1987 - Sills Leads All The Way in Indianapolis WoO Win

 

Jimmy Sills is interviewed by Larry Nuber after winning the World of Outlaws main event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. – Mike Killdoo Photo

Indianapolis, Ind. (May 9, 1987) – Jimmy Sills led wire-to-wire to claim the 25-lap World of Outlaws sprint car feature Saturday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Stevee Kinser jumped into the lead when the green flag waved, but “The King” was charged with a false start and the contest was restarted.

On that same faulty start, Ron Shuman and Andy Stapp flipped in turn one. Rich Vogler attempted to avoid the mishap but caused Johnny Herrera to flip as well.

Om the restart, Sills nabbed the lead from the pole position, and he was never passed as he toured the 10-mile dirt oval on both the inside and outside grooves.

Sills was never challenged and took the checkered six seconds ahead of runner-up Kinser. Sammy Swindell placed third, followed by Mark Kinser and Jac Haudenschild.

Seven drivers topped the previous track record during qualifying for the event with Swindell posting the top mark of 27.09 seconds.

Several engines were burned up over the course of the night, causing the B-main to be canceled.


Results –


1. Jimmy Sills
2. Steve Kinser
3. Sammy Swindell
4. Mark Kinser
5. Jac Haudenschild
6. Randy Smith
7. Brad Doty
8. Kenny Jacobs
9. Keith Kauffman
10.Lee Brewer

1981 – Detjens Sweeps Dells ARTGO Go

 

Larry Detjens dominated ARTGO's Twin 50’s action at the Dells Motor Speedway, winning both 50 lappers at the third-mile paved oval. - Stan Kalwasinski Photo

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (May 9, 1981) - Larry Detjens made a clean sweep of ARTGO Racing’s 10th annual Midwest Championships late model stock car special at Dells Motor Speedway on Saturday evening.

Detjens, a 36-year-old Wausau native, made off with both 50-lap features on the 1/3-mile paved oval in his 1981 Camaro.

He started the evening in second place in the ARTGO point standings and left with the point lead after his clean sweep.

Joe Shear, who started the evening as the ARTGO point leader, stayed in first place in the first 500-lapper until lap 33 when Detjens took command.

Detjens finished with a comfortable lead over Jim Sauter, Pat Schauer, Dick Trickle and Larry Schuler. Shear finished sixth.

In the second 50-lapper, Detjens took the lead on lap 37 and cruised from there.

Trailing Detjens at the finish were Sauter, Trickle, Schauer and Mike Miller.

Shear, who developed differential problems in the first contest, sat out the second race.

Detjens collected an extra $200 from ARTGO management for his clean sweep of the late model competition.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Larry Detjens
2. Jim Sauter
3. Pat Schauer
4. Dick Trickle
5. Larry Schuler
6. Joe Shear
7. Jim Weber
8. Kevin Stepan
9. Don James
10.Mike Miller


Feature #2 –

1. Larry Detjens
2. Jim Sauter
3. Dick Trickle
4. Pat Schauer
5. Mike Miller
6. Jim Weber
7. Frank Gawlinski
8. Alan Kulwicki
9. Wayne Lensing
10.John Knaus

1983 – Smith Takes Winged Sprint Main at Blue Grass

 

Randy Smith of Norwalk won the 25-lap winged sprint car feature at Hawkeye Raceway in Blue Grass. Promoter Verne Schumann (left) and flagman Larry Armstrong join Smith in victory lane. – Bernie Tappa Photo

Blue Grass, Iowa (May 6, 1983) – Despite threatening skies, six different racing divisions completed their events Friday night at Hawkeye Raceway.

Ina special appearance of winged sprinters, Randy Smith of Norwalk stated third and picked up the victory in the 25-lap headliner.

Manny Rockhold of Pekin, Ill., finished fourth in the sprint car feature after flipping onto its side earlier in the contest. Rockhold spun to avoid hitting cars in front of him that were slowing due to a caution flag but was able to continue when his car was put back on it’s wheels and a tire changed.

Tim Baker of Sioux City, the heat winner, was not so fortunate. His car flipped onto it side on the feature and could not continue.

In the winged three-quarter midgets, Bruce Moore of Moline, Ill., made a clean sweep, winning his heat and feature.

Rick Hixson of Coal Valley, Ill., won the bomber feature race and Mike Kennedy of East Moline, Ill., went all the way in the mini-stock main event.

Jim Mettlin of Cambridge, Ill., led wire-to-wire in the IMCA modified feature and Gary Reinhart of Moline, Ill., made it two in a row, winning the sportsman feature.


