In celebration of the 50th year of USAC Silver Crown Champ Car racing in 2020, we are reviewing the past 49 years of series history.
1978 USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEW: INCREDIBLE PANCHO CARTER – DIRT CAR CHAMP
On December 2, 1977, Pancho Carter was at speed on the main straight of Phoenix International Raceway with Bob Fletcher’s Lightning-Cosworth when the machine suddenly swerved right and then left, smashing heavily into the inside guardrail.
Once full assessment of his injuries had been taken, he was found to have sustained breaks in both arms, breaks on both sides of his pelvis, a cracked hip, damaged elbow and a damaged bladder as a result of the pelvic injury. Some doctors predicted a five to six-month recovery period while others felt that a return to racing after any length of time was unlikely.
But race drivers have a long history of confounding the experts by healing in half the time prognosticated for them. Friends of the injured Pancho knew that if ever there was a candidate to prove the experts wrong, it was Duane Carter’s eldest son.
Over the years, they had expressed admiration and frequent amusement at Pancho’s Foyt-like determination to succeed at everything from winning races, to fixing stereos, playing cards, and even to laboriously rethreading a mass of tangled tape back into a damaged cartridge.
Now he was seriously injured, but his grimly competitive nature was in no way affected. As each expert pronounced an anticipated recovery time, it was like issuing a new challenge. The expression on Pancho’s face indicated that he planned to shock them all.
On April 8, four months and six days after the accident, Steve Stapp removed the steering wheel of his No. 44 sprinter at Indianapolis Raceway Park and a thin, pale Pancho Carter lowered himself gingerly into the cockpit. Later that cold afternoon, spectators were dumbfounded as Pancho won the 40-lap main event.
The following afternoon at Salem, Indiana, he did it again. Some doctors had told him he would have to miss Indianapolis, but here he was back running and winning a month before IMS even opened.
It wasn’t easy. The biggest adjustment Carter had to make was the way in which he operated the throttle. He could no longer work it the conventional way since the heel and ankle would not permit him any leverage. He could not rest his heel on the underpan and operate the throttle with the ball of his foot.
Instead, he had to place his foot horizontally on a modified plate and pump up and down from the hip. Instead of the strain being on the ankle, as it is with other drivers, the strain for Pancho was in the muscles between the hip and the knee. He refused, however, to let the change keep him from winning.
By July 1, seven months after the accident, the versatile Pancho had won in three different USAC divisions in as many months. On June 14 at IRP, he triumphed in a Midget feature; and then on the opening day of July, he won the Salt City 100-mile classic on the Syracuse one-mile dirt track.
The Syracuse win was a landmark of his remarkable career; for at the age of 28, he was to become only the third driver to win three different USAC National titles. Only A.J. Foyt and Roger McCluskey had accomplished such a feat before him.
No small contributing factor to Pancho’s 1978 USAC Dirt Car championship was his combining forces with the most successful Dirt Car mechanic of the 1970s, Johnny Capels.
The 1978 season was indicative of past performances. Pancho finished fourth at Springfield following the Syracuse race and then posted a second victory at Du Quoin as his closest rival, Gary Bettenhausen, was all but eliminated from the title. Bettenhausen had started well by placing second to Carter at Syracuse, then winning Springfield, but an accident at Du Quoin dropped him to 156 points behind Pancho with one race remaining.
The situation entering the September 9 Hoosier Hundred was that if Bettenhausen won, Carter would need only an eighth-place finish to win the Championship. If Bettenhausen placed second, Pancho could end up 16th and win the title by one point.
As it was, Pancho could only manage ninth as the horsepower just couldn’t see to be transferred successfully to the ground. Had Gary won, he would have snatched the title by a scant four points. As it was, Gary placed third behind Billy Engelhart and Rich Vogler, failing to displace Carter by 56 points.
The Dirt Car title for Pancho goes with his 1972 Midget crown and 1974 and 1976 Sprint titles – a championship every other year that came in a year unlike any other for Pancho Carter.
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PANCHO WINS SYRACUSE DIRT OPENER; GARY B. A CLOSE SECOND
Syracuse, New York………Pancho Carter won the July 1 Salt City 100 in Syracuse, New York driving Johnny Capels’ “Golden Greek” Special.
Pancho won the pole position for the 100-mile race at the New York State Fairgrounds, then led all but 25 laps to win the series’ opening race of the season.
