1979 - Hoffman Scores in Autumn Spectacular

Don Hoffman of Des Moines debuted a new winged late model at the Iowa Autumn Spectacular and flew to the feature win, coming from the back of the pack to take the 35-lapper. Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray and trophy girl Stephanie Robinson join a happy Hoffman in victory lane. – Dean Malone Photo

Des Moines, Iowa (October 6, 1979) – Don Hoffman of Des Moines pocketed $3,000 from a purse of $15,000 Saturday night at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, at the Iowa Autumn Spectacular in Des Moines.

Hoffman won the trophy dash, which paid $600 to win, came back to win his heat race, and then captured the 35-lap feature before more than 7,000 spectators.

Original plans called for two 25-lap features with the finish inverted from the from the first feature finish for the second feature but the Des Moines 10:30 pm curfew prompted promoter Lefty Robinson to run one 35-lapper.

Hoffman started well back in the field and earned $75 for each position he gained, in addition to the winner’s share of the total purse. All drivers who did not win earned $20 for each position gained in the feature and several drivers were able to pad their total winnings with the added incentive.

Robinson noted that four drivers were unable to compete because their cars did not meet the requirement and they were unable to change their mufflers and get their cars qualified in time. Those four drivers were Ed Sanger, Dan Nesteby, and Larry Wasserfort, all of Waterloo, and Rex Nun of Lincoln, Neb.

Fast time for the night was set by Billy Moyer Jr. of Des Moines with a clocking of 24.996 seconds, the only driver to stop the clock under the 25-second mark.

Also in the late models, a special race for former State Fairground champions was won by Hoffman with Tim McDonough of Cedar Rapids, representing his late father Bill, second, and Curt Hansen of Dike, Iowa, third. The race was flagged by Governor Robert D. Ray.

Lee Jenkins of Des Moines won a special 12-lap old-timers’ race.


Results –


Time Trials – Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines (24.996)
Trophy Dash – Don Hoffman, Des Moines
Heat #1 – Craig Spetman, Council Bluffs
Heat #2 – Don Hoffman
Heat #3 – Red Dralle, Evansdale
Heat #4 – Bill Rice, Des Moines
Semi-Feature – Jim Burbridge, Delhi
Feature –
1. Don Hoffman
2. Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
3. Tom Hearst, Wilton
4. Curt Hansen, Dike
5. Bill Rice
6. Tim McDonough, Cedar Rapids
7. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo
8. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs
9. Bill Davis, Des Moines
10.Mike Frieden, Cedar Rapids
11.Rocky Hodges, Des Moines
12.Billy Moyer Jr.
13.Kenny Fenn, Washington
14.Karl Sanger, Waterloo
15.Jim Burbridge
16.Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
17.Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
18.Jerry Holtkamp, Williams
19.Dave Birkhofer, Muscatine
20.Ken Davidson, Indianola

1963 – Superb Driving Gives Hassler Second 300 Win

A huge trophy awaited Friday Hassler after the Chattanooga speedster won his second Southern 300 at Nashville's Fairgrounds Speedway. 

Nashville, Tenn. (October 6, 1963) – When Friday Hassler won last year’s Southern 300 modified stock car race at Fairgrounds Speedway, he had to get a friend to take the trophy home for him because he didn’t have room in his truck.

So, the Chattanoogan wins the race again this year and what do you think happens? He’s got to do the same the same thing again – still no room in the truck.

But of Hassler didn’t learn a lesson in 12 months about how to carry a trophy home, he demonstrated that he nevertheless is an expert at winning them by duplicating his 1962 victory with a superb driving performance before 7,985 fans.

And again, his closest pursuer and second place finisher was Columbia’s Malcolm Brady, except that Brady finished only three seconds behind Hassler; last year he came in a full lap after running out of gas with 17 miles to go.

“I believe that last year’s race was easier,” said Hassler, who collected $1,000 for his victory. “I didn’t have anyone pushing me as hard as Brady did today.”

Bob Reuther and Bill Morton, who both drove fine races, finished third and fourth, respectively. All four drivers qualified in the top 10 behind Donnie Allison’s record breaking 20.50 second qualifying run on Saturday.

Allison led the race’s first two laps, then Freddy Fryar moved in front as fuel line problems plagued Allison. Hassler took the lead on lap 10 and held it until lap 34, when Brady took over. Hassler regained the top spot on the 94th circuit and stayed there until lap 134 when Brady again took the lead. On the 230th lap, when Brady made his third and final pit stop, Hassler popped out front again, this time for good.