Results –


Winged Sprint Cars –

1. Randy Smith, Norwalk
2. Mike Pinckney, Des Moines
3. Mike Thomas, Des Moines
4. Manny Rockhold, Pekin, Ill.
5. Steve Morris, West Burlington

IMCA Modified –

1. Jim Mettlin, Cambridge, Ill.
2. Tom Herbert, Silvis, Ill.
3. Jack Lueth, Davenport
4. Ken Raabe, Davenport
5. Robert Dlouhy, Tipton

Bomber –

1. Rick Hixson, Coal Valley, Ill.
2. Wayne Sperry, Davenport
3. Darrel Beauchamp, Davenport
4. Rod Stevens, Davenport
5. Mel Reicks, Davenport

Sportsman –

1. Gary Reinhart, Moline, Ill.
2. Ron Van Gothem, Moline, Ill.
3. Jim Ross, Thomsen, Ill.
4. Al Yerington, Rock Island, Ill.

1984 – Johnson Tops Corning’s NASCAR Invitational

 

Johnny Johnson is joined by his crew and Debbie Bohr in victory lane after winning the NASCAR late model season opener at Adams County Speedway. – Jerry Adams Photo

By Jim Brennan

Corning, Iowa (May 5, 1984) – Mother Nature decided to relax Saturday night and allow the Adams County Speedway to kick off their season under the NASCAR Winston Racing Series banner.

An excellent crowd saw an exciting show with 60 cars – 38 late models and 22 street stocks – doing battle on the half-mile oval.

A power failure that took out half of the track lighting and took almost an hour to repair failed to dampen the enthusiasm of fans or racers.

In late model action, Jeff French of Mt. Ayr took the lead from his outside front row starting position and held it until lap 6 when Johnny Johnson of Wapello overtook him and led until the finish, which was shortened to 40 laps due to running over the town’s curfew.

Tom Hearst of Wilton, the 1982 Winston Racing Series national champion, had moved into second position on lap 10 and was challenging Johnson when mechanical difficulties forced him to the infield.

Next to challenge Johnson was Joe Kosiski of Omaha, but a broken rear suspension forced him to the sidelines. Kosiski was able to make repairs but had to restart at the rear of the field. He fought his way back and finished eighth.

Ron Tilley of Council bluffs, who had earned a starting position through one of two consolation races, moved into second when Kosiski dropped out and held it to the end. Rounding out the top-five were Glenn Robey of Omaha, French, and Bill Leighton of Omaha.

Heat races were won by Jim Jenkins of Council Bluffs, Kosiski, Rick Beebe of Overland Park, Kan., and Hearst. Consolation winners were Tilley and Don Weyrich of Norfolk, Neb.

In the street stock feature, John Mensing of Fontanelle came from his seventh row starting position to capture the 15-lap contest. Mensing, who had mechanical problems in his heat, finished second in the consolation to earn a starting spot in the feature. He worked his way through the field and passed David Weeda on lap 12 to take the lead. Weeda held on to second in a close finish with Doug Lund.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Johnny Johnson, Wapello
2. Ron Tilley, Council Bluffs
3. Glenn Robey, Omaha
4. Jeff French, Mt. Ayr
5. Bill Leighton, Omaha
6. Denny Rosenberg, Grimes
7. Keith Mander, Omaha
8. Joe Kosiski, Omaha
9. Don Weyrich, Norfolk, Neb.
10.Randy Sterner, Blair, Neb.


Street Stock –

1. John Mensing, Fontanelle
2. David Weeda, Mt. Ayr
3. Doug Lund, Fontanelle
4. Cliff McKinney, Omaha

5. Larry Robinson, Omaha

1974 - Bigelow Burns USAC Field at Tri-County

 

Tom Bigelow

West Chester, Ohio (May 5, 1974) – Tom Bigelow of Whitewater, Wis., was the hottest thing going here Sunday afternoon at Tri-County Speedway during the USAC sprints.

Bigelow and a star-studded cast that included many of the Indianapolis 500 set didn’t disappoint the large crowd as they made a shambles of existing Tri-County track records in setting new USAC track marks in every event.

In making a clean sweep of the races, Bigelow (158) moved up to third place in the standings behind Jan Opperman (194) and Duane “Pancho” Carter (186).

Bigelow captured the 40-lap feature in the record time of 11 minutes and 50.57 seconds, a new record. He took the lead on the fifth lap and finished ahead of Joe Saldana Lincoln, Neb., Sam Sessions, Nashville, Mich., Duane Carter, Huntington Beach Calif., and Opperman, Beaver Crossing, Neb.

Bigelow set a new record in the qualifications with 17.16 seconds. Twenty-two cars broke the 100-mile barrier in qualifying under 18 seconds. Don Nordhorn, Wadesville, Ind., Sessions and Carter also broke the old record.

In winning the first heat, Bigelow set a mark of 2 minutes and 21 seconds for the eight laps. Bruce Walkup, St. Paul, Ind., Charlie Masters, Waddy, Ky., and Carter also won heats.

In the 10-lap semi-feature, Sessions set a new record of 2 minutes and 55 seconds.


