundaker passed Moyer on the 23rd lap to take over second place, but was unable to overhaul Hearst, who held on for the win.

After the race, Hearst said that he knew Gundaker was behind him but, “I felt I could outrun anyone today.”

In the first heat, Jim Turpin of Jefferson City, Mo., broke the frost for the 750 chilled fans, as he got up high in turn three and rolled his car over the guard rail.

The heat races were won by Richard Crane, Palmyra, Mo.; Mark Fleischman, Jefferson City; Martin and Ken Walton, Viola, Iowa.

Hearst had fast time for the afternoon, making the half-mile circuit in 24.32 seconds.


Results –

1. Tom Hearst
2. Kevin Gundaker
3. Billy Moyer
4. Roger Thompson
5. Vic Bentlage
6. Ronnie Hoover
7. Rick Beebe
8. Sam Jacobs
9. Andy Claiborne
10.Bill Martin
11.Joe Cobb
12.Richard Crane
13. Mark Fleishman
14.John Edwards
15.Mark Kutina
16.Jim Turpin
17.Bobby Goulden
18.Bill Breuer
19.Mike Klinkhammer
20.Ed Dixon
21.Keith White
22.Ken Walton
23.Craig Spetman