Realizing (finally) that not everyone here is as ancient as I, this retro result recap "only" goes back 35+ years. The USAC Sprint Twin 50's at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, interrupted by rain on 5/26/73, were run to completion on the following Friday, 6/8/73. As some of you will recall, early 1973 was a rotten period for weather and for racing, especially across town at IMS. It took three days to finally get a rain shortened 500 won by Gordon Johncock which by that time had cost the lives of Art Pollard (in Pole Day practice), Swede Savage, and STP crewman Armando Teran. I swore I'd wouldn't go back........but.......I did.

Qualifications - 47 Cars (44 Took Time)

12 Bill Engelhart - 34.67 QUICK TIME
14 Joe Saldana - 34.80
60 Bruce Walkup - 35.22
-2 Rollie Beale - 35.25
74 Tony Simon - 35.31
24 Billy Shuman - 35.35
11 George Snider - 35.37
-5 Larry Cannon - 35.41
-6 Johnny Parsons, Jr. - 35.41
43 "Pancho" Carter - 35.46
25 Larry Dickson - 35.55
77 Jerry Mann - 35.68
51 Steve Cannon - 35.74
61 Rich Leavell - 35.76
29 Billy Cassella - 35.79
96 Johnny Toth - 35.79
55 Bill Puterbaugh - 35.83
-7 Don Nordhorn - 35.84
21 Chuck Booth - 35.85
42 Gary Ponzini - 35.88
16 Jerry Nemire - 35.95
73 Charlie Masters - 35.97
33 Jackie Howerton - 36.04
-8 Tom Bigelow - 36.06
45 Duke Cook - 36.07
63 Ronnie Burke - 36.11
52 Greg Leffler - 36.25
17 Larry Rice - 36.26
98 Mel Cornett - 36.29
-4 Ralph Liguori - 36.45
75 Darl Harrison - 36.55
59 Don Brown - 36.63
39 Johnny Hubbard - 36.67
72 Ronnie Rough - 36.77
-3 Greg Weld - 36.77
67 Bennie Rapp - 36.88
91 Jerry Miller - 37.07
56 Danny Johnson - 37.20
26 Bob Pratt - 37.29
31 Steve Schultz - 37.36
27 Bob Evans - 37.62
71 Bill Burke - 39.11
95 Karl Busson - 41.57
80 Jim Hurtubise - 56.20
-1 Sammy Sessions - DNQ
15 Jerry Poland - DNQ
70 Tom Bigelow - DNQ

Pretty impressive field, wouldn't you agree?

Semi-Feature - 20 Cars - 15 Laps - No Time

1. 73 Charlie Masters (From Pole)
2. 33 Jackie Howerton (From 2nd)
3. -8 Tom Bigelow (From 3rd)
4. 39 John Hubbard (From 12th)
5. 17 Larry Rice (From 7th)
6. 75 Darl Harrison (From 10th)
7. 26 Bob Pratt (From 18th)
8. 91 Jerry Miller (From 16th)
9. 52 Greg Leffler (From 6th)
10.-3 Greg Weld (From 14th)
19.45 SUPERDUKE (From 4th) I didn't record what took him out early.

First 50 Lapper - 28 Cars - No Time

24 Billy Shuman--------------------THE WINNER
74 Tony Simon----------------------------20
-2 Rollie Beale------------------------------2
60 Bruce Walkup--------------------------16
14 Joe Saldana-----------------------------5
12 Billy Engelhart--------------------------18
11 George Snider---------------------------9
-5 Larry Cannon----------------------------3
-6 Johnny Parsons, Jr.----------------------6
43 "Pancho" Carter-------------------------4
25 Larry Dickson---------------------------24
77 Jerry Mann-----------------------------26
51 Steve Cannon--------------------------28
61 Rich Leavell----------------------------15
29 Billy Cassella---------------------------25
96 John Toth------------------------------13
55 Bill Puterbaugh-------------------------17
-7 Don Nordhorn---------------------------8
42 Gary Ponzini----------------------------21
73 Charlie Masters-------------------------23
33 Jackie Howerton-------------------------7
-8 Tom Bigelow----------------------------19
39 John Hubbard---------------------------14
75 Darl Harrison----------------------------12
26 Bob Pratt-------------------------------10
21 Lee Kunzman---------------------------27 (In for Chuck Booth)
17 Sammy Sessions------------------------11 (In for Larry Rice)
-4 Jerry Poland----------------------------22 (In for Ralph Liguori)

