Feature Race Winners in the Automobile Races

Run on the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

Hutchinson, Kansas

Page 2 of 8

 

1933 – 1960

 

 

Date:

 

Driver:

From:

Automobile:

Classification:

Sanction:

  July 4 1933

 

Lew Irwin

Iola, KS

Lawhon Special #X-3

Big Car

None

September 18, 1933

 

Clarence Haskell

Lincoln, NE

Miller Special #24

Big Car

None

September 22, 1933

 

Clarence Haskell

Lincoln, NE

Johnson Special #3

Big Car

None

July 4, 1934

 

Charles Pauley

Herington, KS

Pauley Special #14

Big Car

None

September 17, 1934

 

Red Campbell

St. Louis, MO

Dreyer Special #34

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 21, 1934

 

Emory Collins

Regina, Sask., Canada

Cragar Ford

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 20, 1935

 

Pat Cunningham

St. Joseph, MO

Keyes Special #K-1

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 21, 1936

 

Bill Morris*

Denver, CO

Messer Special #3

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 25, 1936

 

Bill Morris*

Denver, CO

Messer Special #3

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 21, 1937

 

Bill Morris*

Denver, CO

Messer Special #4

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 24, 1937

 

Bill Morris*

Denver, CO

Messer Special #4

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

June 12, 1938

 

Clifford VanBuren

Haven, KS

1936 Ford Roadster

Stock Car

None

June 26, 1938

 

Races canceled due to soggy racetrack from rain the night before

Stock Car

None

July 24, 1938

 

Harry Graves

Oklahoma City, OK

 

Midget

None

September 20, 1938

 

Len Musick

Dallas, TX

Turco Special #1

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 23, 1938

 

Len Musick

Dallas, TX

Turco Special #1

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

 

No races were run on Sundays on this racetrack until June 12, 1938.  It took another decade for the state law to be repealed that prohibited auto racing on Decoration Day (now known as Memorial Day).  The first races run on this racetrack on that holiday did not take place until May 30, 1948.

A 1/5 mile racetrack was built inside of the ½ mile racetrack in 1939 to be used for midget racing.  The first race on the smaller racetrack was run on May 10, 1939.  It was sanctioned by Midget Racing Association (M.R.A.) and promoted by Joe Bennett of Hutchinson.  Jimmy Stallman of Hutchinson set the fastest (and initial track record) time for one lap of 13.25.  Vern Bretz of Dighton, Kansas won the feature race.

All forms of automobile racing were disallowed nationwide during World War II but “B” class midget racing (Offenhauser engines prohibited) on the 1/5 mile racetrack resumed on July 4, 1947 and ran weekly through Labor Day of that year.  Junior Howerton of Tulsa, Oklahoma won the midget feature on July 4th.  Future Indianapolis “500” driver Lloyd Ruby of Wichita Falls, Texas won two midget features on that racetrack that year for car owner Chet Wilson of Wichita.  Don Brown of Wichita won two feature races and the M.R.A. season title there in 1947 for car owner Bud Camden also of Wichita.

On June 15, 1949, there was even a program of hot rod races run on the 1/5 mile racetrack with the feature race that evening going to J. D. Hanna of Newton, Kansas.

Since this web site is devoted to automobile racing on the ½ mile racetrack, the history of that continues below.  The races on the smaller racetrack would make a good subject for another project but that must wait for now.

 

Date:

 

Driver:

From:

Automobile:

Classification:

Sanction:

July 30, 1939

 

Chet Aschman 

McPherson, KS

Model T Ford #31

Tin Lizzie

None

September 19, 1939

 

Buddy Callaway

Miami, FL

Curtiss Special #64

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 22, 1939

 

Pop Lewis

Indianapolis, IN

 

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

July 4, 1940

 

Clarence Merritt

Chelsea, OK

Peaches Campbell DO Hal #7

Big Car

S.R.A.

September 15, 1940

 

Vic Rothe

Omaha, NE

Turco Special #1

Big Car

M.H.R.A.

September 20, 1940

 

Bill Morris*

Dallas, TX

Messer Special

Big Car

M.H.R.A.

