Twelfth Annual National Modified Jalopy Championship Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday July 28, 1968
Promotional Company Merrick Racing Promotions (M.R.P.)
Race Director Jack Merrick of Dodge City, Kansas
Starter / Flagman Al Alexander of Wichita, Kansas
National Jalopy Trophy Queen DeAnn Morton, Liberal, Kansas
Track condition muddy
Attendance 15,000
Jack Petty Ken Gretemen photo
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Forrest Coleman Bob Mays collection
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Jay Schrock Bob Mays collection
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Bud Hatch Bob Mays collection
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Grady Wade Bob Mays collection
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Walt McWhorter Bob Mays collection
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Les Angel, Jr. Bob Mays collection
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Jim Harkness Cokeley collection
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Bob Reynolds Bob Mays collection
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Bill Bookout Bob Mays collection
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Dick Walker Bob Mays collection
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Don Spreier Bob Mays collection
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Pinky Mullens Mullens collection
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Herb Copeland Bob Mays collection
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Dave Ross Bob Mays collection
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Pat Woodard Bob Mays collection
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Bill Rigsby Rigsby collection
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Harold Leep Bob Mays collection
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Dale Reed Bob Mays collection
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Roy Bryant Bob Mays collection
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Aaron Madden Racing from the Past website
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Bill Cohee Racing from the Past website
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James Garner High Plains THUNDER by Bob Mays
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Wylan Cattrell Racing from the Past website
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Dean Roper Racing from the Past website
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Emmett Hahn National Championship program
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Terry Kowalsky Racing from the Past website
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Dennis Anton Cokeley collection
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Charlie Pitts Charlie Pitts collection
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Garry Abell Deen Woods collection
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David Ross Bob Mays collection
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Bill Lewis Bob Mays collection
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Lee Salmans Dodge City Globe
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First Heat Race 10 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
07 |
Bud Hatch |
Yates Center, Kansas |
5:45.0 |
2 |
95 |
Jack Petty |
Wichita, Kansas |
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3 |
62 |
Grady Wade |
Wichita, Kansas |
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4 |
08 |
Francis Hoppenstedt |
Manhattan, Kansas |
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5 |
12 |
Bill Cohee |
Topeka, Kansas |
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Second Heat Race 10 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
7x |
Ed Whitney |
Norton, Kansas |
4:59.0 |
2 |
87 |
Garry Harrison |
Topeka, Kansas |
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3 |
14 |
Wylan Cattrell |
Wichita, Kansas |
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4 |
122 |
Don Craig |
Lawrence, Kansas |
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5 |
76 |
Les Angel, Jr. |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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Third Heat Race 10 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
35 |
Dick Walker |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
4:52.0 |
2 |
81 |
Bill Martinson |
Salina, Kansas |
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3 |
85 |
Dean Roper |
Joplin, Missouri |
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4 |
2 |
Forrest Coleman |
Wichita, Kansas |
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5 |
52 |
Jim Harkness |
Ness City, Kansas |
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|
666 |
Dennis Anton |
Kinsley, Kansas |
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121 |
Bob Ager |
Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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19 |
Ken Myers |
Wichita, Kansas |
