Indiana Open Wheel - USAC Sprints - Dayton

+Just noticed that I had yet to post any retro results from the Dayton Speedway. I know most here prefer dirt. I do as well, but if you never got the opportunity to see the sprints on the high banks, especially Dayton, back in the late 60's, you missed some spectacular racing and breathtaking action.

Time Trials - 36 Cars - Track Record 17.28 by Sonny Ates

31 Gil Hess.......................18.31 Bill Johns Spl.
-4 Bill Puterbaugh..............18.42
26 Duke Cook...................18.20
11 Dale Breedlove.............18.09
-7 Russ Congdon...............19.44 Oakie Spl.
83 Sammy Sessions...........17.74 GAPCO Spl.
84 Jim Bob Luebbert..........18.45 Mid-West Mfg. Spl.
38 Hal Minyard..................18.17 W & W Mold Spl.
92 Greg Weld....................17.68 Dunseth Spl.
75 Bob Seelman................18.79 Thomas Const. Spl.
98 Tom Bigelow................18.02 Mackintosh Spl.
31 Gene Baxter.................21.57
-6 Bob Pratt......................17.29 Vivian Buick Spl. - Quick Time - 112.325
89 Jerry Poland.................17.82 Fortney Spl.
-3 Jerry "Scratch" Daniels...17.70 Sterling Plumbing Spl.
91 Charlie Masters.............18.26 Ezra Brooks Spl.
44 Wib Spalding................17.96 Spalding & Murray Spl.
50 Al Smith.......................17.31 Smith Speed Shop Spl.
99 Johnny Rutherford.........18.18 Besecker Spl.
51 Larry Dickson................17.61 Smith Speed Shop Spl.
36 Mickey Shaw.................18.13 Stahl Bros. Spl.
15 Ralph Liguori.................18.26 Forberg Spl.
93 Sonny Ates...................17.60 Iddings Auto Glass Spl.
77 Bud Randall..................17.76 Coke Chevy Spl.
12 Jim Malloy....................19.61 C & R Engr. Spl.
23 Chuck Booth.................17.83 Superior Die & Engr. Spl.
-1 Bruce Walkup................18.03 H & H Machine Tool Spl.
47 Chuck Engel..................18.15 Mead Cab Spl.
49 Don Hewitt....................18.34
18 Don Brown....................18.05 Brown Spl.
18 Mel Cornett...................18.98 Dixon Automotive Spl.
55 Aldo Andretti.................19.24 Klincher Locknut Spl.
97 Dee Jones.....................17.80 Hoffman Spl.
81 Don Thomas..................18.15 Thomas Spl.
33 Bruce Jacobi...................DNQ
43 Billy Mehner...................DNQ - Blew Engine

Fast Car Dash- 4 Laps - 1:10.29

-6 Bob Pratt........................1
50 Al Smith.........................2
93 Sonny Ates.....................3
51 Larry Dickson..................4

First 33 Lapper - 17 Cars - Odd No. Qualifiers (1-3-5, etc.) - No Time

-6 Bob Pratt........................2
93 Sonny Ates.....................1
77 Bud Randall...................15
-3 Scratch Daniels................3
97 Dee Jones.......................6
23 Chuck Booth...................5
98 Tom Bigelow...................8
18 Don Brown.....................4
36 Mickey Shaw..................7
81 Don Thomas..................11
99 Johnny Rutherford..........10
91 Charlie Masters...............9
31 Gil Hess........................17
-4 Bill Puterbaugh...............14
75 Bob Seelman.................12
55 Aldo Andretti.................16
12 Jim Malloy.....................13

Second 33 Lapper - 17 Cars - Even No. Qualifiers (2-4-6, etc.) - 10:06.88

50 Al Smith........................3
51 Larry Dickson.................1
92 Greg Weld.....................2
83 Sammy Sessions...........15
89 Jerry Poland...................4
44 Wib Spalding..................5
-1 Bruce Walkup.................6
11 Dale Breedlove...............9
47 Chuck Engel...................8
38 Hal Minyard...................7
26 Duke Cook....................12
15 Ralph Liguori.................10
49 Don Hewitt....................13
84 Jim Bob Luebbert...........14
15 Mel Cornett...................16
-7 Russ Congdon................11
31 Gene Baxter..................17

Feature - 33 Laps - 18 Cars - 10:02.82

93 Sonny Ates............WINNER
51 Larry Dickson.................4
-6 Bob Pratt.......................8
92 Greg Weld.....................7
-3 Scratch Daniels...............3
50 Al Smith........................2
18 Don Brown.....................6
89 Jerry Poland..................11
97 Dee Jones.....................17
44 Wib Spalding..................5
36 Mickey Shaw.................18
-1 Bruce Walkup.................12
98 Tom Bigelow..................10
38 Hal Minyard...................14
91 Charlie Masters...............9
47 Chuck Engel..................13
99 Johnny Rutherford..........16
11 Dale Breedlove...............15

+Dayton Speedway had been dark for four years until Earl Baltes came along in '67 to promote races there.
+Greg Weld, with his finish here, regained the points lead and held it to the end of the season to become the youngest USAC sprint driving champ at age 23. Rollie Beale, Greg's chief competition for the title, had broken a leg flipping in a previous event (Reading, maybe).
+Sonny Ates was scary fast at Dayton in the Iddings car. Remember, this was before roll cages. Not to diminish the courage of later and current drivers, but these guys were the bravest of the brave IMO.
+Don Brown's creations were masterpieces. He and Jerry Weeks built especially magnificent racecars.
+The #7 Oakie Spl. was owned by Lawrenceburg bookmaker Oakie Draut. The car won some 'Burg track championships with Ross Smith driving.
+Omar Williams (Channel 2 in Dayton) and Tom Hamlin (Channel 7 in Dayton) were the track announcers. They also handled announcing chores at some other tracks. Eldora and New Bremen come to mind. Always had the impression that Omar was a big time racing fan but that Tom was there for a paycheck. Hamlin would often have the wrong drivers in the wrong cars in hot laps. Most loyal fans knew the drivers by their helmets.
+That's all I got...........:22: