Fourth Annual National Championship Jalopy Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – July 31, 1960
Time trials for these races were run on Saturday afternoon, July 30, 1960
(These cars were known regionally as “rails”)
Promotional Company – Merrick Racing Promotions (M.R.P.)
Race Director – Jack Merrick of Dodge City, Kansas
Flagman / Starter – Ted Davis of Junction City, Kansas
Announcer – Stan Gribble of Hutchinson, Kansas
Trophy Queen – Alice Marie Sale of Penalosa, Kansas
Attendance – 15,000
Guaranteed Purse – $3,000 plus $750 in lap money
The definition of a “jalopy” changed in Jack Merrick promoted events before this race to allow “just about any body styling”. Beginning in 1960, a jalopy consisted of a “frame, wheels, and roll bar surrounded by whatever metal enclosure the owner chooses to use”. Engines, however, had to remain “stock” and “originally assembled before 1949”.
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Flypaper Numbers
Race day started out with having the car’s number changed to match the driver’s qualifying position.
LEFT: Nut Cokeley of Liberal, Kansas (standing at right) qualified 22nd quickest in time trials the day before, so a track official is shown here applying flypaper #22 over Cokeley’s regular #7 – Cokeley collection
BELOW: Lee Salmans of Larned, Kansas had qualified 9th quickest in time trials and is shown applying the flypaper #9 to the rear of his car. Car #47 in the background was driven by John Becker of Salina, Kansas. Note that the flypaper number had already been applied to his door – Alan Salmans collection |
Bill Nelson 81 Speedway program
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K. O. Christian David Ross collection
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Lee Salmans Alan Salmans collection
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Will Forrest Mike McCoy collection
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Pete Jacobs Jacobs family collection
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Orval Beckel David Ross collection
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Jay Woodside Bob Mays collection
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Bill Curless 77 Speedway program
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Ralph Cole 77 Speedway program
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Charlie Hiner Charlie Hiner collection
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Henry Ellington Ellington collection
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Pinky Mullens Mullens family collection
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Jerry Collins Gary Shinkle collection
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Jack Petty Ken Gretemen photo
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Alvin Riley Gary Shinkle collection
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Bob Salem Bob Salem collection
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Bill Bookout Mullens family collection
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Reuben Loepp Mohawk Speedway program
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Cliff Durr Cokeley collection
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Todd White Todd White collection
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Dick Hendershot Mohawk Speedway program
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Charlie Pitts Charlie Pitts collection
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Johnny Elam Todd White collection
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Stan Trahern Burnett collection
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Clarence Cochran Hutchinson News-Herald photo
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Roy Andrews Roy Andrews collection
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Bud Hutson Gary Virden photo
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Buddy Carroll Gary Virden photo
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John Riead John Riead collection
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Willie Hecke Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame
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Nut Cokeley Dorothy Cokeley photo
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Francis Kingan Cokeley collection
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Gene Coffman Coffman collection
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Roy Bryant Lies collection
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Melvin Herrell Melvin Herrell collection
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Frankie Lies Lies collection
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Gene Potts Schrater family collection
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First Heat Race – 10 Laps |
