1958 – Beauchamp Fails to Snap Jinx in Playland Feature

Don White

Council Bluffs, Iowa (June 14, 1958) – For 64 laps Saturday night at Playland Park, it looked like Johnny Beauchamp would shake the jinx that’s plagued him this season.

That’s the number of laps the Harlan, Iowa, driver led the field in IMCA’s 100-lap late model stock car contest. But Beauchamp, the defending International Motor Contest Association champion, who hasn’t won any kind of feature at Playland this season, couldn’t shake his hex.

With a half-lap lead, Beauchamp looked like a shoo-in until he spun on the 67th lap. The slip dropped him back to fifth place and he could only regain one position as Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, sped to victory before 3,228 race fans.


Results –


1. Don White, Keokuk
2. Ernie Derr, Keokuk
3. Bud Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
4. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan
5. Bud Aitkenhead, Omaha, Neb.
6. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
7. Al Warrender, Harlan
8. Lloyd Jorgenson, Audubon
9. Bob Ward, Creston
10.Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle

1981 – Bjorge, Combs Fastest as I-70 Reopens

Dave Bjorge

Odessa, Mo. (June 13, 1981) – Rodney Combs was the fastest qualifier and Dave Bjorge was quickest in the feature as I-70 National Speedway reopened as a dirt track.

Acquired by Weld Enterprises earlier this year, the asphalt racing surface was covered with tons of dirt and Saturday’s action marked the start of a new era at the speedway.

Attesting to the track’s newly groomed dirt surface, Combs, from Lost Creek, W.Va., established a new record of 19.67 seconds in time trials.

However, in the end it was Bjorge, the racing veteran from Austin, Minn., who showed the rest of the field the fastest way around the half-mile, winning the 50-lapper by 10 car lengths.

Pete Parker of Kaukauna, Wis., now driving out of Walcott, Iowa, finished second, followed by Joe Merryfield of Des Moines. Curt Hansen of Dike, Iowa, and Ron Jackson of Burlington, Iowa, rounded out the top-five finishers.

Combs, Bill Martin of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Vic Bentlage of Jefferson City, Bjorge, and Rick Beebe of Overland, Kan., were heat winners.

Dhon Hauserman of Wichita, Kan., was the B-main victor.


Results –


1. Dave Bjorge, Austin, Minn.
2. Pete Parker, Walcott, Iowa
3. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines
4. Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa
5. Ron Jackson, Burlington, Iowa
6. Joe Kosiski, Omaha
7. Bill Martin, Council Bluffs, Iowa
8. Galen Schaefer, Topeka, Kan.
9. Les Duellman, Fountain City, Wis.
10.Dhon Hauserman, Wichita, Kan.

1972 – Prusak Wins Late Model Invitational

Phil Prusak

Eau Claire, Wis. (June 13, 1972) – There’s no place like home sweet home for Phil Prusak.

The hometown driver grabbed the pole position, $600 and the first-place trophy in Tuesday night’s Late Model Invitational at Eau Claire Speedway.

And the talented Prusak made it look relatively easy.

Gaining the pole position from his win in the first heat, Prusak took the lead in the uneventful 18-car, 40-lap feature, and then pulled away to victory, never surrendering the top spot.

Prusak, the only double-winner in late model action at Eau Claire Speedway this season, was well ahead of Dave Morgan of Rice Lake, Wis., who collected $400 for his runner-up finish.

Morgan started alongside Prusak on the front row and held on to the second position the whole way.

Axel Dahlberg, of Rice Lake, Wis., took third place and $300; Loyal Skuza of St. Cloud, Minn., was fourth and took home $250 and Red Steffen of Eau Claire rounded out the top five and came away with $200.


Results –


1. Phil Prusak, Eau Claire
2. Dave Morgan, Rice Lake
3. Axel Dahlberg, Rice Lake
4. Loyal Skuza, St. Cloud, Minn.
5. Red Steffen, Eau Claire
6. Tom Nesbitt, Thunder Bay, Ontario
7. John Foegen, Winona, Minn.
8. Loren Pagel, Virginia, Minn.
9. Al Schueler, Winona, Minn.
10.Dave Adams, Cameron

1971 – 8,653 See Hoffman Snare Race in Confused Finish

Don Hoffman

Des Moines, Iowa (June 12, 1971) – There was no doubt who won the 25-lap late model stock car feature at the State Fairgrounds on Saturday night.

Don Hoffman of Des Moines did that in fine style, driving his 1969 Camaro to victory by more than a half-lap to become the seventh different winner in seven weeks of racing.

