1958 USAC MIDGET REVIEW: SHORTY GRABS THE TRIFECTA

By: Pat Sullivan

With serious competition threatening him all the way, Shorty Templeman once again emerged as the top man in the midgets in 1958 to become the first three-time USAC National Midget champion.

The feat came much harder than the previous two for the Seattle, Wash. native as he finished only 8.25 points ahead of Rex Easton of Springfield, Ill. in the final standings.  Templeman and Easton were the top two contenders a year ago and, for the second year in a row, Templeman won out in the point battle despite the fact Easton won more races.

In 41 events, Templeman won twice and was the fastest qualifier five times.  Easton won four races in 42 appearances and was the fastest qualifier once.  Gene Hartley of Roanoke, Ind. raced in 32 features and repeated his 1957 third place finish.  Veteran Don Branson of Rantoul, Ill. was fourth.

At the end of April, with all the races to that time scheduled on the pacific coast, Johnnie Tolan of Denver, Colo. was the point leader with a substantial margin over Joe Garson of Los Angeles, Calif. and Billy Garrett of Burbank, Calif.  Templeman ranked fourth, but the points earned in the early races eventually proved to be the deciding factor.

The best in May was Mauri Wilson of Chicago, Ill. closely followed by Gene Force of Richmond, Ind.  Templeman and Easton were busy with Indianapolis 500 duties but returned in June in tandem force back at the top of the field.

Jack Turner had the best sustained run of the season during June, winning three-in-a-row and four out of six races from June 11 to June 25.  Bill Homeier of Pacoima, Calif. won a 100-mile race at Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway and vaulted into second place in the standings.  Homeier outscored all other drivers during the month.  Templeman picked up over 200 points and took the lead.  Easton was pretty far behind in ninth place but rising rapidly.

The month of July went to Easton as the Springfield, Ill. pilot began to make his bid for the title, moving into third place behind Templeman and Hartley.  Easton scored 437 points in a busy August to take over the championship lead.

September and October went to Don Branson, who won two of four races in the Midwest to cement a fourth-place finish in the final standings.  Had Branson competed in more races during the early portion of the season, he might have been the champion.  On the other hand, both Templeman and Easton had difficulties finishing races at the end of the season.

Templeman carried a very small lead into the final races in California.  Hartley closed with a rush to barely miss the Midwest Midget championship.  He still had a mathematical chance for the National crown, but decided against running in the west, so that left only Templeman and Easton in the running.

Easton won a feature at Phoenix, Arizona’s Manzanita Speedway, but couldn’t close much of the gap between himself and Templeman.  Going into the final race at Ascot Stadium in Gardena, Calif., Templeman led by 48.25 points.  Templeman dropped out of the race with mechanical difficulties early in the race, so Easton had to finish fifth or better to win the championship.  Driving a borrowed car, Easton tried with all his might, but sixth was the best he could do.

Templeman started his racing career at Bremerton, Washington in 1945.  He was third in the 1954 AAA National Midget standings, second in 1955 and was the champion in each of the first three years of USAC’s history.

In a span of 12 days during midseason, the series lost two drivers.  Paul Howe, 43, of Danville, Ind., was killed during the June 18 feature at South Bend (Ind.) Motor Speedway after striking the fence, then flipping back onto the track and landing upside down.  During qualifying for the June 29 event at Langhorne, New Brunswick, New Jersey’s Nick Duino endured a fatal broken neck following a series of flips that ejected him from his ride.  The 21-year-old was making his USAC debut.

Among the items that were subjected to a more thorough inspection in 1958 were helmets, seat belts, shoulder harnesses and roll bars.  New mandates required helmet shells to be made of fiberglass.  Helmets were to be equipped with adequate chin straps and liners in good condition to meet approval.  Roll bars remained only “encouraged.”

Duane Carter, Director of Competition, and Tom Binford, President, met with midget car owners, drivers, and promoters at Crown Point, Ind. on April 5, where it was agreed that the rule concerning drivers who enter events and then fail to appear at said event, would be enforced throughout the 1958 season.

 

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1958 USAC National Midget Driver Points

POS.      PTS.                DRIVER

1            1,038             Shorty Templeman, Seattle, Wash.

2            1,029.75        Rex Easton, Springfield, Ill.

3            919.5             Gene Hartley, Roanoke, Ind.

4            715.75           Don Branson, Rantoul, Ill.

5            699.75           Buddy Cagle, Tulsa, Okla.

6            640                 Bob Wente, Saint Louis, Mo.

7            628                 Jack Turner, Seattle, Wash.

8            600                 Gene Force, New Madison, Ohio

9            564.75           Bill Homeier, Pacoima, Calif.

10          500.5             George Amick, Vernonia, Ore.

11          468.5             Russ Congdon, Puyallup, Wash.

12          384.5             Len Sutton, Portland, Ore.                       

13          379                 Johnnie Tolan, Victor, Colo.

14          377                 Rodger Ward, Beloit, Kan.

15          363.5             Joe Garson, Los Angeles, Calif.

16          302                 Tony Bettenhausen, Tinley Park, Ill.

17          275                 Eddie Johnson, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

18          259.5             Chuck Weyant, Springfield, Ill.

19          255.5             Johnnie Parsons, Van Nuys, Calif.

20          254                 Frank Burany, Elm Grove, Wis.

21          242.25           Tommy Copp, Fresno, Calif.

22          232.5             Bill Cheesbourg, Tucson, Ariz.

23          230.75           Leroy Warriner, Indianapolis, Ind.

24          225                 Billy Garrett, Burbank, Calif.

25          218                 Mauri Wilson, Chicago, Ill.

26          217.5             Dempsey Wilson, Lawndale, Calif.

27          214.75           Johnny Moorhouse, Santa Ana, Calif.

