Editor’s Note: In this monthly photo essay feature, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame photographer John Mahoney shares his memories and images from some of the most amazing and historic sprint car and midget races.
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, Eldora Speedway, Oct. 29, 1978
By the fall of 1978, Ted Johnson’s new World of Outlaws sprint car organization was attracting lots of attention and big crowds.
Eldora Speedway promoter Earl Baltes scheduled the WoO finale at his track in Rossburg, Ohio, and was rewarded with a crowd of 12,000 fans and 95 cars. The season-long points battle between Steve Kinser and Rick Ferkel would be decided at the half-mile dirt track.
Charlie Swartz set the fast qualifying time with a lap of 15.784 seconds. He was followed by Kinser, Bobby Allen, Shane Carson and Ferkel. Heat races to set the field were won by Swartz, Jac Haudenschild, Danny Smith, Jerry Nemire and Ed Haudenschild.
Al Liskai took the checkered flag in the C main Dub May topped the B.
Jim Linder took command when the green flag waved for the 40-lap feature, but gave way to Kinser on lap five.
The Kinser-Ferkel battle fizzled as Kinser collided with a wheel from Linder’s car and Ferkel’s engine soured on the 24th lap. Suddenly, Carson, who’d been running third, was the leader.
Carson had to do some late ride shopping when informed that his regular car owner, Bob Trostle, wasn’t going to run the Eldora finale. Carson found a seat in Harold and Don Nickles’ sprint car and preceded to steer the No. 31 machine to a $10,000 triumph. Following Carson, who had recently been crowned Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway track champion, were Swartz, Doug Wolfgang, May, Fred Linder, Allen, Don Mack, Norman Martin, Smokey Snellbaker and Smith.
After a quick tally, Kinser was declared the first World of Outlaws champion, finishing 54 points ahead of Ferkel.
Allen, Wolfgang, Jack Hewitt, Swartz, Lee Osborne, Smith, Sammy Swindell and Gary Patterson rounded out the top 10 in the inaugural season standings.
This story appeared in the Feb. 15, 2023 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.
