Alfred "Speedy" Thompson... Born ... A NASCAR pioneer and driver in the Grand National (now Cup ) series from 1950 to 1971, capturing 20 wins along the way.
Fermin Velez... Born ... He was a two-time winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring. He was also a driver in the Indy Racing League, racing in the 1996-1997 seasons with 6 career starts, including 2 at the Indianapolis 500.
Buz Barton won the Modified race and Buzzy Reutimann won the Sportsman race at the Orlando Speedway, Orlando, FL. ( Click here for the race report. )
John Rostek drove a Ford to victory in the 100 mile NASCAR Grand National 'Copper Cup Championship' race on the Arizona State Fairgrounds one mile dirt oval.
Carroll Shelby drove a Bird Cage Maserati to victory in the 200 mile 'Herald-Examiner Grand Prix' Sports Car race on the 3.2 mile Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California.
Tommy Copp won the BCRA Midget race at the Capitol Speedway, Sacramento, CA. David Moses, who had won the USAC Midget race the previous night at the Ascot Stadium, was killed in an accident during qualifying.( Click here for the race report. )
John de Vries... Born ... A former driver in the Indy Racing League and Australian Formula Holden. He raced in the 2002 IRL season where he began the season with Brayton Racing where he competed in the first three races, arrived but withdrew from the Nazareth Speedway race, and failed to qualify for the Indy 500. He returned after the Indy 500 to compete in the Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway and logged his best career IRL finish, an 11th place, for PDM Racing in what would be his final IRL race. He did 2 seasons of Formula Holden in 1999 and 2000. Born in Australia, John moved to the USA and started a restaurant in San Fransico, California.
David Pearson drove a Cotton Owens prepared Dodge to victory in the NASCAR Hickory 250 at Hickory Speedway in North Carolina.
Arnie Knepper won the 30 lap USAC Sprint Car race at the Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, OH. Roger McCluskey finished second followed by Jud Larson, Bobby Unser and Don Branson.
George Snider won the 50 lap USAC Midget race at the Corona Raceway, Corona, CA. Billy Vukovich finished second followed by Danny Caruthers, Gary Bettenhausen and Rick Goudy.
Wayne Reutimann won the Late Model Stock Car race and Frank Riddle won the Sprint Car race at the Golden Gate Speedway , Tampa, FL. ( Click here for the race report. )
Mario Andretti took his Lotus from second on the grid to the winner's circle at the Long Beach Calif. GP in a time of 1:51:35. Right on his gearbox, .773 of second behind was Niki Lauda in the Ferrari and Jody Scheckter in his Wolf 4.1 seconds later. He had a fine driver from 12th on the grid. Lauda also sat on pole for that race and turned in the fastest lap of the event. A couple of "firsts" here: The first victory by an American in a US Grand Prix and the first victory for the Lotus 78 "wing car".
Darrell Waltrip won the NASCAR GN 'Rebel 500' at Darlington Raceway. With 7 laps to go, Bobby Allison, in relief of brother Donnie, passed David Pearson for the lead with Richard Petty 3rd and Waltrip 4th. At that moment, Dick Brooks spun & pinched J.D. McDuffie against the wall. Allison ran over debris, cutting both right side tires. Pearson lifted, Petty carefully picked his way through and Waltrip stormed by all 3 and charged back to the yellow. The race ended under caution. It was Waltrip's 4th career win, but first on a superspeedway.
Tom Bigelow won the 40 lap USAC Sprint Car race at the Winchester Speedway, Winchester,IN. Pancho Carter finished second followed by Sheldon Kinser, George Snider and Billy Cassella.
Ronnie Tobias won the Sportsman-Modified race when his brother Rich who took the checkered flag was found to be 30 pounds underweight at the Penn National Speedway , Grantville, PA. ( Click here for the race report. )
Brad Sweet made It four straight wins in a row in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at the Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, Pevely, MO. Sheldon Haudenschild was second followed by Gio Scelzi, Logan Schuchart and James McFadden. Click to watch the feature highlights video.
