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 |
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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.
Return to the History of Auto Racing at the Grant County Fairgrounds homepage