September 22, 1940

 

Bill Morris*

Dallas, TX

Messer Special

Big Car

M.H.R.A.

September 16, 1941

 

Gus Schrader

Cedar Rapids, IA

Riverside Tire Offy #5

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 19, 1941

 

Ben Musick

Dallas, TX

Riverside Tire Offy #1

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

 

            Officials with I.M.C.A. assured the fair board that there were plenty of tires available to run races at the Kansas State Fair in September of 1942 and the contract was being finalized when the federal government issued a decree that all automobile racing in the U.S.A. was to cease after July 31, 1942 for the duration of World War II.  The decree did not affect auto thrill shows and daredevil acts which continued through the war years.  Rodeos and horse racing absorbed other auto racing dates at the Kansas State Fair during that period.  While auto racing had drawn capacity crowds for decades, the events that replaced them were drawing crowds ranging anywhere from 500 to 2,000.

Auto racing did return to the Kansas State Fair in September of 1945 with what were billed as the “first auto races west of New Jersey since the war ended.”  There were very few cars in competition in 1945 though and those few were left over from prewar days.  Even so, huge crowds greeted the return of the sport to the Kansas State Fair, a fact that was not lost on the fair board.  After decades of drawing larger crowds than anything else that had appeared before the grandstand and after a slow start in 1945, the auto races were on the verge of getting many more race dates at the fairgrounds.  A new generation of racing fans had become of age and it exhibited a distinct preference for the fast pace of automobile racing.

 

Date:

 

Driver:

From:

Automobile:

Classification:

Sanction:

September 17, 1945

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 15, 1946

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 17, 1946

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 19, 1946

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 14, 1947

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 16, 1947

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 18, 1947

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 19, 1947

 

Bert Hellmueller

Baltimore, MD

Curtiss Special #48

Big Car

R.C.A.

May 30, 1948

 

Jimmy Wilburn

Indianapolis, IN

Jimmy Wilburn Offy #93

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

July 4, 1948

 

Bill Robinson

Great Bend, KS

1948 Packard

New Model Stock Car

None

September 6, 1948

 

Harry Everhart

Wichita, KS

Ford #312

Hot Rod

None

September 19, 1948

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 20, 1948

 

Noel Jones

Wichita, KS

Ford

Hot Rod

None

September 21, 1948

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 23, 1948

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 24, 1948

 

Emory Collins 

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7 

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

May 15, 1949

 

Races postponed on week due to rain 

 

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

May 22, 1949

 

Jimmy Wilburn

Indianapolis, IN

Jimmy Wilburn Offy #93

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

July 4, 1949

 

Bob McKim

Salina, KS

1949 Oldsmobile 88 #88

New Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

July 17, 1949

 

Jim Roper

Halstead, KS

Millard James Clothier, Sr. 1949 Lincoln #34

New Model Stock Car

None

July 31, 1949

 

Bob McKim

Abilene, KS

1949 Oldsmobile 88 #88

New Model Stock Car

None

August 14, 1949

 

Races postponed one week due to rain

 

New Model Stock Car

None

August 21, 1949

 

Charles James

Hutchinson, KS

1949 Packard

New Model Stock Car

None

August 28, 1949

 

Bob Thorne

Dallas, TX

 

New Model Stock Car

None

September 5, 1949

 

Reuben Loepp

Hutchinson, KS

1939 Ford

New Model Stock Car

None

September 5, 1949

 

Sgt. Quinn

Salina, KS

Crosley

Crosley

None

September 18, 1949

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 20, 1949

 

Jimmy Wilburn

Indianapolis, IN

Jimmy Wilburn Offy #93

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 22, 1949

 

Jimmy Wilburn

Indianapolis, IN

Jimmy Wilburn Offy #93

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 23, 1949

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

May 14, 1950

 

Bob Thorne

Dallas, TX

Ford #24 

New Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

May 30, 1950

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

July 4, 1950

 

Bill Massey

Hutchinson, KS

McVay 1949 Ford #86

New Model Stock Car

None

September 4, 1950

 

Jim Roper

Halstead, KS

Millard James Clothier, Sr. 1949 Oldsmobile #55

New Model Stock Car

None

September 17, 1950

 

