First things first, I want to thank everyone that read my initial blog last week about the ARTGO Series coming to Raceway Park. I had a lot of fun reliving some memories as I wrote it, researched it and posted the pictures. I was absolutely stunned to see over 500 people had read the story the first week it was up. With that being said I'm excited to give you entry #2. I'm going to try and switch stuff every time I post something and I wasn't sure what this one would be about. With the local racing scene just about closed down, all of us race fans start counting down the weeks until opening day. That's what gave me the idea for this blog. I decided I'm gonna share the opening day history at Raceway Park from 1939-2000.
Junior Hanley came down from Canada to win the 1977 season opening 100 lap feature
Raceway Park - Blue Island, IL.
Opening Day History
7/1/39
Midgets - Lyle Dickey
6/1/40
Midgets - Ted Duncan
5/10/41
Midgets - Myron Fohr
5/16/42
Midgets - Tony Bettenhausen
1943
NO RACES
1944
NO RACES
8/25/45
Midgets - Tony Bettenhausen
5/12/46
Midgets - Tony Bettenhausen
6/4/47
Midgets - Paul Russo
5/22/48
Midgets - Don Brennan
4/23/49
Midgets - Clyde Young
6/19/49
Stock Cars - Bill Van Allen
4/16/50
Stock Cars - Bob Pronger
3/25/51
Stock Cars - Henry Smith
4/13/52
Stock Cars - Bill Cornwall
4/5/53
Stock Cars - Cliff Tatro
4/18/54
Stock Cars - Bill Cornwall
4/10/55
Stock Cars - Bud Koehler
4/1/56
Stock Cars - Bun Emery
4/21/57
Stock Cars - Bill Van Allen (50 Laps)
4/20/58
Late Models - Bud Koehler
Novices - Wayne Bowdish
4/26/59
Late Models - Bob Williams
Novices - Gene Peterson
4/24/60
Late Models - Bill Van Allen
Rookies - Don Embry
4/30/61
Late Models - Bill Van Allen
Rookies - Duane Row
4/29/62
Late Models - Stash Kullman
Rookies - Ron Rosine
4/21/63
Late Models - Legs Whitcomb
Claimers - Ray Freeman
4/25/64
Late Models - Ted Janecyk
Claimers - Rich Kuhn
5/1/65
Late Models - Bob Pronger
Amateurs - Roy Brandenberg
4/24/66
Late Models - Ray Young
Amateurs - George Hill
4/30/67
Late Models - Ray Young
Novices - Jerry Welch
5/4/68
Late Models - Jerry Kemperman
5/2/69
6-Cylinders - Jim Bolin
6/21/69
Late Models - Bud Koehler
4/26/70
Late Models - Ted Janecyk
Amateurs - Gene Swart
4/25/71
Late Models - Ray Freeman
Semi-Pros - Dick Raven
4/30/72
Late Models - Jerry Kemperman
6 Cylinders - Norm Weber
4/29/73
Late Models - Harry Simonsen (100 laps)
6 Cylinders - Rained Out
5/4/74
Late Models - Bud Koehler
6 Cylinders - Gerry Vallow
Hobby Stocks - Jim Isbell
5/4/75
Late Models - Bud Koehler (100 laps)
6 Cylinders - Gene Swart
Hobby Stocks - Dave Urewicz
5/8/76
Late Models - Ray Para (100 laps)
6 Cylinders - Pat Broenneke
Hobby Stocks - Leona Yuris
5/1/77
Late Models - Junior Hanley (100 laps)
Hobby Stocks - Jack Annen
4/30/78
Late Models - Larry Middleton (100 laps)
Hobby Stocks - Barbara Bosak
5/6/79
Late Models - Stash Kullman (100 laps)
Hobby Stocks - Jack Annen
5/4/80
Late Models - Frank Gawlinski (100 laps)
Sportsmen - Jake Oudshoorn
Hobby Stocks - Ray Davis
4/26/81
Late Models - Larry Schuler (100 laps)
Sportsmen - Terry Laxton
Hobby Stocks - Ron Varner
5/9/82
Late Models - Wayne Para, Wayne Para, Wayne Para
Overall Monza Champion - Wayne Para
Hobby Stocks - Ron Swanson
5/8/83
Late Models - Dave Weltmeyer (50 laps)
Hobby Stock A - Craig Johnson
