1968 - Dick Sutcliffe captures Topeka Opener

Dick Sutcliffe, driving the Gary Hanna #29, won the season opener at the Mid-America Fairgrounds. 

By Murvin Jacobs

Topeka, Kan. (April 14, 1968) – A chilly April evening didn’t cool the spirits of the racing fans as the 1968 race season opened at the MId-America Fairgrounds under the promotion of Jerry Weld. The fairgrounds came to life with drivers from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania. They put on one of the best racing programs in Topeka in years.

Dick Sutcliffe of Greenwood, Mo., driving the Gary Hanna #29, grabbed the 25-lap feature win. Thad Dosher of Topeka, the 1967 Knoxville Nationals champion, took second, driving Jack Cunningham’s #14. Jerry Blundy of Galesburg, Ill., in the Hitchcock #82 Chevy out of Des Moines, nabbed third place.

Blundy won the B-feature while Kenny Weld, formerly of Kansas City, now out of Pennsylvania, won the trophy dash.

All in all, it was a great first night for Jerry Weld in his first effort as the promoter of the half-mile track.

Sutcliffe ripped off a time of 24.59 seconds in time trials to earn the eighth starting position under the new rule which inverts the fastest eight cars for the feature.

The husky veteran won his heat race, proving it is possible to move from eighth to first in a hurry.

Blundy was unable to get his machine functioning for time trials and had to settle for starting in the rear of the field for both his heat and B-feature.

In the B-feature he started tenth to first in five laps and won going away. In the main event, he got up to sixth in seven laps and was in third by lap 12. However, his momentum stopped there, as he was unable to get by Dosher and Sutcliffe.



Results –


Time trials – Dick Sutcliffe (24.59)
Heat #1 – Ralph Blackett
Heat #2 – Grady Wade
Heat #3 – Dick Sutcliffe
B-main – Jerry Blundy
Trophy dash – Kenny Weld
Feature –
1. Dick Sutcliffe
2. Thad Dosher
3. Jerry Blundy
4. Grady Wade
5. J.L. Cooper
6. Kenny Weld
7. Bob Williams
8. Bud Marsh
9. Roy Hibbard
10.Jon Backlund

1969 – Derr Takes Big Money in the Mud

Ernie Derr is congratulated by Verna Winkley, president of International Auto Racing, Inc., and Nick Nachicas, IRA secretary, after he successfully defended his Pelican 200 title. – Bill Causey Jr. Photo

Shreveport, La (April 13, 1969) – The annual Pelican 200, which was run Sunday afternoon at State Fair Speedway, was another case of the rich getting richer.

Ernie Derr, to no one’s surprise, won again.

The field was cut short due to heavy rains. Only 13 cars competed.

Derr turned the 100 miles in 1 hour, 56 minutes and 3 seconds, a relatively slow time ordinarily, but not bad considering the track conditions.

Lewis Taylor of Shawnee, Kan., finished second and held that position all the way, and one point held the lead briefly when Derr pitted.

A rookie out of Kansas City, Dave Wall, driving a Chevelle, took third place in his very first IMCA-sanctioned race, but never seriously challenged Taylor for second place.

In fact, Wall didn’t make the third spot until Ron Hutcherson of Keokuk, Iowa, pitted with 10 laps left in the contest.

Derr, driving a 1969 Dodge Charger, won $750 for his first-place finish, $100 for his 5-lap trophy dash, $100 for an appearance and $100 for driving a 1969 model car to victory.

Taylor pocketed $500 for his runner-up effort while Wall collected $400.

In all, it was a good day for the veteran from Keokuk, Iowa, who is the winningest stock car driver in the history of racing.

The race was delayed an hour while crews worked on the track. But the IMCA officials, headed by Bill Hitz and Nick Nachicas, were determined to give the 6,500 fans who came out in poor weather a show.


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Lewis Taylor, Shawnee, Kan.
3. Dave Wall, Kansas City
4. Dale Keeling, Dixon, Mo.
5. Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
6. James McFadden, Dallas, Tex.
7. Leon Bowman, Wichita, Kan.
8. George England, Dallas, Tex.
9. Joe McIntyre, Dallas, Tex.
10.Dean Huckaby, Kansas City
11.Sandy Sandstrom, Kansas City
12.Howard Hart, Kansas City

1981 – Shear Wins at Rockford in ’81 ARTGO Opener

ARTGO Spring Classic winner Joe Shear is joined by Rockford Speedway’s Hugh Deery. – Stan Kalwasinski Photo

By Stan Kalwasinski

Loves Park, Ill. (April 12, 1981) – Joe Shear took the lead on the 47th circuit and then withstood the challenges of Larry Detjens to win the ARTGO Racing’s season-opening 81-lap late model feature at Rockford Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

It was the third ARTGO triumph for Shear, a former six-time Rockford driving king.

