1970 - Herman Makes Foes Wise in 100-Lapper

Herman Wise takes a victory lap after winning at Sun Valley. 

Anderson, Ind. (May 8, 1970) - Herman Wise just goes “where the money is” and often he picks up a chunk of that money.

Wise drove fast and hard for 100 laps Friday night to win the American Speed Association-sanctioned sprint car feature at the Sun Valley Speedway.

After surviving a pair of spins, Wise lapped cars like he was the only horse on the merry-go-round. The Atlanta, Ga., driver went from pole to pole after turning the night's quickest lap as nearly the last qualifier.

“This is a brand-new car,” said Wise as he chatted with fans after the race. “I turned the crank on it yesterday (Thursday) before I left home just to see if it would run. We have some things to do to the car before it's really ready, though.”

Wise and his brother form a team. They formed the team out of necessity.

“We don't have any place to run sprints down home,” drawled Wise like a true rebel.

“Everyone has gone to the late models, and I just don't like the stocks that well.

My brother was able to help me with the financing and we have a mechanic to turn the wrenches just the way we like, so here we are.”

“We just go where the money is and I like Indiana money as well as any. I've got a lot of work to do before we get ready to take it to Pennsylvania. They’ve got some hot ones over there and we're not ready for them yet. But we will be,” Wise vowed.

Wise had an oil problem midway in the race but a few laps under the caution light was all he needed to cure the ill. He ran the final 10 laps like a trophy dash, and no one was about to catch him.

Three top drivers sat out the night's activities.

Lee Brayton of Coldwater, Mich., put his STP Special through the guard rail in the fourth turn in qualifications and snapped a piece of the frame near the left front wheel.

Brayton and his crew had a lot of work ahead to bend a piece of tubing to replace the broken piece of frame. They also needed to cut the front axle to insert a plug. The axle was also damaged in his time-trial spin.

Buzz Gregory of Indianapolis, the popular winner of last year's Little 500, had magneto trouble and never got untracked.

“We did some welding on the mag,” said Gregory, “and when you do that, you lose all the magnetism. We tried to find another one tonight but couldn't. We had what we needed at home but that didn't help.

Butch Wilkerson of Bloomington also had magneto problems and did not run Friday night. Wilkerson never actually got his car running and jokingly told bystanders that his fast lap was “when the push truck took me all the way around.”



Results –


1. Herman Wise, Atlanta, Ga.
2. Bill Harter, Hagerstown, Ind.
3. Mark Caldwell, Bunker Hill, Ind.
4. Don Walker, Atlanta, Ind.
5. Al Murie, Kansas City
6. Rocky Fisher, Kokomo, Ind.
7. Bill Roynon, Tampa, Fla.
8. Jerry Powell, Indianapolis
9. Ron Perkins, Wood River, Ill.
10.Wayne Fisher, Bloomington, Ind.

1980 – Gundaker Wins as Engine Conks Out

Kevin Gundaker

Oskaloosa, Iowa (May 7, 1980) – A month ago, Iowans dominated the National Speedways Contest Association late model stock car races at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia.

The opposite was true on Wednesday night as out-of-state drivers took control of the NSCA feature at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds.

Kevin Gundaker of St. Louis, Mo., led from lap 16 to capture the 30-lap feature over the big half-mile track. Pete Parker of Green Bay, Wis., was second and Bob Kosiski of Omaha was third.

The first Iowan to finish was Bill Moyer Jr. of Des Moines who finished fourth.

Gundaker won by about 50 yards despite that the engine in his Camaro blew on the backstretch of the last lap.

“I had to back off,” Gundaker remarked afterwards. “I only brought one engine with me and I still want to race at Cedar Rapids this weekend.

The car was smoking badly when the car coasted to a stop on the front stretch. “The oil pressure light flashed on when I entered the backstretch.”

Don Hoffman of Des Moines, the NSCA point leader, finished sixth and retained his lead in the standings.