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84 |
Rolland Crocker |
Salina, Kansas |
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38 |
Tom Pickard |
Edmond, Oklahoma |
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21 |
Bud Lindstrom |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
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Fourth Heat Race 10 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
1x |
Aaron Madden |
Midwest City, Oklahoma |
4:28.0 |
2 |
1 |
H. A. Ratzlaff |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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3 |
133 |
Bob Reynolds |
Edmond, Oklahoma |
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4 |
58 |
Dale Reed |
Wichita, Kansas |
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5 |
54 |
David Ross |
Jetmore, Kansas |
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33x |
Emmett Hahn |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
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108 |
Garry Abell |
Salina, Kansas |
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86 |
Jay Schrock |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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DNF |
27 |
Terry Kowalsky |
Great Bend, Kansas |
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DNF |
50 |
Bill Bookout |
Enid, Oklahoma |
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DNF |
26 |
Dick Hendershot* |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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DNF |
999 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
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DNF |
17 |
D. E. Gene Suggs |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
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Leep and Suggs were involved in one accident while Kowalsky, Bookout, and Hendershot were involved in a separate incident not far away. |
Trophy Dash 5 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
62 |
Grady Wade |
Wichita, Kansas |
2:13.0 |
2 |
95 |
Jack Petty |
Wichita, Kansas |
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3 |
85 |
Dean Roper |
Joplin, Missouri |
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4 |
1 |
H. A. Ratzlaff |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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5 |
35 |
Dick Walker |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
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Semi-National Race 30 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
62 |
Grady Wade |
Wichita, Kansas |
15:49.0 |
2 |
02x |
Pinky Mullens |
Wichita, Kansas |
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3 |
9 |
Junior Garner |
Muskogee, Oklahoma |
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4 |
14 |
Wylan Cattrell |
Wichita, Kansas |
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5 |
76 |
Les Angel, Jr. |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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6 |
17 |
Walter Whitney |
Norton, Kansas |
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7 |
08 |
Francis Hoppenstedt |
Manhattan, Kansas |
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8 |
70 |
Bill Smith |
Lecompton, Kansas |
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9 |
57 |
Pat Woodard |
Maize, Kansas |
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10 |
92 |
Jim Bunch |
Ft. Scott, Kansas |
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14x |
Lawrence Sinks |
Lawrence, Kansas |
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87 |
Garry Harrison |
Topeka, Kansas |
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81 |
Bill Martinson |
Salina, Kansas |
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16x |
Charles Simpson |
Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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5 |
Jerry Stone |
Wichita, Kansas |
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10 |
Leland Salmans |
Larned, Kansas |
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31 |
Roger Thompson |
Junction City, Kansas |
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121 |
Bob Ager |
Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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35 |
Dick Walker |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
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89 |
Dick Bloom |
Wichita, Kansas |
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16 |
Paul Dutton, Sr. |
Wichita, Kansas |
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7x |
Ed Whitney |
Norton, Kansas |
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122 |
Don Craig |
Lawrence, Kansas |
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1x |
Ray Ager |
Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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24x |
Leo Tucker |
Denver, Colorado |
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DNF |
61 |
Ernest Jennings |
Norman, Oklahoma |
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DNF |
26x |
Bill Dye |
Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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Dyes car lost its left front wheel on the front straightaway right at the start of the race. Jennings flipped on the front straightaway. Wade came from the last starting position to win. |
National Championship Race 50 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
55 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, Kansas |
24:15.0 |
2 |
2x |
Ron Fowler |
Chanute, Kansas |
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3 |
58 |
Dale Reed |
Wichita, Kansas |
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4 |
69 |
Bill Rigsby |
Wichita, Kansas |
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5 |
8 |
Herb Copeland |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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6 |
98 |
Walt McWhorter |
Wichita, Kansas |
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7 |
999 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
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8 |
04 |
Leon Spain |
Manhattan, Kansas |
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9 |
1x |
Aaron Madden |
Midwest City, Oklahoma |
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10 |
52 |
Jim Harkness |
Ness City, Kansas |
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11 |
86 |
Jay Schrock |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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54 |
David Ross |
Jetmore, Kansas |
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154 |
Bill Lewis |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
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|
66 |
Gerald Grady |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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22 |
Charlie Pitts |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
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|
108 |
Garry Abell |
Salina, Kansas |
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2 |
Forrest Coleman |
Wichita, Kansas |
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DNF |
166 |
Ronald Huff |
Denver, Colorado |
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Huff flipped his car just exiting the northwest turn onto the front straightaway on the second lap of the race. Lies started on the pole and led every lap of this race. |
#6x Pat Patterson of Wichita Falls, Texas Deen Woods collection
#8 Herb Copeland, #98 Walt McWhorter, #26 Dick Hendershot, #66 Gerald Grady Deen Woods collection
The crew of car #52 driven by Jim Harkness can be seen standing at left and that is Jack Petty in the red shirt with no hat in the center of the photo standing beside the #95 that he drove on this afternoon. The photo was taken looking toward the southeast turn of the racetrack Deen Woods collection
This photo of #1 H. A. Ratzlaff was taken while the third heat race was on the racetrack. Visible on the racetrack are #38 Tom Pickard, #85 Dean Roper, #21 Bud Lindstrom, and #2 Forrest Coleman. Also visible in the pits are #87 Garry Harrison, #89 Dick Bloom, and #62 Grady Wade Deen Woods collection
This photo was taken during the third heat race on this afternoon. #666 Dennis Anton, unidentified, and #85 Dean Roper David Johnson collection from the Racing from the Past website
More third heat race action on this afternoon. #121 Bob Ager, #85 Dean Roper, #19 Ken Myers, #2 Forrest Coleman David Johnson collection from the Racing from the Past website
#666 Dennis Anton and #84 Rolland Crocker pass by an unidentified car laying on its side on the front straightaway during the third heat race Deen Woods collection
#50 Bill Bookout of Enid, Oklahoma and #108 Garry Abell of Salina, Kansas on the front straightaway during the fourth heat race Deen Woods collection
#108 Garry Abell passes by the cars of #61 Norman Jennings of Norman, Oklahoma and #14 Lawrence Sinks of Lawrence, Kansas during the fourth heat race Deen Woods collection
Harold Leep of Wichita, Kansas, left and D. E. Gene Suggs of Oklahoma City climb the wall seeking relative safety after mixing it up during the fourth heat race on this day Ken Greteman photo from the Bob Mays collection
This photo was taken from the pits looking toward the back straightaway during the fourth heat race. Visible on the racetrack are #27 Terry Kowalsky, #86 Jay Schrock, #108 Garry Abell, and #50 Bill Bookout. Other cars visible in the pits are #70 Bill Smith, #81 Bill Martinson, #5 Jerry Stone, #31 Roger Thompson, and #10 Leland Salmans. Later in this race, Kowalsky and Bookout tangled in the south turn collecting several other cars in the multi-car crash Deen Woods collection
Crewman push the #50x driven by Jack Duckworth of Denver, Colorado during a break in the action in the during the fourth heat race. The blue car at left is the #5 driven by Jerry Stone of Wichita, Kansas and the car at right is the #31 driven by Roger Thompson of Junction City, Kansas. One of Jim Harkness crewmen can also be seen above the roof of the #50x Deen Woods collection