28          214.25           Danny Oakes, North Hollywood, Calif.

29          189                 Cotton Farmer, Crowley, Texas

30          183.5             Jim Packard, Indianapolis, Ind.

31          182.75           Earl Motter, Fresno, Calif.

32          180.25           Bob McLean, Granger, Ind.

33          167                 Don Horvath, Riverside, Calif.

34          162.5             Dickie Reese, Oakland, Calif.

35          154.75           Les Scott, Livonia, Mich.

36          140                 Bill Randall, North Reading, Mass.

37          131.75           Lloyd Ruby, Wichita Falls, Texas

38          130                 Dick Linder, Pittsburgh, Pa.

39          110                 Johnny Baldwin, San Carlos, Calif.

40          107.5             Art Bisch, Mesa, Ariz.

41          107.5             Johnny White, Warren, Mich.

42          102.5             Norm Hall, Los Angeles, Calif.

43          100                 Ernie McCoy, Reading, Pa.

44          98.75             Billy Cantrell, Anaheim, Calif.

45          96                   Mike McGreevy, Hayward, Calif.

46          95                   Ray Crawford, Pasadena, Calif.

47          88.5                A.J. Foyt, Houston, Texas

48          87.5                Jimmy Davies, Glendale, Calif.

49          80                   Al Herman, Topton, Pa.

50          79.5                Dale Swaim, Jeffersonville, Ind.

51          75.5                Bob Cortner, Redlands, Calif.

52          68.25             Ronnie Duman, Dearborn, Mich.

53          67                   Bud Tingelstad, Dayton, Ohio

54          61.75             Carl Williams, Kansas City, Mo.

55          61                   Paul Howe, Danville, Ind.

56          57                   Jimmy Daywalt, Indianapolis, Ind.

57          53                   Andy Furci, Brooklyn, N.Y.

58          52.5                Gene Weyant, Springfield, Ill.

59          50                   Jiggs Peters, Metuchen, N.J.

60          47.5                Roger Bailey, Patchogue, N.Y.

61          47.5                Johnny Roberts, Breckenridge, Mich.

62          41.5                Bob Schroeder, Chester, Ill.

63          40                   Van Johnson, Pittsburgh, Pa.

64          40                   Don Boorse, Milwaukee, Wis.

65          40                   Tony Bonadies, Bronx, N.Y.

66          40                   Chuck Arnold, Stamford, Conn.

67          37.5                Vic Martin, Ravenna, Ohio

68          36                   Ed Normi, Petaluma, Calif.

69          34.75             Buzz Barton, Tampa, Fla.

70          34                   Roy Gillhamer, Fresno, Calif.

71          31.25             Justin King, Columbus, Ind.

72          30                   Harry Kern, Saint Paul, Minn.

73          30                   Mike Magill, Haddonfield, N.J.

74          30                   Bill Chennault, Kansas City, Mo.

75          29.5                Sonny McDaniel, Pasadena, Texas

76          27.5                Davey Moses, Mountain View, Calif.

77          26                   Gene Gurney, Hayward, Calif.

78          25                   Bill Boyd, Los Angeles, Calif.            

79          24                   Joe Sostilio, East Natick, Mass.

80          23.5                Palmer Crowell, Hillsboro, Ore.

81          23.5                Chuck Booth, Sacramento, Calif.

82          22.5                Ted Hartley, Roanoke, Ind.

83          20                   Dick Betts, Encino, Calif.

84          20                   Jud Larson, Grand Prairie, Texas

85          20                   Bud Sterrett, Los Angeles, Calif.

86          17.5                Larry Dunham, Norwalk, Calif.

87          17                   Wally Hostetler, Indianapolis, Ind.

88          15                   Jimmy Knight, Worth, Ill.

89          13.75             Mel McGaughy, Puyallup, Wash.

90          13.75             Jack Bates, New Carlisle, Ind.

91          12.5                Ronnie Kaplan, Chicago, Ill.

92          12.5                Don Edmunds, Anaheim, Calif.

93          12.5                Leroy Neumayer, Compton, Calif.

94          11.25             Dick Ritchie, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

95          10                   Foster Campbell, Denver, Colo.

96          10                   Elmer George, Hockerville, Okla.

97          10                   Bob Boone, Springfield, Mass.

98          8.75                Johnny Kay, New Britain, Conn.

99          7.5                  Roy Graham, Buffalo, N.Y.

100        7.5                  Tim Sullivan, Denver, Colo.

101        7.5                  Bob Spoo, Alameda, Calif.

102        6.25                Jack Beduhn, Grand Rapids, Mich.

103        5.25                Billy Wood, Kenosha, Wis.

104        5                     Benny Kieff, Grand Rapids, Mich.

105        5                     Rick Kerr, Bridgeport, Ind.

106        5                     Keith Thompson, Terre Haute, Ind.

107        5                     Dee Hileman, Palo Alto, Calif.

108        4                     Wayne Weiler, Phoenix, Ariz.

109        3.25                Danny Burke, Arcadia, Texas

110        2.5                  Tommy Rice, Denver, Colo.

111        2.5                  Jerry Kemp, Saint Louis, Mo.

112        2.5                  Jim Hayes, Long Beach, Calif.

