Today in Racing History: Kossuth County Raceway, 1995

June 17 – The weather was hot and so was the action at Kossuth County Raceway in Algona, Iowa on Saturday night. Kevin Berte of Whittemore, Iowa, took an exciting IMCA modified feature win over Denny Anderson of Rochester, Minn. Ricky Jo Smith and Tim Erpelding, both of Algona, took third and fourth respectively followed by Dave Wickman of Emmetsburg, Iowa.

Greg Hilbert of Algona grabbed top honors in the IMCA stock car main event and Tom Taylor of Ventura, Iowa, was victorious in hobby stock feature action.

Source: www.MidwestRacingArchives.com. Thanks Kyle!

Today in Racing History…

Bob Shryock

Bob Shryock, shown at Sedalia, MO, was the June 16, 1978 feature winner at Fairmont Raceway.

June 15, 1978

Bob Shryock and Al Thoms were repeat winners at Fairmont (MN) Speedway. Shryock was the late model victor, while Thoms was the street stock winner. Shryock is a 2012 inductee to the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame, located in Algona, IA.

June 16, 1988

Ten years later, almost to the day, Kelly Shryock was the IMCA modified feature winner at the Hamilton County Speedway during the Bob Shryock Memorial event.

 

Les Wildin is 2013 Jackson Speedway Hall of Fame Inductee

Les Wildin

Photo caption: Les Wildin gets ready to climb in the Edgington-Barton-Hendrickson owned #14 modified at Jackson, MN. He is 2013 inductee into the Jackson Speedway Hall of Fame.

By Chad Meyer

Algona’s Les Wildin will be inducted into the Jackson (MN) Speedway Hall of Fame this summer. The ceremony will take place during the Jackson, MN County Fair, July 27th at 2:30 p.m.

Wildin was a multi-time feature event winner and the 1967 season point champion at the Jackson Speedway in the modified division. Among his many racing accomplishments, he earned multiple point championships and fair race victories at the Algona track. He also was the 1969 Fairmont Raceway modified season point champion.

Wildin is an inaugural member of the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame, located in Algona. He joins Marv DeWall, Bobby Geldner, Dick Forbrook and Bob Weber as members of both the Jackson and Kossuth County Racing Halls of Fame.

Today Wildin continues to operate his family’s farm. He and his wife Peg live in Algona.

Six Named to 2013 Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame

Norm BakerPhoto caption: Driver Norm Baker accepts the checkers after winning an event at the Sandusky, Ohio track. Baker joins five others as inductees into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame. (Don Prilipp collection)

The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its 2013 class of inductees. The seventh annual induction ceremony will take place during the Kossuth County Fair races, held Saturday, August 3rd at Algona Raceway.

This year’s class features six individuals that achieved great success in the sport.

Norm Baker first stormed tracks across northern Iowa in stock cars, before climbing behind the wheel of the Brock & Prilipp #27 IMCA sprinter that saw action at fairgrounds all across the Midwest.

You only have to mention the nickname “Cannonball” and long-time race fans at Algona Raceway know immediately the reference to the late Ray “Cannonball” Curtis. He will be honored for his many years as a strong competitor at the Kossuth County track.

The late Larry Doocy spent most of his life contributing and enjoying motorsports. He will join his brother Don Doocy as an inductee in the hall of fame as a builder and owner.

Jason Etherington will be recognized for his contribution as a member of the media and as track announcer at the Algona track.

As a builder, Larry Sowers is remembered for working on the cars of the late Gene Schattschneider. He also served as a track official and will be among this year’s inductees.

Already a member of the Sport’s Park Racing Hall of Fame in Fort Dodge, IA, driver Norm Wiemers joins the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame in 2013.

The committee, with the help of the living members of the Kossuth Racing Hall of Fame, selected the six inductees for 2013. Candidates not selected will be considered for future inductions.

During the August 3rd Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the inductees will be recognized on the ‘Wall of Fame’, located at the entrance of the speedway grandstand. Inductees will also be introduced at the pit meeting prior to the races and during the formal induction ceremony during intermission of the fair races that night.

All race fans are invited to attend the Kossuth County Fair Races and the Hall of Fame ceremony held at the Algona Raceway.

More details about the Hall of Fame and the induction ceremony will be released when they are available.