Late Model Stock Car Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – May 1, 1955
Sanctioned by – International Motor Contest Association (I.M.C.A.)
Promotional company – Auto Racing Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Race Promoter – Frank R. Winkley of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Scorekeeper – Verna Winkley of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance – 10,000
Advertised purse - $22,000
This photo of unidentified cars racing through the north turn was taken during this race - Hutchinson News Herald photo
Two unidentified cars vie here for position. The racetrack had two distinctive grooves on this day – Lehman collection
#99 Fred South in his 1955 Oldsmobile 88 – Lehman collection
This photo of Leland Musick’s 1955 Chevrolet was taken on the 141st lap of this race. The car was up-righted and he finished in seventh place - Hutchinson News Herald photo
The Wheat Belt Championship Race - 200 Laps
Time: 1 hour, 52 minutes, 28.0 seconds
Place |
Driver |
From |
Automobile |
1 |
Ernie Derr |
Madison, Iowa |
1954 Oldsmobile |
2 |
Don White |
Keokuk, Iowa |
1955 Oldsmobile |
3 |
Bill Harrison |
Topeka, Kansas |
1955 Oldsmobile |
4 |
Robert "Doc" Naber |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
Chevrolet |
5 |
Frank Black |
Ft. Worth, Texas |
Chevrolet |
6 |
Bob Brown |
Springfield, Missouri |
Ford Thunderbird |
7 |
Leland Musick |
Dallas, Texas |
1955 Chevrolet |
8 |
Newton “Newt” Bartholomew |
Carlisle, Iowa |
|
9 |
Red Dowdy |
Dallas, Texas |
|
10 |
Gene Richmond |
Springfield, Missouri |
|
11 |
Dick Jepsen |
Hoxie, Kansas |
1951 Oldsmobile 88 |
12 |
Tubby Harrison |
Topeka, Kansas |
|
13 |
Bill Bolton |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
14 |
Tiny Lund* |
Anita, Iowa |
|
15 |
Bob Thorne |
Dallas, Texas |
|
16 |
Wallace Hickman |
Abilene, Texas |
|
17 |
Fred South |
Salina, Kansas |
1955 Oldsmobile 88 |
18 |
John Riead |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
Bolton lost a front wheel and crashed into the fence on the north turn on the 4th lap. He was able to repair his damaged car and get back into the race but a blown tire on the 152nd lap eliminated him from competition.
Hickman crashed into a retaining wall on the 8th lap.
Riead lost a wheel and crashed into the fence on the 36th lap.
Bill Harrison hit the fence on the south turn on the 55th lap but bounced off and kept going. He then assumed the lead when Derr pitted on the 57th lap. Harrison blew a tire and smashed into the fence on the east side of the track on the 141st lap. In doing so, he lost the lead back to Derr. Harrison’s crew twisted lug nuts with an electric drill thus being able to change a tire in well under a minute. Their speedy work kept him on contention until a second tire blew out in the north turn on the 166th lap and he crashed into the fence. He was able to get back underway but could not challenge for the lead again.
Dowdy blew a tire and nearly rolled on the 95th lap.
Richmond and Thorne both suffered blowouts on the 109th lap.
Musick also rolled his car over onto its side just coming out of the north turn on lap 141st lap. Track attendants and fans were able to push the car back over onto its wheels and Musick continued having never left the driver’s seat.
Bartholomew blew out a tire on the 148th lap causing a few crumpled fenders to competitors in the resulting melee behind him.
Tubby Harrison dropped out on the 156th lap with a broken fuel pump.
White spun out on the 157th lap but was able to right his car and get underway again.
Dick Jepsen drove this 1951 Oldsmobile 88 to an 11th place finish in this race - Dick Jepsen collection
* DeWayne Louis “Tiny” Lund (1929-1975) went on to compete in the Daytona “500” nine times including winning there in 1963. He was fatally injured in a racing accident during the 1975 Talladega “500” NASCAR race at Talladega, Alabama.
Return to the Feature Race Winners at Hutchinson, Kansas web page
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