              0                     Fred Johns, Livonia, Mich.

              0                     Bob Hare, Lyons, Ill.

              0                     Darrel York, Robinson, Ill.

              0                     Jim Davis, Indianapolis, Ind.

              0                     Dick Frazier, New Castle, Ind.

              0                     Dick Northam, New Castle, Ind.

              0                     Harry Stockman, San Bernardino, Calif.

              0                     Dwight Jones, Long Beach, Calif.

              0                     Herb Swan, Cleveland, Ohio

              0                     Jim Shaffer, New Castle, Pa.

              0                     Dick Brown, Ashland, Mass.

              0                     Eddie Jackson, Denver, Colo.

              0                     Don Evans, Springfield, Ill.

              0                     Jim Florian, Mentor, Ohio

              0                     John Slowiak, Chicago, Ill.

              0                     Jimmy Reece, Oklahoma City, Okla.

              0                     Rex Records, Stamford, Conn.

              0                     Willie Hunziker, Riverside, Calif.

              0                     Jerry Mans, Wood River, Ill.

              0                     Alex Toth, Saint Louis, Mo.

              0                     Ralph Liguori, Tampa, Fla.

              0                     Don Gerstner, Saint Louis, Mo.

              0                     Ed McVay, Kansas City, Mo.

              0                     Gordon Gadette, Chicago, Ill.

              0                     Russ Royce, Centerville, Ohio

              0                     Bob Disbrow, Chicago, Ill.

              0                     Len Duncan, Philadelphia, Pa.

              0                     Red Riegel, Leesport, Pa.

              0                     Steve Yanigan, Bethlehem, Pa.

              0                     Tony Romit, Bronx, N.Y.

              0                     Louie Unser, Albuquerque, N.M.

              0                     Bob Carroll, Los Angeles, Calif.

              0                     Bob Butters, Brawley, Calif.

              0                     Jerry Unser, Colorado Springs, Colo.

              0                     Norm Rapp, Daly City, Calif.

              0                     George O’Riley, Los Angeles, Calif.

              0                     Dickie Deis, Fresno, Calif.

              0                     Johnny Wood, Hollywood, Calif.

             

1958 USAC National Midget Entrant Points                             

POS.      PTS.                ENTRANT, TEAM LOCATION

1            1,042.25        Lloyd Rahn, Tuscola, Ill. (#2)

2            622.25           Elmer Freber/Marquette Tool & Die, Saint Louis, Mo. (#27)

3            619.75           Ray Bolander, Noblesville, Ind. (#4)

4            608.25           Bob Higman, Lafayette, Ind. (#67)

5            545                 Bob & Gene Shannon, Dayton, Ohio (#22)

6            464                 Mabel Cummings, Chicago, Ill. (#45)

7            464                 Jack Whelan, Seattle, Wash. (#1)

8            414.25           Harry Turner, Kenosha, Wis. (#82)

9            411.5             Red Marley, South Bend, Ind. (#88)

10          403.5             Avis & Clarence Fischer, Indianapolis, Ind. (#63)

11          382.75           Ed & Harry Loniewski, Michigan City, Ind. (#87)

12          379                 Bill Krech, Inglewood, Calif. (#76)

13          363.5             Ernie Casale, Whittier, Calif. (#2)

14          302                 Greg Flatow, Chicago, Ill. (#52)

15          298.75           Elbert Willey, Moline, Ill. (#64)

16          291                 Bill Luse, Monticello, Ind. (#3)

17          260                 Johnny Pawl, Crown Point, Ind. (#18)

18          254.5             Bill Lloyd, Indianapolis, Ind. (#27)

19          246                 Jerry Zeelo, Gates Mills, Ohio (#21)

20          243.5             Harold Guidi, Palo Alto, Calif. (#15)

 

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USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: January 19, 1958 – Riverside International Raceway – Riverside, California

FEATURE: (40 laps) 1. Johnnie Tolan (Bill Krech #76), 2. Joe Garson, 3. Shorty Templeman, 4. Billy Garrett, 5. Don Horvath, 6. Art Bisch, 7. Dempsey Wilson, 8. Tony Bettenhausen, 9. Ray Crawford, 10. Bob Cortner, 11. Dick Betts, 12. Les Scott, 13. Danny Oakes, 14. Bill Homeier, 15. Rex Easton, 16. Louie Unser, 17. Earl Motter, 18. Harry Stockman. FQ: Johnnie Tolan (1:41.050)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: March 9, 1958 – San Jose Speedway – San Jose, California

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Billy Garrett (Gus Linhares #17), 2. Johnnie Tolan, 3. Dickie Reese, 4. Mike McGreevy, 5. Bob Cortner, 6. Dempsey Wilson, 7. Danny Oakes, 8. Les Scott, 9. Art Bisch, 10. Johnnie Parsons, 11. Dee Hileman, 12. Earl Motter. FQ: Shorty Templeman (16.400)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: April 5, 1958 – Gardena Stadium – Gardena, California

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Joe Garson (Ernie Casale #2), 2. Johnny Moorhouse, 3. Ray Crawford, 4. Johnnie Parsons, 5. Danny Oakes, 6. Les Scott, 7. Bill Homeier, 8. Shorty Templeman, 9. Tommy Copp, 10. Art Bisch, 11. Billy Garrett, 12. Johnnie Tolan, 13. Len Sutton, 14. Don Edmunds, 15. Norm Rapp, 16. George Amick, 17. Shorty Templeman, 18. Bob Spoo. FQ: Joe Garson (15.930)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: April 19, 1958 – Gardena Stadium – Gardena, California

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Johnny Moorhouse (Clyde Lynch #27), 2. Johnnie Tolan, 3. Tommy Copp, 4. Dickie Reese, 5. Bill Boyd, 6. Danny Oakes, 7. Billy Garrett, 8. Joe Garson, 9. Art Bisch, 10. Don Edmunds, 11. Larry Dunham, 12. Johnnie Parsons. FQ: Ray Crawford (16.150)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: April 26, 1958 – Contra Costa Stadium – Pacheco, California

