Stock Car Races

On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

 Hutchinson, Kansas

Saturday – September 18, 1954

Promotional company – Hamilton Attractions of Hutchinson, Kansas

Promoter – Verne Hamilton of Hutchinson, Kansas

Starter / Flagman – Ted Davis of Junction City, Kansas

Trophy girl – Nancy Lee Hutchinson of Wichita, Kansas

Attendance – 8,000

 Winner of the Trophy Dash

 This photo was taken after the trophy dash on this day.  Left to right: Nancy Lee Hutchinson, John Bush, and Ted Davis.  Click your mouse on the photo above to see another photo of the same car - John Bush collection

            94 cars were entered in these races which were marked by a number of spectacular flips, rollovers, and multi-car pile-ups.  Eight drivers were injured (none seriously) with four being treated at the racetrack and four more being transported to the local hospital.  Those injured were:

:

Driver	From
Bob Newman	Wichita, Kansas
John Marshall	Wichita, Kansas
Elmer “Red” Stock	Hutchinson, Kansas
Connie Gilhcrist	Salina, Kansas
Clyde Derringer	Wichita, Kansas
Wylan Cattrell	Wichita, Kansas
Dillard Klein	Abilene, Kansas
Bob Gass	Hutchinson, Kansas

First Heat Race

Place	Driver	From
1	Bill Henson	Wichita, Kansas
2	Buddy Quick	Wichita, Kansas
3	Chuck Jones	Wichita, Kansas

Second Heat Race

Place	Driver	From
1	John Bush	Wichita, Kansas
2	Al Williams	Wichita, Kansas
3	Bill Mears*	Wichita, Kansas

Third Heat Race

Place	Driver	From
1	Bill Nelson	Wichita, Kansas
2	Bob Newman	Wichita, Kansas
3	Bill Nichols	Wichita, Kansas

Trophy Dash

Place	Driver	From
1	John Bush	Wichita, Kansas

B Feature Race – 40 Cars

Place	Driver	From
1	Will Forrest	Wichita, Kansas
2	Max Naden	Peabody, Kansas
3	Glenn “Bud” Webster	Winfield, Kansas
4	Jed Nedbalck	Mulvane, Kansas
5	Ralph Lies	Wichita, Kansas
6	Dick Hendershot**	Hutchinson, Kansas
	John Riead	Hutchinson, Kansas
DNF	Charlie Towner	Solomon, Kansas

Towner was driving one of several cars involved in an accident on the third lap of this race.

A Feature Race – 39 Cars

Place	Driver	From
1	Bill Mears*	Wichita, Kansas
2	Walt McWhorter	Wichita, Kansas
3	John Bush	Wichita, Kansas
4	Al Williams	Wichita, Kansas
5	Gerald “Skeeter” McKinnie	Newton, Kansas

Charlie Towner warming up his Ford before the races on this afternoon - Charlie Towner collection

This photo was taken on this afternoon at Hutchinson.  The #32 car was owned by K. O. Christian and driven by Buddy Quick.  The #97 car was driven by Leon Bowman.

Charlie Towner collection

Accident on the third lap of the B feature.  Car #49 was being driven by John Riead of Hutchinson.

“I hit a spun-out car head-on at 65 m.p.h. and really fixed everything.” – #48 Charlie Towner

Charlie Towner collection

Al Williams Larry Brooks collection

Bill Mears Ralph Lowry collection

Bill Nelson Willard Bodkins collection

Bill Nichols Jim Edwards photo

Glenn “Bud” Webster Willard Bodkins collection

Max Naden Max Naden collection

Ralph Lies Gary Virden photo

Will Forrest Willard Bodkins collection

Red Stock Todd White collection

Skeeter McKinnie Tim Cornelius collection

Dick Hendershot Todd White collection

Clyde Darrenger Lies collection

Bob Newman Ira Woodward photo

Wylan Cattrell Wylan Cattrell collection

Buddy Quick Gary Virden photo

John Bush John Bush collection

* Bill Mears is the father of former Indy drivers Rick and Roger Mears and the grandfather of Nextel Cup driver Casey Mears.

** Richard M. “Dick” Hendershot (1925-1976) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Salina, Kansas.

Return to the Feature Race Winners at Hutchinson, Kansas web page