Third Annual National Championship Jalopy Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – July 26, 1959
Promotional Company – Merrick Racing Promotions (M.R.P.)
Race Director – Jack Merrick of Dodge City, Kansas
Flagman / Starter – Ted Davis of Salina, Kansas
Trophy Queen – Pati Wilhelm of Wichita, Kansas
Time trials for these races were run on Saturday afternoon, July 25, 1959
Attendance – “over 10,000”
Track Conditions – “wet and muddy”
The cars are shown here lined up for the first heat race on this day. Note the paper car numbers. The only drivers to be identified in this photo to date are #99 Bob Salem of Dodge City, Kansas who is starting from the pole position, #00 Charlie Pitts of Hutchinson who is lined up nearest the camera on the outside of the front row, #96 Bert Phares of Enid, Oklahoma who is lined up on the outside of row three, #94 Ferrill Curtis of Timken, Kansas who is lined up on the outside of the fourth row, and #89 Stan Haack of Hastings, Nebraska who is lined up here as the fifth car back on the inside. This photo is from the Perry Luther collection. Click your mouse on the photo above to see two more photos from the Todd White collection that was taken of these same cars just seconds later.
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K. O. Christian Roy Pulver collection
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Pete Jacobs Jacobs family collection
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Bill Nelson Harriet Ramsey collection
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Ralph Cole Gary Virden photo
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Frank Lies Mary Ann Heaton photo
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Forrest Coleman Mike McCoy collection
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Charlie Hiner Charlie Hiner collection
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Red Walker Gary Virden photo
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Roy Bryant Southwest Daily Times photo
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Bill Curless 77 Speedway program
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Clarence Cochran Hutchinson News-Herald photo
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Henry Ellington Ellington collection
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Todd White Todd White collection
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Jay Woodside Jay Woodside collection
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Willie Hecke Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame
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Orval Beckel Gary Virden photo
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Bill Curless Gary Virden photo
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Jerry Collins Gary Shinkle collection
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Doran Raine, Jr. Doran Raine, Jr. collection
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Leland Salmans Alan Salmans collection
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John Riead John Riead collection
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Bob Champlin Tim Cornelius collection
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Dick Walker Gary Virden photo
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Bud Hutson Gary Virden photo
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Bernie Beydler Schrater collection
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Jim McAmis Gary Virden photo
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Will Forrest Bill Collins collection
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Bob Ingram Mary Ann Heaton photo
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Jack Petty Gary Virden collection
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Gene Potts Schrater collection
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Pinky Mullens Mullens family collection
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Keith Cofield Claudine Cofield collection
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Clyde Ferguson Gary Verdin photo
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Bob Salem Bob Salem collection
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Todd White Todd White collection
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Charlie Hiner Charlie Hiner collection
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Charlie Pitts Charlie Pitts collection
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Lyle Lewis Cokeley collection
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Melvin Herrell Melvin Herrell collection
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Johnny Thomas Thomas collection
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Bob Murphy Cokeley collection |
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First Heat Race – 20 Cars |
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Place |
Car #1 |
Driver |
From |
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1 |
99 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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2 |
00 |
Charlie Pitts |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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3 |
96 |
Bert Phares |
Enid, Oklahoma |
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4 |
89 |
Stan Haack |
Hastings, Nebraska |
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5 |
86 |
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6 |
A |
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7 |
88 |
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8 |
85 |
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94 |
Ferrill Curtis |
Timken, Kansas |
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DNF |
84 |
Wayne Harbold |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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The cars were issued numbers on sticky backed paper that corresponded with the position that each timed in up through the fastest 99 cars. Charlie Pitts timed in 100th fastest in time trials so the digit one was deleted and his car was renumbered “00” for the races the following day. The cars that timed in places 101 through 125 were each issued a sticky backed paper letter. Thus, the 101st fastest car was issued an “A” while the 125th fastest car was issued sticky paper with the letter “Y”. The cars that were issued the letters were designated as alternates and when a numbered car dropped out of competition, the car with the next letter took that car’s place in the race lineup. #84 Wayne Harbold crashed out through the fence on the southwest corner on the 1st lap of this race. Car #95 was disqualified due to brake failure. |
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Second Heat Race – 20 Cars |
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Place |
Car #1 |
Driver |
From |
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1 |
67 |
Dale McCarty |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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2 |
B |
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3 |
81 |
Todd White |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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4 |
72 |
Pinky Mullens |
Wichita, Kansas |
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5 |
65 |
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6 |
77 |
Phil Simmons |
Norton, Kansas |
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Third Heat Race – 20 Cars |
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Place |
Car #1 |
Driver |
From |
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1 |
61 |
Bo Johnson |
Concordia, Kansas |
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2 |
53 |
Bernie Beydler |
Albert, Kansas |
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3 |
59 |
Johnny Thomas |