Gary Bettenhausen, who started 17th in the Oberdorfer Special, came on for second place, a short distance behind, with a total of six cars on the lead lap at the finish.
The win was Pancho’s second in three years at Syracuse, having won the 1976 race there also.
Pancho grabbed the lead at the start and led the first 25 circuits before Bubby Jones snuck by as Pancho got high on the track. Bubby then led for 25 laps until he was involved in a tangle on the backstretch exiting turn two. He tangled with Bill Burks Jr. and Burks’ machine was plowed from behind by Larry Rice, defending Dirt champion. Jones continued around to pit for a new tire and rejoined the race, finishing sixth. Both Rice and Burks were out of the race but uninjured.
Pancho then led the final 50 laps to win the race.
Gary Irvin, who started last in the 28-car field, tangled with Jerry Weeks in turn four at the halfway point of the race, but was unhurt after flipping his car.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: July 1, 1978 – New York State Fairgrounds – Syracuse, New York – Salt City 100
QUALIFYING: 1. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-35.142; 2. Bubby Jones, 51, Beck-35.193; 3. Billy Cassella, 29, Seymour-35.226; 4. Larry Rice, 1, LeFevre-35.245; 5. Greg Leffler, 50, Farno-35.352; 6. Roy Hicks, 61, Niebel-35.395; 7. Arnie Knepper, 35, Holt-35.440; 8. Ron Shuman, 49, Siebert-35.442; 9. Steve Chassey, 33, Heck/Casci-35.525; 10. Dana Carter, 19, Siebert-35.619; 11. Billy Engelhart, 28, Weaver-35.644; 12. Jerry Miller, 68, Miller-35.704; 13. Will Cagle, 55, Middleton-35.749; 14. George Snider, 20, Rhoades-35.762; 15. Larry Dickson, 5, Polak-35.854; 16. Jim McElreath, 56, Johnson-35.857; 17. Gary Bettenhausen, 98, King/Oberdorfer-36.077; 18. Tom Bigelow, 43, Armstrong-36.196; 19. Mark Alderson, 25, Senter-36.266; 20. Sleepy Tripp, 75, DePalma-36.284; 21. Roger Rager, 22, Hill-36.306; 22. Bill Burks Jr., 37, Harris-36.309; 23. Steve Cannon, 66, Aberle-36.361; 24. Robert Smith, 18, Jo/Ol-36.455; 25. Jerry Weeks, 58, Beletsky-36.577; 26. Joe Saldana, 17, Smith-36.696; 27. Jackie Howerton, 88, Lang-36.738; 28. Mike Johnson, 85, Johnson-37.043; 29. Gary Irvin, 42, Hodson-37.551; 30. Ed Lynch, 15, Kurtz/DiGeronimo-NT; 31. Sheldon Kinser, 3, Leader Card-NT; 32. Bobby Olivero, 47, Morrison-NT; 33. Chuck Gurney, 83, Delrose-NT; 34. Billy Vukovich, 2, Leyba-NT; 35. Johnny Parsons, 65, Hall-NT.
FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Pancho Carter (1), 2. Gary Bettenhausen (17), 3. Billy Engelhart (11), 4. Jim McElreath (16), 5. Dana Carter (10), 6. Bubby Jones (2), 7. Billy Cassella (3), 8. Will Cagle (13), 9. Roger Rager (20), 10. Jerry Miller (12), 11. Mike Johnson (27), 12. Robert Smith (23), 13. Roy Hicks (6), 14. Larry Rice (4), 15. Jerry Weeks (24), 16. Bill Burks Jr. (21), 17. Gary Irvin (28), 18. Steve Chassey (9), 19. Larry Dickson (15), 20. Greg Leffler (5), 21. Jackie Howerton (26), 22. Mark Alderson (18), 23. Steve Cannon (22), 24. Sleepy Tripp (19), 25. Arnie Knepper (7), 26. Ron Shuman (8), 27. George Snider (14), 28. Joe Saldana (25). 1:05:41.00
**Gary Irvin flipped on lap 54 of the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-25 Pancho Carter, Laps 26-50 Bubby Jones, Laps 51-100 Pancho Carter.
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BETTENHAUSEN 100 DIRT RACE GOES TO BETTENHAUSEN
Springfield, Illinois………Gary Bettenhausen earned his first career victory in the USAC Championship Dirt division on August 19 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, made doubly sweet by winning the raced named in memory of his father, Tony.