Kosiski led the first lap before Parker took over on lap 2. He was passed on lap 16 by Gundaker, who is the point leader at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., where he races weekly.


Results –


1. Kevin Gundaker, St. Louis, Mo.
2. Pete Parker, Green Bay, Wis.
3. Bob Kosiski, Omaha
4. Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
5. Leon Plank, Mondovi, Wis.
6. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
7. Johnny Johnson, Morning Sun
8. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
9. Darrell Sells, Waverly
10.Ken Walton, Viola
11.Galen Schaefer, Topeka, Kan.
12.Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
13.Duane Steffe, Moline, Ill.
14.Billy Collins, Elsberry, Mo.
15.Bill Davis, Des Moines

1958 – White Challenges IMCA Aces

Promoter Frank Winkley (right) hands the checkered flag to Don White after the Keokuk, Iowa, driver won his third Gulf States championship. 

Shreveport, La. (May 5, 1958) – Stock car drivers on the International Motor Contest Association circuit have been issued a verbal challenge by former IMCA national champion Don White, winner of the 1954-55 speed titles, White, an automotive parts dealer in Keokuk, Iowa, predicted a few days ago that he will return to the stock car throne this year.

At the same time, he told some of his competitors that he would be the man to beat in the annual Gulf States 100-miler.

Monday night it was White who blistered the Louisiana State Fair Speedway to take his third Gulf States championship. He blazed into the lead on the second lap and later lapped the field of 14 drivers. A pit stop narrowed his lead with Bob Burdick, the 22-year-old daredevil from Omaha, Neb., battling to overtake the champion.

Burdick posted the best time – 28.79 seconds – to take the pole position with White and IMCA speed king Johnny Beauchamp coming in with identical 28.83 second times.

White toured the 50 laps on the half-mile oval in 24 minutes and 15 seconds and he was clocked in 36 minutes and 26 seconds for the first 75 laps. His time for the first 100 laps was 48 minutes and 55 seconds and he had 150 laps under his belt in 1 hour, 14 minutes and 56.58 seconds. White’s time for the 200-lapper was 1 hour, 40 minutes and 13.37 seconds.

The race was exciting with several mishaps marring the chances of other drivers. Eddie Schultz was temporarily sidelined by the loss of his wheel on lap 49 and Beauchamp’s car caught on fire and was put out of action on lap 90.


Results –


1. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Bob Burdick, Omaha. Neb.
3. Ernie Derr, Fort Madison, Iowa
4. Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
5. Lenny Funk, Otis, Kan.
6. Murray Folsom, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
7. Herb Shannon, Peoria, Ill.
8. Bob Shorts, Carlisle, Iowa
9. Clarence Bolton, Hutchinson, Kan.
10.Eddie Schultz, Des Moines, Iowa
11.Les Dykes, Davenport, Iowa
12.Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan, Iowa
13.Bob Hardy, Beaumont, Tex.
14.Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle, Iowa

1974 – Senneker Wins Springtime 200

Bob Senneker receives his trophy from the lovely Vicki Robinson after the Michigan ace won I-70 Speedway's "Springtime 200". Flagman Larry Thomas presents the checkered flag. - Hyde Photography Photo

Odessa, Mo. (May 4, 1974) – Bob Senneker showed everyone at I-70 Speedway’s high-banked oval who had the fastest car when he shattered the one-lap record in qualifying Saturday night, then went on to best a field of some of the fastest stock car drivers in Mid-America in winning the 200-lap feature, the Springtime 200.

Senneker, who hails from Dorr, Mich., qualified his blue 1973 Camaro at 18.01 seconds, shattering the old record of 18.18 seconds set by Tom Maier of Midland, Mich., in I-70’s National Championship 300 race last July.