Detjens crossed the finish line in second place, ahead of three-time ARTGO champion Dick Trickle, Jim Sauter and Fred Campbell.

Pat Schauer, who started on the outside of the front row of the 20-car field, opened up a commanding lead which he maintained despite the appearance of three yellow flags during the initial 25 laps.

Schauer was still on top with 26 laps down, but then his mount lost oil pressure, sending the young charger to the sidelines.

Campbell, who had been running second, inherited the lead when Schauer departed. However, Trickle, Shear, Sauter and Larry Detjens were rapidly moving towards the front of the pack.

Detjens, the afternoon’s fastest qualifier, saw his bid for the lead sour on two occasions when he looped his Camaro in minor incidents.

Campbell kept his Camaro in front until lap 47 when Shear powered underneath him to take the top spot.

Detjens, who twice had to come from the rear of the field, set his sights on the number one position, taking fourth from Campbell on lap 53, third from Sauter on lap 55 and second place from Trickle on lap 57.

The final 24 circuits saw Shear and Detjens wage a fierce battle for first place, rubbing fenders with one another numerous times.

When the checkered dropped, Shear had a car-length advantage over Detjens with Trickle a like distance behind Detjens.


Results –


1. Joe Shear, South Beloit
2. Larry Detjens, Wausau, Wis.
3. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
4. Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
5. Fred Campbell. Battle Creek, Mich.
6. Larry Schuler, New Lenox, Ill.
7. Willie Goeden, Kewaskum, Wis.
8. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
9. Dennis Vogel, Manitowoc, Wis.
10.Jim Pierson, Janesville, Wis.
11.Dave Price, Panora
12.L.J. Lines, Indianapolis
13.Bobby Dotter, Chicago
14.John Knaus, Rockford
15.Tom Jones, Northbrook
16.Wayne Lensing, Rockford
17.Pat Schauer, Watertown, Wis.
18.Tom Reffner, Rudolph, Wis.
19.Fran Prestay, Silver Lake, Wis.
20.Burt Weitemeyer, Lansing

1971 – Raceway Opener to Larson

Dwight Larson won the season-opening late model feature at Raceway Park. 

Shakopee, Minn. (April 11, 1971) – “It was by all odds the best opening date we’ve ever had on the Tri-Circuit,” exclaimed Raceway Park owner-operator Phil Stewart following last Sunday’s highly competitive series of races that saw Dwight “Dinky” Larson of Bloomington, Minn., edge defending track champion Bob Jusola for late model honors in front of 3,021 screaming fans.

Stewart’s elation had many reasons for being evident. Fans took to the remodeled features of Raceway Park and race cars were out in record numbers with 27 late models and 64 hobby stocks signing in for a total of 91 machines.

The afternoon program was practically accident-free causing Stewart to note, “Drivers appeared to be in mid-season form and there was no question everyone was faster than a year ago.”

The Larson-Jusola duel set the stage for Sunday afternoon’s first meet of the season at Raceway Park. It all started when Larson, driving the UnCola 1970 Monte Carlo, made famous last year by Bud Helm, outlasted Bob Jusola’s early heat race challenge that brought the huge crowd to its feet. Jusola returned later to sweep the trophy dash.

In the 25-lap finale Larson had the pole position with Jusola starting two positions back and converted hobby stock driver Leon Duda in between.

Duda, the pride of Hopkins, Minn., racing fraternity, managed run second for 10 laps in his 1964 Ford Fairlane before slipping back to third place.

But the race, for all practical purposes, was between Larson and Jusola with the two drivers racing side-by-side, bumper-to-bumper the entire time with only the length of a fender separating Larson advantage at the finish.

Behind the threesome was Larry Smith of Shakopee, Dick Grave of Bloomington, Minn., Bill Oas of Bloomington, Dan Prizborowski of Savage, Minn., Dick Stang of Prior Lake, Minn., and Bill Mueller of Minneapolis.

Prizborowski took the 15-lap semi-feature after coming from the back of the pack to first place. Larson, Duda and Graves won late model heat races.

A great field of hobby stocks found Mylan Erickson of Minneapolis the feature winner with Arlo Lempke of Hutchinson, Minn., taking second and Joe Ritchie of Minneapolis in third.

A large crowd of 3,021 turned out for the season opening races at Raceway Park. 

1955 – Hoyt Nabs First in Big Car Race

Jerry Hoyt relaxes with his fiancé Diane Baker before the start of the AAA big car race in Oklahoma City. Tragically, Hoyt would lose his life at the same track only three months later.