Brady spent the remainder of the race glued to Hassler’s bumper and appeared to have enough power to pass him. He said after the race he thought he was a lap ahead and didn’t really attempt to get around him. A check of the scorecards, however, showed that Hassler was in front.

Allison went out eventually on lap 36 with a blocked fuel line. His brother Bobby finished in sixth behind Charlie Stofel. Freddy Fryar wrecked, Bob Burcham had drive-shaft issues, Red Farmer’s right front wheel spindle broke, and Joe Lee Johnson’s crankshaft snapped.


Results –


1. Friday Hassler, Chattanooga
2. Malcolm Brady, Columbia
3. Bob Ruether, Nashville
4. Bill Morton, Nashville
5. Charlie Stofel, Columbia
6. Bobby Allison, Hueytown, Ala.
7. Herb Lewis, Nashville
8. Bobby Celsor, Hartsville
9. John Thoni, Nashville
10.Joe Holley, Memphis
11.Jack Marlin, Nashville
12.Charlie Parrish, Nashville
13.Dave Mader, Birmingham, Ala.
14.Coo Coo Marlin, Columbia
15.Eddie Mitchell, Nashville

1956 – Grim Capture Three Races at Fair

Bobby Grim is joined by car owner Hector Honore and Alabama State Fair manager R.H. McIntosh after Grim won the 20-lap IMCA big car feature. 

Birmingham, Ala. (October 5, 1956) – Bobby Grim, the Hurryin’ Hoosier from Indianapolis, roared to three triumphs in the big-car speedway events held on the fast Alabama State Fair track on Friday afternoon.

Grim, the defending International Motor Contest Association champion seeking a second title, won the 20-lap Dixie Sweepstakes, the Sinclair trophy dash, involving the four fastest qualifiers, and the second heat of the seven-event program.

Bert Hellmueller, the colorful veteran from Louisville, Ky., walked away from a nasty spin that took down 50 feet of fence in the third heat. He was running in third place on the second lap of the event when his car spun on the third turn and crashed into the board fence and disappeared amidst a shower of splinters. He emerged from the scene unscathed.


Results –


Time trials – Johnny Pouelson, Los Angeles
Trophy dash- Bobby Grim, Indianapolis
Heat #1 – Bud Randall, Tampa, Fla.
Heat #2 – Bobby Grim
Heat #3 – Fritz Tegtmeier, Elgin, Ill.
Semi-main – Bob Carpenter, Wabash, Ind.
Feature –
1. Bobby Grim
2. Bud Randall
3. Don Branson, Champaign, Ill.
4. Johnny Pouelson
5. Buzz Barton, Tampa, Fla.
6. Bill Chennault, St. Louis
7. Herschel Wagner, Hickman Hills, Mo.
8. Bob Wente, St, Louis

1970 - Reffner Captures Checkered Flag in Oktoberfest 200

West Salem, Wis. (October 4, 1970) – Tom Reffner of Rudolph, Wis., piloted his 1969 Torino to first place in the Oktoberfest 200-lap race at the La Crosse Interstate Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Reffner’s winning effort earned him a $1,000 check for first place plus $341 in lap money. Marv Marzofka of Nekoosa held the lead for the first 37 laps while Jim Sauter of Necedah and Jim Back of Vesper were in second and third respectively.

Reffner was slightly off the pace and in fourth.

On the 38th trip around the half-mile oval Sauter and Back both passed Marzofka’s ’69 Torino. However, on the 48th lap Sauter and Back both tried to avoid an accident in the number three turn and crashed into the concrete retaining wall. Both cars were out of the race and Marzofka recaptured the lead.

Reffner kept at his steady pace in second place and overtook Marzofka on the 107th lap. From there on in it was Reffner all the way.

Marzofka was plagued by overheating problems and had to make frequent pit stops. He eventually finished in 16th place. Marzofka held first place for 95 laps to earn him $308 in lap money.

Following Reffner in the winning circle were Rich Somers of Stevens Point, in second, driving a '69 Torino; John McNamara of Baraboo, third, in a ’64 Comet; Bill Mueller, Shakopee, Minn., fourth, in a ’70 Plymouth; and Dennis Sobkowiak, La Crosse, fifth, in a ’65 Plymouth.

Sixty-five cars timed in and the crowd of about 4,000 race fans saw 17 of the top 33 cars entered in the big race finish.


