Santa Fe

SANTA FE

JACK HALL

GARY NIXON, who looks as if he may have his first Grand National Championship, added to his lead by taking the Short Track National at Santa Fe Speedway in Chicago, Aug. 23rd.

Rains put a damper on the original schedule, so the event was held the following Wednesday night. Nixon wasted no time in showing everybody how it's done, turning the 1/4-mile oval in 16.06 seconds. Jim Odom, the 19-year-old Californian, flew around the course in 16.59 seconds to become fast Amateur.

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California riders cleaned house in the Amateur division, taking all three yellow plate heat races, with Odom, Fulton and Hauchins.

Nixon showed he was the man to beat, taking the first Expert go over Bart Markel. The National Short Track Champion, Fred Nix, got by Dovel and Peoria winner Dick Mann for the second Expert go. Neil Keen was next in the winners' circle, followed by Chris Draayer in the last Expert heat.

The semis saw Draayer and Nixon picking up the winners' share.

Then came the ten-lap Amateur Final, which saw Keith Nadler get the jump on everybody off the line into the first turn. Nadler put on a great battle, before the flying Odom got by him on lap five to win, going away for his sixth Amateur National win this year. Fulton finally got by Nadler on lap eight, to finish in the number two spot, followed by Nadler and Hauchins.

Odom was presented with a $50 war bond from the Maywood Mustangs, sponsors of the event, for being the neatest rider on his Suzuki.

Eight National numbers pulled to the line for the 25-lap National, along with four other riders. As they roared into the first turn, it was Draayer, followed closely by Nix, Nixon and Lawwill. Nixon got by Nix on lap 12 to move into second, as Draayer roared on around. Then, with Nixon right on his heels, Draayer slipped out of the groove on turn three to allow the "Baltimore Bullet" to slip underneath him. Coming across the finish line for the checker, the Salt Lake City rider came within a foot of beating Nixon, as they ran into traffic, with Nix, third, and Law-

will, fourth. ■