Speaking of the GOAT... here's an incredible PAVEMENT story.

[Krooser]

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.

[HoosierDirtFan]

I know Stan. Talked with him a good bit over the years. He's got a ton of old stories from many of the dirt and asphalt tracks in the Chicago region. Stan has one heck of a memory and the stories to go with it. His kid Jack raced at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Indiana in the Super Late Model division before it closed a few years back.

Check out Stan's website
Chicagoland Auto Racing
www.kalracing.com/Autoracing - click on Race Tracks on the left side and then click on each track for stories and pictures from years past.

[Krooser]

I remember a story from one of Father Dale Grubba's books about Trickle.

Racing at Toma-Sparta Speedway. Blew the 427 in the late model. Pulled the engine out of his pick-up, put it in the stock car. Won the feature. Left for home with the stock car towing the pick-up and trailer with flashlights taped to the front fenders on the stockcar.

[Morgs153]

I actually got to see D!ck Trickle run on dirt. I was 13 at the time and the Central Wisconsin State Fair in Marshfield ran on the Labor Day weekend (1976). There was a 1/2 mile track at the fairgrounds and this might have been one of the last years than ran a stock car show for their fair.

The stands were packed for this show and the guys from Iowa ruled the day. I'm thinking it may have been Bill Zwanzinger who won the 100 lapper with Ken Walton and Ed Sanger also running up front. But that's all a maybe since I haven't ever been able to find results from this one. But Trickle was there and he was the reason we went. He ran his purple 1970 Mustang and I'm not even sure he finished the distance after being mid pack most of the race. That track was rough as a cob and dusty too with a big rut going into T1 about where we sat which really bounced around some of the cars. I think it broke a few cars that day.

In the 70s Trickle used to race at dirt tracks like DePere and Seymour every once in a while. I had seen some photos of old flyers for races at the Eau Claire race track where he was brought in by a promoter to run against the locals. Those days in the mid to late 70s was really kind of great racing in Wisconsin as a bunch of dirt drivers also ran on pavement once in a while. Guys like Tom Steuding, Leon Plank, and Pete Parker came to Golden Sands once in a while and Steuding won an asphalt feature at State Park Speedway. I even seen Tom Nesbitt run at State Park!

[sc0tt]

Witness

I spent years on team with Joe Shear. You knew that you were at the shop and race track to beat Trickle. Remember, at one time his right side spoiler said "YOU GO TO WANTA" I'm happy to say that I was able to witness short track GOAT's, Kinser, Bloomquist, Trickle in my life time.

RIP Joe Shear gone but not forgotten!

[JayD]

Is there a better name in all of sports than D!ck Trickle?

[kazual]

Consider myself fortunate to have seen Trickle run in the lower midwest on a few occasions. Am a dirt fan 100% these days but to see him, Reffner, Sennecker, etc. was a true privilege. The ASA races at I70 were legendary.

[klemmabyna]

the one and only...

http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=99

https://www.sbnation.com/longform/20...0/4567960/(not

[HoosierDirtFan]

Yes there is! Bobby Pierce!!

He doesn’t even come close to D!ck Trickle! I see your still narrow minded. It’s easy for all of us to see.

[Highside Hustler25]

obviously, you didn't check the join date

[HIGH ROLLER]

Smooth 32 I see you and bloomerwon have made it back on 4m!

[HIGH ROLLER]

Ya'll made it thru the cv ok?🤔

[CIRF]

Actually Mr. Trickle ran several dirt races in the early 1970's. He raced periodically with the stock car division of USAC for many years in the early to mid 1970's. His dirt track experience consisted of Springfield, Du Quoin and the Indiana State Fairgrounds Mile. His dirt track results weren't all that bad, either. Top 10's at both Springfield (started 19th) and the Indy Mile (started 35th) and a 19th at Du Quoin. Mr. Trickle qualified 9th on the dirt at Du Quoin but blew an engine just before halfway of the 100 miler. This information is courtesy of the Ultimate Racing History.

Back in the days when Mr. Trickle was running with USAC the stock car division was very close to being on par with NASCAR. USAC regulars Don White, Jack Bowsher, Ernie Derr, Roger McCluskey, Butch Hartman, Norm Nelson, Bay Darnell, Sal Tovella were as tough as they come. Then you throw in some of the Champ Car guys from time to time like Mario, AJ, Al Sr., Bobby Unser, among others and you had some real racers from top to bottom!

I didn't get to see any of Mr. Trickle's dirt track exploits. They were well before my time, but I wish I had! I was lucky enough to have watched Mr. Trickle race in person during his later NASCAR days. We actually had a beer with him at an oceanfront hotel bar in Daytona Beach back in the late 1990's. Still have one of his T shirts. Mr. Trickle was a RACER in every sense of the word!

[TerryM]

Geez, Nathan, how are you still fooled by these idiots?

[TerryM]

I’ve seen the (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Trickle win list before. He clearly won a ton of races, but mostly when racing in two or three particular series. When he stepped outside those events, the results obviously weren’t the same. Nonetheless, his story is a great one. I’d love to see a (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Trickle documentary. He’s the classic example of local/regional star, with a national name.