1975 – Gerber Wears Raceway Crown

 

Jim Gerber

East Moline, Ill. (September 14, 1975) – The point race at Quad City Raceway was so close between Jim Gerber of Long Grove, Iowa, and Duane Steffe of East Moline, that the winner of the season championship feature would also be crowned point champion for 1975.

It would be a see-saw battle for a while.

Gerber took the lead at the start, but Steffe got by on lap 3 and seemed to have things well under control, but his car wasn’t up to the task. He had a new engine and the car had been running hot all night long. It was still running hot by feature time and Steffe had no choice but to back off a little.

Gerber sped past Steffe on the 18th circuit and then took over from there. He lapped everyone except the top-five finishers en route to an easy victory in the 50-lap feature, thus earning himself the point title.

Bob Stogdell of Silvis would get past Steffe in the late stages of the race and take runner-up honors. Steffe finished third while defending track champion Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley was fourth. Lyle Gehn of Port Byron rounded out the top five.


Results –


Heat #1 – Doug Crawford, Geneseo
Heat #2 – Mike McGrew, Coal Valley
Heat #3 – Bob Stogdell, Silvis
Semi-main – Duane Steffe, East Moline
Consolation – Doug Crawford
Feature –
1. Jim Gerber, Long Grove, Iowa
2. Bob Stogdell
3. Duane Steffe
4. Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley, Iowa
5. Lyle Gehn, Port Byron

1956 – Clay County Stocks to Beauchamp

 

Johnny Beauchamp

Spencer, Iowa (September 14, 1956) – Johnny Beauchamp of Harlan came within one minute of beating the world’s record for 50 miles when he won the stock car feature at the Clay County Fair on Thursday.

Beauchamp’s winning time was 59 minutes and 42.11 seconds, only a minute off the record of 49 minutes and 75.69 seconds set by Bob Carpenter of Wabash, Ind.

More than 11,800 fans witnessed the action, sanctioned by the International Motor Contest Association.

Beauchamp trailed Don ash of Avoca for the first 20 laps before taking the lead. He stayed out front the rest of the day, with only one man pressing him.

Don White of Keokuk followed on Beauchamp’s bumper for most of the race but fell behind in the late stages. White and Chub Liebe of Oelwein, who finished second and third, respectively, were the only two drivers not lapped.

It was Beauchamp’s 36th feature victory of the season, the IMCA point leader in the stock car division.

Only eight drivers of the 12 starters finished the race.


Results –

1. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan
2. Don White, Keokuk
3. Chub Liebe, Oelwein
4. Bob Kosiskie, Omaha, Neb.
5. Dick Johnson, St. Paul, Minn.
6. Chris Skadal, Des Moines
7. Don Pash, Avoca
8. Duane Streight, Madrid
9. Dick Jepsen, Hoxie, Kan.
10.Mel Kreuger, Anita

1987 - Larson tops IMCA 'Super Nationals'

 

Wayne Larson of Ames won the rain-delayed 50-lap IMCA Modified Super Nationals at I-35 Speedway.

Mason City, Iowa (September 13, 1987) – Wayne Larson of Ames outlasted the field through three days, finally winning the 50-lap IMCA Modified Super Nationals feature race Sunday afternoon at I-35 Speedway.

A record 141 IMCA modifieds from a record 11 states participated in the event, which suffered several delays both Friday and Saturday and was finally halted after just 10 laps of the feature had been run early Sunday morning when rain made the track to slick to continue.

Only a handful of the 2,000 race fans were on hand when action finally resumed at 12:45 pm Sunday as Larson outdueled Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie, Minn., over the final 40 laps to take the $1,500 top prize. Noble collected $1,200 for his runner-up finish and Ron Becker of Tama took home $1,000 for third.

“The car worked beautifully,” Larson said in victory lane. “I didn’t care who was behind me – I just concentrated on running low because I knew that’s where I had to be to win.”