Results –

Time trials – Tom Bigelow, Whitewater, Wis. (17.16)
Heat #1 – Tom Bigelow
Heat #2 – Bruce Walkup, St. Paul, Ind.
Heat #3 – Charlie Masters, Waddy, Ky.
Heat #4 – Duane Carter, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Semi-main – Sam Sessions, Nashville, Mich.
Feature –
1. Tom Bigelow
2. Joe Saldana, Lincoln, Neb.
3. Sam Sessions
4. Duane Carter
5. Jan Opperman, Beaver Crossing, Neb.
6. Chuck Booth, Speedway, Ind.
7. Rollie Beale, Toledo, Ohio
8. Bruce Walkup
9. Bill Puterbaugh, Indianapolis
10.Rich Leavell, Elwood, Ind.
11.Bill Cassella, Winterville, Ohio
12.Lee Osbourne, Lebanon, Penn.
13.Karl Busson, Northwood, Ohio
14.Mel Cornett, Speedway, Ind.
15.Don Nordhorn, Wadesville, Ind.
16.Sheldon Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.
17.George Snider, Bakersfield, Calif.
18.Larry Rice, Linden, Ind.
19.Jerry Nemire, Toledo, Ohio
20.Charlie Masters

1957 – Beauchamp Wins Gulf States Title

 

Johnny Beauchamp

Shreveport, La. (May 5, 1957) – The Louisiana State Fair was given additional prestige in ratings of the nation’s speedways as two world records fell by the boards while Johnny Beauchamp churned his way to victory in the annual Gulf States 100-mile championship.

Don White, Keokuk, Iowa, grabbed one of the world marks by finishing the first 25 laps in 12 minutes and 4.74 seconds. Then Beauchamp cracked the other standard, streaking across the starting line in 48 minutes and 40.36 seconds for the first 100 circuits.

Beauchamp, the defending IMCA stock car king, was the winner in 1 hour, 40 minutes, and 74.36 seconds, taking his title in only less than two-tenths of a second off the all-time 100-mile record.

White, holder of the one-lap qualifying mark, led Sunday’s time trials with a clocking of 29.03 seconds.

Driving a fuel-injected 1957 Chevrolet, Beauchamp’s latest triumph was posted before a crowd of 8,364, as he fought off constant challenged by White, who was driving a 1957 Ford.

Beauchamp waged terrific competition with White through the first 100 laps, grabbing the lead twice, although momentarily. White fell behind on the 99th trek of the oval after a shock absorber broke. White pulled into the pits for fuel and engine inspection which consumed only 36 seconds.

The big difference occurred when Beauchamp’s pit stop only took 15 seconds.

On only one occasion was a caution flag necessary, when Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, ran out of gas and came to a halt on the backstretch.


Results –


1. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan, Iowa
2. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Bob Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
4. Tubby Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
5. Red Dowdy, Dallas, Tex.
6. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
7. Lenny Funk, Otis, Kan.
8. Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
9. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
10.Al Warrender, Harlan, Iowa
11.Bob Hardy, Beaumont, Tex.
12.Jerry Draper, Moline, Ill.

1975 – Zwanziger is Triple Winner

 

Bill Zwanziger scored the rare weekend sweep, winning super stock features at Davenport, Eldon, and Cedar Rapids. He’s shown here with promoter Homer Melton after winning at Davenport. – B.E. Tappa Photo

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 4, 1975) – Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo had a successful opening weekend of racing, winning super stock features Friday night at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Saturday night at the Wapello County Fairgrounds in Eldon, and Sunday night at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids.

At Davenport, Zwanziger went green to checkered in the 25-lap late model main event although it wasn’t easy. Another Waterloo driver, Ed Sanger, appeared to be hooked to Zwanziger’s rear bumper the entire way and despite repeated attempts to get around Zwanziger, “Fast Eddie” had to settle for runner-up honors. Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids was third with Keokuk’s Lem Blankenship fourth and Larry Jenkins of Wilton Junction rounding out the top-five.

Zwanziger had his work cut out for him the next night at Eldon. Johnny Babb of Ottumwa took the early lead and was out front for the first four laps. Last week’s feature winner, Larry Jenkins, took command for the next seven circuits until Zwanziger overtook Jenkins on lap 12 and onto the checkers in the non-stop 25-lapper. Jenkins held on for second followed by Steve Fraise of Montrose, Roger Dolan of Lisbon, and Larry “Pee Wee” Pipes of Kirksville, Mo.

A crowd of 3,000 watch Zwanziger capture the 25-lap feature at Hawkeye Downs on Sunday night, leading start to finish. Darrell Dake was a straightaway behind in second. Don Hoffman of Des Moines was third, Fred Horn of Marion was fourth, and Ed Sanger rounded out the top-five.


Results –

Davenport –

1. Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
2. Ed Sanger, Waterloo
3. Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
4. Lem Blankenship, Keokuk
5. Larry Jenkins, Wilton Junction


Eldon –

1. Bill Zwanziger
2. Larry Jenkins
3. Steve Fraise, Montrose
4. Roger Dolan, Lisbon
5. Larry Pipes, Kirksville, Mo.


Cedar Rapids –

1. Bill Zwanziger
2. Darrell Dake
3. Don Hoffman, Des Moines
4. Fred Horn, Marion
5. Ed Sanger
6. Curt Hansen, Dike
7. Mel Morris, West Liberty
8. Stan Stover, Reinbeck