1973 – First Race on Track; Bjorge Wins

Dave Bjorge is congratulated by a MALCO representative after winning the season opener at Des Moines. Flagman Gus Hendricks presents the checkers. – Al Rowley Photo

Des Moines, Iowa (May 5, 1973) – Fans who attend the weekly auto races at the State Fairgrounds this summer won’t see very much of Dave Bjorge, a 35-year-old meat cutter from Austin, Minn.

But some of the area drivers already feel he’s already worn out his welcome here.

In his first competition ever at the State Fairgrounds, Bjorge led from start to finish in the 25-lap late model stock car season opener before a crowd of 11,381.

Following right behind Bjorge was another fellow Minnesota competitor, Sonny Morgan of Blue Earth. Ken Davidson of Des Moines was third and Randy Sterner of Blair, Neb., took fourth.

Ken Gerhart of Des Moines won the 15-lap sportsman feature in his 1964 Chevelle.

“I came down here twice last year to run,” Bjorge said, “but it rained each time.”

Bjorge, who drives a 1972 Monte Carlo, says he may return this season but plans to race closer to home on a weekly basis.

Problems plagued several of last year’s drivers.

Defending late model champion Bob Hilmer of Dysart was absent because his car wasn’t ready. Des Moines drivers Joe Merryfield and Don Hoffman didn’t start the feature. Merryfield said the pump on his engine in his 1971 Nova was malfunctioning and Hoffman, who drives a 1972 Dodge owned by Bill Moyer of Des Moines, said the car was not handling properly.

Stan Stover, runner-up to Hilmer in the point standings last year, finished fifth in his 1972 Nova. Normally driven by Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Stover’s Chevelle won’t be ready until next week.

Bjorge collected $550, the top prize in the new $5,000 purse.


Results –


Heat #1 – Randy Sterner, Blair, Neb.
Heat #2 – Bob Shryock, Estherville
Semi-main – Red Dralle, Evansdale
Feature –
1. Dave Bjorge, Austin, Minn.
2. Sonny Morgan, Blue Earth, Minn.
3. Ken Davidson, Des Moines
4. Randy Sterner
5. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
6. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
7. Red Dralle
8. Bob Bonzer, Liscomb
9. Curt Hansen, Dike
10.Roger Dolan, Lisbon

1963 - Foyt Breezes to Victory at Langhorne

A.J. Foyt won the USAC stock car 150-mile race at the famed Langhorne Speedway. 

Langhorne, Penn. (May 5, 1963) – A.J. Foyt interrupted his preparations for the Indianapolis 500-mile race on Memorial Day to spend Sunday afternoon at Langhorne Speedway.

And what a day it was…

He breezed to victory in the 150-mile late model stock car race, winning in record time and ahead of his nearest competitor by more than two full laps.

A.J., the golden boy of auto racing, who hails from Houston, Tex., completed the 150 laps on Langhorne’s one-mile dirt oval in 1 hour, 41 minutes and 13.47seconds. That was an average speed of 88.911 miles per hour and easily beat the former mark of 85.850 miles per hour (1 hour and 44 minutes) set in April of 1957.

Foyt drove a 1962 Plymouth and he thrilled the 10,000 spectators before the race even began by setting a new standard for one mile during the time trials. A. J. was clocked in 37.466 seconds, an average speed of 96.087 miles per hour. The former mark belonged to Paul Goldsmith, who was timed in 28.42 seconds (93.70 miles per hour) back in 1957.

Foyt led all the way except for about eight laps. On the very first lap, he lost ground to Don White, of Keokuk, Iowa, but A.J. regained the lead and held it from the second through the 51st laps.

On the 52nd mile, Goldsmith, of St. Clair Shores, Mich., momentarily took the lead for one lap, but Foyt “gunned it” and was back in front again. The caution flags were displayed on the 69th lap when a driver took a minor spin and stalled.

Foyt took advantage of the yellow flags to make a pit stop for fuel. Goldsmith was the new leader, but he, too, decided to stop. Bill Cheesbourg, of Tucson, Ariz., took over the lead for three laps, but then engine trouble forced him to retire from the race.

The next leader was White again. But he stayed in front only one lap, then dropped back and finally a few laps later he was out of the race.