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Earl Motter (Moe Goff #57), 2. Dickie Reese, 3. Mike McGreevy, 4. Ed Normi, 5. Shorty Templeman, 6. Johnnie Tolan, 7. Tommy Copp, 8. Larry Dunham, 9. Chuck Booth, 10. Bob Spoo, 11. Bob Cortner, 12. Joe Garson. FQ: Dickie Reese (14.160)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: May 11, 1958 – New Bremen Speedway – New Bremen, Ohio

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. George Amick (Harry Turner #82), 2. Van Johnson, 3. Lloyd Ruby, 4. Billy Garrett, 5. Gene Hartley, 6. Bob Wente, 7. Ted Hartley, 8. Bill Homeier, 9. Chuck Weyant, 10. Johnny Kay, 11. Don Branson, 12. Paul Howe. FQ: George Amick (20.760)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: May 23, 1958 – Dayton Speedway – Dayton, Ohio

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Lloyd Ruby (Ray Bolander #4), 2. Gene Force, 3. Don Branson, 4. Les Scott, 5. Bob Wente, 6. Harry Kern, 7. Johnny White, 8. Paul Howe, 9. Buzz Barton, 10. Roy Graham, 11. Wally Hostetler, 12. Carl Williams, 13.         Bob Schroeder, 14. Sonny McDaniel, 15. E. Swain, 16. Davey Moses, 17. Bill Homeier, 18. Roy Gillhamer, 19. Cotton Farmer, 20. Norm Hall, 21. Bob McLean, 22. Cecil Smith, 23. Jim Packard, 24. Johnny Kay. FQ: Harry Kern (23.800)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: May 24, 1958 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Indiana

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Frank Burany (Harry Turner #82), 2. Lloyd Ruby, 3. Jim Packard, 4. Gene Force, 5. Buzz Barton, 6. Rex Easton, 7. Bill Homeier, 8. Bob Wente, 9. Paul Howe, 10. Wally Hostetler, 11. Tommy Copp, 12. Danny Burke, 13.           Don Branson, 14. Carl Williams, 15. Don Boorse, 16. Sonny McDaniel, 17. Roy Gillhamer, 18. Davey Moses. FQ: Lloyd Ruby (17.390)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: May 28, 1958 – Raceway Park – Blue Island, Illinois

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Frank Burany (Mabel Cummings #45), 2. Mauri Wilson, 3. Russ Congdon, 4. Jim Packard, 5. Davey Moses, 6. Sonny McDaniel, 7. Jimmy Knight, 8. Ronnie Kaplan, 9. Don Boorse, 10. Buzz Barton, 11. Les Scott, 12. Bob Schroeder, 13. Johnny Roberts, 14. Don Branson, 15. Bob Wente, 16. Rex Easton, 17. Lloyd Ruby, 18. Johnny White. FQ: Mauri Wilson (12.740)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: May 29, 1958 – 16th Street Speedway – Indianapolis, Indiana – Night Before the 500

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Mauri Wilson (Mauri Wilson #61), 2. Andy Furci, 3. Leroy Warriner, 4. Joe Sostilio, 5. Rex Easton, 6. Tony Bonadies, 7. Gene Hartley, 8. Palmer Crowell, 9. Mel McGaughy, 10. Earl Motter, 11. Tommy Rice, 12. Buzz Barton, 13. Buddy Cagle, 14. ???, 15. Lloyd Ruby, 16. Don Branson, 17. Paul Howe, 18. Russ Congdon. FQ: Mauri Wilson (15.970)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: May 29, 1958 – 16th Street Speedway – Indianapolis, Indiana – Night Before the 500

FEATURE: (150 laps) 1. Gene Force (Lloyd Hamm #22), 2. Mauri Wilson, 3. Gene Hartley, 4. Rex Easton, 5. Danny Oakes, 6. Andy Furci, 7. Frank Burany, 8. Paul Howe, 9. Tommy Copp, 10. Palmer Crowell, 11. Russ Congdon, 12. Lloyd Ruby. FQ: Mauri Wilson (15.750)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: May 29, 1958 – 16th Street Speedway – Indianapolis, Indiana – Night Before the 500

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Tony Bonadies (Edwin Walker #9), 2. Tommy Copp, 3. Gene Force, 4. Les Scott, 5. Roger Bailey, 6. Russ Klar, 7. Lloyd Ruby, 8. Mel McGaughy, 9. Don Branson, 10. Paul Howe, 11. Davey Moses, 12. Buddy Cagle, 13. Danny Oakes, 14. Jack Bates, 15. Rex Easton, 16. Mauri Wilson, 17. Andy Furci, 18. Wally Hostetler. FQ: Tony Bonadies

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 5, 1958 – Berlin Raceway – Marne, Michigan

FEATURE: (25 laps) 1. George Amick (Harry Turner #82), 2. Buddy Cagle, 3. Cotton Farmer, 4. Gene Hartley, 5. Bill Homeier, 6. Leroy Warriner, 7. Johnny White, 8. Jack Beduhn, 9. Benny Kieff. FQ: George Amick (23.710)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 6, 1958 – Springfield Speedway – Springfield, Illinois

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Johnny Roberts (M.J. & H.E. Holton #11), 2. Gene Weyant, 3. Buddy Cagle, 4. Bill Homeier, 5. Paul Howe, 6. Shorty Templeman, 7. Bob Schroeder, 8. Tommy Copp, 9. Chuck Weyant, 10. Russ Congdon, 11. Dale Swaim, 12. Johnny Kay. FQ: Russ Congdon (13.410)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 11, 1958 – Cincinnati Race Bowl – Evendale, Ohio

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Jack Turner (Jack Turner #6), 2. Rex Easton, 3. Buddy Cagle, 4. Cotton Farmer, 5. Shorty Templeman, 6. Bob Wente, 7. Russ Congdon, 8. Bob Schroeder, 9. Bill Homeier, 10. Norm Hall, 11. Tommy Copp, 12. Harry Kern, 13. Johnny Kay, 14. Jim Davis, 15. Dale Swaim, 16. A.J. Foyt, 17. Gene Force, 18. Don Branson, 19. Rick Kerr. FQ: Jack Turner (12.940)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 14, 1958 – Motor City Speedway – Detroit, Michigan