Curt Waters was in the #91 for Jerry Miller but was DQ'ed. Why? I dunno. :confused:

Second 50 Lapper - 28 Cars - No Time

-6 Johnny Parsons, Jr.----------------------3
14 Joe Saldana----------------------------17
42 Pancho Carter--------------------------21
-5 Larry Cannon---------------------------22
-2 Rollie Beale------------------------------2
24 Billy Shuman-----------------------------4
33 Jackie Howerton------------------------18
-7 Don Nordhorn------------------------THE WINNER
11 George Snider--------------------------11
26 Bob Pratt-------------------------------10
17 Sammy Sessions------------------------15
75 Darl Harrison-----------------------------9
96 Johnny Toth----------------------------20
61 Rich Leavell------------------------------5
12 Billy Engelhart----------------------------7
-8 Tom Bigelow-----------------------------28
42 Gary Ponzini-----------------------------16
-4 Jerry Poland-----------------------------13
73 Charlie Masters--------------------------25
25 Larry Dickson----------------------------24
29 Billy Cassella-----------------------------23
77 Jerry Mann------------------------------27
21 Chuck Booth----------------------------19 (Back in for Kunzman)
72 Ronnie Rough----------------------------14
16 Jerry Nemire------------------------------8
59 Don Brown-------------------------------26
-3 Lee Kunzman-----------------------------12 (In for Greg Weld)
98 Mel Cornett-------------------------------6 (HARD CHARGER AWARD)

+As I've gone back to find oldies to post, I've looked to include some events that you don't really see any more, i.e. 100 Lap James-O'Connor, Eldora 500, and this Twin 50 for Sprints at the Indy Fairgrounds for example. I kinda miss some of these as well as the triple 33's, the CRA Eastern Tour, the IMCA Sprints, etc. Not complaining, mind you. We've got some great racing today, but stuff like the Twin 50's at THAT were awesome.

Marv, this stuff is GOLD to me. This walk down memory lane is one of the few things I actually look forward to in my meager life. Please keep doing it. (Don't get too big a head now.)

:respect::applaud:

I love these posts, keep them coming.

Am I the only one who's curious as to what a sprint car on a dirt mile would be like now (besides dangerous as hell?) I'd be there if they ever did it again, that's for sure.

Well I dont think so Cause I know I would love to see sprints on the mile. Thanks for the trip to back in the day. Although I am 31 I still love the history of sprint car racing. Them guys were the real and true racers.

I would love to see sprints on the miles too, but they are just too fast. The Silver Crown are running 30 second laps now, so I could only imagine what a 410 in a 1200 lb car would do. I've seen the Outlaws on a mile and they fly. The race was completely boring, but there was plenty of speed.

Legend has it they clocked Schrader at 155 on the backstretch at Indy mile in the early 80's. That was with a 355. Saw some great racing there. Gary B and Lightning Larry put on a helluva show one year , 75 or 76 ? Also saw Mark Alderson fly one out over turn one.

I 'd like to see them run again, some great racing.

Mark was driving Steve Enslow's McPherson combo chassis, a dark blue #66. He landed in one of those horse barns, was taken to the hospital with a minor shoulder injury, and released that same night. Total $$ spent to repair the car for the next USAC event? $600, but Mark didn't add in a $ amount figure for his own labor. Can you imagine what a deal like that would cost with one of today's lightweights?

Looks like it was a good day for Rollie Beale. That Rodeo Bar Spl. was one beautiful sprint car. I'm pretty sure this was the year Rollie won the sprint title.

Thanks for doing this, Marv. You've really helped pick up the slack that the board expreienced by losing Dwight.:applaud:

Jerry

That was the year that Rollie won the USAC title.
The #2 Rodeo Bar car has been restored with the 1973 paint job and is owned by Donnie Harrell the mechanic that took care of it for owner Ron Kilman (Rodeo Bar). It is a 1969 Ronnie Ward chassis with a 307 c.i. small block. I have a bunch of pictures of the car and have been trying to convince my wife to do an article for SC&M. So far she isn't convinced. If I ever get my computer act together I'll post some of the photos.

Vern Plotts

I take it little joe was in the smith's speed shop car #14. That steve enslow was a piece.:o: