1981 - McCorkell Repeats in Jackson Nationals

 

Jack McCorkell successfully defended his Jackson 317 Sprint Nationals title at Jackson VFW Speedway. Joining McCorkell in victory lane are speedway queen are Jan Marie Mueller and flagman Dean Wieskus. – Bill Haglund Photo

Jackson, Minn. (August 22, 1981) – Veteran Jack McCorkell of Redwood Falls moved steadily to the front Saturday night and won his second straight Jackson Nationals title at Jackson VFW Speedway.

Relegated to start the 30-lap feature on the outside of the fifth row, McCorkell charged quickly to the front and took the lead away from Bobby Geldner of St. Peter at about the halfway mark of the contest.

Polesitter Keith Frantsen of Windom took the lead at the green flag but lost it two laps later to Geldner, who held it until being passed by McCorkell.

When Geldner took the lead, he stretched out a sizeable margin that was cut by a yellow flag. Then, Gary Scott of Holts Summit, Mo., got past Frantsen and began pressuring Geldner for the lead. However, Scott and a slower car brushed the turn two wall, slowing Scott’s pace and he fell back in the pack. He would charge back and finish fourth.

When Scott suffered his misfortune, McCorkell was there to take advantage of the situation to move into second place and he soon was applying pressure to Geldner.

Local veterans have thus won all three Jackson Nationals to date with Marv DeWall of Jackson winning the inaugural event and McCorkell the last two.

Jack Trigg of Sioux Falls, S.D. won the C-main while Gordy Lamb of Moorhead won the B-main with veteran Dick Forbrook of Morgan finishing second, those two filling the 21st and 22nd final starting positions in the A-main.


Results –


1. Jack McCorkell, Redwood Falls
2. Bob Geldner, St. Peter
3. Dean Ward, Grand Island, Neb.
4. Gary Scott, Holts Summit, Mo.
5. Keith Frantsen, Windom
6. Jerry Richert, Forest Lake
7. Miles Grein, Lakefield
8. Kim Lingenfelter, Norfolk, Neb.
9. Don Reiners, Sioux Falls, S.D.
10.Marv DeWall, Jackson
11.Gordy Lamb, Moorhead
12.Leland Van Emmerick, Salem, S.D.
13.Dick Forbrook Morgan
14.Denny Houseman, Estherville, Iowa
15.Jack Comer, Rapid City, S.D.

1976 – Wallace Takes Sedalia Stock Opener

 

Joe Wallace

Sedalia, Mo. (August 22, 1976) – It was only a year ago when an irate Joe Wallace protested strongly that he should have won the International Motor Contest Association stock car race here at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.

“On a restart, I know they should have put the green flag in front of me,” said Wallace, who made up some of the things he felt he lost last year here when he won the opening IMCA new model stock car race of the season at the Missouri State Fair.

“I was positive I was in the lead, but I didn’t get the green flag and eventually was placed third in the finish (last year),” the Kansas City, Kan., driver said after his victory on the half-mile track In front of nearly 8,500 spectators.

Asked if Sunday’s win erased the memory of last year’s personal vengeance, Wallace replied, “No, that was last year…. this is this year.”

Wallace led nearly all the way, overtaking Larry Ball of Springfield on the sixth lap and lead the pack the rest of the way.

Ferris Collier of Lampe, who finished second, was right on the heels of Wallace the entire way. Collier made a strong bid for the lead on lap 32, moving alongside Wallace as the entered the frontstretch, but he was unable to overtake him in the 50-lap feature.

“I knew he was right behind me,” Wallace said. “I really knew it when I saw the numbers on his car about midway through the race.”

Despite a yellow flag on lap 19 which came out for the day’s fastest qualifier, Kevin Gundaker of St. Ann when he spun between turns one and two, Wallace cracked two, long-standing IMCA Fairgrounds’ records.

Wallace bettered the 25-lap record Ramo Stott set in 1967 with a time of 8 minutes and 27.95 seconds. Stott owned the previous mark which was 10 minutes and 5187 seconds. Wallace also broke the 50-lap mark with a winning time of 20 minutes and 55.67 seconds. Stott also set that previous standard in 1967 with a time of 22 minutes and 24.03 seconds.

