by Stan Kalwasinski
1958
Fred Lorenzen of Elmhurst won a 222-mile USAC stock car race on 10/19/58. Driving his County Line Pizza-sponsored 1958 Ford, Lorenzen defeated ’58 Indy 500 winner Jimmy Bryan in a ’57 Mercury and Chuck Daigh in a Holman-Moody ’58 Ford. Behind the top three were Les Snow (57 Chevy), Marshal Teague (57 Chevy), Whitey Gerken (57 Pontiac), Norm Nelson (57 Mercury), Bill Lutz (57 Chevy), John Rostek (57 Ford) and Red Duvall (57 Ford).
Lorenzen copped a purse of over $3,500, averaging 89.87 mph over the 70 laps on the 3.3-mile road course. Daigh in a former Curtis Turner-driven Ford, was the fastest qualifier. Dan Gurney in a ’58 Ford dropped out of the race with mechanical ills. Lance Reventlow also dropped out of the race. A wheel came off of Jack Shanklin’s car and rolled into a spectator fence, knocking some fans over. No one was reported injured. Jim Rathmann crashed his car during practice the day before with his crew rebuilding it overnight only to have the engine blow up as they fired it up on race day. Chicago TV personality Lee Phillip presented Lorenzen his trophy.
1959
Gene Marmor, 29-year-old gas station mechanic, drove his 1957 Chevy to victory in a 25-lap/82.5-mile Midwest stock car championship race before a crowd of an estimated 12,000 fans on a cold, windy day on 10/11/59. Marmor defeated Tom Pistone, Don Odell, Fred Hoff and Roy Czach. Rounding out the top 10 were Ed Kozbiel, Jack Radtke, Butch Linden, Lou Fegers and Skippy Michaels. Marmor’s time was 1:02:40.37 for an average speed of 78.26 mph. Earlier in the day, Marmor won the 3-lap trophy dash ahead of Red Duvall and Odell, while Pistone and Dave Hirschfield won 6-lap heat races. Marmor took home the bulk of the $5,700 in prize money. Marmor was the event’s fastest qualifier, posting a lap just shy of 83.5 mph. 46 entries were on hand with 40 taking qualifying runs. 30 cars started the 25-lap main event.
1960
Nelson Stacy of Cincinnati, Ohio drove his 1960 Ford to victory in the MARC-sanctioned “Illini 250” stock car race on 8/14/60. Stacy started on the pole and went on to win the event on the 3.27-mile road course.
1963
Curtis Turner of Roanoke, Va. won USAC stock car race on 7/28/63. Driving a 63 ½ Ford to his first USAC win of the season, Turner defeated Don White (63 ½ Ford), John Kilbourn (63 Dodge), Sal Tovella (63 ½ Ford) and Roger Regeth (driving a late model for the first time) in Ted Rozinski’s 61 Ford. Rounding out the top ten were Ken Finley/Whitey Gerken (62 Pontiac), Neil Houston (63 Plymouth), Eddie Meyer (61 Ford), Lee Drollinger (62 Ford) and Elmer Musgrave (63 Mercury). Herb Shannon (63 Plymouth) finished 11th and Rick Kleich (62 Chevy) 12th.
The scheduled 250 mile race was shortened to 225 miles because of deteriorating track conditions and the lateness of the day. Turner had fast time on Saturday with a lap of 1:36:12 (84.27 mph) around the 2.25-mile road course. Teammates Norm Nelson and Paul Goldsmith both dropped out of the race with engine failures. Bill Shoulders, Arnie Gardner and Bob Slensby were involved in a three-car fracas coming off the Monza Wall.
Rick Kleich of Chicago won the “open competition” Mid-America 100-mile Championship race for late model stock cars on 10/29/63. A crowd of in excess of 8,000 fans watched Kleich and his 1962 Chevy defeated Bill Shoulders (62 Ford), Eddie Meyer (63 Ford) and Bay Darnell (62 Ford), who was the fastest qualifier. Erik Johnson and his 62 Chevy convertible, which he drove at O’Hare Stadium, finished fifth, after his car arrived late and he started in 27th position. Bill Lutz (62 Chevy), Butch Linden (62 Mercury), Mike Terrafino (63 Chevy), Ted Hane (61 Ford) and Len Kannie (59 Ford) rounded out the top ten. Gene Marmor’s 63 Chevy was badly damaged in a morning practice session after he crashed into Bill Finley’s 61 Ford. Terry Parker (62 Chevy) was also involved. Marmor’s crew patched up his car, but he dropped out of the main event.
1964
Elmer Musgrave won 250-mile ARCA stock car race on 7/19/64. Musgrave drove his 1963 Mercury to the win in the first annual Ed “Twenty Grand” Steinbock Memorial stock car race. Iggy Katona was second, followed by Paul Wensink, Dick Freeman, Ralph Trumbull (of Tinley Park), Virgil Barbe, Jack Bowsher, Jack Shanklin, Clyde Parker and Les Snow. Bobby Wawak (‘63 Ford) was 14th and Ralph Webb (Evanston) was 15th in a ‘63 Ford No. 3. Race was 100 laps around the 2.5-mile road course with a reported 11,000-plus fans in attendance. Katona in ‘64 Ford was leading race until running off track on lap 86. Wensink was in a ‘63 Ford and Freeman in a ‘63 Pontiac. The racing publication—Illustrated Speedway News showed Leonard Novosel in a ‘63 Mercury fifth. (Musgrave was suspended from USAC for running in and winning this race.)