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Place |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
Time |
1 |
73 |
Ernie Jacobs |
Wichita, KS |
$35 |
5:13.0 |
2 |
83 |
Lloyd Mart |
Hutchinson, KS |
25 |
|
3 |
85 |
Leroy Powell |
Great Bend, KS |
20 |
|
4 |
78 |
Bill Halley |
Wichita, KS |
16 |
|
5 |
76 |
Red Siems |
Hutchinson, KS |
14 |
|
6 |
72 |
Roy Andrews |
Wichita, KS |
12 |
|
7 |
70 |
Ron Nicholson |
Larned, KS |
10 |
|
8 |
82 |
Paul Grumbein |
Dighton, KS |
8 |
|
9 |
87 |
Milton Luft |
Ellsworth, KS |
5 |
|
10 |
77 |
Duane Culley |
Hutchinson, KS |
5 |
|
DNF |
79 |
Jim Curley |
Hutchinson, KS |
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|
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Curley was involved in a five car pileup in the southeast turn. |
Second Heat Race – 10 Laps |
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Place |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
Time |
1 |
68 |
Melvin Herrell |
Hutchinson, KS |
$35 |
5:11.0 |
2 |
65 |
Ben Gitgood |
Woodward, OK |
25 |
|
3 |
62 |
Don Spreier |
Larned, KS |
20 |
|
4 |
59 |
Willie Hecke |
Franklin, NE |
16 |
|
5 |
57 |
Charlie Pitts |
Hutchinson, KS |
14 |
|
6 |
51 |
Dick Hendershot4 |
Hutchinson, KS |
12 |
|
7 |
50 |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, KS |
10 |
|
8 |
67 |
Al Taft |
Denver, CO |
8 |
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9 |
53 |
Casson Lyons |
Smith Center, KS |
5 |
|
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5 |
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Third Heat Race – 10 Laps |
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Place |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
Time |
1 |
42 |
Roy Bryant |
Wichita, KS |
$35 |
4:57.0 |
2 |
41 |
Ray Duffin |
Hutchinson, KS |
25 |
|
3 |
44 |
Clifford Durr |
Derby, KS |
20 |
|
4 |
40 |
Reuben Loepp |
Hutchinson, KS |
16 |
|
5 |
32 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, KS |
14 |
|
6 |
24 |
Henry Ellington |
Hutchinson, KS |
12 |
|
7 |
38 |
Bill Bookout |
Wichita, KS |
10 |
|
8 |
35 |
Johnny Riead |
Hutchinson, KS |
8 |
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9 |
33 |
Don Lytle3 |
McCook, NE |
5 |
|
10 |
31 |
Dutch Davis |
Dodge City, KS |
5 |
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Fourth Heat Race – 10 Laps |
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Place |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
Time |
1 |
21 |
Charlie Hiner |
Wichita, KS |
$35 |
4:59.0 |
2 |
14 |
Forrest Coleman |
Wichita, KS |
25 |
|
3 |
12 |
Pete Jacobs |
Wichita, KS |
20 |
|
4 |
19 |
Ralph Cole |
Arkansas City, KS |
16 |
|
5 |
7 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, KS |
14 |
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6 |
5 |
Charlie Lutkie |
Wichita, KS |
12 |
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7 |
22 |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, KS |
10 |
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8 |
15 |
Bill Curless |
Arkansas City, KS |
8 |
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9 |
6 |
K. O. Christian2 |
Wichita, KS |
5 |
|
10 |
23 |
John McGee |
Dodge City, KS |
5 |
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9 |
Leland Salmans |
Larned, KS |
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16 |
Gene Coffman |
Liberal, KS |
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Salmans spun out. Coffman finished last and scratched for the remainder of the program due to having too low a gear in the rear end. Cokeley collected $10 in prize money for his 7th place finish in this race. |
Trophy Dash – 12 Cars - 5 Laps |
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Place |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
Time |
1 |
42 |
Roy Bryant |
Wichita, KS |
$25 |
2:31.0 |
2 |
14 |
Forrest Coleman |
Wichita, KS |
20 |
|
3 |
73 |
Ernie Jacobs |
Wichita, KS |
15 |
|
4 |
19 |
Ralph Cole |
Arkansas City, KS |
10 |
|
5 |
12 |
Pete Jacobs |
Wichita, KS |
5 |
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6 |
68 |
Melvin Herrell |
Hutchinson, KS |
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7 |
21 |
Charlie Hiner |
Wichita, KS |
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8 |
44 |
Clifford Durr |
Derby, KS |
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9 |
76 |
Red Siems |
Hutchinson, KS |
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10 |
85 |
Leroy Powell |
Great Bend, KS |
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11 |
67 |
Al Taft |
Denver, CO |
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12 |
78 |
Bill Halley |
Wichita, KS |
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Semi-Final Race – 30 Laps |
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Place |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
Time |
1 |
42 |
Roy Bryant |
Wichita, KS |
$135 |
15:34.0 |
2 |
44 |
Clifford Durr |
Derby, KS |
95 |
|
3 |
52 |
Dick Walker |
Arkansas City, KS |
85 |
|
4 |
59 |
