Assorted Racing

Preserving the past in and around Kansas since July of 2000 from our WORLD HEADQUARTERS IN MCPHERSON, KANSAS.

This page is for racing from the other states surrounding Kansas not listed in the index on the home page.

Return to Home Page for a complete list of pages at Racing From The Past. There are more pages in this section, just click next lap after the last photo.

1969 Hutchison Nationals Program
Growing up in the 60's and attending all the Merrick Hutchinson Nationals except for the year 1966, which we got there late and it was sold out. Just my luck the year Henry Ellington won. But for some reason my favorite driver of that era was Joe Lehman from Denver CO. I remember Joe using Dry Ice in front of the radiator to help keep the engine cool in the HOT Kansas summer. Joe ran the asphalt in the Colorado area, so the Kansas State Fairgrounds was almost right at home. In 1967 Joe was looking like he might have a chance to win but finished 4th. In 64 he finished 2nd but I don't quite remember that, I was only 10.
Photo #268

Nebraska Drivers

Don Smith in the #18 didn't have a good day at the Hutchinson NCRA race in 77?? Has he spun in turns 3 and 4. Don is one of the Many Nebraska drivers who have tried there skills at the 1/2 mile state fairgrounds track over the years. Several of them came down from Neb. in the 60's and early 70's every year.
Photo #458

Frank Lies #56 and #20 Bob Finley from Nebraska tangle, as Eldon Borger #51 Jetmore Ks. slips by in turn 1 & 2 at Hutchinson in 77 at the State Fair Races.
Photo #208

Photo #207

From the collection of Rusty Manning.
Roger Sunquist from Holdrege at the Hutchinson Nationals in probably 1979 or 80.
Roger is still active in sprint car racing in 2006.

New Mexico Drivers

Photo contributed by J.D. & Jannie Porter
Joe Herrera from Albuquerque, drove this #45. Joe and owner Bud Popkes made several trips to the Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas areas in the late 70's, mainly to NCRA races. Joe served as president of the Albuquerque Racing Association. Joe is The father to Johnny Herrera.
Joe is still very much involved in racing owning the 45x.
Side note to the photo: In the background is the super of #42 Fox Temple of Tulsa. This is the only photo I have of The #42 in this color scheme. I believe it was a former Junior Taft super.
Photo #415

Photo contributed by John Josephson from Ray Tigue of Duluth, MN
This photo was taken at Knoxville Iowa. Johnny "The Golden Greek" Capels drove this car.
Johnny wrote to inform me: "Was built by myself during the winter of 1963-64. It was also owned by me until I came back to run USAC sprints with the Al Unser Chevy(ECCA Special) in March of 1968.
I sold it to Yearwood Electric and Speed Supply of El Paso Texas for Willie Nunez to drive".
Johnny Capels
Chairman of the Board
United States Auto Club

Thanks Johnny, it was nice of you to let us know a little about the car.

Johnny was from Albuquerque. Johnny went on to be a crew chief etc on the Indy Car scene.
Photo #978

From The 1967 Knoxville Nationals Program contributed by Mike Evans.
Johnny Capels from Albuquerque.
Photo #979

Photo contributed by Mike Evans from his program collection. It's from one of the great racing photographers, Leroy Byers.
It's obvious why Al Unser Jr. got the nickname "The Flying Flea".
Al Jr. at 16 years old in the Lyle Dill owned #61. Walter Judge was crew chief.
Photo # 981

Photo contributed by Mike Evans from his program collection. It's from one of the great racing photographers Leroy Byers.
Al and Bobby Unser circa 1960 at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.
Photo # 982

Photo contributed by Mike Evans from his program collection. It's from one of the great racing photographers, Leroy Byers.
Bobby and Al in action together at the same track.
Photo # 983

Photo contributed by Mike Evans from his program collection. It's from one of the great racing photographers, Leroy Byers.
Bobby Unser Jr. in the Unser #92.
Photo # 984

Photo contributed by Mike Evans from his program collection. It's from one of the great racing photographers, Leroy Byers.
The late and great Buddy Taylor.
Photo # 985

Photo contributed by Mike Evans from his program collection. It's from one of the great racing photographers, Leroy Byers.
Shawkeet Hindi another Albuquerque great.
Photo # 986

Photo contributed by Mike Evans from his program collection. It's from one of the great racing photographers, Leroy Byers.
Shawkeet in action in the Ken Shultz #V6. This is apparently a V-8, but they did run a V-6 in a sprint car in the late 70's
Photo # 987

Photo contributed by Mike Evans from his program collection. It's from one of the great racing photographers, Leroy Byers.
Larry Demaree #71 and Al Unser Jr. both from Albuquerque in Lyle Dill owned cars in 1978
Photo #988

The Rusty Manning Collection
Joe Herrera back in 1978 at Amarillo.
Photo #1110

From the collection of Rusty Manning
Mark High of Albuquerque at the Lawton, OK 1978 World of Outlaws race in Lawton, OK.
Photo #1146

Return to Home Page for a complete list of pages at Racing From The Past.

Notice: Although I give credit to the person who contributed the photos for Racing From The Past. Twenty + years is a long time. There were many Photographers around the area. Many of the photos on this website may have been taken by some of the following and this is a blanket type credit to the many photographers. Ivan Brown, Don Clum, Van Cook, Mike Cornelson, Jim DeJarnette, Cecil Dougan, Lennel Fields, Bill Gay, Ken Greteman, Marvin Hutson, C.R. Kendall, Jerry Leep, Earl Mahoney, Tim Malone, Ted McCord, Pat Rigsby, and Chuck Sterling. Without these guys this website wouldn't be as complete as it is.