Bettenhausen took the lead in the series with his victory. Bubby Jones started on the pole and led the first two laps. Bettenhausen then was in front for 13 laps, and carter led for 15 before Bettenhausen, driving the Oberdorfer Special owned by Grant King, took command for the last time.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: August 19, 1978 – Illinois State Fairgrounds – Springfield, Illinois – Tony Bettenhausen 100
QUALIFYING: 1. Bubby Jones, 51, Beck-35.570; 2. Rich Vogler, 53, Slack-36.011; 3. Arnie Knepper, 35, Holt-36.044; 4. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-36.075; 5. Gary Bettenhausen, 98, King/Oberdorfer-36.127; 6. Larry Rice, 1, LeFevre-36.160; 7. Billy Engelhart, 28, Weaver-36.176; 8. George Snider, 20, Rhoades-36.279; 9. Sheldon Kinser, 7, Leader Card-36.397; 10. Robert Smith, 18, Jo/Ol-36.415; 11. Steve Cannon, 66, Aberle-36.456; 12. Jim McElreath, 56, Johnson-36.505; 13. Billy Cassella, 29, Seymour-36.577; 14. Dana Carter, 19, Siebert-36.660; 15. Ron Shuman, 49, Siebert-36.687; 16. Bill Puterbaugh, 24, Linsmeyer-36.699; 17. Bill Burks Jr., 37, Harris-36.737; 18. Ed Lynch, 15, Kurtz/DiGeronimo-36.813; 19. Jerry Miller, 68, Miller-36.867; 20. Jon Backlund, 46, Baker-36.893; 21. Johnny Parsons, 93, Vatis-37.042; 22. Clark Templeman, 16, Smith-37.070; 23. Roy Hicks, 61, Niebel-37.154; 24. Mike Johnson, 85, Johnson-37.176; 25. Kramer Williamson, 34, Amerling-37.201; 26. Duke Cook, 65, Hall-37.233; 27. Bob East, 75, DePalma-37.366; 28. Roger Rager, 22, Hill-37.407; 29. Steve Chassey, 33, Heck/Casci-37.434; 30. Greg Leffler, 50, Farno-37.689; 31. Sammy Swindell, 44, Brown-37.864; 32. Joe Saldana, 3, Leader Card-38.000; 33. Jerry Weeks, 88, Lang-38.111; 34. Mark Alderson, 25, Senter-38.317; 35. Duke DeRosa, 81, Sohm-NT; 36. Tom Bigelow, 43, Armstrong-NT; 37. Larry Dickson, 5, Polak-NT; 38. Junior Parkinson, 67, Adrian-NT; 39. Lynn Paxton, 78, Boop-NT; 40. Bobby Olivero, 47, Morrison-NT; 41. Chuck Gurney, 83, Delrose-NT; 42. Danny Frye Jr., 79, Frye-NT.
QUALIFYING RACE: (10 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Kramer Williamson, 2. Bob East, 3. Roger Rager, 4. Greg Leffler, 5. Mark Alderson, 6. Jerry Weeks, 7. Lynn Paxton, 8. Duke Cook, 9. Joe Saldana, 10. Duke DeRosa. 6:00.10
FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Gary Bettenhausen (5), 2. Jim McElreath (12), 3. Bubby Jones (1), 4. Pancho Carter (4), 5. Steve Cannon (11), 6. Arnie Knepper (3), 7. Mike Johnson (24), 8. Clark Templeman (22), 9. Rich Vogler (2), 10. Jerry Miller (19), 11. Roy Hicks (23), 12. Roger Rager (27), 13. Ed Lynch (18), 14. Greg Leffler (28), 15. Bob East (26), 16. Kramer Williamson (25), 17. Bill Burks Jr. (17), 18. Larry Rice (6), 19. Billy Engelhart (7), 20. Ron Shuman (15), 21. Billy Cassella (13), 22. Jon Backlund (20), 23. Johnny Parsons (21), 24. Sheldon Kinser (9), 25. George Snider (8), 26. Bill Puterbaugh (16), 27. Robert Smith (10), 28. Dana Carter (14). 1:15:56.00
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-2 Bubby Jones, Laps 3-15 Gary Bettenhausen, Laps 16-30 Pancho Carter, Laps 31-100 Gary Bettenhausen.
