1978 HammerDown! Headlines

1978

The World of Outlaws is formed by Ted Johnson.

The picture above is from Devils Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX., scanned from the wonderful book by Mike O'Leary, titled "Outlaw Sprints". MBI Publishing . Jimmy Boyd is in the #21, being chased by Doug Wolfgang in the first World of Outlaws race ever held in 1978.
Steve Kinser is the first WoO points champion, winning 11 of the 41 races run. Kinser won his first WoO A-Main at Eldora Speedway, May 21st. ...For the year, Steve won 39 features overall.
Doug Wolfgang wins the Knoxville Nationals, and the Skagit Dirt Cup in the Speedway Motors #4x

Gary Patterson is outside of Johnny Anderson in Calistoga Speedway action.
Tim Richmond is USAC sprint car Rookie of the Year.
Shane Carson wins the final WoO race of the season ($10,000) at Eldora. He was driving the Nickles Bros. sprinter.
Lealand McSpadden won the Western World Championship, and the WoO Summer Nationals at ASCOT.

Jimmy Boyd wins the first World of Outlaws race ever, held at Devils Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX.
LeRoy Van Conett, in the Bailey Bros. #01, wins his 5th NARC driving championship.
Rich Vogler wins USAC National Midget championship.
Tom Bigelow is USAC Sprint Car National Champion.

Steve Kinser won his first Gold Cup in 1978 at West Capital Raceway. Gary Gerould interviews Kinser as HammerDownUSA.com editor, Bobby Gerould (far right) looks on.
Mike Wasina is Tri-Holiday Sweepstakes champion for the second time.
Buster Venard is the Pacific Coast Open winner at ASCOT.
Kramer Williamson is winner of Williams Grove National Open, and the Grove track championship.
Jerry Edson is Skagit Speedway's First Sprint Car Champion.
Gary Bettenhausen is Sprinfield Mile winner.
Rick Goudy Takes Turkey Night at ASCOT Park.

If they would have raced for a million in 1978, these two would have gassed it up! Ron, "RC", Horton is on the top, and Ohio's Rick Ferkel works the low groove at Calistoga. (Scanned from NARC Yearbook)

Steve Smith wins the first WoO race at Lincoln Speedway (PA.)
Bill Engelhart cops Hoosier Hundred.
Hank Butcher and Larry Clark Star in Jimmy Caruthers Memorial for midgets and sprints.
Randy Wolfe suffers a broken back in violent Syracuse flip.

1978 - "Quick" Nick Rescino was at the peak on his racing abilities in the #96 Super Modified at West Capital Raceway. Rescino actually beat the winged sprint cars in a star-studded open-competition show. (Scanned from old program)

Joe Hill is West Capitol Raceway Track Champ.
Davey Pombo is California State Super Modified Champion
Pancho Carter is USAC Silver Crown Champion, & DuQuoin, IL. USAC winner.
Chuck Miller is San Jose Speedway Super Modified Rookie of the Year.
Johnny Anderson won the Calistoga Classic

1977

1979