KEOKUK, Iowa — Iowa stock car driver Lem Blankenship passed away here on April 17 at the age of 81.
Blankenship was among Keokuk racers that included Don White, Ernie Derr, Ramo Stott, Dick Hutcherson and others.
Blankenship began racing stock cars around 1964, competing at numerous short tracks in his native state. Previously part of Ramo Stott’s pit crew, Blankenship acquired a Plymouth from Stott and began racing late models on dirt tracks in 1966. Blankenship enjoyed success at tracks like Davenport, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.
In 1969, Blankenship was the late model champion at Illinois’ Freeport Raceway, wheeling a 1965 Plymouth to a number of feature wins including Mid-Season and Season Championship honors.
Blankenship began competing with the United States Auto Club (USAC) stock car circuit in 1970. Piloting Chrysler products, he raced for Stott’s Racing and Howard’s Racing Enterprises during his USAC career. Blankenship finished 13th in the USAC points in 1970, sixth in 1971, winning most improved driver honors, and 15th in 1972.
Blankenship raced in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) 300-miler at Florida’s Daytona International Speedway in February of 1972 and finished 25th in the race in a Dodge. He didn’t qualify for the NASCAR Daytona 500 but did compete at Atlanta, Ga., in March, finishing 39th in his only NASCAR ‘Cup start.
After racing with USAC, Blankenship returned to Iowa dirt short tracks where he competed into the early 1990s.