Results –


1. Tom Reffner
2. Rich Somers
3. John McNamara
4. Bill Mueller
5. Dennis Sobkowiak
6. Kato Theisen
7. Buck Linhart
8. John Scott
9. Everett Foxx
10.Harold Mueller
11.Bill Scherer
12.Ed Nichols
13.Larry Anderson
14.Roy Schmidtke
15.Larry Sparks
16.Marv Marzofka
17.John Brinkman
18.Pete Mahlum
19.Bob Agena
20.George Thornton
21.Benny Olson
22.Mike Murgic
23.Ron Beyer
24.Roy Garr
25.Dale Kranz
26.Jim Back
27.Jim Sauter
28.Larry Detjens
29.Bill Wirtx
30.Darrell Busch
31.Homer Spink
32.Del Trusch
33.Jack Bramella

1964 - Baird Drives to Rare Late Model Victory

Jesse Baird

Ona, W.Va. (October 4, 1964) – Jesse Baird, aided by two fast pit stops, wheeled a ’64 Pontiac to victory Sunday afternoon in West Virginia Speedway’s 500-lap late model race.

In the Automobile Racing Club of America 1965 season opener, Baird scored a rare triumph for the Pontiac forces. Dick Freeman (third) and Andy Hampton (fourth) joined Baird as top five Pontiac finishers.

Jack Purcell, a cemetery lot salesman in his spare time, finished second in a ’64 Ford and Jack Bowsher was fifth in another ’64 Ford.

Bowsher, a two-time ARCA champion, was regarded as the driver to beat in the 219-mile grind witnessed by 3,500 windblown racing fans. He was running right on schedule until an extra pit stop to take on tires dropped him from contention.

Baird made but two stops - both times for fuel - and went all the way on a set of tires.

His average speed of 65.685 miles per hour was slowed by 42 laps under the caution flag. He and Bowsher started on the front row after both qualified at 78.175 miles per hour.

Baird had his Pontiac out front for the first 121 laps until his initial pit stop. Purcell took the lead only to lose it to Freeman when he pitted on lap 225. Freeman dropped back for a pit stop 50 laps later, allowing Bowsher to push his white Ford to the head of the pack.

The winner roared back into the lead for good when Bowsher made his second stop on lap 319. Baird took on fuel again at about the 375-lap stage, but Bowsher had to pit at the same time for tires.

“When I still had the lead after the second pit stop, I thought I had the race won,” said Baird, who’s in the auto parts business.

“We’ve got some good equipment although the Pontiac people are out of the racing business,” he added. In all of last season on the ARCA circuit, only one Pontiac saw victory lane in the 35 races with Dick Freeman nabbing that win.

Among the early dropouts in the West Virginia 500 were Junior Spencer in a ’64 Ford and Dick Passwater in a ’64 Studebaker. Jim Cushman had his ’64 Plymouth spin out early but got back into good shape before mechanical difficulties cropped up.


Results –


1. Jesse Baird
2. Jack Purcell
3. Dick Freeman
4. Andy Hampton
5. Jack Bowsher
6. Bobby Watson
7. George Swope
8. Wayne Kaufmann
9. LaMarr Marshall
10.Iggy Katona
11.Tom Pistone
12.Benny Parson
13.Bud Harless
14.Jim Cushman
15.Cleo Ashley
16.Homer Newland
17.Hank Teeters
18.Jim Robertson
19.Don Trees
20.Les Snow
21.Clyde Parker
22.Grant Wilmot
23.Jerry LeBlanc
24.Ken Reiter
25.Roy Wathen
26.Paul Wensink
27.Elmer Musgrave
28.Dan Arnold
29.Jack Shanklin
30.Danny Byrd

1976 – Senneker Wins Third Dri-Powr 400 at Winchester

Bob Senneker won the Dri-Powr 400 at Winchester Speedway for a record third time. 

Winchester, Ind. (October 3, 1976) – Bob Senneker made it three “Dri-Powr 400” titles in a row at Winchester Speedway on Sunday, beating his younger brother, Terry, by four laps.

The crowd, estimated at 9,000, was the first bona-fide sellout in the seven seasons Roger Holdeman has owned the speedway. It was the largest crowd at Winchester since Labor Day 1950, when the Mutual Racing Association staged a 200-lap event. That race drew 15,000.

Senneker set a new Dri-Powr 400 race record of 2 hours, 20 minutes, and 9.5 seconds (85.622 mph), in taking home the lion’s share of the $42,215 purse.

In becoming the first in the seven-year history of the stock car classic to win from the pole position, Senneker also became the first driver ever to win the event three times.

The handsome Dorr, Mich., plot admitted afterwards that the third win was the hardest on the high banked, half-mile asphalt.

“This one was the toughest,” he said, “because I just couldn’t slow down. I couldn’t ‘cool it,’ because there was always someone pushing me.”