Hobby Stock B - Dave Jarrell
5/13/84
Late Models - Pat Echlin, Pat Echlin, Dave Weltmeyer
Overall Monza Champion - Pat Echlin
Hobby Stock B - Bob Geralds
Mini Stocks - Mike Penrod
5/11/85
Late Models - Dave Weltmeyer, Dave Weltmeyer, Dave Weltmeyer
Overall Monza Champion - Dave Weltmeyer
Hobby Stocks - Dennis Ponton
Mini Stocks - Nick Bruscato
Spectators - Wally Komanski
5/4/86
Late Models - Dan Weltmeyer, Dan Weltmeyer
Overall Monza Champion - Dan Weltmeyer
Mini Stocks - Alberto Cabrera
5/10/87
Late Models - Mike White (50 laps)
Hobby Stocks - Chuck Bober
Mini Stocks - Ben Slachta
Spectators - Dave Gortland
5/15/88
Late Models - Jim Johnson
Hobby Stocks - John Rastovsky
Mini Stocks - Russ Foust
Spectators - Randy Gifford
5/14/89
Late Models - Mike White (50 laps)
Hobby Stocks - Hank Pugh
Mini Stocks - Dave Botkin
Spectators - Dean Cicuto
4/22/90
Enduro - John Klimek
5/13/90
Late Models - Dave Duckworth
Hobby Stocks - Tony Meier
Spectators - Gene Clark
4/21/91
Enduro - Rick Wilson
5/12/91
Late Models - Pat Echlin
Hobby Stocks - Jeff McNeill
Spectators - Jason Michau
3/29/92
Enduro - Phil Splant
5/10/92
Late Models - Mike Lorz
Sportsmen - Mike Tobuch
Street Stocks - Don Kritenbrink
4/25/93
Enduro - Eddie Halper
5/9/93
Late Models - Kevin Reidy
Street Stocks - Rob Delinsky
4/24/94
Enduro - Pat O'Rourke
5/8/94
Late Models - John Brolick
Semi-Pros - Joe Jones
Street Stocks - Casey Novak
4/23/95
Enduro - Doug Fermanich
5/7/95
Late Models - Kevin Reidy
Street Stocks - Jeff Treptow
4/21/96
Enduro - Greg Craven
5/5/96
Late Models - Gary Raven
Semi-Pros - Mark Olejniczak
Street Stocks - John Cozzi
4/27/97
Enduro - Doug Fermanich
5/11/97
Late Models - John Brolick
Semi-Pros - Bob Cagle
Street Stocks - Russ Vankuiken
4/26/98
Enduro - Dave Koch
5/3/98
Late Models - John Brolick
Semi-Pros - Louie Pasderetz
Len Koprowski
4/25/99
Enduro - Art Speciale
5/9/99
Late Models - Kevin Reidy
Semi-Pros - John Senerchia
Street Stocks - Ryan Dix
4/30/00
Enduro - Eddie Wolf
5/14/00
Late Models - Gary Raven
Semi-Pros - Bill Neering
Street Stocks - Scott Gardner
Opening Day History
7/1/39
Midgets - Lyle Dickey
6/1/40
Midgets - Ted Duncan
5/10/41
Midgets - Myron Fohr
5/16/42
Midgets - Tony Bettenhausen
1943
NO RACES
1944
NO RACES
8/25/45
Midgets - Tony Bettenhausen
5/12/46
Midgets - Tony Bettenhausen
6/4/47
Midgets - Paul Russo
5/22/48
Midgets - Don Brennan
4/23/49
Midgets - Clyde Young
6/19/49
Stock Cars - Bill Van Allen
4/16/50
Stock Cars - Bob Pronger
3/25/51
Stock Cars - Henry Smith
4/13/52
Stock Cars - Bill Cornwall
4/5/53
Stock Cars - Cliff Tatro
4/18/54
Stock Cars - Bill Cornwall
4/10/55
Stock Cars - Bud Koehler
4/1/56
Stock Cars - Bun Emery
4/21/57
Stock Cars - Bill Van Allen (50 Laps)
4/20/58
Late Models - Bud Koehler
Novices - Wayne Bowdish
4/26/59
Late Models - Bob Williams
Novices - Gene Peterson
4/24/60
Late Models - Bill Van Allen
Rookies - Don Embry
4/30/61
Late Models - Bill Van Allen
Rookies - Duane Row
4/29/62
Late Models - Stash Kullman
Rookies - Ron Rosine
4/21/63
Late Models - Legs Whitcomb
Claimers - Ray Freeman
4/25/64
Late Models - Ted Janecyk
Claimers - Rich Kuhn
5/1/65
Late Models - Bob Pronger
Amateurs - Roy Brandenberg
4/24/66
Late Models - Ray Young
Amateurs - George Hill
4/30/67
Late Models - Ray Young
Novices - Jerry Welch
5/4/68
