1971 – Bowsher’s Own Tri-County Speedway

The Bowsher family get together in victory lane after Jack’s USAC stock car victory. From left to right, Jimmy, Tom, and Jack. USAC stock car supervisor Bob Stroud presents the trophy. 

West Chester, Ohio (May 14, 1971) – There really wasn’t any reason to believe that Springfield, Ohio’s Jack Bowsher couldn’t win the United States Auto Club’s 100-lap stock car main event at Tri-County Speedway on Friday night.

After all, the Bowsher clan has pretty much dominated stock car events here this season.

Earlier in the year, Jim Bowsher, the 18-year-old son of Jack, won a 25-lap main event at regular weekly program at TCS. The very next day, Tom Bowsher, Jack’s brother, won the 100-lap Automobile Racing Club of America stock car race.

After starting eighth in the 19-car main event, Jack moved his way through the field quickly, took the lead and never looked in his rear-view once, breezing to the checkered flag.

After the race, Bowsher admitted that he had learned something about the Tri-County dirt surface from Jim’s success earlier.

“I’d rather not say what kind of tires we used tonight, “Bowsher said. “But when Jimmy ran here, we tried three different sets of tires. We still didn’t have the right one’s on when we won it, but we learned a lot.”

Bowsher’s 1971 Ford Torino crossed the finish line almost a third of a lap ahead of Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, the two-time USAC national champion in a ’69 Dodge. Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, driving a ’69 Dodge as well, finished third.

Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis., filling in for Indianapolis 500 driver Roger McCluskey, drove the defending USAC stock car champion’s 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner to fourth place, while Chuck McWilliams, a local favorite out of Walton, Ky., took fifth in a ’69 Plymouth.

Bowsher made the feature look easy and had a better racing test in the fast heat when he and Lem Blankenship of Keokuk, Iowa, dueled side-by-side for 10 laps. Blankenship finally nosed out Bowsher by a half-car length. Blankenship finished sixth in the feature.

Dave Whitcomb of Valparaiso, Ind., was fast qualifier in his 1970 Dodge Charger, turning the Tri-County half-mile in 22.18 seconds.

Butch Hartman of South Zanesville, Ohio, won the fast car dash in his ’69 Charger but was forced out of the feature on lap 82 when he lost a battery.


Results –


1. Jack Bowsher
2. Don White
3. Verlin Eaker
4. Norm Nelson
5. Chuck Walton
6. Lem Blankenship
7. Dave Whitcomb
8. Bay Darnell
9. Len Blanchard
10.John Reimer
11.Keith Ploughe
12.Roger Regeth
13.Butch Hartman
14.Mark Dinsmore
15.Dennis Groves
16.Paul Sizemore
17.Sal Tovella
18.Paul Feldner 

19.Steve Arndt

1962 – Big Car Sweep by Rutherford at Illiana

Johnny Rutherford accepts his trophy after winning the IMCA sprint car feature at Illiana. - Wayne Bryant Photo

Schererville, Ind. (May 13,1962) – Johnny Rutherford, Fort Worth, Tex., driving the Beatson Chevy, scored his second major victory in 24 hours, when he swept the International Motor Contest Association sprint car program at Illiana Speedway before 5,000 fans.

Rutherford, who qualified the Beatson car on the pole for the “Little 500” the night before at Anderson, Ind., copped the second heat, the match race and the 25-lap feature from a 36-car field attracted for the opening of the modern half-mile asphalt track owned by Harry Molenaar.

His time for the 25 laps, which will go as a new record, was 10 minutes and 27.43 seconds.

Every heat provided new action as the veteran dirt aces accustomed themselves to the unorthodox grooves of the new flat asphalt track that was completed between rain storms the last two weeks.

Though there were many near-accidents, only one driver, Harvey Konkel of Milwaukee, was sent to the hospital for a checkup, then released, after he crashed the Schmidt Special into the outer guardrail during the consolation. Arnie Knepper spun on the 25th lap of the feature.

Visiting promoters and officials complimented owner Harry Molenaar and National Speedways, Inc., for the fine program and the snappy manner in which the events were run off.


Results –


Fast time – Mickey Shaw (22.22)
Heat #1 – Jerry Richert
Heat #2 – Johnny Rutherford
Heat #3 – Gordon Woolley
Match race – Johnny Rutherford
Consolation – Mickey Shaw
Feature –
1. Johnny Rutherford
2. Pete Folse
3. Bill Horstmeyer
4. Jerry Daniels
5. Harold Leep
6. Herschel Wagner
7. Ray Duckworth
8. Red Renner
9. Buzz Barton
10.Nolan Johncock
11.Arnie Knepper
12.Mickey Shaw

1972 – Marshalltown Opener to Hovinga

Denny Hovinga won the late model season opener at Marshalltown Speedway. - Beetle Bailey Photo

Marshalltown, Iowa (May 12, 1972) – With threatening weather prevailing, Denny Hovinga of Laurens opened the 1972 racing season at Marshalltown on Friday night, recording a triple win on the high-banked Central Iowa Fairgrounds’ quarter mile.