SCCA TRANS AM RACE
Mark Donohue drove Roger Penske’s Camaro to victory in a 240-mile race on 7/7/68. The race around the 3.2 mile road course was completed in 2:45:25.0 for an average speed of 87.053 mph.
--Stan Kalwasinski
skalwasinski@yahoo.com
Site author's note: I found this article on an old disk with no source noted. I did not write it. If you did, please advise and I will credit you with great appreciation, or remove it from the website, as you desire.
1958 Fred Lorenzen of Elmhurst won 220-mile USAC stock car race on 10/19/58. Driving his County Line Pizza-sponsored 1958 Ford, Lorenzen defeated '58 Indy 500 winner Jimmy Bryan in a Mercury and Chuck Daigh in a Holman-Moody '58 Ford. Behind the top three were Les Snow (57 Chevy), Marshal Teague (57 Chevy), Whitey Gerken, Norm Nelson, John Rostek, Bill Lutz and Red Duvall. Lorenzen copped a purse of $3,500, averaging 81.177 mph over the 70 laps. Chicago TV personality Lee Phillip presented Lorenzen his trophy. (ARCA records show this as an ARCA event???)
1959 Gene Marmor, 29 year old gas station mechanic, drove his 1957 Chevy to victory in a 80-mile Midwest stock car championship race before a crowd of an estimated 12,000 fans on a cold, windy day on 10/11/59. Marmor defeated Tom Pistone, Don Odell, Fred Hoff and Roy Czach. Marmor's time was 1:02:40 for an average speed of 78.2 mph. Earlier in the day, Marmor won the trophy dash ahead of Red Duvall and Odell. Marmor took home the bulk of the $5,700 in prize money.
1960 Nelson Stacy won MARC stock car race on 8/14/60.
1963 Curtis Turner of Roanoke, Va. won USAC stock car race on 7/28/63. Driving a 63 ½ Ford to his first USAC win of the season, Turner defeated Don White (63 ½ Ford), John Kilbourn (63 Dodge), Sal Tovella (63 ½ Ford) and Roger Regeth (drving a late model for the first time) in Ted Rozinski's 61 Ford. Rounding out the top ten were Ken Finley/Whitey Gerken (62 Pontiac), Neil Houston (63 Plymouth), Eddie Meyer (61 Ford), Lee Drollinger (62 Ford) and Elmer Musgrave (63 Mercury). Herb Shannon (63 Plymouth) finished 11th and Rick Kleich (62 Chevy) 12th in the 225-mile (shortened from the scheduled 250 miles) race because of deteriorating track conditions and the lateness of the day. Turner had fast time on Saturday with a lap of 1:36:12 (84.27 mph) around the 2.25-mile road course. Teammates Norm Nelson and Paul Goldsmith both dropped out of the race with engine failures. Bill Shoulders, Arnie Gardner and Bob Slensby involved in a three-car fracas coming off the Monza Wall.
Rick Kleich of Chicago won the Mid-America 100-mile Championship race for late model stock cars on 10/29/63. A crowd of in excess of 8,000 fans watched Kleich and his 1962 Chevy defeated Bill Shoulders (62 Ford), Eddie Meyer (63 Ford) and Bay Darnell (62 Ford), who was the fastest qualifier. Erik Johnson and his 62 Chevy convertible finished fifth, after his car arrived late and he started in 27th postion. Bill Lutz (62 Chevy), Butch Linden (62 Mecury), Mike Terrafino (63 Chevy), Ted Hane (61 Ford) and Len Kannie (59 Ford) rounded out the top ten. Gene Marmor's 63 Chevy was badly damaged in a morning practive session after he crashed into Bill Finley's 61 Ford. Terry Parker (62 Chevy) was also involved. Marmor's crew patched up his car, but he dropped out of the main event.
1964 Elmer Musgrave won 250-mile ARCA stock car race on 7/10 or 7/19/64. Musgrave drove his 1963 Mercury to the win in the first annual Ed "Twenty Grand" Steinbock Memorial stock car race. Iggy Katona was second, followed by Paul Wensink, Dick Freeman, Ralph Trumbull (of Tinley Park), Virgil Barbe, Jack Bowsher, Jack Shanklin, Clyde Parker and Les Snow. Bobby Wawak (63 Ford) was 14th and Ralph Webb (Evanston) was 15th in a 63 Ford No. 3. Race was 100 laps around the 2.5-mile road course with a reported 11,000-plus fans in attendance. ISN results showed 7/10/64 date. Katona in 64 Ford was leading race until running off track on lap 86. Wensink was in a 63 Ford and Freeman in a 63 Pontiac. ISN showed Leonard Novosel in a 63 Mercury fifth. (Musgrave was banned from USAC for running in and winning this race.)
