LATROBE, PA., JUNE 29, 1968…Bob Wearing broke into the winner’s circle at Schmucker’s Speedway Saturday night, re­ceiving the checkered flag in the 20 lap Late Model feature. Wearing started on the pole and was never threatened. Roger Watt pushed hard to finish as runner-up while Ken Hemphill was third. Bill Rausch spun out on lap one, causing the only restart in the race. Blackie Watt was running second when his rear end let go on the 11th lap. Harry Spencer also ran into car troubles, dropping out on the 16th lap.

The consy literally produced fireworks at the finish. On the last turn Lewie Amicone and Gene Sarver hooked together and crashed head on into the wall, badly damaging both rac­ers. Amicone was taken to the hospital for observation but was reported to be OK. As Bucky Piper passed the twisted machines, his cars motor suddenly burst into flames. It took two extinguishers to snuff out the flames.

In the second heat, Joe Ridilla, Jr., followed in his father’s footsteps. After a collis­ion with Lou Bradish, Ridilla’s motor caught fire but was im­mediately put out. Ron Schmucker was out the first time in his ‘65 Che­velle, built by Richard Hudock and John Mehelic. Big things can definitely be expected of the bright red #77.

In Modified action, Bobby Elbin repeated in the 20-lap feature, Elbin’s only competition was Kenny Sterbutzel, and the two waged a see-saw battle for the first 10 laps, until Elbin began to pull away. Third place, Larry Johnston, was the only starter not lapped.

Earlier in the evening Dan White, blew his motor and Jake Campbell also ran into engine troubles eliminating both from the feature. Addison Errett was on hand with his new 392 Chrysler powered su­per and it ran well.

Nineteen claimers started the feature and when the dust set­tled, Don Gamble had driven the Solow Pontiac to another victory. Gamble took over on lap five when the leader, Charlie Bitz, dropped out.  At the finish Wayne Pompus was only a length behind, and his second place finish gave him the point lead in the claiming division. Snooky Williams was hampered by ignition prob­lems all evening failing to fin­ish his three starts. Last weeks winner, Jim Hixson, never did get rolling and fell out near the end, Jim Peterman ran over the bank in the consy and scared some of promoter ­Paul Schmucker’s cows in the field.

Results

Late models 

First heat - Blackie Watt, New Alexandria, Shorty Detwiler, Connellsville, Ken Hemphill, Oakmont, Don Clasper, Pittsburgh.

Second heat - Roger Watt, Delmont, Bill Rausch, Bethel Park, Bob Wearing, Evans City, and Tommy Bennett, Con­nellsville.

Consy - John Rupp. Kittan­ning, Lou Bradish, Jean­nette, Harry Spencer, Monongahela, and Jack Tay­lor, Level Green.

Feature - Wearing, Roger Watt, Hemphill, Detwiller, Rupp, Ron Schmucker, Latrobe, Bradish, Clas­per, Bennett.

Late models

First heat - Blackie Watt, New Alexandria; Shorty Detwiler, Connellsville, Ken Hemphill Oakmont, Don Clasper, Pittsburgh.

Second heat - Roger Watt, Delmont, Bill Rausch, Bethel Park, Bob Wearing, Evans City, Tommy Bennett, Con­nellsville.

Consy - John Rupp, Kittanning, Lou Bradish, Jean­nette, Harry Spencer, Monongahela, and Jack Taylor, Level Green.

Feature - Wearing, Watt, Hemphill, Detwiler, Rupp, Schmucker, Bradish, Clas­per, and Bennett.

Modifieds

First heat - Bobby Elbin, Woodbury, Larry John­ston, Pleasant Unity, Al Piper, Latrobe, and Merle Mitchell.

Second heat - Ken Sterbutzel, Fairchance, Galen Whetstone, Woodbury, Don Daniels, and Jack Noo­nan.

Consy - James Kell, Ex­port, Addison Errett, Latrobe, Tiny Bashioum, Derry, and Ray Weaver.

Feature - Elbin, Sterbutzel, Johnston, Daniels, Kell, Errett, Noonan, and Mitchell.

Claimers

First heat - Bill Geary, Cliff Leonard, and Ron Harr,

Second heat - Jim Cook, Don Gamble, and Charlie Bitz,

Consy - Jim, Hixson, Bill Kump; Ron Bulebush

Feature - Gamble, Wayne Pompus, Geary, Ed Kovac, and Jim Peterman.

This week’s story is from the pages of Tri-State Auto Racing News.