Stock Car Races

Grant County Fairgrounds

Ulysses, Kansas

 

Friday Night – June 12, 1953

 

Sponsor – Charles B. Hart American Legion Post 379

Races Sanctioned by – Grant County Stock Car Club

Race Director – Ernest W. Mann of Ulysses, Kansas

 

 

 

 

Time Trials – 1 Lap

 Place

Driver

From

Time

 1

Harvey Main

Ulysses, Kansas

22.0*

 

 

 

 Heat race results from this night have yet to be located.

 

 

 

Trophy Dash – 3 Cars

Place

Driver

From

 

1

Charles “Chuck” Arnold

Ulysses, Kansas

 

DNF

Harvey Main

Ulysses, Kansas

 

DNF

Scott Talbert, Sr.

Elkhart, Kansas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold and Main were battling for the lead when their cars got hooked together in the south turn and spun out blocking the racetrack.  Main’s car overturned in the process.  With the track blocked and unable to stop, third place running Talbert flew off of the end of racetrack at such a high speed that his car flew through the air for several feet before it crashed into an earth embankment.  None of the drivers were injured but Main’s wife, who witnessed the accident from the spectator area, promptly fainted.  Ambulance attendants were unable to revive her until after they transported her to the hospital.

Main’s car suffered a broken spring when it rolled and repairs could not be made in time to race any more that night.  Main was awarded a steak dinner from Arnold’s Café for being the first to roll at car in the races at Ulysses in 1953.  With Talbert’s car also damaged in its off track excursion, Arnold’s car was the only one able to restart the race so officials declared him the winner.  Due to the circumstances of his “win” however, he declined to accept the trophy.

 

 

 

Ten–Lap Race

Place

Driver

From

 

1

Charles “Chuck” Arnold

Ulysses, Kansas

 

 

 

 

Feature Race

Place

Driver

From

 

1

Scott Talbert, Sr.

Elkhart, Kansas

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Talbert, Sr. of Elkhart, Kansas in his Ford stock car – Talbert collection

 

 

 

* New track record.

 

 

  

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