USAC Sprints - Indianapolis Raceway Park - 5/15/71
 

+2nd Annual Pole Day Sprints.....back in the day this was one of my favorite days of the year. IMS for time trials, then zip over to Clermont for sprint cars on the 5/8 mile.

Time Trials - 39 cars - Track Record 23.38 by Bill Puterbaugh

66 Eldon Rasmussen.............24.20 Rasmussen Bros.
71 Larry Cannon..................23.77 Hoffman Chevy
32 Merle Bettenhausen.........23.90 Evers Radiator
_2 Gary Bettenhausen...........DNQ Thermo-King
18 Johnny Parsons, Jr...........23.65 Forberg Sprinter
14 Lee Kunzman..................23.16 Willard Coil Spl.
17 Dick Tobias.....................23.70 Tobias Speed Equipment
46 Chuck Booth...................25.05
45 Darl Harrison..................23.78 Malloy Chevy
93 Sonny Ates.....................23.57 Iddings Auto Glass Spl.
95 Karl Busson....................24.23 Cedoz Automotive Spl.
84 Tom Bigelow...................23.31 Midwest Mfg. Spl.
10 Lenny Waldo...................24.22 Wachholz Spl.
53 Ray Menapace.................25.23
56 Jim Malloy......................23.54 Colvin & Shepherd
25 Fred Lindner...................25.20 Smith Speed Shop
44 Joe Saldana....................24.37 Stapp Sprinter
15 Jerry Poland...................23.70 Smith Speed Shop
_8 Bill Puterbaugh................23.61 Niebel Auto Machine
43 Larry Rice.......................23.45 Welch Sprinter
_1 Larry Dickson..................23.59 Leyba
52 Ed Angle.........................24.39
_5 Pancho Carter..................24.48 Sprite Sprinter
34 Jimmy Oskie....................23.90 California Ammonia Strnsp. Spl. - Peabody
_4 Don Nordhorn..................23.98 Amerling Spl.
82 Leigh Earnshaw, Jr...........23.75 Earnshaw's Racing Spl.
21 Bobby Black....................24.30 Ezra Brooks Spl.
29 George Snider.................23.64 Seymour Enterprises
26 Bob Pratt........................23.96 Vivian Buick Spl.
_6 Sammy Sessions.............23.02 Leffler & Hulsman - Quick Time - New Track Record
_3 Rollie Beale.....................23.52 Rodeo Bar Spl.
11 Cy Fairchild.....................23.53 The Dinosaur - A.J. Watson
16 Charlie Masters................24.61
15 Bruce Walkup..................23.79
27 Dee Jones.......................24.42 Finn-Ish Touch Salon Spl.
92 Bob Evans......................23.93 King 'O Lawn Spl. - Leonard Faas
76 Mel Cornett......................DNQ W-W Mold Tool Spl.
55 Gordy Lee........................DNQ Otis Spl.
48 Tony Lavati......................DNQ Lavati

Fast Car Dash - 3 Laps - 1:35.18

43 Larry Rice.....................4
84 Tom Bigelow.................1
14 Lee Kunzman................3
_6 Sammy Sessions...........2

First Heat - 10 Laps - 3:55.84

95 Karl Busson..................4
92 Bob Evans....................2
45 Darl Harrison................6
17 Dick Tobias..................7
_1 Larry Dickson...............3
_3 Rollie Beale..................5
_6 Sammy Sessions..........1

Second Heat - 10 Laps - 3:58.16

10 Lennie Waldo...............5
26 Bob Pratt.....................3
75 Bruce Walkup...............2 Note: Car Number Change from 15 to 75
15 Jerry Poland.................7
_8 Bill Puterbaugh.............4
11 Cy Fairchild..................6
14 Lee Kunzman...............1

Third Heat - 10 Laps - 3:59.60

21 Bobby Black.................5
_4 Don Nordhorn..............2
32 Merle Bettenhausen......3
82 Leigh Earnshaw, Jr.......6
56 Jim Malloy...................4
84 Tom Bigelow................1
29 Gary Bettenhausen.......7 Note: G. Bettenhausen in for Snider

Fourth Heat 10 Laps - 3:59.28

66 Eldon Rasmussen.........6
34 Jimmy Oskie...............4
71 Larry Cannon..............3
18 Johnny Parsons, Jr.......1
93 Sonny Ates.................7
43 Larry Rice...................5
44 Gary Bettenhausen......2 Note: G. Bettenhausen in for Saldana

Semi-Feature - 12 Laps - 4:44.37

43 Larry Rice...................6
_3 Rollie Beale.................2
93 Sonny Atea.................1
17 Dick Tobias.................3
15 Jerry Poland................8
82 Leigh Earnshaw, Jr.......7
45 Darl Harrison..............4
66 Eldon Rasmussen........5
10 Lennie Waldo.............11
21 Bobby Black................9
52 Ed Angle...................10
_5 Pancho Carter............12

Feature - 40 Laps - No Time

93 Sonny Ates.................4
56 Jim Malloy.................20
_3 Rollie Beale.................6
84 Tom Bigelow...............3
14 Lee Kunzman..............2
_6 Sammy Sessions..The Winner
_1 Larry Dickson............10
_8 Bill Puterbaugh..........19
18 Johnny Parson, Jr........7
17 Dick Tobias................9
71 Larry Cannon............15
45 Darl Harrison..............5
75 Bruce Walkup......Scratched
32 Merle Bettenhausen....13
34 Jimmy Oskie..............11
92 Bob Evans...................8
26 Bob Pratt...................14
_4 Don Nordhorn.............12
95 Karl Busson................16
44 Gary Bettenhausen......18
66 Eldon Rasmussen........17

+Not a bad little evening for Sessions. Fast time with a NTR, won his heat from the tail, and won the feature from 6th. Heckuva driver, dirt or pavement. :8:
+Gary Bettenhausen on the other hand, frustrating night. Just couldn't get anything going all night.
+5 drivers from this event also raced in the 500 on the 29th; Jim Malloy, Gary Bettenhausen, George Snider, Sammy Sessions, and Larry Dickson. Bruce Walkup also attempted to qualify but couldn't put it in the show. 17 other 500 drivers had extensive Sprint, Midget, and/or Champ Dirt resumes'. Quite a concept.......those were the days my friends. At least they were for this old fogey. :deadhorse:
+Just thought I'd throw one more retro deal in before the '14 season opens next weekend. See ya at a track somewhere. :22:

Re: USAC Sprints - Indianapolis Raceway Park - 5/15/71
 

Thanks for sharing, Marv!! I love reliving these old shows. I attended "most" of the ones you post on here. When I was growing up, My dad and our little group rarely missed a USAC show within 150-200 miles of Cincinnati, from 1961 until I took over Lawrenceburg Speedway in 1980. Wonderful era to grow up as a race fan!!

Re: USAC Sprints - Indianapolis Raceway Park - 5/15/71
 

Thank you Mr. Fish!! Love these posts!!