Just 18 laps into the event, Larry Moore and Ray Dillon came together in the second turn and crashed through the guardrail and down a 25-foot embankment into the woods. Neither driver was injured, but it took the track crew an hour and 42 minutes to make repairs.

Consequently, the race ended at 6:31 pm, just as the drivers were running out of racing light.

“The shadows got to be a real problem up in the north end,” Senneker said. “I kept hoping they’d shorten the race because it was getting hard to see the track.”

Senneker had to chase down the Don Gregory – Lennie Waldo race team late in the race, and only a lengthy late stop to change tires and drivers kept Gregory from second and possibly first. Waldo, driving relief for Gregory, pitted on lap 327 while running second. He lost that position plus five laps and wound up fourth, seven laps behind the winner and three laps behind the runner-up. Third went to steady Vern Schrock, the 1973 winner. Lonnie Breedlove was fifth to complete a Camaro sweep of the top five.

Breedlove came all the way from his 38th starting position in the 40-car field for his fifth=place finish. Veteran Ellis Herbert, who made the race in the 40th and final starting position when Joe Bennett’s car was disqualified, finished an impressive seventh.

Senneker had taken the lead on lap 361 after a lengthy stop had cost him two laps on the leaders. He and Waldo hooked up in a “showdown at sundown,” that went on for several laps before Senneker finally caught Waldo in slower traffic and whipped around him.

Senneker took the lead at the start and held on for 14 laps before Mike Eddy stormed to the front. Senneker got back into the lead on lap 97 until giving way to hard-charging Art Sommers on lap 128. Gregory took command on lap 131 and held it until Senneker came back for laps 163 and 164 before pitting.

Terry Senneker took over at that point and led until lap 219. Lead changes got more and more frequent in the final half of the most competitive “Di-Powr” yet.

Gregory led 220 – 242; then it was Bob Senneker 243 – 251; Gregory 252 – 263; John Anderson 264 – 267; bob Senneker 268 – 273; Anderson 274; Waldo (for Gregory) 275- 360, and Senneker for the final 40 circuits.

Engine problems waylaid several favorites. Dave Sorg one of a pair of two-time winners to start the race, was finished after 174 laps with a blown engine. Exiting with the same issue were Tom Maier at 169 laps and Rodney Combs at lap 34.

It really wasn’t Combs’ engine that broke. It was Larry Moore’s. Combs came to the pits with engine woes when Moore crashed through the guardrail. Moore’s crew hauled his car out of the woods and let Combs’ crew pull the engine and put it in Rodney’s car.

Mike Eddy was out after 146 laps with a faulty water pump.


Results –


1. Bob Senneker, Dorr, Mich.
2. Terry Senneker, Grand Rapids, Mich.
3. Vern Schrock, Middlebury, Ind.
4. Don Gregory, Columbus, Ohio
5. Lonnie Breedlove, Indianapolis
6. Jim Cushman, Worthington, Ohio
7. Ellis Herbert, Rushville, Ind.
8. Don Lamb, Milford, Ohio
9. John Anderson, Massillon, Ohio
10.Denny Nyari, South Bend, Ind.
11.L.J. Lines, Greensboro, Ind.
12.Bob Kohlmeyer, Fort Wayne, Ind.
13.Don Seaborn, Dayton, Ohio
14.Glenn Ohlmann, Louisville, Ky.
15.John Vallo, West Carrollton, Ohio
16.Roger Herp, Byron Center, Mich.
17.Art Sommers, Warren, Mich.
18.Jigger Sirois, Hammond, Ind.
19.Bob Coffey, Indianapolis
20.Robbie Dean, Grove City, Ohio.



Gregory had relief from Lennie Waldo, Grove City, Ohio

Bob Kohlmeyer had relief from Joe Bennett, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Don Seaborn had relief from Larry Moore, Dayton, Ohio

Jigger Sirois had relief from Jeff Bloom, Kalamazoo, Mich.

1978 - Watson Posts Convincing Victory in Oktoberfest Main

Dave Watson receives congratulations from La Crosse Interstate Speedway promoter Larry Wehrs after winning the Oktoberfest 200. – Wayne Mioskowski Photo

West Salem, Wis. (October 1, 1978) – Not even a blown engine suffered after winning the day’s second 50-lap event could prevent Dave Watson from claiming the 100-lap championship feature to take the overall title in La Crosse Interstate Speedway’s ninth annual Oktoberfest 200 for late models on Sunday afternoon.

In addition to his Sunday triumphs, Watson won the 20-lap race of champions and his dash, Saturday night, to dominate the three-day event. Watson earned $2,225 from the $20,650 purse for his efforts.