Ashland, Kansas |
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4 |
57 |
Bob Ingram |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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5 |
52 |
Larry Torson |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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6 |
51 |
Dean Caldwell |
Sublette, Kansas |
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7 |
44 |
Melvin Herrell |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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8 |
49 |
Dan Stover |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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Caldwell crashed through the fence on the southeast turn but came back to finish in 6th position. |
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Fourth Heat Race – 20 Cars |
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Place |
Car #1 |
Driver |
From |
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1 |
29 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
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2 |
38 |
John Riead |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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3 |
37 |
Kenneth Gillette |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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4 |
41 |
Dean Hudson |
Athol, Kansas |
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5 |
28 |
Verlin Smith |
Enid, Oklahoma |
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6 |
36 |
Don Kiser |
Wichita, Kansas |
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7 |
26 |
Don Spreier |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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8 |
33 |
Donald “Red” Walker |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
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Fifth Heat Race – 20 Cars |
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Place |
Car #1 |
Driver |
From |
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1 |
14 |
Forrest Coleman |
Wichita, Kansas |
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2 |
8 |
Orval Beckel |
Wichita, Kansas |
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3 |
3 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, Kansas |
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4 |
19 |
Jerry Collins |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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5 |
7 |
Will Forrest |
Wichita, Kansas |
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6 |
17 |
Lyle Lewis |
Dighton, Kansas |
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7 |
21 |
Chuck Jones |
Wichita, Kansas |
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8 |
5 |
Bill Nelson |
Wichita, Kansas |
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16 |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
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1 |
Roy Bryant |
Wichita, Kansas |
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Trophy Dash |
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Place |
Car #1 |
Driver |
From |
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1 |
29 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
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2 |
00 |
Charlie Pitts |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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3 |
38 |
John Riead |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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4 |
61 |
Bo Johnson |
Concordia, Kansas |
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5 |
99 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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Semi-National Race – 62 cars – 26 Laps |
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Place |
Car #1 |
Driver |
From |
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1 |
10 |
Pete Jacobs |
Wichita, Kansas |
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2 |
6 |
Ralph Cole |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
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3 |
2 |
Walt McWhorter |
Wichita, Kansas |
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4 |
63 |
Dick Hendershot |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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5 |
4 |
Cliff Sealock |
Hastings, Nebraska |
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Glen Watkins |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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Charlie Hiner |
Wichita, Kansas |
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79 |
Willie Hecke |
Franklin, Nebraska |
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00 |
Charlie Pitts |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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50 |
Bob Murphy |
Ulysses, Kansas |
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Stan Haack |
Hastings, Nebraska |
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16 |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
DNF |
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John Marshall |
Wichita, Kansas |
DNF |
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68 |
Clyde Ferguson |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
DNF |
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1 |
Roy Bryant |
Wichita, Kansas |
DNF |
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Bryant’s car spun out early in the race. John Marshall’s car tangled with another car before spinning out and catching fire. Clyde Ferguson’s car rolled. This race was scheduled for 40 laps but was ended after just 26 laps due to a number of crashes. |
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National Jalopy Championship Race – 45 cars – 50 Laps |
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Place |
Car #1 |
Driver |
From |
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1 |
7 |
Will Forrest |
Wichita, Kansas |
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2 |
3 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, Kansas |
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3 |
29 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
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4 |
14 |
Forrest Coleman |
Wichita, Kansas |
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5 |
35 |
K. O. Christian2 |
Wichita, Kansas |
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6 |
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Charlie Hiner |
Wichita, Kansas |
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7 |
18 |
Bill Curless |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
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8 |
2 |
Walt McWhorter |
Wichita, Kansas |
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9 |
4 |
Cliff Sealock |
Hastings, Nebraska |
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10 |
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Glen Watkins |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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11 |
33 |
Donald “Red” Walker |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
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12 |
00 |
Charlie Pitts |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
DNF |
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13 |
28 |
Verlin Smith |
Enid, Oklahoma |
DNF |
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14 |
79 |
Willie Hecke |
Franklin, Nebraska |
DNF |
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15 |
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Stan Haack |
Hastings, Nebraska |
DNF |
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16 |
99 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, Kansas |
DNF |
This race was televised locally for the first time.