Foyt and Goldsmith were one-two again and they stayed that way, separated by only a few seconds, until the 110th lap when mechanical difficulties forced Goldsmith out.

From then on, it was just a question of whether Foyt would experience any trouble. He didn’t and won very handily.

A.J. finished two full laps ahead of runner-up Len Sutton, of Portland, Ore., and six laps in front of his Plymouth teammate Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis. Herb Shannon, of Peoria, Ill., was fourth.

Elmer Musgrave, of Niles, Ill., driving a '63 Mercury, was fifth, and Chuck Stevenson of Newport Beach, Calif., in a '63 Dodge, was sixth.

Three of the first four finishers, (all but Sutton), drove 1963 Plymouths. Sutton piloted a Pontiac as did Goldsmith.

The Pontiacs, Chevrolets and Fords have dominated late model stock car racing in recent years, but Plymouths have been doing very well this season, including back-to-back victories by Foyt now in major races.

Eleven of the 22 starters were still running at the end. Foyt’s victory was worth at least $2,500 to him, 25 percent of the guaranteed $10,000 purse.

Eddie Sachs, now of Detroit, was on hand looking for a car to drive. He racked up his Zecol-Lubaid Ford last week in the Yankee 300, and it just wasn’t ready to go yesterday. But there were no rides to be had.


Results –


1. A.J. Foyt
2. Len Sutton
3. Norm Nelson
4. Herb Shannon
5. Elmer Musgrave
6. Chuck Stevenson
7. Bill Purnier
8. Dominic Persicketti
9. Leo Drollinger
10.Mal Delamaier
11.Paul Goldsmith
12.Jim Locke
13.Dave Lundman
14.Bob Devine
15.Paul Balogach
16.Bill Cheesbourg
17.Don White
18.John Kilborn
19.Curtis Turner
20.Don Schisler

1975 – Waukegan Main to Schuler

 

The "Junkyard Dog" Larry Schuler scored the first late model win of his career at Waukegan Speedway. 

Waukegan, Ill. (May 4, 1975) – Larry Schuler of Lockport scored his first ever late model feature win at Waukegan Speedway and in the process snapped a two-week winning streak of Ray Young in the 30-lap main event on Saturday night.

Young finished second in the finale, followed by Rich Kleich, George Dukas and Larry’s father, Lee Schuler and Rich Sundling. The event went non-stop.

The evening was one of ups and downs for veteran campaigner Ed Hoffman of Niles. Hoffman brought a band new Camaro to the track Saturday night and promptly lowered the one-lap record to 13.78 seconds.

However, as Hoffman began his second set of time trials, the brakes apparently locked on his Gene McGaughey’s Mustang as McGaughey headed for the pits following completion of his time runs. The problem forced McGaughey to veer directly into the path of Hoffman. Traveling at full speed, Hoffman was unable to avoid contact, and the ensuing crash demolished both cars.

Hoffman’s car had just been delivered from the Pete Hamilton Garage in Atlanta, Ga.

Jerry Kemperman won the trophy dash, George Dukas and Larry Schuler claimed heat wins and Lee Schuler copped the semi-feature.


Results –


Time trials – Ed Hoffman, Niles (13.78)
Trophy dash – Jerry Kemperman, Blue Island
Heat #1 – George Dukas, Zion
Heat #2 – Larry Schuler
Semi-main – Lee Schuler, Lockport
Feature –
1. Larry Schuler
2. Ray Young, Dolton
3. Rich Kleich, Chicago
4. George Dukas
5. Lee Schuler
6. Rich Sundling, Addison

1981 – Wolfgang Wins Hartford NSCA

 

John Stevenson (31) and Doug Wolfgang (4) battle during the National Speedways Contest Association sprint car race at Hartford (S.D.) Speedway. – Bob Mays Photo

Hartford, S.D. (May 3, 1981) – The thing Doug Wolfgang liked best about his feature win in the National Speedways Contest Association sprint car race at Hartford Speedway on Sunday was being so close to home.

Wolfgang’s hometown is Sioux Falls.

“I only have 11 miles to drive and all of you guys have to make the long trips home tonight,” Wolfgang said after he collected more than $1,000 for the afternoon’s work.