The feature race was red-flagged on lap 8 Saturday night when Bill Davis of Des Moines had the throttle stick on his car on the front stretch. He left the track, catapulted over a dirt pile, did a number of end-over-end mid-air flips, then came to rest on his wheels about 150 yards away from the racing surface.

The spectacular crashed silenced the crowd, but Davis suffered only minor bruises in the mishap.

Fast timer Greg Kastli of Waterloo was the leader when the 50-lap feature resumed on Sunday afternoon and he was able to hold Larson at bay for 14 more laps before being passed. Noble also got around Kastli and chased Larson until he was passed again by Kastli on lap 43.

Then, on the 43rd lap, Noble passed Kastli, and Kastli, too high in turn three, slid off the end of the track, ending his chances of getting back into the championship picture.

Larson started outside the third row, Noble outside the sixth row and third-place finisher Becker inside the seventh row.

Rex Merritt of Billings, Mo., finished in fourth, ahead of ’84 Super Nationals champion Jack Mitchell of Cedar Falls, who started 29th.

Friday night’s “Race of Champions” was won by Denny Banks of Washington, while Kastli won the “Dash of the States” event.

Heats were won by Kastli, David Gould of Fort Smith, Ark., Brad Dubil of Davenport, Donnie Pangburn of Northwood, Merritt, Steve Muilenburg of Sparta, Mo., Noble, Bill Davis, two-time defending Super Nationals champion Mike Frieden of Swisher, and Shane Davis of Rock Island, Ill.

C features were won by Mike Guttormson of Austin, Minn., and Craig Shutt of Des Moines. B feature winners included Ron Luitjens of Brewster, Minn., Ken McCarty of Muskogee, Okla., Ted Beaman of Council Bluffs and Monte Ohrt of Tipton.

Larry DeVries of New Hampton won the hobby stock feature.


Results –


1. Wayne Larson, Ames
2. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
3. Ron Becker, Tama
4. Rex Merritt, Billings, Mo.
5. Jack Mitchell, Cedar Falls
6. Dan McKeighan, Council Bluffs
7. Dave Nutt, Fairmont, Minn.
8. Roger Bruggeman, Dubuque
9. Brad Dubil, Davenport
10.Greg Kastli, Waterloo
11.Shane Davis, Rock Island, Ill.
12.Ron Pope, Ames
13.Rich Smith, Davenport
14.Mike Sorenson, Rochester, Minn.
15.Donnie Pangburn, Northwoods
16.Glenn Woodard, Des Moines
17.Ron Luitjens, Brewster, Minn.
18.Mike Frieden, Swisher
19.Jimmy Balkcom, Calloway, Fla.
20.Steve Stinger, Hiawatha

1959 – Foyt is Salem 100-Lap Victor

Barely shaving, A.J. Foyt won the USAC 100-lapper at Salem in 1959. Joining him and the huge trophy are Boyd Smedley (far left), Marge Muir (second from left) and promoter Stan Hicks (far right). – Marge Donnella Collection

Salem, Ind. (September 13, 1959) – A.J. Foyt of Houston, Tex., won the 100-lap Joe James – Pat O’Conner Memorial race on Sunday afternoon, outlasting Don Branson in one of the most thrilling finishes ever seen on the high banks of Salem Speedway.

However, many in the crowd of approximately 5,500 felt Branson would be entitled to a “foul claim” if auto racing made provisions for it as horse racing does.

Foyt, who led all the way, was almost caught at the finish by the hard-charging Branson, a Champaign, Ill., chauffeur who clinched the Midwest sprint title with his second-place finish.

Coming out of the final turn, Foyt’s Watson Special on the outside, cut across into Branson’s Estes Special, hitting its front wheel. It forced Branson to back off, and the Watson car won by five car lengths.

Foyt, who held a comfortable lead of over a quarter of a lap with five circuits to go, said he momentarily lost control entering the stretch turn. Branson said he felt Foyt squeezed him out.