The crowd of 8,653 probably didn’t know who finished second or third in the event and officially finally decided around midnight that Ken Davidson of Des Moines was runner-up and Dave Chase of Council Bluffs was third. Dick Oldham of Des Moines was fourth.

Official scorekeepers first had Bob Hilmer of Dysart second and Ernie Derr of Keokuk in third.

Hilmer and Derr, running second and third respectively, were involved in an accident in the first turn just after the white flag waved, denoting the final lap.

Derr later said his brakes on his 1965 Dodge failed. He rode the tail of Hilmer’s 1970 Chevelle and Hilmer got pushed into the concrete retaining wall in the first turn.

Both cars were damaged extensively.

The scorekeepers first ruled the accident had no bearing on the finish but later it was determined that the finish would revert to the lineup on the 24th lap except that Derr and Hilmer were place in ninth and tenth positions, respectively.

Hoffman, the 1969 sportsman champion, moved into late model racing in 1970. His victory was his first in late model competition.

“We’ve been trying different setups all season,” he said. “I guess we got the right combination tonight.”

Late model point leader John Connolly of Delhi and second place in points Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids had to start near the end of the lineup according to the rules and they were never contenders. Dake was awarded fifth and Connolly sixth in the revised finish.

Ken Davidson of Des Moines was the initial leader in the feature with Hoffman taking over on the second lap and leading the rest of the way.

Matt Moro of Des Moines captured his second straight sportsman feature, winning over Virgil Webb and Billy Geil, both of Des Moines. Sportsman point leader Phil Reece was sidelined with engine trouble.

The sportsman division had controversy as well, even before the races started. Drivers complained to officials they wanted more money. The late model winner received $500 while the sportsman winner received $150. Despite pleas, promoter Homer Melton refused to increase the purse.


Results –


Heat #1 – Don Hoffman, Des Moines
Heat #2 – Stan Stover, Reinbeck
Semi-main – Dick Oldham, Des Moines
Feature –
1. Don Hoffman
2. Ken Davidson, Des Moines
3. Dave Chase, Council Bluffs
4. Dick Oldham
5. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
6. John Connolly, Delhi
7. Bob Bonzer, Liscomb
8. Don Davidson, Des Moines
9. Bob Hilmer, Dysart
10.Ernie Derr, Keokuk

1966 – ‘Scratch’ Ends Winchester Victory Drought

Jerry "Scratch" Daniels

Winchester, Ind. (June 12, 1966) – A stranger to victory lane since 1964, Jerry “Scratch” Daniels finally found his way back to the top spot on Sunday afternoon at Winchester Speedway, winning the 30-lap International Motor Contest Association sprint car feature.

Driving the Frank Wagner Chevrolet-powered machine, Daniels overtook Charlie Masters on the 24th lap and beat him to the final checker by four seconds.

Masters, who started next to Daniels in the feature, took the lead on the first lap and stretched his lead to three seconds before getting caught in slower traffic. Daniels took advantage and motored around Masters on the inside.

The victory was a first for Daniels on a high-banked track.

He and teammate Jerry Richert, who finished in third place, got in considerable practice time at Winchester on Saturday and it paid off handsomely. The “Minnesota Twins” took first and third in the feature, first and third in time trials, a fourth and fifth in the fifth heat and a second in the consolation.

Dave Weir won the first heat in the Speedy Helm Chevy, while Jim Moughan won the second heat in the McGuire-Lancaster Chevy. Jim McCune was the victor in the third heat in the Steck Buick and Clair Lawicki out-dueled Daniels to win the 10-lap consolation.

The only serious accident of the afternoon involved Norm Baker. On the fifth lap of the consolation, Baker spun his Brock-Philip Chevy off the fourth turn, struck the inside guardrail nose first, then spun around and hit the railing again with the tail of the car. Baker climbed out, unhurt.


Results –


Time trials – Jerry McDaniels (18.31)
Heat #1 – Dave Weir
Heat #2 – Jim Moughan
Heat #3 – Jim McCune
Match race – Jerry Poland
Consolation – Clair Lawicki
Feature –
1. Jerry Daniels
2. Charlie Masters
3. Jerry Richert
4. Jerry Poland
5. Clair Lawicki
6. Buzz Gregory
7. Bill Puterbaugh
8. Dave Weir
9. Benny Rapp
10.Duke Cook

1979 – Sanger Sails in Hibbing Invitational

Ed Sanger

Hibbing, Minn. (June 11, 1979) – Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa, came from his 14th starting position to capture the feature race in the $11,500 Late Model Invitational at Hibbing Raceway on Tuesday evening.

