There's just no stopping that Jimmy Shampine. Saturday night's victory was not only regarded as the seventh win of the season for Shampine, but it marked the accomplishment of his third Oswego Speedway Track Championship. The ole 8 ball again dominated the action in the thrilling 45 lapper, which saw Shampine stay clear of little incidents and outfox all rivals to again come home to the checkered flag. For his run, Shampine earned a cool $1500.
Scott Wilson of london, Ontario piloting his car 43 jumped off to the early lead. Coming from deep in the pack was the quick orange number 55 of Ken Andrews and he assumed the lead very shortly. On came Norm Mackereth 40, Jim Shampine 8, Don Maclaren 5 and a host of other top throttlers to challenge for the lead. Andrews was out front followed closely by Mackereth, with Shampine right on their bumpers for third. On lap 17, Shampine slipped under Mackereth going into turn three, but Norm ran side by side with Jimmy for a good distance before yielding the second spot to Shampine. laps later, Shampine worked over Andrews and going into the first turn on lap 21, took over the lead as Ken went wide in setting up a lapped car. Once Shampine was in the lead, he steadily built up a sizeable distance between himself and his closest challengers.
With Shampine well established in first, the battle errupted for second. Andrews had the Hot Wheels machine right on his heels for several laps with Norm making several attacks at Andrews to take over second. Andrews received a lot of help from lapped cars when he and Norm were lapping cars, a lapped car slid in front of Norm forcing him way outside up against the outside wall, allowing the 5 of Don Maclaren and the 93 of Baldy Baker to slip on past.
The race was coming to a close when a huge mixup occured in the first turn. It all started when Don Maclaren (running third) and Sammy Carista brushed wheels going into the first turn.
Don took a long slide into the outside wall while Sammy spun and came to a stop in the middle
of the track. Along came Jimmy Winks and the 59 and smacked the front end of Carista, while Doug Syer 72, Kempton Dates 28, and Fred Graves 37 each caught a piece of the action inflicting severe damage to their machines. Winks was shaken very bad due to the impact and he was removed to the Oswego Hospital for observation and released the same night. The only driver able to continue was Syer.
The track was cleared up and the green flag dropped again with two laps remaining. In such a short time, Andrews couldn't muster any challenge to Shampine. Down to the checkered flag again came Jimmy Shampine with his quick 8 ball with Ken Andrews about five car lengths behind in second. Baldy Baker took third with car 93, while Norm Mackereth ended a long drought and brought the 40 home fourth. Fifth spot went to "Mr. Consistancy" - Jim Cheney with the 19.
Other feature finishers in order were: Tom Rose 4, Doug Syer 72, Mike Loescher 86, Bruce Kraft 87, Scott Wilson 43, Don Maclaren 5, Fred Graves 37, Kemp Dates 28, Ray Sand 71, Ed Bellinger 02, Sammy Carista 30, Jim Winks 59, Nolan Swift 10, Dave Morton 69, Dennis Lichty 48, Ron Buckner 36, leon Wieske 56, Jack Murphy 13 and John Clapham 9.
Heats were won by Norm Mackereth, Fred Graves and Ken Andrews with Mackereth and Graves again taking honors in the semis. The consi was won by John Clapham.