Finishing third was Bud Tingelstad of Dayton, Ohio, in the Park Special. Tom McClellan of Dayton was fourth in the and Red Amick of Muncie, Ind., claimed fifth. Sixteen cars started and 12 finished.


Results –


1. A.J. Foyt
2. Don Branson
3. Bud Tingelstad
4. Tom McClellan
5. Red Amick
6. Jim Packard
7. Red Renner
8. Bruce Jacobi
9. Curly Boyd
10.Jim Hemmings

1976 - Shear Resolves Differences, Wins Dells Midwest Championship

Joe Shear and his wife Connie are joined by Dells Motor Speedway promoter Larry Wehrs after Shear won the 100-lap Midwest Championships. – Kurt Luoma Photo

By Dick Johnson

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (September 12, 1976) – After patching up a squabble with car owner Marvin Palmer, Joe Shear returned in his familiar #36 Camaro to capture the 100-lap finale of the Midwest Championships at the Dells Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Earlier, Larry Detjens and Joe Ruttman had split the 50-lap preliminary features.

Shear and Palmer parted ways Friday night with Shear piloting Gary Hemmerling’s car in Saturday’s events. However, they resolved their differences Saturday night and Sunday found Shear back in his regular ride.

The South Beloit, Ill., charger earned his starting berth in the 100-lapper with a third-place finish in the second of two 50-lappers. Each of the 50s started its top-10 finishers in the finale with four additional cars being selected to complete the 24-car field.

Slinger’s Tony Strupp was the initial leader in the 100-lapper, but he pulled into the pits after five laps, giving the top spot to Rocky Breezer, who held it through the 11th lap.

On lap 12, Jim Hornung took over as Shear moved into fourth. By lap 16, Ruttman had moved swiftly though traffic and was right behind Shear. Shear and Ruttman were running one-two by the 22nd circuit with Shear starting to slowly pull away.

Meanwhile, Detjens was hurrying through traffic, taking third from Doug Strasburg on lap 377. However, it wasn’t until lap 52 that Detjens caught Ruttman, and after an extended side-by-side battle, Detjens finally prevailed.

With Shear nearly a quarter lap in front, chances seemed remote that Detjens would have an opportunity to challenge Shear. But a tangle involving Leonard Reimer and Marv Marzofka brought out the yellow on lap 63 and enabled Detjens to restart right on Shear’s rear bumper.

When the green appeared, Detjens gave chase to the leader and 10 laps later, managed to pull even with Shear on the backstretch trapping him behind a slower car.

However, Shear managed to squeeze past the slower car and keep ahead of Detjens the rest of the way by a combination of smart driving and using heavy traffic to his advantage.

At the finish, Shear was a couple of car lengths ahead of Detjens with Ruttman a quarter-lap down in third place. Tom Reffner, Doug Strasburg, and Jerry Makara, finished fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively, all on the lead lap.

Detjens won the first 50-lapper after passing Tom Reffner for the lead on lap 44. Reffner held on to place second followed by Bob Gunn. Ruttman won the second 50-lapper after passing early leader Bill Oas on lap 15 to gain the top spot. Doug Strasburg and Shear finished second and third, respectively.


Results –


1. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
2. Larry Detjens, Wausau
3. Joe Ruttman, Dearborn, Mich.
4. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
5. Doug Strasburg, Johnson Creek
6. Jerry Makara, Ancaster, Ontario
7. Bob Gunn, Madison
8. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids
9. Bob Carnes, Kalamazoo, Mich.
10.Bill Oas, New Brighton, Minn.

1983 - Purvis Sails to World 100 Title

Jeff Purvis and his father Clyde hoist trophies after winning the 13th annual World 10 at Eldora Speedway. – Wayne Kindness Collection

Rossburg, Ohio (September 11, 1983) – When Jeff Purvis makes a move on somebody, you know it.

