Victory Nostalgia Super Stocks at St. Louis

Duell-ing for the Win

Words by Tom Hoffman

Photos by Dennis Mothershed

Doug Duell’s “Drag’n Wag’n” sure isn’t dragging the front wheels!

Forty-five cars showed up to run hard and be the Victory NSS race champ at Gateway Motorsports Park for the Nostalgia Rendezvous on May 11-12. Doug Duell came out on top with his wheel-standing Plymouth.

The great array of makes and models at this race well represented the super stocks that raced in the sixties. From a 61 Belvedere to a 69 Dart, with numerous Chevy's, Pontiacs, and Fords making up the ranks as well. All of these cars here look like they came in off the street, prepped for this race, and were ready to go.

With beautiful warm weather racers came to challenge each other at this great race venue. With two qualifiers on Friday, racers were ready to go with the final qualifier on Saturday morning.

Series administrator Chris Schneider started the drivers meeting off on Saturday with a blessing provided by Scotty Wilson, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by veteran Tom Hoffman. At this meeting, well over two thousand dollars were awarded and given out in both cash and prizes.

Hagenhoff’s high flying Hemi took home the B&K Trucking #1 Qualifying Award.

It was then on to the final qualifier run. "Flying Jim" Hagenhoff and his ‘65 Hemi Plymouth (above) was awarded for qualifying number one along with Bill Ping who was awarded [by Brewers Performance] for qualifying as the top Mopar in his ‘67 Dart. This qualifier set the ladder for the day's racing.

Carl Nappier went two rounds in his ’65 Plymouth.

Series veteran Carl Nappier had announced earlier in the day that this would be his last race as he was retiring from driving. Nappier made the most of his last race though. In round one, he took out last year’s #2 in points, Shaun Johnston, with a great light. Then in round two, he matched up with last year’s champion, Tom Hoffman. Nappier had an incredible .019 RT but broke out at the finish line trying to beat Hoffman, who ran a perfect 10.75 on his 10.75 Index. The Victory racers will miss Carl’s smiling face behind the wheel, but know they will see him at some of the events.

During round two "Triple Oh" Bob Lister was first to run down the track, winning his pass against Bruce Lang's ‘68 Barracuda. Living up to his nickname, Bob ran an 11.000 on the 11.0 index, and won the Duell "Dead On" Challenge.

Interestingly in this race there were two other candidates for the "Dead on" challenge. Tom Hoffman's late round two "dead on" 10.750, and third round winner Bob Westhof's perfect light. Last year this cumulative award was only won in the very last of the Victory series races by "Double Oh" Joe Ewing.

Bob Westhoff

Dalton Bruemmer made it to the Finals after competing in only a few Victory Races prior to Gateway.

After five hard-fought rounds, there were two Plymouths left in the running: Dalton Bruemmer with his ‘65 Plymouth against Doug Duell's ‘64 Plymouth wagon. Bruemmer left first on his 11.25 index and Duell leaving on his 9.50 index. When the win light came on, it was Duell’s turn in the winner's circle.

As Doug picked up his time slip and turned into the winner’s circle, he was wearing a smile only a winner gets to have.

With both Doug and Dalton in the winner’s circle, pictures were taken with the Victory team present. Another successful race concluded.

Dennis Spurgeon put his new wheelie bars to the test on the hard hooking Gateway surface.

Dan Beale also found the traction to his liking in Dan Driscoll's Pontiac.

Mid-Missouri racer Jim Shelton launching in his ultra-clean A-Body Mopar.

Jerry Bolton made the haul from Iowa with his beautiful Chevy.