Oklahoma City, Okla. (April 10, 1955) – Jerry Hoyt of Indianapolis came from behind twice Sunday night to win a muddy decision in the AAA big car feature at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

A crowd of 5,250 patiently sat for more than nine hours while track workers struggled to get the racing surface back in shape after morning rains had made racing impossible.

The seven-race card was scheduled for Sunday afternoon but because of the conditions, officials were forced to postpone time trials until 7 pm.

Hoyt, one of the youngest drivers on the AAA circuit, grabbed the lead on lap 11 of the feature only to lose it two laps later when he narrowly avoided a flip in the north turn.

Mike Nazaruk, North Bellmore, N.Y., and Bob Sweikert of Indianapolis ran one-two from the start of the race until Hoyt took the lead. Two laps later they were back in front as Hoyt came out of the turn too fast and bounced up into the crash wall.

After straddling the wall for some 50 feet, Hoyt’s car careened back onto the track and zig-zagged down the front straightaway before he could bring it back under control.

However, he again put pressure on the leaders and once again, got around both Nazaruk and Sweikert on lap 18 to go ahead and stay there the remaining 12 circuits.

Nazaruk finished second and Sweikert third, followed by AAA national champion Pat O’Conner of North Vernon, Ind., and veteran Johnny Parsons of Van Nuys, Calif.

Hoyt started the night on the right foot by setting a new track record in time trials with a time of 24.82 seconds. He qualified for the feature by finishing third in the opening heat race, won by Nazaruk.

Don Freeland of Los Angeles won the second heat and O’Conner was victorious in the third heat. Duane Carter of Speedway City, Ind., won the consolation. O’Conner also won a special 3-lap match race between himself and local favorite Jimmy Reece of Oklahoma City.

The crowd sat patiently throughout the afternoon as workmen, drivers and officials graded and tested the track. Three graders bladed all afternoon long and on two occasions, volunteers came out of the grandstands to drive passenger cars around the track in an endless procession.

Late in the afternoon, several drivers made trial runs on the track and decided it still wasn’t safe for competition. By this time, it was 5:15 and officials begged the indulgence of the customers and postponed the time rials until 7 pm.

The reaction of the crowd to this decision was mild and AAA dignitaries here for the race were prompted to call Sunday’s audience “the most patient crowd we’ve ever seen.”


Results –


1. Jerry Hoyt, Indianapolis
2. Mike Nazaruk, North Bellmore, N.Y.
3. Bob Sweikert, Indianapolis
4. Pat O’Conner, North Vernon, Ind.
5. Johnny Parsons, Van Nuys, Calif.
6. Bob Slater, Kansas City
7. Don Freeland, Los Angeles
8. Andy Linden, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
9. Bill Homeier, Pacoima, Calif.
10.Jimmy Reece, Oklahoma City

1960 – Derr Cracks Record in Pelican Triumph

Pelican winner Ernie Derr receives his trophy from George Gallagher after smashing the 125-mile world record at Shreveport. 

Shreveport, La. (April 3, 1960) – Defending IMCA national champion Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, chopped nearly half a minute off the world record as he wheeled his 1957 Pontiac to victory in the 250-lap Pelican championship race for late model stock cars Sunday at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds.

With neighbor Ramo Stott pushing him to the finish, Derr covered the 125 miles in 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 49.68 seconds. The former mark of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 13.12 seconds was set by Johnny Beauchamp at the Minnesota State Fair on September 30, 1956.

The crowd of 9,638 – the largest in the history of the event – looked on as Derr’s steady #1 car started from the back row of the 16-car field and steadily moved to the front.

The 39-year-old Derr grabbed the lead for the first time at the wire winding up lap 133 when another Keokuk neighbor, Dick Hutcherson ducked his 1957 Pontiac into the pits for gas.

From that point on, Ernie never relinquished the lead, but his two mighty Keokuk neighbors made it mighty tough.

Hutcherson lost a little time in the pits but charged right back. At that point it was a three-car race between Derr, Stott, driving a 1960 Ford convertible, and Hutcherson.

It looked bad for Derr, who had not made his stop for gas yet. But then – on the140th lap -Derr got a break. Phil Cronin’s 1957 Ford lost a wheel in the third turn and the yellow flag came out.

That was all Derr needed. He shot into the pits, gassed up in less than 15 seconds, and slipped back on the track; his absence practically unnoticed.

And with the slow pace that ensued until lap 145, when the green flag finally fell again, Derr wasn’t hurt a bit.