On lap 86, the 23-year-old went past veteran Pat Patrick quicker than you could say, “The 13th Annual World 100.” That move made him $16,000 richer.

Over 150 late models timed from 18 states plus Australia on the high-banked half-mile dirt oval before another record-breaking crowd. Only four, Patrick and Purvis, along with track record holder Charlie Swartz (16.652) and fastest qualifier Jack Boggs (17.058) made the starting lineup via time.

The rest had to qualify through heat races. Chuck McWilliams, Ray Godsey, 1976 winner Charlie Hughes, Freddie Smith, Rodney Combs, and Gary Balough won their respective qualifying heat races.

In the last chance race, John Lawhorn, Billy Thomas, and even Jack Hewitt advanced to the main event.

The 100-lapper had it’s issues getting started with a plethora of yellows but once it did, Pat Patrick negotiated his Camaro into the lead. Purvis followed as did Swartz, Jack Boggs, Smith, and Russ Petro.

On lap 46, the wall claimed Swartz and tightened up the field. Tom Hearst moved up to the top-five but on lap 66 he lost his engine. Smith made a move and got within striking distance of Patrick and Purvis, but he too, smacked the wall. The Kings Mountain, N.C., driver would recover, however, and finish fourth.

On lap 86, Purvis made his move and with five laps left, had nothing but clear sailing and put his car into the winner’s circle.

Earl Baltes made the announcement afterwards that the 1984 winner would receive $17,000 to win, “The Most Prestigious Late Model Dirt Track Race in America.”


Results –


1. Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
2. Pat Patrick, Batavia, Ohio
3. Jack Boggs, Webbville, Ky.
4. Freddie Smith, Kings Mountain, N.C.
5. Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
6. Russ Petro, Columbus, Ind.
7. Rodney Combs, Lost Creek, W.Va.
8. Roger Absher, Franklin, Ind.
9. John Mason, Millersburg, Ohio
10.Gary Balough, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
11.Noel Witcher Jr., Greenwood, Ind.
12.Kenny Brightbill, Sinking Springs, Penn.
13.Chuck McWilliams, Union, Ky.
14.John Yearsley, Urbana, Ill.
15.Tom Hearst, Wilton, Iowa

1976 – Shryock Wins Webster City Futurity

Bob Shryock

Webster City, Iowa (September 11, 1976) – Bob Shryock of Estherville won the fourth annual Webster City Futurity 50-lap feature for late models at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

Dave Bjorge of Auston, Minn., took the initial lead with Bob Kosiski of Omaha and Mert Williams of Rochester, Minn., following close behind. Shryock, who started ninth in the 28-car field, slowly made his way to the front, settling into fourth place by lap 15.

A red flag on lap 19 allowed everyone to make a pit stop and make adjustments to their cars. When the field went back to green, Shryock made his move, flashing past Williams and Kosiski and settling into second place, right on Bjorge’s rear bumper.

Two laps later, Shryock went around Bjorge for the lead and immediately started distancing himself from Bjorge and the rest of the field. He built up a six-car advantage and kept it there until the checkers waved.

Bjorge settled for second with Kosiski taking third. Bill Rice of Des Moines and Denny Osborn of Cedar Falls took fourth and fifth, respectively.

Gail Brenner of Wilton won the 25-lap sportsman feature just beating Keith Conroy to the finish line.


Results –


Heat #1 – Tom Fitzpatrick, Gilbertville
Heat #2 – Bob Hilmer, Dysart
Heat #3 – Bill Martin, Council Bluffs
Heat #4 – Bill Rice, Des Moines
Race of Champions – Gary Crawford, Independence
Feature –
1. Bob Shryock, Estherville
2. Dave Bjorge, Austin, Minn.
3. Bob Kosiski, Omaha
4. Bill Rice
5. Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
6. Dave Chase, Council Bluffs
7. Bill Martin
8. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
9. Roger Tapper, Webster City
10.Bob Hilmer