Willie Hecke |
Franklin, NE |
70 |
|
5 |
60 |
Phil Simmons |
Norton, KS |
60 |
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6 |
66 |
Vester VanSickle |
Hutchinson, KS |
50 |
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7 |
48 |
Otto Rohla |
Athol, KS |
45 |
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8 |
64 |
Stanley Trahern |
Dodge City, KS |
35 |
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9 |
70 |
Ron Nicholson |
Larned, KS |
25 |
|
10 |
43 |
Bill Nash |
Wellington, KS |
20 |
|
11 |
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Unknown |
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16 |
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12 |
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Unknown |
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14 |
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DNF |
91 |
Willie Hershberg |
Great Bend, KS |
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DNF |
76 |
Red Siems |
Hutchinson, KS |
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DNF |
82 |
Paul Grumbein |
Dighton, KS |
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DNF |
85 |
Leroy Powell |
Great Bend, KS |
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The cars driven by Hershberg and Siems locked wheels on the back stretch and crashed through the fence taking out a 40 foot section of boards. Grumbein crashed into the south fence. He had just gotten away from his car when Powell’s car crashed into it. The Powell car sailed high into the air “spitting fire” then came down and rolled over one time. None of the drivers involved in these incidents were seriously injured. |
Feature Race – 42 Cars – 50 Laps |
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Place |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
Time |
1 |
14 |
Forrest Coleman |
Wichita, KS |
$300 |
23.44 |
2 |
15 |
Bill Curless |
Arkansas City, KS |
225 |
|
3 |
40 |
Reuben Loepp |
Hutchinson, KS |
175 |
|
4 |
4 |
Leon Spain |
Manhattan, KS |
115 |
|
5 |
28 |
Dale Reed |
Wichita, KS |
95 |
|
6 |
22 |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, KS |
80 |
|
7 |
23 |
John McGee |
Dodge City, KS |
70 |
|
8 |
20 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, KS |
60 |
|
9 |
17 |
Francis Kingan |
Enid, OK |
45 |
|
10 |
29 |
Jim Goodson |
Manhattan, KS |
35 |
|
11 |
27 |
Alvin Riley |
Medora, KS |
25 |
|
12 |
|
Unknown |
|
20 |
|
13 |
|
Unknown |
|
16 |
|
14 |
|
Unknown |
|
14 |
|
|
18 |
Bud Bryant |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
|
19 |
Ralph Cole |
Arkansas City, KS |
|
|
DNF |
11 |
Orval Beckel |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
DNF |
1 |
Jay Woodside |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
DNF |
5 |
Charlie Lutkie |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
DNF |
42 |
Roy Bryant |
Wichita, KS |
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|
DNF |
30 |
George Hilton |
Ponca City, OK |
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DNF |
10 |
Will Forrest |
Wichita, KS |
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DNF |
7 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, KS |
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DNF |
3 |
Jerry Collins |
Hutchinson, KS |
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DNF |
12 |
Pete Jacobs |
Wichita, KS |
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|
DNF |
21 |
Charlie Hiner |
Wichita, KS |
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Beckel crashed into the fence on the very first turn of the race causing the event to be restarted. He was able to resume the race but did not finish.
Jacobs’ car struck a stalled car, sailed high into the air and over the outside fence before tumbling down an embankment to ground level. He received severe lacerations and was unconscious when the ambulance took him to the hospital.
Hilton and Roy Bryant both spun out and their cars came to rest against the fence.
Woodside held the lead until his engine gave out.
Spain then led for 7 laps before he had to pit to repair a broken weld. He finished in 4th place, two laps behind Coleman.
Collins assumed the front spot from Spain and led for eight laps before he spun out, his car coming to rest against the fence near those of Hilton and Roy Bryant.
Lies was the next to lead the race. He built up a quarter of a lap lead in the 22 laps he was in front before his engine threw a rod and he coasted into the pits.
Will Forrest crashed into the fence on the back stretch. He was able to drive away but dropped out of the race after another half-lap.
Hiner dropped out with a blown radiator.
A coil spring in the seat of Lutkie’s car caught on the drive shaft causing the sprint to thrash around wildly inside the car tearing up the seat in the car as well as the seat out of Lutkie’s pants. After hasty repairs, Lutkie returned to the race only to spin out later in the event.