First place honors were worth $600 in prize money to Derr, with Stott hauling off $400 for second place and Newt Bartholomew of Carlisle, Iowa, hanging on for third and $300 in his ’57 Chevrolet.

No less than seven cars held the lead at one time or another during the grind.

Sonny Morgan of Beaumont, Tex., got off fast and held the top spot for the first 13 laps. When Morgan’s ’59 Chevrolet went dead after the 13th circuit, Dub Rollins of Corpus Christi, Tex., took over. Rollin’s reign was brief, and Hutcherson overhauled him at the start of lap 17.

Hutcherson and Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, got tied up in a duel and Dake would power his ’60 Chevrolet past Hutcherson on the back straightaway on lap 42. But Hutcherson would regain the lead a lap later and hold Dake back, this time until lap 69. This time Dake meant to keep the lead and did – until lap 101 when his engine overheated, causing hm to take a pit stop which would cost him nine laps.

Stott moved ahead of Hutcherson on lap 105 and was showing dazzling speed in his shiny black convertible. But on lap 111, Stott spun coming down the front straightaway, with Hutcherson and Derr bearing down on him. Miraculously, Stott was able to get his car off the track and he used the unscheduled interlude to gas up. But he never saw the lead again.

Hutcherson took over, then moved aside at the 133rd when he stopped for gas.

That’s when Derr took over. But Hutcherson got back into the thick of the battle and overhauled Stott for second on lap 157. They ran 1-2-3 until lap 193 when “Hutch” spun out and bounced off the fence, heading into the grandstand. That was the end of the race for him.

Dake was the fastest qualifier in time trials, turning the half-mile in 28.18 seconds.


Results –


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle, Iowa
4. Royce Whitlock, West Monroe
5. Art Brady, Peoria, Ill.
6. Dick Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
7. Billy Worthy, Shreveport
8. Dub Rollins, Corpus Christi, Tex.
9. Darrel Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
10.Eddie Harrow, Corpus Christi, Tex.
11.Gerry Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
12.Wayne Lee, Burlington, Iowa
13.Phil Cronin, Houston, Tex.
14.Herb Shannon, Peoria, Ill.
15.Red Dowdy, Dallas, Tex.
16.Sonny Morgan, Beaumont, Tex.

1973 – Snider Plows to Sprint Win

George Snider

Rossburg, Ohio (April 1, 1973) – George Snider is known for his love of dirt track racing, but Sunday afternoon at Eldora Speedway he proved he is a rather good mudder as well.

Driving with a stiff upper lip, compliment of a stray rock he picked up early in the race, Snider passed troubled Johnny Parsons on lap 38 and went on to edge Parsons by a scant nose in the United States Auto Club 40-lap sprint car feature.

Eldora promoter Earl Baltes April Fooled the weatherman in this one.

Two days of rain preceded Sunday’s event, and the track looked it. The pit area resembled the Okefenokee Swamp.

But “Earl the Pearl” hopped on his trusty grader and had the track looking like a baseball diamond after two days of rain.

In other words, the racing surface still was not the greatest, but it was raceable.

The track, though, soon started developing aggravating ruts from the constant pounding of the cars. And the races had all the appearances of a rodeo with the sprinters jostling the drivers as though they were trying to buck them.

One almost did.

Billy Cassella hit the wall in turn two of the second lap of the feature and his car flipped twice. Cassella was unhurt. But the race was reflagged and had to be restarted.

Sammy Sessions, the defending USAC sprint car king took the lad from Parsons on the second lap of the restart and began pulling away from the field in impressive fashion.

Former titlist Gary Bettenhausen then found the right groove and stormed into second place on lap 15 and began bearing down on Sessions. On the next lap, however, Bettenhausen bored down on the pits stayed there the rest of the afternoon with mechanical woes.

Sessions, meanwhile, began smoking on lap 20 and was finally black-flagged on lap 22. This put Parsons back into the lead.

Although his car was coughing badly, Parsons somehow managed to fend off the challenge of Rollie Beale, who ate too much mud and got indigestion.

Finally, here came Snider, passing Beale on lap 35. Then between turns one and two, Snider took the high ground and got past Parsons.

There was no beating the hard-charging Snider after that, although Parsons gave it a good try, coming within what starter Ray Chakie said, “must have been two feet” at the finish.


Results –


1. George Snider
2. Johnny Parsons
3. Rollie Beale
4. Joe Saldana
5. Larry Dickson
6. Lee Kunzman
7. John Toth Jr.
8. Chuck Booth
9. Jim McElreath Jr.
10.Tom Bigelow
11.Don Nordhorn
12.Sonny Ates
13.Sammy Sessions
14.Gary Bettenhausen
15.Jerry Nemire