Lies led the first 12 laps before loosing the lead to Will Forrest on the 13th lap. Lies passed Will Forrest on the 34th lap to regain the top spot. Lies and Forrest raced side-by-side down the front straight-away on the 40th lap before Forrest regained the lead in the south turn for good. He led Lies at the finish by four car lengths. Leep trailed the two by a quarter of a lap.
The red 1932 Ford coupe driven by Will Forrest was owned by Ernie McCoy of Arkansas City, Kansas while the black car driven by Frank Lies was owned by Kenny Riffel of Herington, K ansas.
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley’s 1934 Ford 2-door normally carried the number 7 but it had just been changed here on race morning to reflect Cokeley’s 16th fastest qualifying time set in time trials the day before – Cokeley collection
#99 driven by Bob Salem of Dodge City, Kansas and #16 driven by Nut Cokeley of Liberal, Kansas are shown here in the pits off of the back stretch and outside the white wooden fence that circled the outside of the racetrack. That is Cokeley in white standing near the back of his car – Cokeley collection
Wayne Harbold drove the car above. It arrived at the racetrack on Saturday numbered 98 and was owned by Wes Bartlett. Harbold crashed Bartlett’s car (numberred 84 with flypaper numbers after time trials) through the fence in the south turn in a race on Sunday afternoon. Click your mouse on the photo above to see another view of this crash – Bartlett collection
Officials trying to warn oncoming cars that the car of John Marshall of Wichita, Kansas had spun out and caught fire after tangling with anther car in the semi final race – Dave Hamilton photo from the Hutchinson News
The pace lap for one of the races on this day – Todd White collection
This photo was taken on this day and was taken during driver introductions. The car on the outside (nearest the camera) of the front row was driven by Todd White of Hutchinson, Kansas while the #79 car directly behind White’s car was driven by Willie Hecke of Franklin, Nebraska. Click your mouse on this photo to see another taken just seconds earlier as the cars were coming out of the pits for these driver introductions – Todd White collection
This photo was taken before the start of one of the races on this day. The only car in this photo to be identified so far is the car at right with the panther painted on the side. It was driven by Keith Cofield of Wichita, Kansas – Photo from the 1969 Merrick Nationals program
Will Forrest of Wichita, Kansas turned in the 7th fastest qualifying time in time trials for this race on Saturday afternoon and then came back to win the 50-lap National Jalopy Championship race on Sunday afternoon in this 1932 Ford coupe owned by Ernie McCoy of Arkansas City, Kansas. The trophy sitting on the hood is the trophy that Forrest won for that accomplishment. The photo above was taken the following day and after the temporary #7 made of sticky-paper had been removed from the side of the car. Click your mouse on the photo to see how the car actually appeared in the racetrack on Sunday – Mike McCoy collection
Queen Pati Wilhelm and her court – Todd White collection
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Will Forrest and queen Pati Wilhelm following Forrest’s victory in the championship race – Mike McCoy collection |
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Gene Coffman’s pit pass for the races this day. Coffman’s car was not entered but he served as a member of car owner Merle Trahern’s pit crew – Coffman collection |
Donna Coffman’s grandstand rain check ticket to these races – Coffman collection |
1 The car numbers listed are the numbers that were assigned to the cars after time trials on the day before.
2 Kenneth Ovid “K. O.” Christian (1914-1961) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Wichita, Kansas.
Return to the Feature Race Winners at Hutchinson, Kansas web page