1977-78 USAC SPRINT OWNER CHAMP ARMSTRONG PASSES AWAY
Speedway, Indiana (January 25, 2019)………Sherman Armstrong, a two-time USAC National Sprint Car owner champion car owner whose 35 career wins in the series rank him tied for sixth on the series’ all-time win list, passed away Wednesday.
Armstrong, whose team was based out of Winchester, Ind., burst onto the scene in 1977, scoring a whopping 16 wins with drivers Tom Bigelow, Bubby Jones and Johnny Parsons. Jones and Parsons picked up one apiece in Armstrong’s ride, but it was Bigelow who set the standard with 14 fast qualifying times and 14 feature victories – a record which still stands to this day. Though Bigelow would come up just short of the driving title behind Sheldon Kinser, Armstrong was able to collect his first owner title at season’s end.
In 1978, it was a more subdued season in terms of wins with Bigelow garnering six and Chuck Gurney with one, but it netted Bigelow his lone USAC National Sprint Car title and Armstrong’s second-straight as an owner.
The roll continued for Armstrong’s team in 1979 with driver Greg Leffler scoring four wins while Bigelow returned with five victories. Armstrong would be denied a third-straight owner title, but his driver, Leffler, was crowned as series champ.
Armstrong cars would reach victory lane three times in 1980 with Greg Leffler, Sheldon Kinser and Gary Bettenhausen, and one final time in 1981 with Rich Vogler on the high banks of Winchester (Ind.) Speedway.
Armstrong was also successful on the USAC National Midget trail with six scores in 1977 – one by Vogler and five by Mel Kenyon. Kenyon would add a pair of wins the next year in 1978. Armstrong also fielded midget rides for sons Sherman Armstrong, Jr. (J.R.) and Sherwin Armstrong in the early 1980s. Sherman, Jr. would collect 1981 USAC National Midget Rookie of the Year honors.
Success followed Armstrong to Indy Car racing as well, fielding the car in USAC Hall of Famer Roger McCluskey’s final start, a victory in the “Tony Bettenhausen 200” at the Milwaukee Mile in 1979.
In the 1980 Indianapolis 500, Armstrong had his shining moment at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, fielding cars for three top-ten finishing drivers with drivers Gary Bettenhausen, who charged from 32nd to 3rd. Fellow 11th row starter Tom Bigelow blitzed from 31st to 8th at the checkered while Greg Leffler moved from 23rd to 10th.