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PANCHO AND THE GOLDEN GREEK GRAB Du QUOIN’S TED HORN 100
Du Quoin, Illinois………Pancho Carter led all 100 miles to win the August 27 Ted Horn 100 Championship Dirt car race at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. The win put him in a commanding point lead as Billy Vukovich finished second and George Snider third.
Defending series champion Larry Rice was the pole winner but dropped off the pace late in the race with engine problems and finished ninth. Series point leader before the race, Gary Bettenhausen, hit the wall in turn two midway through the race and placed 19th.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: August 27, 1978 – Du Quoin State Fairgrounds – Du Quoin, Illinois – Ted Horn 100
QUALIFYING: 1. Larry Rice, 1, LeFevre-34.631; 2. Tom Bigelow, 43, Armstrong-34.732; 3. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-34.833; 4. George Snider, 20, Rhoades-34.857; 5. Tom Bigelow, 7, Leader Card-34.861; 6. Jim McElreath, 56, Johnson-34.993; 7. Chuck Gurney, 83, Delrose-35.009; 8. Junior Parkinson, 67, Adrian-35.143; 9. Sheldon Kinser, 3, Leader Card-35.194; 10. Steve Cannon, 66, Aberle-35.211; 11. Mark Alderson, 25, Senter-35.215; 12. Billy Vukovich, 2, Leyba-35.241; 13. Larry Dickson, 5, Polak-35.279; 14. Arnie Knepper, 35, Holt-35.365; 15. Gary Bettenhausen, 98, King/Oberdorfer-35.365; 16. Kramer Williamson, 34, Amerling-35.428; 17. Billy Cassella, 29, Seymour-35.429; 18. Dana Carter, 19, Siebert-35.445; 19. Lynn Paxton, 78, Boop-35.538; 20. Billy Engelhart, 28, Weaver-35.552; 21. Bubby Jones, 51, Beck-35.555; 22. Mike Johnson, 85, Johnson-35.585; 23. Robert Smith, 18, Jo/Ol-35.608; 24. Duke Cook, 65, Hall-35.638; 25. Ron Shuman, 49, Siebert-35.719; 26. Johnny Parsons, 93, Vatis-35.774; 27. Jerry Miller, 68, Miller-35.776; 28. Sammy Swindell, 44, Brown-35.782; 29. Bob East, 75, DePalma-35.801; 30. Greg Leffler, 50, Farno-35.821; 31. Joe Saldana, 17, Smith-35.923; 32. Bill Puterbaugh, 24, Linsmeyer-35.969; 33. Rich Vogler, 81, Sohm-35.984; 34. Danny Frye Jr., 79, Rahn/Frye-35.997; 35. Jon Backlund, 46, Baker-36.056; 36. Roy Hicks, 61, Niebel-36.118; 37. Ed Lynch, 15, Kurtz-DiGeronimo-36.130; 38. Rich Leavell, 55, Middleton-36.147; 39. Clark Templeman, 16, Smith-36.328; 40. Roger Rager, 22, Hill-NT; 41. Steve Chassey, 33, Heck/Casci-NT; 42. Bill Burks Jr., 37, Harris-NT; 43. Bobby Olivero, 47, Morrison-NT; 44. Rich Vogler, 53, Slack-NT.
FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Pancho Carter (2), 2. Billy Vukovich (11), 3. George Snider (3), 4. Larry Dickson (12), 5. Billy Cassella (16), 6. Jim McElreath (5), 7. Bubby Jones (20), 8. Steve Cannon (9), 9. Larry Rice (1), 10. Chuck Gurney (6), 11. Robert Smith (22), 12. Ron Shuman (24), 13. Lynn Paxton (18), 14. Mark Alderson (10), 15. Dana Carter (17), 16. Duke Cook (23), 17. Mike Johnson (21), 18. Sheldon Kinser (8), 19. Gary Bettenhausen (14), 20. Tom Bigelow (4), 21. Kramer Williamson (15), 22. Junior Parkinson (7), 23. Arnie Knepper (13), 24. Billy Engelhart (19). 1:05:38.00
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-100 Pancho Carter.
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HOOSIER HUNDRED TO ENGELHART; PANCHO WINS CHAMPIONSHIP
Indianapolis, Indiana………Pancho Carter is the 1978 USAC Championship Dirt Car champion and Billy Engelhart ended his Hoosier Hundred frustrations by finally winning the 100-mile season finale at Indianapolis on September 9.
