That same year:

Ed Note:  Curt Wasson, a St. Louis racer, won Gas Super Charged Eliminator as depicted above over runner-up Gordon Selkirk. However it was a grueling race!  Selkirk made up the handicap and then ran off the track, a disqualification.  The rules stated that the other winning car must reach the finish line under car & driver power. 

The ‘Vette’s engine died, so Curt got out and pushed most of the 1320’ to reach the finish and win.  At the end, a fan ran out on the track with a beer for Curt, which he gratefully chugged to the cheers of the World Series crowd.  (Thanks to Al Booton for reminding me of this story)

The man responsible for considerable foresight in Drag Racing is Quad Cities Dragway founder and long time manager, Bob Bartel! When construction started in 1955, very few ‘purpose’ built drag strips existed in the country. Even with the handicap of ‘sand land pits’, Bob built the track so close to the Mississippi River, that to this day, no housing tract or huge shopping mall has ‘taken it out’. As I reflect on my long career in Motor Sports, the World Series seems akin to the March Meet at Bakersfield. In fact, both events meant the same to hundreds of racers across time. The only difference is that Bob Bartel had the vision to build a major drag strip just north of ‘The Farm Tractor Capitol’ of the World, while Bakersfield used a left over WWII Air Base located in the foremost Agricultural Valley of the World!

Until Next Time, Be On Time!