The win earned Sanger a $1,500 check, along with a trophy, and it marked the second time in five years that he has won the invitational.

Sanger had plenty of company in the race as the top four finishers were all from Iowa. Gary Crawford of Independence, Iowa captured second while third place went to Don Hoffman of Des Moines and Verlin Eaker of Mechanicsville, Iowa, took fourth. J.J. Smith of Appleton, Wis., rounded out the top five finishers.

Forty-nine cars were entered in the event with 24 from Minnesota, 14 from Wisconsin, seven from Iowa, three from Canada, and one from North Dakota.

Heat race winners were Johnny Johnson of Hermantown, Minn., Crawford, Dave Adams of Cameron, Wis., and Phil Prusak of Eau Claire, Wis.

Tom Nesbitt of Thunder Bay, Ontario, was the semi-main winner.


Results –


Heat #1 – Johnny Johnson, Hermantown, Minn.
Heat #2 – Gary Crawford, Independence, Iowa
Heat #3 – Dave Adams, Cameron, Wis.
Heat #4 – Phil Prusak, Eau Claire, Wis.
Semi-main – Tom Nesbitt, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Feature –
1. Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
2. Gary Crawford
3. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
4. Verlin Eaker, Mechanicsville, Iowa
5. J.J. Smith, Appleton, Wis.
6. Leon Plank, Mondovi, Wis.
7. Tom Nesbitt
8. Duane Erickson, Superior, Wis.
9. Punky Manor, Altoona, Wis.
10.Dan Nesteby, Waterloo, Iowa

1961 – Smith Captures Wreck-Marred 300-Lapper

Harold Smith is congratulated by promoter John Marcum after winning the 300-lap MARC-sanctioned late model stock car race at Nashville.

Nashville, Tenn. (June 11, 1961) – Harold Smith of Dayton, Ohio, breezed to victory in the wreck-filled 300-lap MARC-sanctioned late model stock car race at Fairgrounds Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Dudley Stacy, the second-place finisher, was two laps behind, and Ken Reeder, who came in third, was seven laps behind the leader.

The race was slowed by caution flags, which were waved four times and lasted for a total of 24 laps.

For Smith, it was his fourth straight victory. Driving a 1961 Chevrolet, he turned in the fifth fastest qualifying time, then watched the four drivers who were faster, depart before the completion of the race.

A crowd of 7,479 watched Iggy Katona take the lead on the first lap when Harlan Richardson, the polesitter through an error in judgement, knocked Jack Bowsher into the guardrail on the first turn. Wayne Bennett, who was following, had no choice but to run into the back of Bowsher’s car. Both left the race, but Richardson straightened out his car and continued.

Katona seemed might relaxed as he coasted around the first 35 laps, but disaster struck on lap 36 when the plugs under his hood tore loose from a piston. “Every time I come here, something bad happens,” said the venerable veteran, who tagged the wall in the 1960 race.

With Katona out, Richardson zoomed into the top spot and held on to it until Smith roared by him on lap 143. It was Smith’s first taste of how it feels to run out front, but the flavor disappeared at the 163rd turn of the half-mile track as he went to the pits for gas.

It was Richardson’s turn again and the Houston, Tex., speedster, driving a 1961 Ford, stayed in front this time for only one lap, requiring a pit stop on lap 164.

Paul Parks, apparently responding to the urging of his wife, who corresponded with him on two-way radio throughout the race, took the lead next and clung to it until he needed fuel on lap 175.

Smith was back out front again, and this time for keeps. When Richardson’s right front tire blew on lap 243 and Parks’ tired engine expired on lap 265, Smith was home free.

He made one more pit stop - on lap 272 to pick up a couple gallons of gas – using only 20 seconds and getting back on the track as fast as if someone were on his tail.

The victory was worth $1,450 to the 26-year-old father of three, who has been a regular on the MARC circuit for five years.

Smith said his only worry was how the tires would hold up but crew chief Paul Wilmack informed Smith afterwards that the tires held up remarkably well and could have gone another 300 laps. Smith looked fresh as a daisy, despite a grueling distance. “Probably because I didn’t have to work too hard,” a smiling Smith said.

Only 10 of the 21 starters finished the race.


Results –

1. Harold Smith, Dayton, Ohio
2. Dudley Stacy, Cincinnati
3. Ken Reeder, McConnellsburg, Penn.
4. Cleo Ashby, Detroit
5. Clyde Parker, Detroit
6. Ron Krejci, Cleveland
7. Jesse Baird, Louisville
8. Buddy Ward, Louisville
9. Paul Parks, Columbus, Ohio
10.Harlan Richardson, Houston, Tex.