Johnny Boyd ... Born ... Boyd drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series from 1954 to 1966 with 56 starts. He finished in the top ten 31 times, with his best finish in 2nd position, in 1959 at Milwaukee. Boyd qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 1955 but finished 29th after being involved in an accident that killed driver Bill Vukovich. In a dozen starts, his best race was in 1958, when he led 18 laps and finished 3rd. In total, he finished in the Top 10 at the 500 five times. After 1949 Boyd had become close friends with Bob Sweikert of Hayward, California when he met him on the California racing circuit. The two often raced together, and Boyd qualified for entry in the 1955 Indianapolis 500 when Sweikert helped him overcome mechanical handling problems in Boyd's car. Sweikert won the race that day, but was overshadowed by the death of Vukovich. Boyd also raced against Sweikert in 1956 at Indy, but Sweikert was killed several weeks later in a Sprint car race. Boyd retired as a driver after failing to qualify for the Indy 500 and Milwaukee race in 1967. He died of cancer at age 77 in his hometown of Fresno.
Paul Russo won the AAA sanctioned Springfield 100 on the 1 Mile Dirt Oval Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Lee Wallard finished second followed by Mack Hellings, Cliff Griffith and Andy Linden.
Bobby Ball won the 60 lap AAA Midget race at the Orange Show Speedway (1/4d) , San Bernadino, CA.
Ed Terry won the AAA Eastern Sprint Car race at the Orange County Fair Speedway, Middletown, NY.
Eddie Sachs won the USAC Sprint Car race at the New Bremen Speedway, New Bremen, OH. Jim McWithey finished second followed by Pat O'Connor and Bob Veith.
Nolan Swift won the Stock Car race and a fatal accident claimed the life of driver Red Sequin at the Oswego Speedway, Oswego, NY. ( Click here for the race report. )
Jim Hurtubise won the USAC sanctioned Springfield 100 on the 1 Mile Dirt Oval Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Parnelli Jones finished second followed by Don Branson, Bobby Marshman and Jim McElreath.
A.J. Foyt won the USAC sanctioned Tony Bettenhausen Memorial race on the 1 Mile Dirt Oval Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Mario Andretti finished second followed by Bud Tingelstad, Norm Brown and Jim Hurtubise.
Keith Hightshoe won the BCRA Sprint Car feature at the Colorado National Speedway, Erie, CO. Curt Waters finished second followed by Bob Moore, Richie Barnes, Dick Shaw and Lonnie Jensen
Bobby Allen won the 100-lap National All Star Super Sprint Championship race at the Hagerstown, MD. Jan Opperman finished second followed by Steve Smith, Smokey Snellbaker and Gary Howsare.
Mark Donohue... Died ... Known for his ability to set up his own race car and drive it consistently on the absolute limit. Donohue is probably best-known as the driver of the 1500+ bhp "Can-Am Killer" Porsche 917-30, and as winner of the 1972 Indianapolis 500. Ran USAC INDY cars from 1968 to 1973. Died of injuries from a crash in Austrian GP practice.
Rick Mears won the CART sanctioned Ditzler 150 race on the 1.5 Mile Paved Oval Trenton International Speedway in Trenton, New Jersey. Bobby Unser finished second followed by Tom Sneva, Wally Dallenbach and Johnny Rutherford. It was the last Indycar race ever run at the track.
Richard Petty won the NASCAR Winston Cup Champion 400 over Buddy Baker at the Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, MI.
Danny Sullivan won the CART Indy Car Domino's Pizza 500 on the 2.5 Mile Paved Oval Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, PA. Rick Mears was second followed by Bobby Rahal, Tom Sneva and Danny Ongais.
ONE DAY
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