Stock Car Races

On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

 Hutchinson, Kansas

Memorial Day – Monday – May 30, 1955

 

 

Promotional company – Hamilton Attractions of Hutchinson, Kansas

Promoter – Verne Hamilton of Hutchinson, Kansas

 

 

 

 

 The only car identified in this photo to date in this photo taken in the southwest turn is the #12 at left that was owned by Elmer Balzer of Newton, Kansas and driven by Troy Routh of Maize, Kansas.  Routh swept the program on this afternoon winning the third heat race, the trophy dash, and the A feature.  Note that the car nearest the camera still has its license plate on it – Tom Kelso photo from the Jim Kelso collection

 

 

 

First Heat Race

Place

Driver

From

1

Chuck Jones

Wichita, Kansas

2

Harold Leep

Wichita, Kansas

3

Robin Roberts

Newton, Kansas

4

Jim McAmis

Arkansas City, Kansas

5

Harold Portlock

Wichita, Kansas

6

L. E. Hall

Newton, Kansas

7

Bill Laughlin

Wichita, Kansas

8

Ed McCaslin

Wichita, Kansas

9

Dean Sisson

Hutchinson, Kansas

 

 

  

Second Heat Race

Place

Driver

From

1

Jerry Collins

Inman, Kansas

2

Warren Brown

Emporia, Kansas

3

Lawrence "Larry" Beltz

Hutchinson, Kansas

4

Buck Fallsted

Bentley, Kansas

5

Bud Clifford

Hutchinson, Kansas

6

Jack Petty

Wichita, Kansas

7

Henry Ellington*

South Hutchinson, Kansas

8

Bill Bookout

Wichita, Kansas

 

Marvin Postier

Hutchinson, Kansas

                Postier received minor injuries when his car rolled over twice in the south turn. 

 

 

  

Third Heat Race

Place

Driver

From

1

Troy Routh

Maize, Kansas

2

Bill Mears

Wichita, Kansas

3

Buddy Quick

Wichita, Kansas

4

Wilbur "Willie" Berger

Newton, Kansas

5

George Turner

Wichita, Kansas

6

Evert Parker

Hutchinson, Kansas

7

Tom Price

Hutchinson, Kansas

8

Vern Morton

Inman, Kansas

9

Gene Keel

Hutchinson, Kansas

   

 

  

Trophy Dash

Place

Driver

From

1

Troy Routh

Maize, Kansas

2

Jerry Collins

Inman, Kansas

3

Chuck Jones

Wichita, Kansas

 

 

  

B Feature Race – 16 Cars

Place

Driver

From

  1

Ed McCaslin

Wichita, Kansas

  2

Vester VanSickle

Hutchinson, Kansas

  3

Gene Keel

Hutchinson, Kansas

  4

Bob Ingram

Hutchinson, Kansas

  5

Henry Ellington*

South Hutchinson, Kansas

  6

A. J. Shepherd**

Wichita, Kansas

  7

Bill Bookout

Wichita, Kansas

  8

Harold Leep

Wichita, Kansas

  9

Bryce Barth

Wichita, Kansas

10

Dale Reed

Wichita, Kansas

 

Chester Scott

Hutchinson, Kansas

                Barth was leading late in the race when a radiator hose broke on his car.  Unable to see through the steam, Barth turned too sharply in the north turn and spun out.  Reed, following closely behind, in second place, crashed into Barth’s stopped car.  Shepherd was right behind Reed in third place and crashed into Reed’s car.  Two other cars were involved before it was over.

Only 5 cars finished this race but it paid prize money 10 places back. 

 

 

 

A Feature Race – 20 Laps

Place

Driver

From

  1

Troy Routh

Maize, Kansas

  2

Bill Mears

Wichita, Kansas

  3

Harold Leep

Wichita, Kansas

  4

Chuck Jones

Wichita, Kansas

  5

Wilbur "Willie" Berger

Newton, Kansas

  6

Warren Brown

Emporia, Kansas

  7

Jack Petty

Wichita, Kansas

  8

Harold Portlock

Wichita, Kansas

  9

Lawrence "Larry" Beltz

Hutchinson, Kansas

10

Jerry Collins

Inman, Kansas

11

Bill Laughlin

Wichita, Kansas

12

L. E. Hall

Newton, Kansas

 

 

 

 

Jack Petty

Gary Virden collection

Bill Mears

Ralph Lowry collection

Troy Routh

Mary Ann Heaton photo

Bob Ingram

Mary Ann Heaton photo

 

 

 

Dale Reed

Loretta Cox collection

Evert Parker

Todd White collection

Gene Keel

Todd White collection

Wilbur “Willie” Berger

Todd White collection

 

 

 

Henry Ellington

Ellington collection

A. J. Shepherd

Willard Bodkins collection

Bryce Barth

Cokeley collection

Warren Brown

Warren Brown collection

 

 

 

Harold Leep

Gary Virden photo

Jim McAmis

Gary Virden photo

Buddy Quick

Gary Virden photo

Jerry Collins

Gary Shinkle collection

 

 

 

* Henry Ellington (1919-1987) drove a 1936 Hudson in these, the first races he ever competed in.  He had a new job paying a dollar per hour and had just gotten his first pay check.  Since his first car was a ’36 Hudson and his first check was for $36, Ellington used the number 36 on his cars from that time on. 

 

** Alvin Junior “A. J.” Shepherd (1926-2005) went on to compete in the Indianapolis “500” in 1961.

 

 

 

 

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