Finishing behind Wallace and Collier, both of whom were driving Camaros, was Russ Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, who won last year’s 50-lap in the same race. Derr piloted a Chevrolet Nova to third place.

Fourth and fifth went to Gary Truelove of Trimble and Mike Dibben of Kansas City. Both drivers drove Camaros.

The victory was worth $700 to Wallace. He also picked up $75 for winning his heat and an additional $100 for breaking an IMCA record.

In addition to Wallace, other heat winners were Mike Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, and John Oswalt and Doyle Dowd, both of Kansas City. Mike Dibbed won the consolation.

Gundaker’s fast time in qualifying was 25.31 seconds. He went out for qualifying seventh from last in the 54 cars that took time trials.


Results –


1. Joe Wallace, Kansas City, Kan.
2. Ferris Collier, Lampe
3. Russ Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
4. Gary Truelove, Trimble
5. Mike Dibben, Kansas City
6. Jim Campbell, Harrison, Ark.
7. Bill Wrich, Kennard, Neb.
8. Galen Schaefer, Topeka, Kan.
9. Mike Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
10.Larry Ball, Springfield
11.Bud Dibben, Kansas City
12.John Oswalt, Kansas City
13.Kevin Gundaker, St. Ann
14.Roy McClellan, Riverside
15.Shorty Acker, Windsor

1969 – Vogler Captures Chicago Midget Race

 

Don Vogler is joined by his son Rich (holding trophy) and USAC supervisor Bob Stroud (far right) after Vogler won the 50-lap USAC midget feature at Santa Fe Speedway. – Vince Mayer Photo

Hinsdale, Ill. (August 22, 1969) – Don Vogler of Glen Ellyn, Ill., captured the 50-lap United States Auto Club midget feature on the quarter-mile oval at Santa Fe Speedway.

Vogler took over the lead on lap 12 and was never headed to score his first-ever USAC midget victory after four years of competition.


Results –


Time trials – Les Scott (15.19)
Trophy dash – Jimmy Caruthers
Heat #1 – Bill Engelhart
Heat #2 – Bob Hare
Heat #3 – Warren Schiebe
Heat #4 – Johnny Parsons Jr.
Semi-main – Johnny Parsons Jr.
Feature -
1. Don Vogler
2. Jimmy Caruthers
3. Bill Engelhart
4. Bob Tattersall
5. Bill Renshaw
6. Roger West
7. Bob Lithgow
8. Merle Bettenhausen
9. Mike McGreevy
10.Bob Hare

1964 - 5,000 See Gerber Win

 

Jim Gerber flashes a smile and the checkers after winning the 30-lap modified stock car feature at Hawkeye Downs. 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (August 22, 1964) - Jim Gerber of Mount Joy, Iowa won the 30-lap feature race in the modified stock car racing before 5,000 fans at Hawkeye Downs Saturday night.

Gerber, son of former big car driver Johnny Gerber of Davenport, also captured second place in his heat.

The Hawkeye Downs point leader, Red Droste of Waterloo, won the trophy dash, failed to finish in his heat, placed third in the semi main event and finished fourth in the feature.

The races were highlighted by a five-car pileup on the next-to-last lap of the feature race. Cal Swanson of Reinbeck smashed into Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids to begin the chain reaction.

Benny Hofer added to the confusion when, on the next lap, he swerved around the tangled wreckage and hit a light pole. No one was injured.


Results –


Trophy Dash – Red Droste, Waterloo
First Heat – Verlin Eaker, Austin, Minn.
Second Heat – Tom Hughes, Monticello
Third Heat – Mert Williams, Rochester, Minn.
Semi-Main – Bob Hilmer, Dysart
Feature –
1. Jim Gerber, Mt. Joy
2. Tuffy Meyer, Big Rock
3. Verlin Eaker
4. Red Droste, Waterloo
5. Charlie Moffitt, Stanwood

1983 - Third Straight for Roper in Springfield Stocks

Dean Roper won Sunday afternoon’s Allen Crowe 100 stock car race. Sid Hutchcraft, representing the Illinois State Fair, makes the trophy presentation. – Bryan Gapinski Photo

Springfield, Ill. (August 21, 1983) – Dean Roper of Fair Grove, Mo., scored his third straight USAC stock car victory of the season in Sunday’s Allen Crowe Memorial 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

The event was part of a twin-bill show that also included USAC midgets. Arnie Knepper of Belleville, Ill., was the winner in that event.