FEATURE: (75 laps) 1. Gene Hartley (Red Marley #88), 2. Bill Homeier, 3. Shorty Templeman, 4. Gene Force, 5. Russ Congdon, 6. Mauri Wilson, 7. Tommy Copp, 8. Dale Swaim, 9. Bob Wente, 10. Buddy Cagle, 11. Leroy Warriner, 12. Paul Howe. FQ: Russ Congdon (12.970)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 18, 1958 – South Bend Motor Speedway – South Bend, Indiana

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Rex Easton (Lloyd Rahn #2), 2. Len Sutton, 3. Buddy Cagle, 4. Shorty Templeman, 5. Cotton Farmer, 6. Bill Homeier, 7. Harry Kern, 8. Jack Bates, 9. Gene Force, 10. Tommy Copp, 11. Gene Hartley, 12. Don Branson, 13. Mauri Wilson, 14. Rick Kerr, 15. Jim Davis, 16. Jack Turner, 17. Bob McLean, 18. Paul Howe. FQ: Shorty Templeman (13.310)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 20, 1958 – Sportsdrome – Jeffersonville, Indiana

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Jack Turner (Jack Turner #6), 2. Leroy Warriner, 3. Rex Easton, 4. Shorty Templeman, 5. Len Sutton, 6. Gene Hartley, 7. Buddy Cagle, 8. Gene Force, 9. Don Branson, 10. Danny Oakes, 11. Norm Hall, 12. Justin King. FQ: Bob Wente (15.040)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 22, 1958 – Santa Fe Speedway – Hinsdale, Illinois

FEATURE RAINED OUT. FQ: Don Branson

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 24, 1958 – Lansing Motor Speedway – Mason, Michigan

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Jack Turner (Jack Turner #6), 2. Cotton Farmer, 3. Gene Hartley, 4. Rex Easton, 5. Danny Oakes, 6. Shorty Templeman, 7. Len Sutton, 8. Ronnie Duman, 9. Don Branson, 10. Tommy Copp, 11. Russ Congdon, 12. Bob Wente. FQ: Jack Turner (14.170)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 25, 1958 – Grand Rapids Speedrome – Grand Rapids, Michigan

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Jack Turner (Jack Turner #6), 2. Shorty Templeman, 3. Russ Congdon, 4. George Amick, 5. Rex Easton, 6. Gene Hartley, 7. Bill Homeier, 8. Norm Hall, 9. Bob Wente, 10. Tim Sullivan, 11. Rick Kerr, 12. Danny Oakes. FQ: Don Branson (12.800)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 28, 1958 – Motor City Speedway – Detroit, Michigan

FEATURE: (75 laps) 1. Gene Force (Bob Higman #67), 2. Shorty Templeman, 3. George Amick, 4. Gene Hartley, 5. Don Branson, 6. Eddie Johnson, 7. Mauri Wilson, 8. Jack Turner, 9. Len Sutton, 10. Bob McLean, 11. Rex Easton, 12. Leroy Warriner, 13. Bob Wente, 14. Ronnie Duman, 15. Russ Congdon, 16. Dale Swaim, 17. Danny Oakes, 18. Jim Florian. FQ: Bob McLean (12.890)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 29, 1958 – Langhorne Speedway – Langhorne, Pennsylvania

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Bill Homeier (Al Jackson #91), 2. Buddy Cagle, 3. Bud Randall, 4. Dick Linder, 5. Ernie McCoy, 6. Al Herman, 7. Chuck Weyant, 8. Jiggs Peters, 9. Chuck Arnold, 10. Vic Martin, 11. Jud Larson, 12. Bob Boone, 13. Bob Disbrow, 14. Len Duncan, 15. Wally Hostetler, 16. Mike Magill, 17. Red Riegel, 18. Steve Yanigan, 19. Tony Romit, 20. Tony Bonadies, 21. Jim Packard. FQ: Buddy Cagle (36.540)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: July 9, 1958 – Cincinnati Race Bowl – Evendale, Ohio

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Jim Packard (Bill Lloyd #27), 2. Rex Easton, 3. Jack Turner, 4. Buddy Cagle, 5. Cotton Farmer, 6. George Amick, 7. Shorty Templeman, 8. Gene Force, 9. Bob Wente, 10. Leroy Warriner, 11. Elmer George, 12. Bob Schroeder, 13. Les Scott, 14. Don Branson, 15. Tommy Copp, 16. Russ Congdon, 17. Bob McLean, 18. Dale Swaim. FQ: Dale Swaim (13.000)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: July 12, 1958 – Motor City Speedway – Detroit, Michigan

FEATURE: (75 laps) 1. Gene Hartley (Red Marley #88), 2. Shorty Templeman, 3. Len Sutton, 4. Eddie Johnson, 5. Russ Congdon, 6. Bob McLean, 7. Johnny White, 8. Dale Swaim, 9. Bob Wente, 10. Ronnie Duman, 11. Rex Easton, 12. Buddy Cagle, 13. Don Branson, 14. Cotton Farmer, 15. Gene Force, 16. Earl Motter, 17. Mauri Wilson, 18. Jack Turner. FQ: Shorty Templeman (12.970)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: July 16, 1958 – Raceway Park – Blue Island, Illinois