Also in the fourth heat, #27 Terry Kowalsky spun into the south turn mud before backing across the racetrack collecting more cars as he went Neal Whitaker photo for the Hutchinson News
This photo was taken just an instant after the photo right above and shows #27 Terry Kowalsky sliding through the muddy windrow as #33 Emmett Hahn passes by on the racetrack Jack Coleman photo
#27 Terry Kowalsky of Great Bend, Kansas; #50 Bill Bookout of Enid, Oklahoma; and #26 Dick Hendershot of Hutchinson, Kansas were involved in another incident in the south turn during the fourth heat race. That is #33 Emmett Hahn of Tulsa, Oklahoma passing by on the inside. Click your mouse on this photo to see another from the Lies collection showing #55 Frank Lies passing by Bookout's and Hendershot's disabled and abandoned cars at this point on the racetrack just moments later Ken Greteman photo from the Bob Mays collection
Lined up before the 30-lap Semi-Nationals. The light green sedan to the left of the wrecker is #14x Lawrence Sinks. Also visible in this photo are #87 Garry Harrison, #81 Bill Martinson, and #16x Charles Simpson Deen Woods collection
Cars lined up in the northwest turn awaiting the start of the 30-lap Semi-National race. #121 Bob Ager; #35 Dick Walker; #02x Pinky Mullens; #92 Jim Bunch; #10 Leland Salmans; #89 Dick Bloom; #76 Les Angle, Jr.; #31 Roger Thompson, and #5 Jerry Stone Deen Woods collection
Part of the field for the 30-lap semi-national race. Left to right: #57 Pat Woodard of Maize, Kansas; #24x Leo Tucker of Denver, Colorado: #16 Paul Dutton, Sr. of Wichita, Kansas; #122 Don Craig of Lawrence, Kansas; #1x Ray Ager of Colorado Springs, Colorado; #61 Norman Jennings of Norman, Oklahoma; #14x Lawrence Sinks of Lawrence, Kansas; and #7x Ed Whitney of Norton, Kansas Deen Woods collection
#61 Ernest Jennings of Norman, Oklahoma flipped down the front straightaway in the 30-Lap semi-national race as #76 Les Angel, Jr. of Hutchinson passed by Jack Coleman photo
Cars pull onto the racetrack in the northwest turn preparing to line up for the 50-lap championship race. #22 Charlie Pitts of Hutchinson, Kansas; #108 Garry Abell of Salina, Kansas; and #86 Jay Schrock of Hutchinson, Kansas Deen Woods collection
Lining up for the start of the 50-lap championship race. #22 Charlie Pitts of Hutchinson, Kansas; #166 Ronald Huff of Denver, Colorado; #108 Garry Abell of Salina, Kansas; and #86 Jay Schrock of Hutchinson, Kansas Deen Woods collection
Lined up for the Start of the 50-lap Championship Race
#55 Frank Lies of Wichita, Kansas is on the pole with #88 Don Spreier of Larned, Kansas is on the outside of the front row. Starting inside of the second row was #11 Roy Bryant of Wichita while #26 Dick Hendershot of Hutchinson started on the outside of the second row. #69 Bill Rigsby of Wichita started inside of the third row - Lies collection
#55 Frank Lies and #52 Jim Harkness line up on the front straightaway for the 50-lap championship race - Bob Mays collection
Cars on their pace lap before the 50-lap championship race are #86 Jay Schrock of Hutchinson, Kansas; #55 Frank Lies of Wichita, Kansas; #69 Bill Rigsby of Wichita, Kansas; #8 Herb Copeland of Dodge City, Kansas; #66 Gerald Grady of Dodge City, Kansas; #154 Bill Lewis of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; #58 Dale Reed of Wichita, Kansas; and #54 David Ross. Visible on the infield is the #57 of Pat Woodard of Maize, Kansas. The yellow car in the foreground is the #21 of Bud Lindstrom of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Deen Woods collection
#166 Ronald Huff of Denver, Colorado; #22 Charlie Pitts of Hutchinson; #108 Garry Abell of Salina; and the car just coming into the right edge of the photo with a flag flying from the roof, is #2 Forrest Coleman of Wichita, Kansas. The #21 in the foreground was driven by Bud Lindstrom and the car with the man standing on it in the infield is the #02x driven by Pinky Mullens of Wichita Deen Woods collection
The #166 car driven by Ronald Huff of Denver, Colorado can be seen here after he flipped it just after exiting the northwest turn onto the front straightaway on the second lap of the National Championship race on this day Bob Mays collection
Single file restart during the 50-lap championship race. #55 Frank Lies, #86 Jay Schrock, #8 Herb Copeland, and #69 Bill Rigsby Deen Woods collection
#67 Dale Parsons of Wichita, Kansas; #42 Don Hickman of Barnard, Kansas; #108 Garry Abell of Salina, Kansas and #62 Grady Wade of Wichita, Kansas Deen Woods collection
Harold Leep of Wichita, Kansas while running in seventh position in the 50-lap championship race Jack Coleman photo
Frank Lies of Wichita, Kansas taking the checkered flag from starter Al Alexander to win the 50-lap championship race Jack Coleman photo
Frank Lies shared something good with car owner Kenny Riffel immediately after winning the 50-lap championship race - Lies collection
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