Senneker started on the pole but lost the lead to Tom Maier, driving a 1973 Camaro. Senneker chased Maier until lap 61 when he pitted for fuel. Terry Brumley of Springfield, Mo., driving a 1968 Camaro then took over second place. Brumley would take the lead when Maier pitted on lap 76, but Senneker slipped by Brumley on lap 104 and then led the field the rest of the way in winning the $2,500 first prize.

The yellow came out 11 times during the race, as the torrid pace used up tires and engines.

“I think good fortune can be credited as the reason we were able to win today,” Senneker remarked. “The car hooked up great for qualifying, but the engine was running sick at the end, the others just happened to have more trouble than I did.”


Results –


1. Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.
2. Terry Brumley, Springfield
3. Larry Phillips, Springfield
4. Ron Todd, Springfield
5. Ferris Collier, Lampe
6. Larry Ball, Springfield
7. Dan Conner, Shawnee Mission, Kan.
8. Dean Roper, Springfield
9. Tom Maier, Midland, Mich.
10. Bill Crane, Claycomo

1969 – Fairgrounds’ Opener to Horn

Fred Horn is congratulated by co-promoters Homer Melton (left) and Johnny Beauchamp after his season opening win in Des Moines.

Des Moines, Iowa (May 3, 1969) – Fred Horn of Mario guided his 1967 Plymouth to victory in the 25-lap late model stock car event in the season opener at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

Don Hoffman of Des Moines won the sportsman feature before a crowd estimated at 6,500.

Horn trailed John Connolly of Delhi by less than a car length the first 13 circuits, then grabbed the lead coming out of turn three. He never relinquished the top spot for the remaining laps.

Connolly settled for runner-up honors and Bill McDonough of Cedar Rapids captured the last podium spot.

The sportsman feature was a battle for survival as 15 cars started but only three finished the race.

There was a spectacular crash in the sportsman semi-main involving four cars. Ed Perryman of Des Moines careened into Lynn Komrie’s car which was leading.

Perryman’s car skidded out of control, rolled twice, and caught on fire. He scrambled from the burning wreckage unscathed.

Irving Phillips of Oskaloosa won the event and Dean Montgomery of Milan, Ill., started last and won the 15-lap late model semi-main.


Results –

Sportsman –

Time trials – Don Christenson, Harlan (28.80)
Heat #1 – Don Christenson
Heat #2 – Irvin Phillips, Oskaloosa
Semi-main – Irvin Phillips
Feature –
1. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
2. Roy Dishman, Des Moines
3. Larry Embrey, Panora
4. John May, Des Moines
5. Del Enos, Des Moines



Late Model –

Time trials – Fred Horn, Marion (26.48)
Heat #1 – Bill Moyer, Des Moines
Heat #2 – John Connolly, Delhi
Semi-main – Dean Montgomery, Milan, Ill.
Feature –
1. Fred Horn
2. John Connolly
3. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
4. Bill Moyer
5. Dean Montgomery
6. Dick Oldham, Des Moines
7. Lem Blankenship, Keokuk
8. Bob Hilmer, Dysart
9. Joe Alsin, Ankeny
10.Tom Hughes, Monticello

1982 – Dickson Cops Springfield Silver Crown

Front-row starters Larry Dickson (18) and Keith Kauffman prepare prior to the 100-mile Silver Crown race at the Springfield Mile. Dickson would go on to score the victory over Ken Schrader.

Springfield, Ill. (May 2, 1982) – What a difference a year can make. At least, that’s how three-time USAC sprint car king Larry Dickson views his racing career.

“It’s been a year since I was able to finish a dirt car race. But it seems like it was worth it now,” Dickson told a crowd of 6,000 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds after winning the United States Auto Club’s 100-mile Silver Crown contest.

“Last year it seemed like every time out, I’d blow an engine,” he continued. “I just couldn’t get it going. Late in the season, I was running last in a race when I decided to park the car and call it a season because I did not want to ruin my record of not finishing a race. So far, things have worked out differently this year.”