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Len Sutton (Ed Loniewski #87), 2. Gene Hartley, 3. Shorty Templeman, 4. Rex Easton, 5. Bob McLean, 6. Bill Homeier, 7. Russ Congdon, 8. Bob Wente, 9. Don Branson, 10. Jack Bates, 11. Tommy Copp, 12. Buddy Cagle, 13. Bob Schroeder, 14. Earl Motter, 15. Don Boorse, 16. Jack Turner, 17. Mauri Wilson, 18. Gene Force. FQ: Bob Wente (12.680)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: July 18, 1958 – Sportsdrome – Jeffersonville, Indiana

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Jack Turner (Bob Higman #67), 2. Len Sutton, 3. Shorty Templeman, 4. Don Branson, 5. Dale Swaim, 6. Bill Homeier, 7. Gene Hartley, 8. Les Scott, 9. Buddy Cagle, 10. Bob Wente, 11. Chuck Weyant, 12. Gene Force. FQ: Len Sutton (15.390)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: July 23, 1958 – Grand Rapids Speedrome – Grand Rapids, Michigan

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. George Amick (Hugh McCullough #44), 2. Rex Easton, 3. Jack Turner, 4. Justin King, 5. Johnny White, 6. Les Scott, 7. Tommy Copp, 8. Len Sutton, 9. Gene Force, 10. Cotton Farmer, 11. Russ Congdon, 12. Bill Homeier. FQ: George Amick (13.010)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: July 24, 1958 – Jackson Motor Speedway – Jackson, Michigan

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Bill Homeier (Al Jackson #9), 2. Jack Turner, 3. Shorty Templeman, 4. Buddy Cagle, 5. Don Branson, 6. Gene Force, 7. Jimmy Daywalt, 8. Earl Motter, 9. Russ Congdon, 10. Les Scott, 11. Ronnie Duman, 12. Leroy Warriner, 13. Rex Easton, 14. Johnny White, 15. Bob Schroeder, 16. Don Horvath, 17. Bob Wente, 18. Tommy Copp. FQ: Leroy Warriner (18.750)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: July 25, 1958 – South Bend Motor Speedway – South Bend, Indiana

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Shorty Templeman (Don Horvath #26), 2. Rex Easton, 3. Jack Turner, 4. Gene Force, 5. Mauri Wilson, 6. Norm Hall, 7. Les Scott, 8. Bob Wente, 9. Justin King, 10. Leroy Warriner, 11. Buddy Cagle, 12. Tommy Copp, 13. Tim Sullivan, 14. John Slowiak, 15. Jimmy Daywalt, 16. Len Sutton, 17. Bob McLean, 18. Gene Hartley. FQ: Len Sutton (13.220)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: July 26, 1958 – Motor City Speedway – Detroit, Michigan

FEATURE: (75 laps) 1. Russ Congdon (Avis & Clarence Fischer #63), 2. Buddy Cagle, 3. Bill Homeier, 4. Gene Hartley, 5. Rex Easton, 6. Bob McLean, 7. Leroy Warriner, 8. Jack Turner, 9. Earl Motter, 10. Ronnie Duman, 11. Bob Wente, 12. Danny Oakes, 13. Fred Johns, 14. John Slowiak, 15. Johnny White, 16. Tim Sullivan, 17. Mauri Wilson, 18. Don Branson. FQ: Russ Congdon (12.930)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: July 27, 1958 – New Bremen Speedway – New Bremen, Ohio

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Rex Easton (Lloyd Rahn #2), 2. Gene Hartley, 3. Buddy Cagle, 4. Bob Wente, 5. Jack Turner, 6. Cotton Farmer, 7. Earl Motter, 8. Len Sutton, 9. Jim Packard, 10. Dick Ritchie, 11. Gene Force, 12. Russ Congdon, 13. Bud Tingelstad, 14. Danny Oakes, 15. Bill Homeier, 16. Mauri Wilson, 17. Vic Martin, 18. Tommy Copp, 19. Johnny Roberts, 20. Johnny White, 21. Bill Cheesbourg, 22. Don Branson, 23. Bob McLean, 24. Rodger Ward. FQ: Rex Easton (21.110)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 1, 1958 – Quad City Raceway – East Moline, Illinois

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Gene Hartley (Ray Bolander #4), 2. Bob Wente, 3. Rex Easton, 4. Don Branson, 5. Gene Force, 6. Carl Williams, 7. Len Sutton, 8. Bob Schroeder, 9. Johnny Roberts, 10. Shorty Templeman, 11. A.J. Foyt, 12. Mauri Wilson. FQ: A.J. Foyt

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 2, 1958 – Soldier Field – Chicago, Illinois

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Eddie Johnson (Jerry Zeelo #21), 2. Rex Easton, 3. Russ Congdon, 4. A.J. Foyt, 5. Bob Wente, 6. Gene Hartley, 7. Jimmy Daywalt, 8. Len Sutton, 9. Jim Packard, 10. Don Boorse, 11. Don Branson, 12. Danny Oakes, 13. Bob Hare, 14. Bill Homeier, 15. Gene Force, 16. Chuck Weyant, 17. Leroy Warriner, 18. Shorty Templeman. FQ: Len Sutton (16.820)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 3, 1958 – Indianapolis Speedrome – Indianapolis, Indiana

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Gene Hartley (Ray Bolander #4), 2. Bud Tingelstad, 3. Johnnie Tolan, 4. Norm Hall, 5. A.J. Foyt, 6. Buddy Cagle, 7. Len Sutton, 8. Bob McLean, 9. Gene Force, 10. Rex Easton, 11. Ted Hartley, 12. Leroy Warriner, 13. Jim Packard, 14. Danny Oakes, 15. Russ Congdon, 16. Shorty Templeman, 17. Bob Wente, 18. Wally Hostetler. FQ: Shorty Templeman (14.390)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 6, 1958 – Grand Rapids Speedrome – Grand Rapids, Michigan

