Sprint Car Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Tuesday September 22, 1959
Sanctioned by International Motor Contest Association (I.M.C.A.)
Promotional company Auto Racing Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Race Promoter Frank R. Winkley of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Flagman / starter Murry Folsom of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Race Announcer Jack Nick Nachicas of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Scorekeeper Verna Winkley of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance 7,500
Bert Hellmueller Bob Stolze collection |
Parnelli Jones Autoracing1.com |
Harold Leep Jerry Wilson collection |
Charlie Lutkie Charlie Lutkie collection |
First Heat Race 7 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
Jerry Shumaker**** |
Wichita, Kansas |
3:09.48 |
2 |
Bob Mathouser** |
Gardena, California |
|
3 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
4 |
Vic Valentine |
Phoenix, Arizona |
|
5 |
Tommy Vardeman |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
|
Second Heat Race 7 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
Glenn Leasher*** |
Wichita, Kansas |
3:10.49 |
2 |
Parnelli Jones* |
Torrance, California |
|
3 |
Dale Reed |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
4 |
Marvin Faw |
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
|
5 |
Tony Darkman |
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa |
DNF |
Darkman slid wide and knocked down a 12-foot section of fence before rolling down to the infield and out of the race.
Jones led the first five laps before skidding wide on a turn on the sixth lap. That let Leasher slip by for the lead. Jones kept gaining on Leasher until the end but it was not enough.
After the race ended, Jones stayed on the throttle and made one more lap. In doing so, he approached the north turn with too much speed, spun, and packed through the board fence coming to a stop just four feet from a car in the parking lot.
Third Heat Race 7 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
Charlie Lutkie |
Wichita, Kansas |
3:10.58 |
2 |
Tony Magasany |
Honolulu, Hawaii |
|
3 |
Bert Hellmueller |
Louisville, Kentucky |
|
4 |
Harry Ross |
Houston, Texas |
|
5 |
Jack Rounds |
Huntington Park, California |
|
Match Race 2 Cars 4 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
1:56.95 |
2 |
Bert Hellmueller |
Louisville, Kentucky |
|
Consolation Race 5 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
Tommy Vardeman |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
|
2 |
Harry Ross |
Houston, Texas |
|
3 |
Jack Rounds |
Huntington Park, California |
|
4 |
Marvin Faw |
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
|
5 |
Vic Valentine |
Phoenix, Arizona |
|
Feature Race 14 Cars 15 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
Dale Reed |
Wichita, Kansas |
7:01.68 |
2 |
Jerry Shumaker**** |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
3 |
Bob Mathouser** |
Gardena, California |
|
4 |
Charlie Lutkie |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
5 |
Harry Ross |
Houston, Texas |
|
6 |
Tom Vardeman |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
|
7 |
Tony Magasany |
Honolulu, Hawaii |
|
8 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
9 |
Jack Rounds |
Huntington Park, California |
|
10 |
Glen Leasher*** |
Wichita, Kansas |
DNF |
11 |
Parnelli Jones* |
Torrance, California |
DNF |
12 |
Bert Hellmueller |
Louisville, Kentucky |
DNF |
13 |
Vic Valentine |
Phoenix, Arizona |
DNF |
14 |
Marvin Faw |
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
DNF |
Jones Fike Plumbing Chevrolet Special coasted to a stop on the ninth lap.
Magasany was driving the Osell Ranger.
Harry Ross One Tough Circuit by Bill Hill |
Dale Reed Ray Cunningham collection |
Marvin Faw Tommy Madison collection |
* Rufus Parnelli Jones went on to compete in the Indianapolis 500 nine times winning that race in 1963.
** Bob Mathouser (1926-1980) went on to compete in the Indianapolis 500 in 1964.
*** Glenn Lee Leasher (1937-1962) was fatally injured in a crash while attempting to set a new world land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
**** Jerry Shumaker was driving the #69 Belle of Belleville owned by the Goodrich & Sons garage in Belleville, Kansas.
Return to the Feature Race Winners at Hutchinson, Kansas web page
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