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DeSarro Captures 'Sizzler' And Flemke Drives SuperblySTAFFORD SPRINGS Freddie DeSarro. rapidly becoming the kingpin of the eastern United States modified racing fraternity, will make quite a huge deposit in his savings account todayThe popular, humble Hope Valley. R.I.. driver combined his racing genius with some of Eddie Flemke’s bad luck here Sundav to capture the rich Stafford Sizzler.AFTER TRAILING Flemke. • The Old Pro. for 70 of the 80-laps in the race, but driving Flemke to exhausting speeds. DeSarro took over with 10 laps 'o go as Flemke’s engine blew.The results were $2,250 for DeSarro. and $640 for Flemke for his leadership through 60 laps. It was a thriller, and a fantastic race to kick off the season at Stafford The open competition drew drivers from throughout the Eastern United States.Four heat races were run with only six cars out of each, causing every engine to give its best. Two consolations were run. with five nut of the first race and four out of the second, making a field of 33 machines. One race was as good as the next with several restarts and the usual elimimation of the hard luck drivers meeting with mishaps.YOUNG BOBBY TURNER of Sanford Maine, chauffered his number 35 to victory in the first heat, to win pole position as well as the polish trophy which amazingly enough was a 35 foot telephone pole. I ou Austin, losing eontrol early in the first heat caused the first caution flag, taking Gene Bergin of Enfield out of contention to qualify with a fliit tire. Gene was a popular favorite for Sunday’s show and came back to win the first consolation only to blow an engine in the early laps of the main event. Finishing second was DennyGiroux. 3. George ^summers, 4, Smokey Bout well. 5. Mike toeseher. 6. Maynard Troyer. Second heat won by Wes Moody. 2. Marcel (orliveau. 3; Ron Bouchard, in a beautiful Pinto, who is going to try his skill as a Stafford regular, a former Seekonk Speedway Champion; 4. Fred Schultz: 5. Buddy Picard: 6. Tom Sutcliff.Third heat: 1. I^o Cleary; 2. Moose Hewitt . 3. Bob Santos: 4. Bob Potter; 5. Ron Wycoff; 6. Ernie GahanTHE FOURTH HEAT was a story in itself. The best that Stafford has to offer were all battling for the lead. Coming out on top was Ed Flemke and a sheet of paper a way, if that would have fit between bumpers was FredDessaro: 3rd Bugs Stevens: I. Jerry Cook; 5. lou Toro: 6. Don Flynn. First Consi won by Jim Hendrickson the Islip Speedway champion. 2; Fred Harbach; 3. Ray Miller: 4. DeAngelo; 5. McCullough. Gene Bergin after a tire change was hack to take second consi followed by Roger Triechler the 1971 langhome champion 4. Dick WatsonNow comes the grand finale ind it is hard to describe the excitement and competition out on in this 80 lab main event. To see the lineup would have been anyone's guess who the victor would be As the green flag wasimagine. After three laps the ainiliar name of Steady Eddie Flemke of Southington was the topic of the day.Flemke. driving a new Pinto. No. 34. took the lead only to be xmtinually challenged by the hard-charging Fred Dessaro of flope Valley. R.I. Dessaro used t-verv method he knew to go by Flemke. but two smart mindswere thinking alike and each knew what the other had to do. Flemke didn't have an inch of breathing room as Dessaro pressured him every inch of the way. If two men ever put on a spectacular show of driving, these two did it all alone. In a masterful display of driving skill Dessaro pressured Flemke hard for 70 laps, going to the outside, inside, bumper banging and every trick he could think of but didn't have another ounce of power to go by all the way. Ed Flemke is a pro in the racing field and not too many are going to outsmart him.BEFORE ANY cautions appeared. Flemke and Dessaro were a whole straight away ahead of the third place car. Then as the breaks of racing go. Ed Flemke was destined for hard luck as billows of smoke came from his car and a very disappointed man had to retire to the pit area with a blown motor. For his great efforts lap money was awarded and Flemke got $640 for an afternoon's drive. Fred Dessaro held his lead for the next ten laps to be our 1972 Spring Sizzler Ghampion and a handsome prize of $2,250 was given to him. That won't be too heavy for him to carry to the bank.LEO CLEARY and Bugs Stevens were running respectively in thud and fourth place all day until Denny Giroux of Cahocs, N.Y.. with a surge of speed in his neat little 36 Chevy Coupe, with about eight laps to go. went by them both for a comfortable second place finish. I ennv Giroux is expected to be a regular at Stafford every Saturday night and he will be one not to underestimate. The final order of finish was Dessaro. Giroux. Stevens. Cleary, Cook. Hewitt. Kay Miller, Santos. Bob Potter, and Marcel Corliveau.
Newspaper Details
Manchester Journal Inquirer
Manchester, Connecticut, US
Mon, Apr 17, 1972
Page 29
Full Page
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Gw W.
GB 08 May 2017
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