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. George Amick (Hugh McCullough #44), 2. Cotton Farmer, 3. Gene Hartley, 4. Gene Force, 5. Jack Turner, 6. Shorty Templeman, 7. Russ Congdon, 8. Rex Easton, 9. Danny Oakes, 10. Buddy Cagle, 11. Bud Tingelstad, 12. Ted Hartley. FQ: George Amick (13.070)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 7, 1958 – Lansing Motor Speedway – Mason, Michigan

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Gene Force (Bob & Gene Shannon #22), 2. Gene Hartley, 3. Russ Congdon, 4. Rex Easton, 5. Jack Turner, 6. Shorty Templeman, 7. Bob McLean, 8. Cotton Farmer, 9. Bill Homeier, 10. Bud Tingelstad, 11. Danny Oakes, 12. Buddy Cagle. FQ: Bud Tingelstad (14.500)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 9, 1958 – Motor City Speedway – Detroit, Michigan

FEATURE: (75 laps) 1. Shorty Templeman (Don Persons #79), 2. Rex Easton, 3. Buddy Cagle, 4. Len Sutton, 5. Jack Turner, 6. Bob Wente, 7. Ronnie Duman, 8. Johnny White, 9. Danny Oakes, 10. Bob McLean, 11. Gene Hartley, 12. Jerry Kemp, 13. Bud Tingelstad, 14. Tim Sullivan, 15. Russ Congdon, 16. Bill Homeier, 17. Eddie Johnson, 18. Gene Force. FQ: Gene Hartley

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 12, 1958 – Columbus Motor Speedway – Columbus, Ohio

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Bob Wente (Mabel Cummings #45), 2. Rex Easton, 3. Don Branson, 4. Jim Packard, 5. Gene Hartley, 6. Buddy Cagle, 7. Johnny White, 8. Shorty Templeman, 9. Len Sutton, 10. Russ Congdon, 11. Dale Swaim, 12. A.J. Foyt, 13. Bill Cheesbourg, 14. Leroy Warriner, 15. Norm Hall, 16. Tommy Copp, 17. Jack Turner, 18. Roy Graham. FQ: Jack Turner (16.340)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 13, 1958 – Cincinnati Race Bowl – Evendale, Ohio

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Rex Easton (Lloyd Rahn #2), 2. Buddy Cagle, 3. Gene Force, 4. Don Branson, 5. Shorty Templeman, 6. Jack Turner, 7. Cotton Farmer, 8. Bob Wente, 9. Bill Cheesbourg, 10. Jim Packard, 11. Tommy Copp, 12. Len Sutton, 13. Bob Schroeder, 14. Bud Tingelstad, 15. Johnny White, 16. Wally Hostetler, 17. Dale Swaim, 18. A.J. Foyt. FQ: Don Branson (12.930)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 15, 1958 – Springfield Speedway – Springfield, Illinois

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Chuck Weyant (Johnny Pawl #18), 2. Rex Easton, 3. Jim Packard, 4. Jimmy Daywalt, 5. Johnny Roberts, 6. Gene Hartley, 7. Jack Turner, 8. Carl Williams, 9. Shorty Templeman, 10. Dick Ritchie, 11. Gene Weyant, 12. Billy Wood. FQ: Gene Hartley (13.490)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 16, 1958 – Indianapolis Speedrome – Indianapolis, Indiana

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Eddie Johnson (Lloyd Rahn #2), 2. Gene Hartley, 3. Don Boorse, 4. Norm Hall, 5. Russ Congdon, 6. Gene Force, 7. Jack Turner, 8. Bob McLean, 9. Shorty Templeman, 10. Buddy Cagle, 11. Tommy Copp, 12. Wally Hostetler, 13. Ted Hartley, 14. Dick Frazier, 15. Jimmy Daywalt, 16. Bud Tingelstad, 17. Cotton Farmer, 18. Leroy Warriner. FQ: Gene Force (14.380)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 23, 1958 – Wisconsin State Fair Park – West Allis, Wisconsin

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Tony Bettenhausen (Kathryn Wright #1), 2. Don Branson, 3. Frank Burany, 4. Bob Wente, 5. Rex Easton, 6. Buddy Cagle, 7. Gene Hartley, 8. Chuck Weyant, 9. Bill Cheesbourg, 10. Mike Magill, 11. Tommy Copp, 12. Bill Homeier, 13. Johnnie Parsons, 14. Shorty Templeman, 15. Danny Oakes, 16. Jimmy Reece, 17. Jack Turner, 18. Gene Force, 19. Jimmy Davies, 20. Russ Congdon, 21. Dempsey Wilson, 22. Bob Schroeder, 23. Norm Hall, 24. Rex Records, 25. Justin King, 26. Ted Hartley, 27. Jimmy Daywalt, 28. Bob Hare, 29. Len Sutton, 30. Wally Hostetler, 31. Tony Bonadies, 32. Rodger Ward, 33. Bob McLean, 34. George Amick. FQ: Rodger Ward (35.603)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 25, 1958 – Motor City Speedway – Detroit, Michigan

FEATURE: (75 laps) 1. Gene Hartley (Ray Bolander #4), 2. Rex Easton, 3. Eddie Johnson, 4. Jack Turner, 5. Shorty Templeman, 6. Ronnie Duman, 7. Norm Hall, 8. Buddy Cagle, 9. Chuck Weyant, 10. Vic Martin, 11. Tommy Copp, 12. Russ Congdon, 13. Dempsey Wilson, 14. Gene Force, 15. Bill Homeier, 16. Leroy Warriner, 17. Jimmy Daywalt, 18. Bob McLean. FQ: Bob McLean (12.850)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: August 31, 1958 – Du Quoin State Fairgrounds – Du Quoin, Illinois