Late Models - Jerry Kemperman
5/2/69
6-Cylinders - Jim Bolin
6/21/69
Late Models - Bud Koehler
4/26/70
Late Models - Ted Janecyk
Amateurs - Gene Swart
4/25/71
Late Models - Ray Freeman
Semi-Pros - Dick Raven
4/30/72
Late Models - Jerry Kemperman
6 Cylinders - Norm Weber
4/29/73
Late Models - Harry Simonsen (100 laps)
6 Cylinders - Rained Out
5/4/74
Late Models - Bud Koehler
6 Cylinders - Gerry Vallow
Hobby Stocks - Jim Isbell
5/4/75
Late Models - Bud Koehler (100 laps)
6 Cylinders - Gene Swart
Hobby Stocks - Dave Urewicz
5/8/76
Late Models - Ray Para (100 laps)
6 Cylinders - Pat Broenneke
Hobby Stocks - Leona Yuris
5/1/77
Late Models - Junior Hanley (100 laps)
Hobby Stocks - Jack Annen
4/30/78
Late Models - Larry Middleton (100 laps)
Hobby Stocks - Barbara Bosak
5/6/79
Late Models - Stash Kullman (100 laps)
Hobby Stocks - Jack Annen
5/4/80
Late Models - Frank Gawlinski (100 laps)
Sportsmen - Jake Oudshoorn
Hobby Stocks - Ray Davis
4/26/81
Late Models - Larry Schuler (100 laps)
Sportsmen - Terry Laxton
Hobby Stocks - Ron Varner
5/9/82
Late Models - Wayne Para, Wayne Para, Wayne Para
Overall Monza Champion - Wayne Para
Hobby Stocks - Ron Swanson
5/8/83
Late Models - Dave Weltmeyer (50 laps)
Hobby Stock A - Craig Johnson
Hobby Stock B - Dave Jarrell
5/13/84
Late Models - Pat Echlin, Pat Echlin, Dave Weltmeyer
Overall Monza Champion - Pat Echlin
Hobby Stock B - Bob Geralds
Mini Stocks - Mike Penrod
5/11/85
Late Models - Dave Weltmeyer, Dave Weltmeyer, Dave Weltmeyer
Overall Monza Champion - Dave Weltmeyer
Hobby Stocks - Dennis Ponton
Mini Stocks - Nick Bruscato
Spectators - Wally Komanski
5/4/86
Late Models - Dan Weltmeyer, Dan Weltmeyer
Overall Monza Champion - Dan Weltmeyer
Mini Stocks - Alberto Cabrera
5/10/87
Late Models - Mike White (50 laps)
Hobby Stocks - Chuck Bober
Mini Stocks - Ben Slachta
Spectators - Dave Gortland
5/15/88
Late Models - Jim Johnson
Hobby Stocks - John Rastovsky
Mini Stocks - Russ Foust
Spectators - Randy Gifford
5/14/89
Late Models - Mike White (50 laps)
Hobby Stocks - Hank Pugh
Mini Stocks - Dave Botkin
Spectators - Dean Cicuto
4/22/90
Enduro - John Klimek
5/13/90
Late Models - Dave Duckworth
Hobby Stocks - Tony Meier
Spectators - Gene Clark
4/21/91
Enduro - Rick Wilson
5/12/91
Late Models - Pat Echlin
Hobby Stocks - Jeff McNeill
Spectators - Jason Michau
3/29/92
Enduro - Phil Splant
5/10/92
Late Models - Mike Lorz
Sportsmen - Mike Tobuch
Street Stocks - Don Kritenbrink
4/25/93
Enduro - Eddie Halper
5/9/93
Late Models - Kevin Reidy
Street Stocks - Rob Delinsky
4/24/94
Enduro - Pat O'Rourke
5/8/94
Late Models - John Brolick
Semi-Pros - Joe Jones
Street Stocks - Casey Novak
4/23/95
Enduro - Doug Fermanich
5/7/95
Late Models - Kevin Reidy
Street Stocks - Jeff Treptow
4/21/96
Enduro - Greg Craven
5/5/96
Late Models - Gary Raven
Semi-Pros - Mark Olejniczak
Street Stocks - John Cozzi
4/27/97
Enduro - Doug Fermanich
5/11/97
Late Models - John Brolick
Semi-Pros - Bob Cagle
Street Stocks - Russ Vankuiken
4/26/98
Enduro - Dave Koch
5/3/98
Late Models - John Brolick
Semi-Pros - Louie Pasderetz
Len Koprowski
4/25/99
Enduro - Art Speciale
5/9/99
Late Models - Kevin Reidy
Semi-Pros - John Senerchia
Street Stocks - Ryan Dix
4/30/00
Enduro - Eddie Wolf
5/14/00
Late Models - Gary Raven
Semi-Pros - Bill Neering
Street Stocks - Scott Gardner