Speaking of the GOAT... here's an incredible PAVEMENT story.
OK... (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Trickle did not race much dirt although he started at a dirt track in WI. But this story comes from Stan Kalawasinki is a noted racing writer from the Chicago area.
This accomplishment is truly amazing since thefastguys started near the back...
“Back in the Day” – Probably one of the greatest feats I saw during my travels with the ARTGO Racing late model series was when (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Trickle won five ARTGO features in a 24-hour span. The year was 1979 and the 37-year-old Trickle and his Superamerica Firebird Trans-Am No. 99 were tough to beat in Midwest late model action. ARTGO President John McKarns, who had purchased ARTGO from Art Frigo prior to the ’79 season, had scheduled the series’ third annual two-day Summer Nationals for the Dells Motor Speedway and Capital Super Speedway in Wisconsin. The third-mile paved Dells oval would see the ARTGO “stars and cars” in action on Saturday evening, August 25 with the tour moving to the Capital half-mile in Oregon, Wis., the following afternoon – August 26. Twin 75s were on tap at the Larry Wehrs-promoted Dells speed plant with a strong contingent of late model stars on hand. Trickle won the first 75 lapper of the evening over Bob Senneker, Johnny Ziegler, Tom Reffner and Randy Sweet. Trickle came back and won the 75-lap “nightcap” ahead of Mike Miller, Jim Sauter, Mark Martin and Reffner. After no doubt a little post-race partying, the drivers and crews drove over to Sam Bartus’ Capital raceway, where three 50-lap feature races would highlight the afternoon’s competition. Trickle, looking pretty unbeatable, won the first 50-lap chase ahead of Butch Miller, Sweet, Senneker and Joe Shear. The second ‘50’ saw Trickle, who would capture his second ARTGO season crown that year, win again, this time besting Shear, Sweet, Senneker and Reffner. The third and final 50 lapper again saw Trickle win with Dave Watson, Larry Detjens, Sweet and Senneker chasing the “White Knight” to the checkered flag. I believe the driving talent that finished behind Trickle in these five feature races makes the accomplishment by the Wisconsin Rapids speedster really amazing as a total of nearly 80 different drivers competed in the two-day event.