Dickson, who recorded the fastest time (32.845 seconds) in Saturday’s qualifications, used the pole position to his advantage as he held the lead for the first 79 laps of the event’s 100 laps. Not bad for a guy whose car was running on only seven cylinders for most of the race.

“I lost a cylinder at some time, but it didn’t really hurt me any,” said Dickson, who averaged 99.217 miles per hour. “It did take speed away from me in the straightaways but actually helped me a lot in the corners.”

Second-place finisher Ken Schrader, who finished one second behind Dickson, said he knew the lost cylinder would not hurt Dickson.

“He wasn’t in any trouble,” Schrader said afterwards. “When the track gets as slick as it did today, a dropped cylinder doesn’t hurt at all.”

Schrader took the lead on lap 80 when Dickson had trouble lapping a slower moving Rich Vogler.

“I tried to pass Rich down low and got into some loose dirt,” Dickson remarked. “All of a sudden, I saw a lot of dust flying and I thought I had lost a tire and was ready to pull in. I slowed down and that’s when Ken got by me.”

But six laps later, a similar thing happened to Schrader and Dickson capitalized, moving back into the lead, this time for good.

“I got into some loose dirt in turn one and dropped out into the boonies,” Schrader said.

Ron Shuman finished third while Joe Saldana and Larry Rice rounded out the top five.

Of the 24 cars that started, 15 were still running when the checkered flag dropped.


Results –


1. Larry Dickson
2. Ken Schrader
3. Ron Shuman
4. Joe Saldana
5. Larry Rice
6. Chuck Amati
7. Mark Alderson
8. Bill Puterbaugh
9. Jerry Nemire
10.Keith Kauffman
11.Bill Vukovich
12.Walt Kennedy
13.Rich Vogler
14.Doug Wolfgang
15.Sammy Swindell
16.Danny Smith
17.Tom Bigelow
18.Gary Bettenhausen
19.Jack Hewitt
20.Bob Ciccone
21.Gary Gray
22.Jeff Swindell
23.Sheldon Kinser
24.Steve Kinser

1982 – Smith Wins Springfield World of Outlaws

Danny Smith

Springfield, Ill. (May 2, 1982) – Danny Smith of Hendersonville, Tenn., led from start to finish in winning the World of Outlaws 40-lap feature at the one-mile Illinois State Fairgrounds. The sprint cars were run prior to the USAC Sliver Crown program scheduled that same day.

Sammy Swindell grabbed second with Doug Wolfgang taking third. Rick Ferkel and Steve Kinser rounded out the top five finishers.

Ferkel posted what is reputed to be the fastest time clocked on any mile dirt track in the country (27.90 seconds) during qualifications.

“I knew I had to run hard from the start because the first 20 laps didn’t really count,” said the 23-year-old Smith. “I ran as hard as I could from the pole position because I wanted to stay out in front for the last 20 laps.”

The 40-lap contest was divided into two 20-lap segments because the World of Outlaw cars aren’t equipped to hold enough fuel to race on a one-mile track for 40 circuits.

Most World of Outlaw tracks are anywhere from quarter mile to five-eighth mile ovals. The entire field was red flagged after 20 laps and restarted in single file order following the mandated pit stop.

“Near the end of the first 20 laps, Sammy was starting to catch me,” Smith remarked. “I got into a lot of heavy traffic and my tires were worn. I was able to put on a fresh set during the stop and they held up.”


Results –


1. Danny Smith
2. Sammy Swindell
3. Doug Wolfgang
4. Rick Ferkel
5. Steve Kinser
6. Brad Doty
7. Dave Wickham
8. Dub May
9. Ed Lynch
10.Todd Bishop
11.Shane Carson
12.Jeff Swindell
13.Rick Ungar
14.Ron Shuman
15.Tom Corbin
16.Ken Schrader
17.Larry Martin
18.Tim Gee
19.Greg Stash
20.Johnny Coogan
21.Cliff Blundy
22.Gary Gray
23.Bobby Davis Jr.
24.Bobby Marshall