Fred South

Salina, KS

1950 Mercury #99

New Model Stock Car

None

September 19, 1950

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 20, 1950

 

Bob McKim

Salina, KS

Ronald Rice 1950 Oldsmobile 88 #88

New Model Stock Car

None

September 21, 1950

 

Emory Collins

Le Mars, IA

Riverside Special Offy #7

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

October 8, 1950

 

Jerry Shumaker

Wichita, KS

Ford

Hot Rod

None

May 13, 1951

John "Chug" Montgomery

Lebanon, MO

John "Chug" Montgomery 1950 Oldsmobile #37

New Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

May 27, 1951

ClaIr Cotter

Austin, MN

Greer Offy #6

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

July 4, 1951

 

Jim Ware

Hutchinson, KS

Jim Ware 1948 Packard

New Model Stock Car

None

July 29, 1951

 

Frank Lies

Wichita, KS

Brettle Wayne Chevrolet #7

Hot Rod

M.R.A.

August 12, 1951

 

Charlie Lutkie

Wichita, KS

Ardun Mercury V8 #5

Hot Rod

None

September 3, 1951

 

Maurice Flynn

Abilene, KS

Paul Flynn 1932 Ford Crown Victoria #34

Modified Stock Car

None

September 16, 1951

 

Eddie Anderson

Grinnell, IA

Oldsmobile #57

New Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 17, 1951

 

Deb Snyder

Kent, OH

Buckeye Bullet Offy

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 19, 1951

 

Deb Snyder

Kent, OH

Buckeye Bullet Offy

Big Car

I.M.C.A.

September 20, 1951

 

Eddie Anderson

Grinnell, IA

Oldsmobile #57

New Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 21, 1951

 

Eddie Anderson

Grinnell, IA

Oldsmobile #57

New Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

May 4, 1952

Dominic "Shorty" Perlick

Minneapolis, MN

Dominic "Shorty" Perlick Oldsmobile #2

New Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

May 30, 1952

 

Jim Roper

Halstead, KS

Norman Horn 1949 Packard #43

New Model Stock Car

None

June 15, 1952

 

Deb Snyder

Kent, OH

Deb Snyder Offy #3

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

July 4, 1952

 

Frank Black

Ft. Worth, TX

Frank Black 1947 Ford #83

New Model Stock Car

None

September 1, 1952

 

Jim Roper

Halstead, KS

Melton Motor Co. Oldsmobile 88 #56

New Model Stock Car

None

September 14, 1952

 

Mickey McCormick

Hutchinson, KS

 

New Model Stock Car

None

September 16, 1952

 

Deb Snyder

Kent, OH

Miracle Power Offy #3

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

October 5, 1952

 

T. E. Russell

Denver, CO

Curt Stockwell Nash-Healey #32

Sprint Car

U.M.C.A.

May 3, 1953

 

Gene Brown

Ft. Worth, TX

1953 Oldsmobile #303

New Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

May 30, 1953

 

Bill Massey

Hutchinson, KS

Bill Massey 1951 Chrysler Firepower #86

New Model Stock Car

None

July 4, 1953

 

Jim Smith

Salina, KS

Jim Smith Oldsmobile 88 #99

New Model Stock Car

None

July 26, 1953

 

Mickey McCormick

Hutchinson, KS

Frank Baldauf Offy #1

Big Car

U.M.C.A.

August 16, 1953

 

Gordon Shuck

Edgar, NE

Chick Byrnes GMC #11

Big Car

U.M.C.A.

September 7, 1953

 

Troy Routh

Maize, KS

1948 Ford coupe #37

New Model Stock Car

None

September 20, 1953

 

Bill King

Enid, OK

Bill King #1

New Model Stock Car

None

September 22, 1953

 

Deb Snyder

Kent, OH

Deb Snyder Offy #3

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

October 4, 1953

 

Hershel Wagner

Independence, MO

Lawhon #5

Sprint Car

U.M.C.A.

