Seventeenth Annual Kansas State Championship
Late Model Stock Car Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – September 13, 1981
Promotional company – Speedways Inc. of Wichita, Kansas
Race director – C. Ray Hall of Wichita, Kansas
#7c Howard Spitler of Republic, Kansas; #50B Larry McDaniels of Wichita, Kansas; and #721 Van Gemmill of Ponca City, Oklahoma are shown here running nose-to-tail down the front straightaway in the 20-lap A feature race on this afternoon. McDaniels ended up finishing in fourth place, Gemmill in fifth place, and Spitler in seventh place – Thad Allton photo for the Hutchinson News
First Heat Race
|
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
57 |
Dhon Hauserman |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
2 |
86 |
Steve Lutkie |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
3 |
92 |
Lonnie Smith |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
4 |
42 |
Ken Sweet |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
5 |
64 |
David Brack |
Great Bend, Kansas |
|
6 |
70 |
Don Morris |
Junction City, Kansas |
|
7 |
L16 |
Vernon Strutt |
Woodston, Kansas |
|
8 |
65 |
Rusty Hilderman |
Topeka, Kansas |
|
9 |
14N |
Henry Martin |
McPherson, Kansas |
|
10 |
55 |
Shannon Little |
Newton, Kansas |
|
11 |
27 |
J. J. Adolph |
Manhattan, Kansas |
Hauserman had a big lead in this race.
Second Heat Race
|
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
77 |
Shelby Steenson |
Abilene, Kansas |
|
2 |
90 |
Johnny Boe |
Enid, Oklahoma |
|
3 |
12 |
Bob Billups |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
4 |
29 |
Frank McGehee |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
5 |
3 |
Gary Macy |
Hennessey, Oklahoma |
|
6 |
60 |
David Hughes |
Breckinridge, Oklahoma |
|
7 |
148 |
Duane Holton |
Abilene, Kansas |
|
8 |
49 |
Dennis Wagner |
Great Bend, Kansas |
Third Heat Race
|
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
7c |
Howard Spitler |
Republic, Kansas |
|
2 |
48x |
Steve Bush |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
3 |
13 |
Von Morton |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
4 |
2 |
Rich Wilson |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
5 |
71 |
Gerald Folk |
Iola, Kansas |
|
6 |
B48 |
Sam Brittendall |
Salina, Kansas |
|
7 |
1x |
Sam Randol |
Topeka, Kansas |
|
8 |
99 |
Bill Goodson |
Manhattan, Kansas |
Fourth Heat Race
|
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
31 |
Gary Kratzer |
Lyons, Kansas |
|
2 |
18 |
Tony Bruce, Sr. |
Liberal, Kansas |
|
3 |
67B |
Jerry Burkes |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
4 |
48M |
Craig Miller |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
5 |
98 |
Rod Keller |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
6 |
76 |
John Craig |
Manhattan, Kansas |
|
7 |
11H |
Francis Hoppenstedt |
Manhattan, Kansas |
|
8 |
20 |
Dick Julian |
Great Bend, Kansas |
|
9 |
5 |
Greg Holbert |
Concordia, Kansas |
|
10 |
50JR |
Jack Mohn |
Salina, Kansas |
Fifth Heat Race
|
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
7B |
Clay Bontrager |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
2 |
50B |
Larry McDaniels |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
3 |
21 |
Don Davis, Jr. |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
4 |
721 |
Van Gemmill |
Ponca City, Oklahoma |
|
5 |
55x |
Ron Simmons |
Ft. Scott, Kansas |
|
6 |
44 |
Oren Haas |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
7 |
44x |
Rob Glasse |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
8 |
84D |
Terry Guinn |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
9 |
B10 |
Kenny Farr |
Leoti, Kansas |
Trophy Dash
|
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
7B |
Clay Bontrager |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
2 |
77 |
Shelby Steenson |
Abilene, Kansas |
|
3 |
7c |
Howard Spitler |
Republic, Kansas |
C Feature Race
|
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
L16 |
Vernon Strutt |
Woodston, Kansas |
|
2 |
84D |
Terry Guinn |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
3 |
65 |
Rusty Hilderman |
Topeka, Kansas |
|
4 |
44x |
Rob Glasse |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
5 |
8F |
Jay Woodside |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