It was the third USAC stock victory in three races this season for Roper, who won the race with a time of 1 hour, 11 minutes and 21 seconds for an average of 84 mile per hour. He earned $3,500 from a total purse of $18,155.

Roper, driving a Grand Prix, took the lead from Terry Pearson on lap 39 of the stock car main event and went on to defeat runner-up Bob Brevak by three seconds. Joe Wallace finished third, Butch Garner was fourth, and Tom Meinberg rounded out the top-five finishers.

Bobby Jacks earned the pole position for the contest with a 36.317-second tour of the one-mile dirt oval but it was fellow front row starter Meinberg who grabbed the lead at the opening green.

Jacks forged into the lead spot on lap 6 and was still in front when Jack Hughes spun and slammed into the wall in turn three on lap 15, prompting the event’s first caution.

A Jacks’ pit stop returned the lead to Meinberg on lap 18, four miles before the green returned. Pearson became the third driver to pace the chase on lap 24. A Rick Benson spin in the first turn put action under the yellow for five more miles beginning on lap 29. Pearson then led the next five green flag circuits before yielding to Roper.

By virtue of his triumph, Roper increased his lead in the season’s point standings to 280 points over runner-up Rick O’Brien.


Results –


1. Dean Roper
2. Bob Brevak
3. Joe Wallace
4. Butch Garner
5. Tom Meinberg
6. Rick O’Brien
7. Bobby Jacks
8. Gordon Blankenship
9. Mike Brown
10.Clyde Dagit
11.Roger Drake
12.Terry Pearson
13.Rick Benson
14.Jiggs Lindhorst
15.Corrie Stott
16.Herman Huffman
17.Ken Snyder
18.Jack Hughes
19.Rich Hampton
20.Steve Drake
21.Larry Nau
22.Eric Smith
23.Ken Rowley
24.Ken Schrader

 

1976 – Californian Wins Missouri State Fair Feature

 

Jimmy Sills is congratulated after winning his first IMCA sprint car feature at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. IMCA's Woody Brinkman holds the checkered flag. 

Sedalia, Mo. (August 21, 1976) – Most people at the age of 23 are going to school or getting married. Not 23-year-old Jimmy Sills of Sacramento, Calif., he’s racing sprint cars. Very successfully as a matter of fact.

Sills chalked up his first International Motor Contest Association win of the season at the Missouri State Fair on Saturday.

“I thought Gary Scott was going to get me,” said Sills after winning. Sills fought off a fierce charge by Scott, who finished second in the 30-lap feature on the half-mile dirt track in front of an estimated 7,000 fans.

Sills earned the pole position in the 20-car feature by virtue of time trials and a fourth-place finish in the second heat.

Sills time in sixth fastest with his clocking of 25.20 seconds, which earned him a spot on the pole in the feature that inverted the top six fastest qualifiers.

Sills had a good day at the pay window, winning $700 for the feature, $40 in the heat, $25 in time trials and $40 in the match race.

He’s been touring the Midwest for only a month but feels that the racing in this area is stronger than in his home area of the West Coast.

“The cars and drivers in this area are more competitive around here than they are on the West Coast,” Sills remarked after accepting his trophy.

“Today was a good example,” he added, “with drivers like Scott, Utz and Ferkel on your tail.”

Although Sills led the whole way, he really started getting pressure from Scott after Doug Wolfgang, this year’s Knoxville (Iowa) track champion, and Ferkel had to go to the rear of the field on lap 22.

Ferkel, running third at the time, spun coming out of turn two on the 22nd lap but kept his car going. But fourth-place runner Gene Gennetten and second-place runner Wolfgang got involved and came to a halt. That stop put Wolfgang to the back of the field.

Ferkel also had to go to the rear of the field when he pulled into the pit area with a flat rear tire. Ferkel’s crew put on new rubber quickly but officials ruled that he too had to join Wolfgang in the rear.

