NASCAR Stars Don't Inhibit Schuler in Raceway Mason Dixon 75
By: Rick Dal Corobbo
Blue Island, IL. May 30th, 1981 - Southern NASCAR superstars Neil Bonnett and Ricky Rudd proved little trouble for the Midwest product Larry Schuler, who easily romped to victory in the 75-lap Mason Dixon Classic Saturday night at Raceway Park.
Steve Seligman paced the 17-car pack as the race got underway, with Bonnett, behind the wheel of the Camaro usually campaigned by Mike Spagnola and Tom Jones in pursuit. The first red flag of the event was necessitated on lap 5, when Tom Nielsen and Bonnett hooked up in the fourth turn and stalled in the groove. Both drivers were able to restart in their positions, however.
By: Rick Dal Corobbo
Blue Island, IL. May 30th, 1981 - Southern NASCAR superstars Neil Bonnett and Ricky Rudd proved little trouble for the Midwest product Larry Schuler, who easily romped to victory in the 75-lap Mason Dixon Classic Saturday night at Raceway Park.
Steve Seligman paced the 17-car pack as the race got underway, with Bonnett, behind the wheel of the Camaro usually campaigned by Mike Spagnola and Tom Jones in pursuit. The first red flag of the event was necessitated on lap 5, when Tom Nielsen and Bonnett hooked up in the fourth turn and stalled in the groove. Both drivers were able to restart in their positions, however.
As racing resumed under the green, Seligman pushed his Camaro out front again, but by the 10th circuit, Bonnett, Schuler, Rudd and Jones were right on his heels once more.
The second red flag of the event was displayed on lap 12, just as Schuler passed Bonnett for the runnerup position, triggered by Rudd, wheeling Pat Echlin's Camaro, who tore the rear bumper off of Bonnett's car in the second turn and then clipped Jones, sending his mount up on two wheels along the complete length of the backstretch wall. Jones' Camaro sustained major under carriage damage in the mishap.
Seligman paced the restart for two more circuits before Schuler moved his Protector Corporation sponsored Camaro into command - followed closely by Rudd and Bonnett.
Another red flag came out on lap 30, when Schuler, now a full straightaway ahead of Rudd, looped the Regal driven by Jerry Kemperman while attempting to lap him, which in turn stalled in the second turn.
Schuler continued to set the pace, but only for six more circuits before the next red flag was displayed when he hooked up with Rich Sundling and slammed into the third turn wall. At the same time, Rudd slid into the same wall and broke a tie-rod, forcing him out of the running. Both Schuler and Sundling were able to restart, however.
When action returned to green, Bob Weltmeyer, Dave Weltmeyer, Frank Gawlinski and Bonnett were again on the rear bumper of Schuler's Camaro. Bonnett, however started dropping off the pace on the 38th circuit and pulled out of the race on lap 41.
Schuler continued to set a blistering pace, and had extended his advantage to well over a straightaway by the drop of the checkered flag. Bob Weltmeyer earned second place money trailed by Dave Weltmeyer, Gawlinski, Woody Church, Nielsen, Burt Weitemeyer, Leo Mens, Woody Pool and Kemperman.
Current Sportsman points leader Jake Ourshoorn established a new one-lap qualifying record in the division, finished a close second to Mike Tobuch in the trophy dash, recorded his third heat race of the season and then romped to his second 20-lap feature victory in a row.
Defending kingpin in the class, Terry Laxton, finished less than a car length behind the leader at the finish, trailed by Tobuch, Gary Raven, Tom Searle and Tom Delso.
Roger Rubino claimed his second straight Hobby Stock feature win of the season.
The second red flag of the event was displayed on lap 12, just as Schuler passed Bonnett for the runnerup position, triggered by Rudd, wheeling Pat Echlin's Camaro, who tore the rear bumper off of Bonnett's car in the second turn and then clipped Jones, sending his mount up on two wheels along the complete length of the backstretch wall. Jones' Camaro sustained major under carriage damage in the mishap.
Seligman paced the restart for two more circuits before Schuler moved his Protector Corporation sponsored Camaro into command - followed closely by Rudd and Bonnett.
Another red flag came out on lap 30, when Schuler, now a full straightaway ahead of Rudd, looped the Regal driven by Jerry Kemperman while attempting to lap him, which in turn stalled in the second turn.
Schuler continued to set the pace, but only for six more circuits before the next red flag was displayed when he hooked up with Rich Sundling and slammed into the third turn wall. At the same time, Rudd slid into the same wall and broke a tie-rod, forcing him out of the running. Both Schuler and Sundling were able to restart, however.
When action returned to green, Bob Weltmeyer, Dave Weltmeyer, Frank Gawlinski and Bonnett were again on the rear bumper of Schuler's Camaro. Bonnett, however started dropping off the pace on the 38th circuit and pulled out of the race on lap 41.