6 |
27 |
J. J. Adolph |
Manhattan, Kansas |
|
7 |
148 |
Duane Holton |
Abilene, Kansas |
|
8 |
14N |
Henry Marin |
McPherson, Kansas |
|
9 |
99 |
Bill Goodson |
Manhattan, Kansas |
|
10 |
55 |
Shannon Little |
Newton, Kansas |
|
11 |
B10 |
Kenny Farr |
Leoti, Kansas |
|
12 |
5 |
Greg Holbert |
Concordia, Kansas |
|
13 |
|
Randy Payne |
Topeka, Kansas |
|
14 |
|
Roy Hupman |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
15 |
|
Don Graves |
Liberal, Kansas |
B Feature Race
|
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
721 |
Van Gemmill |
Ponca City, Oklahoma |
|
2 |
42 |
Ken Sweet |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
3 |
29 |
Frank McGehee |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
4 |
2 |
Rich Wilson |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
5 |
70 |
Don Morris |
Junction City, Kansas |
|
6 |
64 |
David Brack |
Great Bend, Kansas |
|
7 |
55x |
Ron Simmons |
Ft. Scott, Kansas |
|
8 |
71 |
Gerald Folk |
Iola, Kansas |
|
9 |
60 |
David Hughes |
Breckinridge, Oklahoma |
|
10 |
3 |
Gary Macy |
Hennessey, Oklahoma |
|
11 |
48M |
Craig Miller |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
12 |
98 |
Rod Keller |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
13 |
B48 |
Sam Brittendall |
Salina, Kansas |
|
14 |
65 |
Rusty Hilderman |
Topeka, Kansas |
A Feature Race – 20 Laps
|
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
57 |
Dhon Hauserman |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
2 |
77 |
Shelby Steenson |
Abilene, Kansas |
|
3 |
7B |
Clay Bontrager |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
4 |
50B |
Larry McDaniels |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
5 |
721 |
Van Gemmill |
Ponca City, Oklahoma |
|
6 |
86 |
Steve Lutkie |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
7 |
7c |
Howard Spitler |
Republic, Kansas |
|
8 |
29 |
Frank McGehee |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
9 |
92 |
Lonnie Smith |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
10 |
42 |
Ken Sweet |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
11 |
90 |
Johnny Boe |
Enid, Oklahoma |
|
12 |
21 |
Don Davis, Jr. |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
13 |
|
Steve Rogers |
Garden City, Kansas |
|
14 |
12 |
Bob Billups |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
15 |
70 |
Don Morris |
Junction City, Kansas |
|
16 |
67B |
Jerry Burkes |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
17 |
18 |
Tony Bruce, Sr. |
Liberal, Kansas |
Steenson took the early lead from pole sitter Hauserman but was Hauserman stayed close behind until the eighteenth lap when he passed Steenson for the lead exiting the southeast turn. Hauserman then pulled away to comfortable lead over Steenson with Bontrager finishing a distant third.
This mix-up (the same accident is pictured just minutes apart above and below) is believed to have taken place during the A feature on this afternoon. The only cars involved that have been identified so far are #92 Lonnie Smith from Wichita, Kansas; #48M Craig Miller from Hutchinson; and #42 Ken Sweet, Sr. from Wichita, Kansas - Mike Cornelison photos
Dhon Hauserman of Wichita, Kansas leading the A feature on this afternoon - Mike Cornelison photo
|
Shelby Steenson Racing from the Past website |
Steve Bush Joe Aldershof collection |
Howard Spitler Racing from the Past website |
Steve Lutkie Steve Lutkie collection |
|
Vernon Strutt Racing from the Past website |
J. J. Adolph Racing from the Past website |
Van Gemmill Brian Carroll collection |
Rob Glasse Racing from the Past website |
|
Gary Kratzer Racing from the Past website |
Francis Hoppenstedt Racing from the Past website |
Von Morton Racing from the Past website |
Frank McGehee Haehn collection |
|
Larry McDaniels Bill Rogers collection |
Sam Brittendall Duane Toyne collection from the Racing from the Past website |
Dick Julian Racing from the Past website |
Don Morris Racing from the Past website |
|
Clay Bontrager 81 Speedway program |
Rich Wilson Wilson collection |
Don Davis, Jr. Racing from the Past website |
Oren Haas 81 Speedway program |
David Brack
Mike Cornelison photo
Return to the Feature Race Winners at Hutchinson, Kansas web page