September 18, 1954

 

Bill Mears

Wichita, KS

John Goertz Ford coupe #86

Stock Car

None

September 19, 1954

 

Herschel Buchanan

Shreveport, LA

Hudson Hornet #4

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 21, 1954

 

Marvin Pifer

Adrian, MI

Monk McCurdy Offy #32

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

May 1, 1955

 

Ernie Derr

Madison, IA

Ernie Derr 1954 Oldsmobile

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

May 30, 1955

 

Troy Routh

Maize, KS

 

Stock Car

None

June 26, 1955

 

Mickey McCormick

Hutchinson, KS

Frank Baldauf Offy #1

Sprint Car

U.M.C.A.

July 4, 1955

 

Buddy Quick

Wichita, KS

K. O. Christian Ford Crown Victoria #32

Stock Car

None

July 17, 1955

 

Buddy Quick

Wichita, KS

K. O. Christian Ford Crown Victoria #32 

Stock Car

None

July 31, 1955

 

Dick Houdek

Wichita, KS

Dick Houdek 1955 Hudson Hornet #11

Late Model Stock Car

None

September 5, 1955

 

Fred South

Salina, KS

Fred South 1955 Oldsmobile 88 #99

Late Model Stock Car

None

September 17, 1955

 

Richard Bridgman

Arkansas City, KS

 

Stock Car

None

September 18, 1955

 

Dick Houdek

Wichita, KS

Dick Houdek 1955 Hudson Hornet #11

Late Model Stock Car

None

September 20, 1955

 

Jim McWithey

Anderson, IN

Les Vaughn Offy #24

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

September 21, 1955

 

Fred South

Salina, KS

Fred South 1955 Oldsmobile 88 #99

Late Model Stock Car

None

September 22, 1955

 

Jim McWithey

Anderson, IN

Les Vaughn Offy #24

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

April 29, 1956

 

Johnny Beauchamp

Harlan, IA

Johnny Beauchamp 1956 Chevrolet

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

June 10, 1956

 

Frank Mundy

Atlanta, GA

Carl Kiekhaefer 1956 Dodge D-500 #503

Convertible Stock Car

N.A.S.C.A.R.

July 4, 1956

 

Jim Ware

Hutchinson, KS

 

Modified Late Model Stock Car

None

August 5, 1956

 

Junior Clothier

Great Bend, KS

1955 Chevrolet

Modified Late Model Stock Car

None

September 3, 1956

 

Willie Berger

Newton, KS

 

Jalopy

None

September 15, 1956

 

Frank Lies

Wichita, KS

Kenny Riffel Ford 

Jalopy

None

September 16, 1956

 

Johnny Beauchamp

Harlan, IA

Johnny Beauchamp 1956 Chevrolet

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 18, 1956

 

Johnny Pouelson

Gardena, CA

Chuck Perdue Offy #7

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

September 19, 1956

 

Dick Jepsen

Hoxie, KS

Dick Jepsen 1956 Oldsmobile #16

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 20, 1956

 

Jack Jordan

Alhambra, CA

Les King Offy #2

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

April 28, 1957

 

Johnny Beauchamp

Harlan, IA

Johnny Beauchamp 1957 Chevrolet

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

May 30, 1957

 

Mickey McCormick

Hutchinson, KS

Frank Baldauf Offy #4

Sprint Car

U.M.C.A.

June 30, 1957

 

Lenny Funk

Otis, KS

Lenny Funk 1957 Chevrolet #51

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 2, 1957

 

Willie Berger

Newton, KS

 

Jalopy

None

September 14, 1957

 

Races canceled due to rain 

 

  

None

September 15, 1957

 

Bob Burdick

Omaha, NE

Bob Burdick 1957 Ford

Late Model Stock car

I.M.C.A.