Hovinga began the evening with a victory in the late model first heat, repeated in the A semi-main, and then captured the 20-lap feature.

Starting on the pole position, Hovinga’s Chevelle immediately jumped into the lead, and he continued to set the pace throughout the event as the rain began falling.

Defending track champion Curt Hansen of Dike stayed hot on Hovinga’s trail the entire distance, but remained content with second place in his familiar ’69 Torino.

Hansen did, however, score a win in the third heat, with Marshalltown’s Mike Keen scoring the victory in the second heat. The sportsman champ from last year, Waterloo's Keith Braun, bested a top field of late models in the B semi-main.

D. Arthur Nesteby of Waterloo made a good showing in the feature, finishing third. Keen followed in fourth and Tom Bartholomew of Waterloo rounded out the top five.

Red Dralle of Waterloo was running a strong third in the feature until a flat tire forced him to the sidelines with less than two laps left.

One of the top drivers in the sportsman division in 1971, Jim Rader of Newton captured their division's feature race.


Results –


Heat #1 – Denny Hovinga, Laurens
Heat #2 – Mike Keen, Marshalltown
Heat # - Curt Hansen, Dike
A-semi – Denny Hovinga
B-semi – Keith Braun, Waterloo
Feature –
1. Denny Hovinga
2. Curt Hansen
3. D. Arthur Nesteby, Waterloo
4. Mike Keen
5. Tom Bartholomew, Waterloo
6. Larry Wasserfort, Bedard
7. Del McDowell, Ames
8. Chris Maurer, Colfax
9. Jim Burger, Cedar Falls
10.Joe Schaefer, Waterloo

1952 – Perlick Sets New Record at Davenport

Davenport, Iowa (May 11, 1952) – Dom “Shorty” Perlick is the new holder of a new record for 100 miles in International Motor Contest Association competition, following his flashy victory at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon.

Despite a muddy track, Perlick roared his stock car over the distance in 1 hour, 58 minutes and 34.72 seconds while a crowd of 3,000 watched in amazement.

The former record for the distance was held by Tommy Melvin, set at the Iowa state Fair in 1950.

Early in the race, Herschel Buchanan of Shreveport, La., and Jimmy Clark of Fort Worth, Tex., threatened to make it a three-way duel with Perlick for the championship.

However, Clark was forced to make a pit stop and after he returned to the track, the best he could muster was a 12th place finish.

The victory at the Davenport half-mile gave Perlick a full command of the leadership in the IMCA stock car point standings.

Buchanan would settle for second, followed by Bob Denny of Fort Worth, Tex., taking a distant third.


Results –


1. Dom Perlick, Minneapolis, Minn.
2. Herschel Buchanan, Shreveport, La.
3. Bob Denny, Fort Worth, Tex.
4. Bob Duggan, Tampa, Fla.
5. Don White, Keokuk
6. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
7. Gene Harmon, Lincoln, Neb.
8. Russell Gross, Quincy, Ill.
9. Dick Nau, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
10.Glen Larson, Aurora, Ill.
11.Bob McEllrath, Waterloo
12.Jimmy Clark, Fort Worth, Tex.

1972 - Moss tops Oskaloosa field

Iowa City's John Moss won the super stock main event at the Mahaska County Fairgrounds in Oskaloosa. - Beetle Bailey Photo

Oskaloosa, Iowa (May 10, 1972) – John Moss of Iowa City was the victor at the Southern Iowa Speedway on Wednesday night. A record-breaking field of car was on hand as 72 cars participated in the evening’s events before a capacity crowd of enthusiastic fans. Because of the great crowd, the driver’s payoff, originally set at $3,000, was raised to $3,585.

“Big” John grabbed the lead at the drop of the green and held on the entire race for the feature win in the super stock division. Moss had a fair size lead on the rest of the 20-car field when the checkers came out.

At the initial start Moss did not have the lead as newcomer Jim Gerber of Long Grove jumped in front only to have that nullified by a red flag when four cars had a mix-up between turns three and four.

The original restart gave Moss the chance he needed, and he was on his toes when the green flag dropped a second time.

Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa, in his first appearance at Oskaloosa, finished a distant second behind Moss. Both drivers were piloting Plymouths.

Holding down the third spot was last week’s winner, Don Hoffman of Des Moines. Hoffman held off Stott until the final few laps when Stott managed to pass him.

Rounding out the top five finishers were Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa, and Jim Gerber of Long Grove, Iowa.

Joe Merryfield of Des Moines had a look at starter Jack Thompson’s black flag when he lost his hood in the last third of the race. Joe was holding fourth place when he was forced to pull out of the race.

Hoffman, Moss, Gerber and Stott were heat winners. Because of the large number of cars, it was decided that two consolations would be run. Bob Hilmer of Dysart won the first consy while Dan Clement of Rhodes grabbed the second.

In sportsman action, Cliff Van Zandt of Des Moines won the 10-lap feature.


Results –


Heat #1 – Don Hoffman, Des Moines
Heat #2 – John Moss, Iowa City
Heat #3 – Jim Gerber, Long Grove
Heat #4 – Ramo Stott, Keokuk
Consolation #1 – Bob Hilmer, Delhi
Consolation #2 – Dan Clement, Rhodes
Feature –
1. John Moss
2. Ramo Stott
3. Don Hoffman
4. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
5. Jim Gerber
6. Ron Prymek, Iowa City
7. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs
8. Curt Hansen, Dike
9. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
10. Pokey West, West Chester

1976 - Young wins Grundy County ARTGO

Ray Young is presented his trophy by ARTGO's Art Frigo after winning the series opener at Grundy County Speedway.

Morris, Ill. (May 9, 1976) - With most of the top drivers in the Midwest assembled at the Grundy County Speedway Sunday afternoon for the CAM 2 Motor Oil Classic, it turned out to be a familiar face in the winner’s circle as Ray Young of Dolton won the 100-lap race by one car length over Bob Senneker of Dorr, Michigan.

Young took the lead in lap 32 when Dick Trickle dropped out of the race. Bobby Allison, the featured driver Sunday in the ARTGO Racing promotion, dropped to seventh in the final standings after having his door ripped off in the early going.

Senneker posted the fastest time of the afternoon in the qualifications before a standing room only crowd under ideal weather conditions. His time of 16-seconds was a new record and Randy Sweet and Joe Shear also qualified in under the old record of 16.16 seconds.

Mike Miller won the opening CAM2 12-lap trophy dash with an impressive win over Senneker and Trickle. Other wins in the preliminaries went to USAC regular Bay Darnell of Deerfield, Bob Roper of Chicago and Tom Musgrave, now of Friendship, Wis. Ted Musgrave won the 20-lap semi-feature and Lenard Reimer of Janesville, Wis., took the 10-lap consolation race following the 100-lap race.

With the large crowd on hand, promoter Art Frigo of ARTGO Racing declared a bonus to the drivers with all of the feature starters receiving an extra $50. Young’s winnings were $1,650 for the afternoon.

Tony Izzo of Bridgeview led the first nine laps of the Classic but then pulled out with a blown engine calling for the first of the event’s two yellow flags.

Two-time Grundy champion Tom Musgrave took the lead at that point with Trickle passing him in lap 21 for the top spot. When Trickle dropped out in the 32nd lap, Young shot in front and won the rich race much to the delight of the home track fans.

At the half-way point, Young held a commanding lead over Joe Shear, Musgrave, Dave Watson and Senneker. In the final 50 laps Senneker made his charge to the front, but even a yellow flag for Bob Strait’s spin the 70th lap couldn’t give Senneker enough advantage to catch Young at the checkered flag.

Joe Shear finished third in the Classic with Musgrave fourth followed by Tom Reffner of Rudolph, Wis., Dave Watson of Beloit, Wis., and Allison, of Hueytown Ala. Ed Hoffman was eighth, a lap down followed by Rusty Wallace of St. Louis, Mo., and Jerry Kemperman of Blue Island.

Following the race Young said this was his biggest win ever and also said he was glad “a local guy finally won a big one.”


Results –


1. Ray Young
2. Bob Senneker
3. Joe Shear
4. Tom Musgrave
5. Tom Reffner
6. Dave Watson
7. Bobby Allison
8. Ed Hoffman
9. Rusty Wallace
10.Jerry Kemperman
11.Bob Roper
12.Ted Musgrave
13.Bob Strait
14.Randy Sweet
15.Dave Evans
16.Rick Haase
17.Dick Trickle
18.Tom Jones
19.Bill Venturini
20.Al Weinreich
21.Bay Darnell
22.Mike Miller
23.Tony Izzo
24.Hal Davis

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.