Joining Watson in the feature winner’s circle on Sunday was Doug Strasburg of Johnson Creek, who captured the afternoon’s initial 50-lap headliner.

Just after Watson had captured the second 50-lapper, his car’s engine gave way, forcing his crew to install a new powerplant prior to the 100. Fortunately, the crew had proven equipment to utilize. That same engine which Watson used to win the USAC Fair Stock 150 at the Milwaukee Mile in August, was hurriedly installed in the racer and Watson started the 100-lap finale in the ninth position.

Polesitter Joel Laufer grabbed the lead as the green flag waved but Steve Burgess, driving a brand-new 1978 Camaro, took over the top spot on lap 7.

Mark Lamoreaux, at the wheel of a Camaro he recently had purchased from Burgess, moved into contention moments later and overhauled Burgess to claim first place on lap 13.

Racing bumper-to-bumper, Lamoreaux and Burgess then pulled away from the rest of the field, with Burgess regaining the lead on lap 39.

Burgess remained in front until lap 43 when he spun in turn four, giving the lead back to Lamoreaux, and necessitating the event’s first caution flag. Burgess was able to resume racing, but the mishap dropped him from first to seventh in the standings.

Prior to the caution, Watson had been running third, about a half a lap behind the pacesetters. However, the caution permitted him to make up a major portion of that deficit and as the field readied for the restart, Watson found himself in fifth place with Pat Schauer fourth, John Ziegler third and Jim Back in second.

Another yellow came out on lap 45 when Jim Weber spun in the first turn.

After the green flew once again, Watson made his move, quickly passing Schauer, Ziegler, and Back, and then overtaking Lamoreaux to claim first place on lap 48.

Back took second from Lamoreaux 10 circuits later and Ziegler and Schauer advanced to third and fourth, respectively, on the 70th round. Two more trips around the 5/8-mile oval, Schauer took third from Ziegler.

However, no one was able to keep pace with Watson the rest of the way and at the checkered flag, the Milton chauffeur held a full straightaway advantage over Schauer, who had taken second from Back on lap 99. Back settled for third with Ziegler fourth and Burgess completing the top-five.

Earlier, Lamoreaux had dominated the first part of the opening 50-lapper, leading the first 28 circuits before Tom Reffner took over. Although his car began smoking just as he gained the upper hand, Reffner remained in front while Strasburg, and Tony Strupp battled Lamoreaux for second place.

Strasburg, who had started fifth, finally took second but seemed to have little hope of catching Reffner until the final circuit. Then, the differential broke on Reffner’s car, forcing him to slow his pace entering the second turn. Strasburg nearly slammed into Reffner’s suddenly slowing mount but avoided contact and soared into the lead.

Strupp, who had started on the pole, put on a strong closing rush but had to settle for second place at the finish. Lamoreaux paced third, Weber fourth and Reffner hung on to finish fifth.

Reffner, who had won Oktoberfest titles in 1970 and 1975, had established himself as one of the favorites for the overall title on Saturday, setting fast time (20.513) and winning the first 10-lap dash. However, racing despite the loss of oil in Sunday’s first 50-lapper damaged the engine in his 1978 AMC Concord and he lasted only two laps in the 100-lap finale.

Polesitter Bob Jusola paced the first five laps of the second 50-lapper before Marzofka, who won the 1978 La Crosse late model crown, took over.

Watson, who had started ninth, used the outside groove to pass Marzofka on lap 10 but Marzofka regained the top spot five laps later.

Remaining in the outside grove, Watson surged back into the lead on lap 17 and led the rest of the way despite constant pressure from Marzofka, who settled for second. Third place went to Schauer with Johnny Boegeman taking fourth and Jusola rounding out the top five.


Results –


1. Dave Watson, Milton
2. Pat Schauer, Watertown
3. Jim Back, Vesper
4. John Ziegler, Madison
5. Steve Burgess, Fall Creek
6. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa
7. Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, Minn.
8. Larry Hicks, Lake Geneva
9. Dick Stang, Prior Lake, Minn.
10.John Boegeman, Shakopee, Minn.
11.Doug Strasburg, Johnson Creek
12.Bob Jusola, Centuria
13.Tom Musgrave, Mundelein, Ill.
14.Bruce Sparrman, Excelsior, Minn.
15.Jerry Eckhardt, Lake Mills
16.Steve Holzhausen, Bangor
17.Axel Dahlberg, Mauston
18.Joel Laufer, Hartford
19.Willie Goeden, Kewaskum
20.Larry Schuler, Lockport, Ill.