Gennetten, one of the favorites in the feature until the tangle on lap 22, was forced to retire to the pits.

Scott finished a close second to Sills while two-time and defending IMCA national champion Bill Utz took third. Fifth-generation driver Rick Weld was fourth and Tom Corbin of Carrollton was fifth.

Fast time was set by Chuck Amati of Freeman Spur, Ill., at 24.73 seconds. That time was more than two seconds slower than the IMCA track record of 22.72 seconds set back in 1972.


Results –


Time trials – Chuck Amati, Freeman Spur, Ill.
Heat #1 – Tom Corbin, Carrollton, Mo.
Heat #2 – Rick Ferkel, Tiffin, Ohio
Heat #3 – Cliff Lilly, Independence, Mo.
Trophy dash – Jimmy Sills, Sacramento, Calif.
Consolation – Gary Scott, Holts Summit, Mo.
Feature –
1. Jimmy Sills
2. Gary Scott
3. Bill Utz, Sedalia, Mo.
4. Rick Weld, Kansas City
5. Tom Corbin
6. Sonny Smyser, Glenwood, Mo.
7. Fred Linder, Fremont, Ohio
8. Gary Patterson, Sacramento, Calif.
9. Roy Comstock, Versailles, Mo.
10.Rick Ferkel
11.Doug Wolfgang, Des Moines, Iowa
12.Roger Wright, Blue Springs, Mo.
13.Gene Gennetten
14.Ralph Parkinson Sr., Kansas City
15.Cliff Powell, Hannibal, Mo.

1964 – 10,000 See Richert Win Fair Race

 

Jerry Richert

Des Moines, Iowa (August 21, 1964) – Jerry Richert, current point leader who almost missed qualifying for the main event, chalked up his 10th triumph of the season in winning the 20-lap International Motor Contest Association sprint car feature at the Iowa State Fair Friday evening.

Trailing the Forest Lake, Minn., speedster was Harold Leep, the famed “Offy Killer” from Wichita, Kan., in the Chet Wilson Chevrolet, Greg Weld of Kansa City and Jerry “Scratch” Daniels of St. Paul, Minn.

The opening auto race crowd announced at more than 10,000 by fair officials witnessed at least one spectacular crash which sent veteran Herschel Wagner of Hickman Hills, Mo., to a Des Moines area hospital with facial lacerations on hi nose and forehead.

Wagner, who has been racing for more than 15 years, hit a rut going into the first turn of the initial lap of his time trial, his car rolled over, flipped end-over-end, and ended upright.

Richert was pushed by Weld in the main event, who lost the lead after a rock went through his glasses. Weld was able to hang on to finish third but was rushed to a hospital after the race for what appeared to be a badly cut eye.

Earlier, Weld had thrilled the crowd by nosing out Daniels in the second qualifying heat, taking the lead on the second turn of the final lap. He was second in time trials with a 24.88 second performance.

Richert, who put together two consecutive time trial laps of 24.72 and 24.52, couldn’t place in any of the three qualifying heats, although he did win the 5-lap trophy dash.

As a result, he found himself in the 10-lap consolation race with 15 other contenders trying for the four remaining starting spots in the feature.

With him were 1963 IMCA champion Gordon Woolley of Waco, Tex., Jerry Weld, brother of Greg and fourth fastest qualifier, and Red Amick of Muncie, Ind., world record holder for a half-mile lap.

Woolley and Weld made the feature with a second and fourth behind Richert but Amick spun out while in fourth place and towed back to the infield with a dead motor.

Leep, the second-place finisher in the feature, was second in the opening qualifying heat and third in the trophy dash. He had the third fastest time in time trials.


Results –


1. Jerry Richert, Forest Lake, Minn.
2. Harold Leep, Wichita, Kan.
3. Greg Weld, Kansas City
4. Carl Williams, Kansas City
5. Harvey Shane, Cherryvale, Kan.
6. Jerry Daniels, St. Paul, Minn.
7. Gordon Woolley, Waco, Tex.
8. Dale Reed, Wichita, Kan.
9. Jim McCune, Toledo, Ohio
10.Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.
11.Marvin Taylor, Rosewood Heights, Ill.
12.Jim Moughan, Springfield, Ill.