Thus, with only 11 laps remaining, Coleman found himself in front having inherited the lead from Lies and it was all he could do to hold off Curless. Only 11 cars were running at the finish including Leopp who had moved up from his 40th starting spot to finish in third place.
Cokeley collected $80 in prize money plus $3 in contingency money for his 6th place finish in this race.
Cars linked up just outside of the racetrack for the fourth heat race. The car at right with the white wall tire was driven by Bill Nelson. The #4 car in front of Nelson’s car was driven by Leon Spain. The #6 car was driven by K. O. Christian and the #11 car was driven by Orval Beckel - Photo above from the 1961 National Jalopy Championship program
#9 Leland Salmans is shown here after he spun out in the 4th heat race. #22 Clarence “Nut” Cokeley in a car owned by Merle Trahern and #7 Frank Lies driving a car owned by Cliff Durr are passing by on the outside – Roger Burnett collection.
#85 Leroy Powell bounced into the air before overturning in the south turn during the 30-lap Semi-final race. Powell's car had struck the disabled #82 car (hidden in the dust) that had been driven by Paul Grumbein - Hutchinson News photo
John McGee of Dodge City, Kansas is shown here at Hutchinson. He finished 7th in the feature race on this afternoon – Roger Burnett collection
Three of the Heat Race Winners
Pictured left to right are Melvin Herrell, Roy Bryant, Trophy Queen Alice Sale, and Ernie Jacobs. Not shown is fourth heat race winner Charlie Hiner whose jacket is being held by Miss Sale – Melvin Herrell collection
Winner of the Trophy Dash
Roy Bryant at right with Trophy Queen Alice Sale – Bryant family collection
Lined up for the Start of the A Feature Race on this Day
Bill Nelson of Wichita, Kansas is clearly visible in the white #2 car starting on the outside of the front row
Photo above from the 1961 National Jalopy Championship program
Cars lined up on the front straightaway preparing for the start of the feature race but this photo was taken a little farther back in the lineup for that race. #4 Leon Spain, #5 Charlie Lutkie, #6 K. O. Christian, and #7 Frank Lies. Starter Ted Davis can be seen in the background at left holding the green flag up to let the drivers know that he is ready for them to pull away to start their pace lap – Lies collection
These cars are also lined up on the front straightaway preparing for the start of the feature race only this photo was taken even farther back in the lineup for that race. Right to left are: #14 Forrest Coleman, #15 Bill Curless, #17 Francis Kingan, #18 Bud Bryant, #19 Ralph Cole, #20 Gene Potts, #21 Charlie Hiner, and #22 Nut Cokeley – Dorothy Cokeley photo
Forrest Coleman, pictured here on the front straightaway at Hutchinson the day after this race, had driven this car to victory in the feature race. Click your mouse on the photo above to see another from the Mike McCoy collection showing car owner Ernie McCoy standing beside his engine shop in Arkansas City, Kansas with the car and the championship trophy won that day. Note that Forrest Coleman’s car is numbered 4A in these photos yet was car number 14 in the races themselves as in the photo below – Photo from the 1961 National Jalopy Championship program
Forrest Coleman had qualified 13th quickest in time trials but, since Merrick did not use the number 13, this car was designated as car number 14 for the day and that number was applied over the cars original number with large sheets of sticky paper. The paper did not stick very well and most of the paper numbers on all of the cars had come off by the end of the day. Click your mouse on the photo above to see another photo showing Coleman, car owner Ernie McCoy with the car and the trophy they won that day – Mike McCoy collection
Trophy Queen Alice Sale presented Forrest Coleman with this huge trophy for winning this National Jalopy Championship – Lies collection
1 The official program did not list a 13th position in time trials skipping from 12th to 14th position instead.
2 Kenneth Ovid “K. O.” Christian (1914-1961) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Wichita, Kansas.
3 Don Lytle (c1932-1961) was fatally injured one year later in the National Jalopy Championship races at Hutchinson.
4 Richard M. “Dick” Hendershot (1925-1976) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Salina, Kansas.
5 Listed car numbers were assigned for this day only and were applied to the cars on sticky paper after time trials.
Return to the Feature Race Winners at Hutchinson, KS web page