Schuler continued to set a blistering pace, and had extended his advantage to well over a straightaway by the drop of the checkered flag. Bob Weltmeyer earned second place money trailed by Dave Weltmeyer, Gawlinski, Woody Church, Nielsen, Burt Weitemeyer, Leo Mens, Woody Pool and Kemperman.
Current Sportsman points leader Jake Ourshoorn established a new one-lap qualifying record in the division, finished a close second to Mike Tobuch in the trophy dash, recorded his third heat race of the season and then romped to his second 20-lap feature victory in a row.
Defending kingpin in the class, Terry Laxton, finished less than a car length behind the leader at the finish, trailed by Tobuch, Gary Raven, Tom Searle and Tom Delso.
Roger Rubino claimed his second straight Hobby Stock feature win of the season.
RESULTS - MAY 30th, 1981
Late Model 75-Lap Feature:
1)Larry Schuler, 2)Bob Weltmeyer, 3)Dave Weltmeyer, 4) Frank Gawlinski, 5)Woody Church, 6)Tom Nielsen, 7)Burt Weitemeyer, 8)Leo Mens, 9)Woody Pool, 10)Jerry Kemperman
10-Lap Heat: First - 1)Steve Seligman, 2)Tom Nielsen
10-Lap Heat: Second - 1)Stash Kullman, 2)Woody Church
6-Lap SK Tools Trophy Dash: 1)Woody Church
Fast Qualifier: Frank Gawlinski - 11.791
Sportsman 20-Lap Feature:
1)Jake Oudshoorn, 2)Terry Laxton, 3)Mike Tobuch, 4)Gary Raven, 5)Tom Searle, 6)Tom Delso
10-Lap Heat: 1)Oudshoorn, 2)Laxton
6-Lap Trophy Dash: 1)Mike Tobuch
Fast Qualifier: Jake Oudshoorn -12.437
Beats Track Record Held By Jim Johnson (12.441) from May 16th, 1981
Hobby Stock 15-Lap Feature
1)Roger Rubino, 2)Jeff Swanson, 3)Ron Varner, 4)Scott Sterkowitz, 5)Ray Davis, 6)Jack Annen
12-Lap Consilaton: First - 1)Tom Kozak, 2)Dave Gortland, 3)Russ Foust, 4)Boyd Geralds
12-Lap Consilaton: Second - 1)Dennis Ponton, 2)Jack Tite, 3)Randy Gifford, 4)Dave Jarrell
10-Lap Heat: First - 1)John Ilg, 2)Don Skafgaard
10-Lap Heat: Second - 1)Jeff Swanson, 2)Craig Johnson
10-Lap Heat: Third - 1)Ray Davis, 2)Don Tite
10-Lap Heat: Fourth - 1)Mike Varner, 2)Bob Geralds
10-Lap Heat: Fifth - 1)Scott Sterkowitz, 2)Roger Rubino
Late Model 75-Lap Feature:
1)Larry Schuler, 2)Bob Weltmeyer, 3)Dave Weltmeyer, 4) Frank Gawlinski, 5)Woody Church, 6)Tom Nielsen, 7)Burt Weitemeyer, 8)Leo Mens, 9)Woody Pool, 10)Jerry Kemperman
10-Lap Heat: First - 1)Steve Seligman, 2)Tom Nielsen
10-Lap Heat: Second - 1)Stash Kullman, 2)Woody Church
6-Lap SK Tools Trophy Dash: 1)Woody Church
Fast Qualifier: Frank Gawlinski - 11.791
Sportsman 20-Lap Feature:
1)Jake Oudshoorn, 2)Terry Laxton, 3)Mike Tobuch, 4)Gary Raven, 5)Tom Searle, 6)Tom Delso
10-Lap Heat: 1)Oudshoorn, 2)Laxton
6-Lap Trophy Dash: 1)Mike Tobuch
Fast Qualifier: Jake Oudshoorn -12.437
Beats Track Record Held By Jim Johnson (12.441) from May 16th, 1981
Hobby Stock 15-Lap Feature
1)Roger Rubino, 2)Jeff Swanson, 3)Ron Varner, 4)Scott Sterkowitz, 5)Ray Davis, 6)Jack Annen
12-Lap Consilaton: First - 1)Tom Kozak, 2)Dave Gortland, 3)Russ Foust, 4)Boyd Geralds
12-Lap Consilaton: Second - 1)Dennis Ponton, 2)Jack Tite, 3)Randy Gifford, 4)Dave Jarrell
10-Lap Heat: First - 1)John Ilg, 2)Don Skafgaard
10-Lap Heat: Second - 1)Jeff Swanson, 2)Craig Johnson
10-Lap Heat: Third - 1)Ray Davis, 2)Don Tite
10-Lap Heat: Fourth - 1)Mike Varner, 2)Bob Geralds
10-Lap Heat: Fifth - 1)Scott Sterkowitz, 2)Roger Rubino
Photos in gallery taken by Jim Guetschow Sr.