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Rodger Ward (Greg Flatow #52), 2. Bill Cheesbourg, 3. Don Branson, 4. Shorty Templeman, 5. Chuck Weyant, 6. Dempsey Wilson, 7. Bill Homeier, 8. Bob Wente, 9. Bill Chennault, 10. Len Sutton, 11. Rex Easton, 12. Dick Linder, 13. Danny Oakes, 14. Johnny Roberts, 15. Wally Hostetler, 16. Gene Hartley, 17. Bob Schroeder, 18. Willie Hunziker, 19. Carl Williams, 20. Eddie Johnson. FQ: Shorty Templeman (39.860)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: September 11, 1958 – Lansing Motor Speedway – Mason, Michigan

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Bob Wente (Carl Gehlhausen #21), 2. Gene Hartley, 3. Buddy Cagle, 4. Gene Force, 5. Rex Easton, 6. Leroy Warriner, 7. Bill Cheesbourg, 8. Tommy Copp, 9. Bob McLean, 10. Bill Homeier, 11. Johnny White, 12. Ted Hartley. FQ: Bob McLean (14.460)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: September 13, 1958 – Motor City Speedway – Detroit, Michigan

FEATURE: (75 laps) 1. Leroy Warriner (Bill Lloyd #27), 2. Gene Force, 3. Shorty Templeman, 4. Roger Bailey, 5. Eddie Johnson, 6. Gene Hartley, 7. Buddy Cagle, 8. Tommy Copp, 9. Rex Easton, 10. Bob McLean, 11. Bill Homeier, 12. Bob Wente, 13. Ted Hartley, 14. Gordon Gadette, 15. Fred Johns, 16. Russ Congdon, 17. Tim Sullivan, 18. Wally Hostetler. FQ: Leroy Warriner (12.950)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: September 14, 1958 – Winchester Speedway – Winchester, Indiana

FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Don Branson (Elbert Willey #64), 2. Rodger Ward, 3. Jack Turner, 4. Rex Easton, 5. Bob Wente, 6. Gene Force, 7. Jimmy Daywalt, 8. Len Sutton, 9. Tommy Copp, 10. Chuck Weyant, 11. Earl Motter, 12. Eddie Johnson, 13. Ronnie Duman, 14. Buddy Cagle, 15. Dick Frazier, 16. Shorty Templeman, 17. Dick Northam, 18. Roger Bailey, 19. Russ Royce, 20. Dale Swaim, 21. Bud Tingelstad, 22. Elmer George, 23. Johnny White, 24. Leroy Warriner. FQ: Rodger Ward (19.330)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: October 4, 1958 – Gardena Stadium – Gardena, California

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Danny Oakes (Bill Butters #59), 2. George Amick, 3. Earl Motter, 4. Johnny Baldwin, 5. Johnny Moorhouse, 6. Johnnie Parsons, 7. Gene Gurney, 8. Johnnie Tolan, 9. Norm Hall, 10. Tommy Copp, 11. Bud Sterrett, 12. Chuck Booth. FQ: Roy Gillhamer (15.920)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: October 5, 1958 – Terre Haute Action Track – Terre Haute, Indiana – Hut 100

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Don Branson (Elbert Willey #64), 2. Eddie Johnson, 3. Rodger Ward, 4. Gene Hartley, 5. Russ Congdon, 6. Leroy Warriner, 7. Gene Weyant, 8. Gene Force, 9. Jack Turner, 10. Chuck Weyant, 11. Bill Cheesbourg, 12. Keith Thomas. FQ: Don Branson (25.250)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: October 18, 1958 – Contra Costa Stadium – Pacheco, California

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. George Amick (Harold Guidi #15), 2. Johnny Moorhouse, 3. Johnnie Parsons, 4. Johnny Baldwin, 5. Dickie Reese, 6. Joe Garson, 7. Mike McGreevy, 8. Jimmy Davies, 9. Shorty Templeman, 10. Johnnie Tolan, 11. Dempsey Wilson, 12. Leroy Neumayer. FQ: Mike McGreevy (14.600)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: November 1, 1958 – Manzanita Speedway – Phoenix, Arizona

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Rex Easton (Lloyd Rahn #2), 2. Johnny Moorhouse, 3. Jimmy Davies, 4. Shorty Templeman, 5. Carl Williams, 6. Dempsey Wilson, 7. Bill Homeier, 8. Johnnie Tolan, 9. Leroy Neumayer, 10. Bob Cortner, 11. Bill Cheesbourg, 12. Chuck Booth, 13. Rodger Ward, 14. Jim Hayes, 15. Gene Gurney, 16. Joe Garson, 17. Wayne Weiler, 18. Bill Boyd. FQ: Johnny Moorhouse (15.200)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: November 27, 1958 – Gardena Stadium – Gardena, California – Turkey Night Grand Prix

FEATURE: (150 laps) 1. Joe Garson (Ernie Casale #2), 2. Rodger Ward, 3. Dempsey Wilson, 4. Johnnie Parsons, 5. George Amick, 6. Roy Gillhamer & Tony Bettenhausen, 7. Shorty Templeman, 8. Billy Cantrell, 9. Tommy Copp, 10. Rex Easton, 11. Dickie Reese, 12. Johnny Moorhouse. FQ: Jimmy Davies (15.720)

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACE RESULTS: December 28, 1958 – Ascot Stadium – Gardena, California

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. George Amick (Harold Guidi #15), 2. Billy Cantrell, 3. Johnnie Parsons, 4.  Don Horvath, 5. Johnny Baldwin, 6. Rex Easton, 7. Tony Bettenhausen, 8. Earl Motter, 9. Bill Homeier, 10. Bud Sterrett, 11. Ray Crawford, 12. Chuck Booth. FQ: Jimmy Davies (21.850)