September 17, 1957

 

Cotton Farmer

Ft. Worth, TX

Les Vaughn Offy #24

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

September 18, 1957

 

Darrell Dake

Cedar Rapids, IA

Darrell Dake 1956 Ford

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 19, 1957

 

Pete Folse

Tampa, FL

#14 

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

April 27, 1958

 

Johnny Beauchamp

Harlan, IA

Johnny Beauchamp 1957 Chevrolet 

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

May 30, 1958

 

Reuben Loepp

Hutchinson, KS

 

Jalopy

None

July 26, 1958

 

Only time trials were run on this date

Jalopy

None

July 27, 1958

 

Frank Lies

Wichita, KS

Kenny Riffel Ford #6

Jalopy

None

September 1, 1958

 

Henry Ellington

Hutchinson, KS

 

Jalopy

None

September 13, 1958

 

Colby Scroggin

Eagle Rock, CA

Will Kephart Offy #67 

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

September 14, 1958

 

Races canceled due to rain

 

Late Model Stock Car 

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 15, 1958

 

Jay Woodside

Wichita, KS

Jay Woodside Ford coupe #88

Jalopy

None

September 16, 1958

 

Races canceled due to rain

 

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 17, 1958

 

Mickey McCormick

Hutchinson, KS

Frank Baldauf Offy #4

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

September 18, 1958

 

Don White

Keokuk, IA

Don White 1958 Ford #1

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 18, 1958

 

Colby Scroggin

Eagle Rock, CA

Will Kephart Offy #67

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

May 3, 1959

 

Dick Hutcherson

Keokuk, IA

Dick Hutcherson 1959 Pontiac

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

July 25, 1959

 

Only time trials were run on this date

Jalopy

None.

July 26, 1959

 

Will Forrest

Wichita, KS

Ernie McCoy 1932 Ford coupe #7

Jalopy

None

September 19, 1959

 

Parnelli Jones

Torrance, CA

Pike Chevrolet #1

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

September 20, 1959

 

Darrell Dake

Cedar Rapids, IA

Darrell Dake 1957 Chevrolet

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 22, 1959

 

Dale Reed

Wichita, KS

Pete Forshee #3

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

September 23, 1959

 

Ernie Derr

Keokuk, IA

Ernie Derr 1957 Pontiac

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

April 24, 1960

Ernie Derr

Keokuk, IA

Ernie Derr 1957 Pontiac

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

July 30, 1960

 

Only time trials were run on this date

Modified Jalopy

None

July 31, 1960

 

Forrest Coleman

Wichita, KS

Ernie McCoy Ford #14

Modified Jalopy

None

September 17, 1960

 

Ernie Derr

Keokuk, IA

Ernie Derr 1960 Pontiac #1

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 18, 1960

 

Buzz Barton

Tampa, FL

Irene Lempelius Offy #52

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

September 19, 1960

 

Buddy Cagle

Tulsa, OK

Jack Cunningham Offy #14

Midget

KCMARA

September 20, 1960

 

Ramo Stott

Keokuk, IA

Ramo Stott 1960 Ford

Late Model Stock Car

I.M.C.A.

September 21, 1960

 

Buzz Barton

Tampa, FL

Irene Lempelius Offy #52

Sprint Car

I.M.C.A.

September 22, 1960

 

Frank Lies

Wichita, KS

Cliff Durr Ford #29

Modified Jalopy

None

 

 

*Bill Morris from Denver, Colorado was an alias used by Benjamin Franklin “Ben” Musick, Sr. (1908-1966) who was actually from Dallas, Texas.

 

To go Back to Page 1 of Feature Race Winners in the Automobile Races Run on the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas (1909-1932)

 

To go Back to Page 3 of Feature Race Winners in the Automobile Races Run on the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas (1961-1974)

 

To go on to Page 4 of Feature Race Winners in the Automobile Races Run on the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas (1975-1988)

 

To go on to Page 5 of Feature Race Winners in the Automobile Races Run on the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas (1989-1996)

 

To go on to Page 6 of Feature Race Winners in the Automobile Races Run on the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas (1997-2001)

 

To go on to Page 7 of Feature Race Winners in the Automobile Races Run on the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas (2002-2013)

 

To go On to Page 8 of Feature Race Winners in the Automobile Races Run on the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas (2014-2019)

 

To see a list of Track Records for the Automobiles on the Half-Mile Racetrack at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas

 

To see a list of Kansas state champions

1951-2007

To see a list of Those who have held the Record

for most Feature Race Victories on this Racetrack

To see a list of All Time Feature Race Winners

at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas

To see a list of Hutchinson Nationals champions

1957-2019

 

 

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