Cannon McIntosh won the 30-lap second night of the Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hometown Challenge USAC Midget race at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. Bryant Wiedeman was second followed by Breham Crouch, Daison Pursley and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. .
Justin Peck won the FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 at the Attica Raceway Park’s Spring Nationals, Arttica, OH. Zeb Wise finished second followed by Hunter Schuerenberg, Brent Marks and Cory Eliason. Click to watch the feature highlights video.
Billy Dietrich won the 30-lap 410 Sprint Car Feature at the Lincoln Speedway , Abbottstown, PA, Danny Dietrich was second followed by Chad Trout, Chase Dietz, Troy Wagaman, Tim Shaffer, Alan Krimes, Freddie Rahmer, Matt Campbell and Jimmy Siegel. Click to watch the feature highlights video.
Jeff Rohrbaugh won the 20-lap 358 Sprint Car Feature at the Lincoln Speedway , Abbottstown, PA, Brett Strickler was second followed by Cody Fletcher, Jon Stewart and Jordan Strickler.
Lance Dewease won the 25-lap 410 Sprint Car Feature at the Port Royal Speedway , Port Royal, PA, Logan Wagner was second followed by Anthony Macri, George Hobaugh and Lynton Jeffrey. Also Nick Sweigart won the 20-lap 305 Sprint Car Feature over Dave Grube, Garrett Bard, Justin Clark and Ken Duke.
Tommy Meier won the 40-lap Kick Off 40 Modified Feature at the Orange County Fair Speedwayy , Middletown, NY, Matt Sheppard was second followed by Larry Wight, Max McLaughlin and Marc Johnson.
Dominick Buffalino won the 40-lap Vahlco Wheels Modifieds Feature at the New Egypt Speedway , New Egypt, NJ, Billy Osmun was second followed by Wade Hendrickson, David Van Horn and Billy Pauch Jr. Also
Mick D'Agostino won the 20-lap Larry’s Hot Rods & Harley’s Northeast Wingless Sprint Car Feature over Lee Nardelli, Brian Spencer, Brad Schaale, Stan Ploski, Rich Mellor, Larry Drake, Heidi Hedin, Ken Nealis and Chris Pelosa. Also Anthony Tramontana won the 20-lap Racersguide Crate Modifieds Feature over Paul Mancini, Ryan Simmons, Nick Van Wickle, Dan Fleming, Tom Princiotta, Jason Dunn, Joe Nappi and Ryan Krushinski.
Duane Howard won the 50-lap Fourth Annual VP Race Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker Modifoed feature at the Grandview Speedway, Grandview, PA. Craig Von Dohren was second followed by Brett Kressley, John Willman, Ryan Watt, Mike Maresca, Jared Umbenhauer, Tim Buckwalter, Louden Reimert and Danny Bouc. In the 25-lap Sportsman feature it was Kyle Lilick over Kenny Gilmore, Brian Hirthler, Kyle Smith and Jimmy Leiby.
Briggs Danner won the 25-lap Rapid Tire, USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series, Presented by Capitol Renegade feature at the Bridgeport Speedway, Swedesboro, NJ . Danner held off a hard charging Alex Bright for the win. Joey Amantea was third followed by Steven Drevicki and Tommy Kunsman. Also Steve Kemery won the 20-lap South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman feature over Travis Hill, Steve Davis, Tom Sherby and Wayne Weaver.
Brady Bacon won the 30-lap USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE at the Lawrenceburg Speedway, Lawrenceburg, IN. C.J. Leary was second followed by Chris Windom, Justin Grant and Thomas Meseraull. Click to watch the feature highlights video.
Jonathan Davenport won the 75-lap Lil' Bill Corum Memorial Late Model Race at the Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN. Kyle Larson was second followed by Tyler Erb, Dale McDowell and Donald McIntosh.
ONE DAY
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