A record, standing-room-only crowd of 3,500 jammed into the small facility nestled in a valley of farmland. The track is a half-mile, high-banked dirt oval.

Wolfgang was laughing all the way to his van for the short drive home. He campaigns all over the United States and winning at home is really a treat. It was his second NSCA-sanctioned feature win of the weekend, and he has taken over the point lead in the organization’s point standings. He has won eight of none NSCA events he’s entered so far this season.

Wolfgang had a little problem in getting the lead and holding it early in the 25-lap feature, but once he did, he was home free.

Bobby Layne of Kansas City shot into the lead when the green flag waved but that was short-lived as John Stevenson of St. Paul, Minn., took charge on lap 3.

Wolfgang, who set a track record in qualifying, started on the outside of the third row. He had moved up right behind Stevenson on lap 4 and a lap later, moved into the lead.

Stevenson, who seemed to be a little faster, regained the lead on the very next lap and pulled away from Wolfgang. For the next five circuits, it looked as though Stevenson was going to run away from the rest of the field.

But, Wolfgang would mount another charge and on the 15th circuit, shot around Stevenson on the main straightaway, bringing the “hometown” crowd to it’s feet. Stevenson would get caught behind slower traffic, allowing Wolfgang to pull away and cruise to an easy victory.

Rain would start falling at the end of the contest and that evidently bothered Shane Carson of Oklahoma City, who passed Stevenson on lap 23 to take over second place while Stevenson settled for third place.

Carson was driving his car for the last time. It is owned by Dick Easter and Bob Tuttle of Des Moines. They started with Jimmy Sills of Sacramento, Calif., as the driver. Sills had to return to California but is now ready to come back to Iowa.

Carson won a feature at Knoxville last Saturday in the car and then finished second here.

“It’s just like 1979,” said the dejected Carson. “I won the NSCA title and was point champion at Knoxville and couldn’t get a ride the next season.”

Wolfgang’s record time for one lap Sunday was 17.141 seconds, which erased Sammy Swindell’s old record of 17.22 seconds set in 1979.


Results –


Time trials – Doug Wolfgang, Sioux Falls (17.141)
Trophy dash – Randy Smith, Norwalk, Iowa
Heat #1 – Jerry Johnson, Kirksville, Mo.
Heat #2 – Sonny Smyser, Lancaster, Mo.
Heat #3 – John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn.
Heat #4 – Shane Carson, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Feature –
1. Doug Wolfgang
2. Shane Carson
3. John Stevenson
4. Keith Frantsen, Windom, Minn.
5. Don Reiners, Sioux Falls
6. Sonny Smyser
7. Bob Hop, Mendota, Minn.
8. Rick Howard, Kansas City
9. Bobby Layne, Kansas City
10.Spike Lempelius, Egan, Minn.
11.Wayne Kronk, Fulton, Mo.
12.Roger Mulder, Sioux Falls
13.Leland Van Emmerick, Salem, N.D.
14.Ron Wiuff, Martindale, Iowa
15.Randy Smith, Norwalk, Iowa
16.Tim Green, Carmichael, Calif.
17.Cliff Coidall, Duluth, Minn.
18.Jerry Johnson

1971 - Derr Romps in Missouri 200

Ernie Derr is joined by starter Woody Brinkman after winning the IMCA-sanctioned Missouri 200 at I-70 Speedway. – Beetle Bailey Photo

Odessa, Mo. (May 3, 1971) - Ernie Derr, the 11 – time IMCA late-model stock-car champion, moved closer yesterday to taking permanent session of I-70 Speedway as the racing veteran won the third annual Missouri 200 stock-car race before a crowd of 7,151.

It also was the third victory here for the 47-year-old veteran from Keokuk, Iowa, in this $5,500 race. His share of the purse was $1,000.

From the 100-lap mark on, it was simply an easy Sunday afternoon drive for Derr in his 1971 Dodge Charger. There were never more than a dozen cars on the track the final 50 miles as the machinery was unable to stand the pace the drivers desired. Down the stretch about half of the drivers were racing and the other half just getting in laps.

Irv Janey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, finished second in a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner, but the Iowan was over two laps behind the Keokuk master. Ron Hutcherson, also of Keokuk, was third in 1969 Torino. He was two laps behind Janey.

Rounding out the top 10 at the finish; Don Cooper, Sedalia, Mo.; Vernon Mondry, Lake Elmo, Minn.; Butch Streicher, Denver; Lewis Taylor, Shawnee, Kan.; Joe Hull, Muskogee, Okla.; Dan Wilson, Excelsior Springs, Mo.; and Jim Hagar, Independence, Mo.

There was no official time given for the race because 35 laps were run under the yellow caution flag. Derr took the lead for keeps on lap 18 when early charger Gary Martin from California, Mo., went to the pits because of front suspension difficulty. Derr held the lead for all but one remaining lap. Janey lead when Derr stopped for fuel.

Trouble started on the first lap six cars skidded out of control between turns three and four on the high banked, half-mile paved track. Jerre Wichman of Kansas City went out after crashing a hard into and breaking the concrete wall. Ralph Bowlen of Marshall, Mo., broke his radiator in the mix up.

On the restart, with 26 of the original 28 cars in the lineup, Terry Bivins of Shawnee, Kan., the polesitter, led for two laps, but his 1971 Monte Carlo suffered a broken right rear axle.

Derr, who was now in the process of winning the 295th race of his career, swept by the field from his third row starting position, but Martin zeroed in on Derr and took the lead on the fourth lap by passing high between turns one and two. Martin led until he made the first of several pit stops on lap 18. The front and of his car went out completely on lap 110 and Martin crashed into the wall entering the main straight away.

Hutcherson survived a mix up with Fred Whisler of Liberty, Mo., to earn third place. Their crash on lap 18 put Whisler out and Hutcherson spent several laps in the pit area.

Harold Young of Kansas City, Kan., was involved in the day’s worst mishap. He and Janey had dueled several laps per second place in both appeared to be gaining on Derr. On lap 55, while almost flying down the back stretch, Young's Camaro blew the clutch. Then, in rapid succession, the broken parts and pieces took out the bell housing unit in transmission and then more pieces pierced the fuel tank and the entire car appeared to be in flames. Young said afterwards that the pressure plate snapped off the accelerator pedal and another part broke his steering. Young said he locked his brakes and hope for the best. He skidded towards the infield and leapt out of the car uninjured.


Results -


1. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Irv Janey, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
3. Ron Hutcherson, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Don Cooper, Sedalia, Mo.
5. Vern Mondry, Lake Elmo, Minn.
6. Butch Streicher, Denver, Colo.
7. Lewis Taylor, Shawnee, Kan.
8. Joe Hull, Muskogee, Okla.
9. Dan Wilson, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
10.Jim Hager, Independence, Mo.

1977 - Top Prize to Rookie in Queen City ARCA

Bill Green

West Chester, Ohio (May 1, 1977) – Rookie Bill Green of Covington, Ky., passed with honors in his first Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) grand national stock car test at Queen City Speedway, by winning the Ohio 100 which was concluded Sunday afternoon after being stopped after 10 laps because of rain one week earlier.

Green was followed by Alton Jones, Moose Myers, Bob Brevak and Jim Osgar.

The race restarted on lap 11 with Jones in first followed by Woody Fisher, Brevak and Green.

Green, who had set new track records in qualifications and the trophy dash during preliminaries last Sunday, took third on lap 12 and then joined Fisher in putting the pressure on Jones.

Green caught Fisher behind a slower car and moved up to second place on lap 26, while Myers was getting around Brevak for fourth.

Under a constant barrage of pressure, Jones drifted high on lap 49 and Green, Fisher, and Myers all charged past him.

Fisher took to the low groove and passed Green for the lead on the 53rd circuit. But, Green used the same tactic to regain first place before the lap was even completed and was never headed again.

Myers, who had dropped from the fight for first when he spun exiting turn two on lap 47, continued without losing a lap because of the incident and regained third place on lap 82. However, he was unable to advance beyond that position. 

Results –

1. Bill Green, Covington, Ky.
2. Alton Jones, Pleasant Grove, Ala.
3. Moose Myers, Fort Wayne, Ind.
4. Bob Brevak, Ashland, Wis.
5. Jim Osgar, Mansfield
6. Ralph Latham, Cincinnati
7. Larry LeMay, Mount Clemens, Mich.
8. Wayne Watercutter, Botkin
9. Keith Ploughe, Danville, Ill.

10.Woody Fisher, Cincinnati

1966 – Nelson Repeats as Yankee 300 Winner

Norm Nelson basks in the glory of winning the Yankee 300 at IRP.

Clermont, Ind. (May 1, 1966) – Norm Nelson, planning his strategy as the race went on, captured his second straight Yankee 300 late-model stock car race title at Indianapolis Raceway Park here yesterday, making 160 laps around the torturous seven-turn road course in three hours, 13 minutes and 27 seconds for an average speed of 93.047 miles per hour.

A crowd of 10,167 braved the cool temperatures and wind to see the excitement, and it didn’t have to wait very long before the action started.

Everyone, including starter Johnny Shipman was a bit surprised as the cars took only one parade lap before Chief Stewart Emil Andrews signaled for the green flag.

Three laps later, Herb Shannon blew his engine coming out of the seventh turn onto the main straightaway and his differential locked, throwing the car into a skid. Shannon's 1965 Plymouth angled toward Shipman’s position on die starting line and slammed into the pits, spewing tires, tools and other pit paraphernalia in all directions.

Miraculously, only four people were injured with Bob Guy, one of Paul Goldsmith’s crew members, ending up with a broken ankle. Shipman and two more of Goldsmith’s crew, Pedro Mondez and Rollie Vaust, were bruised but otherwise alright.

Track officials halted the race for 40 minutes after the accident.

The only other serious incident of the day came on the 63rd lap when Jim Hurtubise, chasing Don White for the lead, flipped his car over the guard rail on the second turn alter hitting an oil spot on the track. Hurtubise wasn’t hurt, but his car was badly damaged. The caution light was on for six laps following Hurtubise’s wreck.

Nelson led the race for a total of 48 laps, losing his lead to White once and Billy Foster, the second-place finisher, twice. After pitting on the 71st lap and Foster taking the lead, the two traded the lead at the 101-lap mark and again at 108 laps.

Foster lost his right rear wheel on the 126th lap coming out of the seventh turn while holding a 21-second lead over Nelson, but with a masterful bit of handling his 1965 Dodge, pulled the car right into the pits for a tire change. Nelson took the lead for the last time with Foster in the pits and coasted for the remaining 33 laps.

The race saw a total of five leaders with Don White in his 1966 Dodge Charger pacing the field for the first five laps. Two laps after the Shannon accident, Hurtubise flashed by White on the first turn and led until a blown tire forced the crowd-pleasing “Herk” into the pits.

Paul Goldsmith, who started the race on the pole, moved into the lead on the 35th lap, but failing oil pressure gave Nelson his first lead at the 38-lap mark. Goldsmith finished 17th after running only 43 laps. White regained the lead on the 46th lap, but also retired rather than ruin his engine when the oil pressure dropped.

Foster then took the lead, held it for two laps, and gave it up to Nelson as the two started a duel that lasted until Foster’s blown tire.

Nelson pocketed $4,838 of the $22,225 purse and Foster took $3,003 home.

Bay Darnell finished third in a 1966 Plymouth, followed by J. C. Klotz, ‘66 Plymouth, Jerry Norris in a ‘64 Ford, Bobby Wawak in a ‘64 Mercury, Dave Whitcomb in a ’64 Plymouth, Garry Bettenhausen in a ‘66 Dodge and Don Hill, the only other driver still running at the finish, in a ’64 Mercury.


Results –


1. Norm Nelson
2. Billy Foster
3. Bay Darnell
4. J.C. Klotz
5. Jerry Norris
6. Bobby Wawak
7. Dave Whitcomb
8. Gary Bettenhausen
9. Don Hill
10.Elmer Davis
11.Sal Tovella
12.John Martin
13.Jim Tatum
14.Don White
15.Jim Hurtubise
16.Mac Vails
17.Paul Goldsmith
18.Bill Moore
19.Eddie Meyer
20.Joe Burkhart
21.Jim Welty
22.Rabon Hinkle
23.Hank Teeters
24.Herb Shannon
25.Roger Regeth