Engelhart passed Rich Vogler on lap 90 and wheeled the Weaver Excavating Special to his first career victory with the series. Vogler took second after leading 77 laps and earned the Rookie of the Race award.
Gary Bettenhausen, who needed a victory to take the crown away from Carter, made a determined effort to catch Vogler and Engelhart near the finish but placed third.
Carter finished ninth and edged Bettenhausen by 56 points to win the title.
There were no yellow flags during the entire 100 miles as Engelhart averaged 93.809 mph. George Snider started on the pole and led 12 laps before finally retiring with magneto trouble after 37 laps.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: September 9, 1978 – Indiana State Fairgrounds – Indianapolis, Indiana – Hoosier Hundred
QUALIFYING: 1. George Snider, 20, Rhoades-35.378; 2. Lealand McSpadden, 49, Siebert-35.408; 3. Dana Carter, 19, Siebert-35.673; 4. Bubby Jones, 51, Beck-35.685; 5. Ron Shuman, 55, Middleton-35.715; 6. Billy Engelhart, 28, Weaver-35.769; 7. Rich Vogler, 53, Slack-35.824; 8. Junior Parkinson, 67, Adrian-35.899; 9. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-35.940; 10. Chuck Gurney, 83, Delrose-36.019; 11. Larry Rice, 1, LeFevre-36.031; 12. Arnie Knepper, 55, Holt-36.044; 13. Billy Vukovich, 2, Leyba-36.120; 14. Sammy Swindell, 44, Brown-36.217; 15. Sheldon Kinser, 3, Leader Card-36.222; 16. Johnny Parsons, 93, Vatis-36.288; 17. Gary Bettenhausen, 98, King/Oberdorfer-36.319; 18. Roy Hicks, 61, Niebel-36.338; 19. Tom Bigelow, 43, Armstrong-36.460; 20. Jerry Miller, 68, Miller-36.465; 21. Steve Cannon, 66, Aberle-36.469; 22. Bill Puterbaugh, 24, Linsmeyer-36.511; 23. Jack Hewitt, 50, Farno-36.513; 24. Steve Chassey, 33, Heck/Casci-36.524; 25. Ed Lynch, 15, Kurtz/DiGeronimo-36.614; 26. Duke Cook, 65, Hall-36.671; 27. Robert Smith, 18, Jo/Ol-36.675; 28. Mark Alderson, 25, Senter-36.675; 29. Clark Templeman, 16, 36.685; 30. Gary Irvin, 42, Hodson-36.720; 31. Larry Dickson, 5, Polak-36.847; 32. Lynn Paxton, 78, Boop-36.873; 33. Joe Saldana, 29, Seymour-36.907; 34. Kramer Williamson, 34, Amerling-37.057; 35. Mike Johnson, 85, Johnson-37.095; 36. Danny Frye Jr., 79, Rahn/Frye-37.131; 37. Gary Patterson, 71, Wilson-37.172; 38. Roger Rager, 22, Hill-37.585; 39. Jackie Howerton, 17, Smith-37.621; 40. Karl Busson, 32, Johnson-38.397; 41. Bobby Olivero, 47, Morrison-NT; 42. Jerry Weeks, 88, Lang-NT; 43. Bob East, 75, DePalma-NT; 44. Jim McElreath, 56, Johnson-NT; 45. Jon Backlund, 81, Sohm-NT.
QUALIFYING RACE: (10 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Ed Lynch, 2. Larry Dickson, 3. Duke Cook, 4. Robert Smith, 5. Jackie Howerton, 6. Lynn Paxton, 7. Clark Templeman, 8. Mike Johnson, 9. Mark Alderson, 10. Karl Busson, 11. Joe Saldana, 12. Kramer Williamson, 13. Gary Patterson, 14. Roger Rager, 15. Danny Frye Jr., 16. Gary Irvin.
FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Billy Engelhart (6), 2. Rich Vogler (7), 3. Gary Bettenhausen (17), 4. Billy Vukovich (13), 5. Junior Parkinson (8), 6. Bubby Jones (4), 7. Johnny Parsons (16), 8. Larry Dickson (26), 9. Pancho Carter (9), 10. Dana Carter (3), 11. Roy Hicks (18), 12. Lealand McSpadden (2), 13. Bill Puterbaugh (22), 14. Robert Smith (28), 15. Jack Hewitt (23), 16. Jerry Miller (20), 17. Steve Chassey (24), 18. Sheldon Kinser (15), 19. Ed Lynch (25), 20. Larry Rice (11), 21. George Snider (1), 22. Steve Cannon (21), 23. Chuck Gurney (10), 24. Sammy Swindell (14), 25. Duke Cook (27), 26. Arnie Knepper (12), 27. Tom Bigelow (19), 28. Ron Shuman (5). 1:03:57.58
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-12 George Snider, Laps 13-89 Rich Vogler, Laps 90-100 Billy Engelhart.
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1978 USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER POINTS
1. (560) Pancho Carter, Brownsburg, Ind.
2. (504) Gary Bettenhausen, Monrovia, Ind.
3. (360) Jim McElreath, Arlington, Texas
4. (360) Bubby Jones, Danville, Ill.
5. (347) Billy Engelhart, Madison, Wis.
6. (280) Billy Vukovich, Coarsegold, Calif.
7. (200) Rich Vogler, Indianapolis, Ind.
8. (174) Larry Dickson, Marietta, Ohio
9. (163) Billy Cassella, Weirton, W.Va.
10. (156) Steve Cannon, Danville, Ill.
11. (147) George Snider, Bakersfield, Calif.
12. (137) Dana Carter, Huntington Beach, Calif.
13. (103) Junior Parkinson, Kansas City, Mo.
14. (87) Arnie Knepper, Belleville, Ill.
15. (84) Mike Johnson, Martinsville, Ind.
16. (65) Jerry Miller, Albuquerque, N.M.
17. (63) Johnny Parsons, Speedway, Ind.
18. (53) Larry Rice, Linden, Ind.
19. (50) Will Cagle, Tampa, Fla.
20. (50) Clark Templeman, Seattle, Wash.
21. (50) Roger Rager, Mound, Minn.
22. (45) Roy Hicks, Socorro, N.M.
23. (37) Robert Smith, Gibsonton, Fla.
24. (33) Chuck Gurney, Livermore, Calif.
25. (18) Ron Shuman, Mesa, Ariz.
26. (11) Sheldon Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.
27. (10) Lealand McSpadden, Tempe, Ariz.
28. (9) Bill Burks, Marion, Ill.
29. (9) Greg Leffler, Saint Paul, Ind.
30. (9) Ed Lynch, Apollo, Pa.
31. (8) Mark Alderson, Timber Lake, S.D.
32. (8) Kramer Williamson, Palmyra, Pa.
33. (8) Steve Chassey, Sunland, Calif.
34. (7) Bill Puterbaugh, Speedway, Ind.
35. (7) Duke Cook, Sidney, Ohio
36. (6) Tom Bigelow, Whitewater, Wis.
37. (5) Jerry Weeks, Anaheim, Calif.
38. (5) Bob East, Bellflower, Calif.
39. (5) Lynn Paxton, York Springs, Pa.
40. (5) Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio
41. (4) Gary Irvin, West Lafayette, Ind.
42. (3) Jackie Howerton, Tulsa, Okla.
43. (3) Sleepy Tripp, Costa Mesa, Calif.
44. (3) Jon Backlund, Kansas City, Kan.
45. (3) Sammy Swindell, Memphis, Tenn.
46. (2) Joe Saldana, Lincoln, Neb.
1978 USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRANT POINTS
1. (560) Johnny Capels, Anaheim, Calif. (#21)
2. (504) Grant King Racing, Indianapolis, Ind. (#98)
3. (360) Richard Johnson, Bethany, Conn. (#56)
4. (360) Roger Beck, Indianapolis, Ind. (#51)
5. (347) Lloyd Weaver Excavating Co., Holland, Ohio (#28)
6. (280) Ben Leyba, South Bend, Ind. (#2)
7. (200) John Slack, Nixa, Mo. (#53)
8. (174) Russ Polak, Noblesville, Ind. (#5)
9. (163) Louis Seymour, Marlboro, Mass. (#29)
10. (156) Marshall & Michael Aberle, New Bern, N.C. (#66)
11. (147) Jack L. Rhoades Aircraft Sales, Columbus, Ind. (#20)
12. (137) Don Siebert, Edinburgh, Ind. (#19)
13. (103) Thomas Adrian, Irving, Texas (#67)
14. (87) Holt Racing Enterprises, Champaign, Ill. (#35)
15. (84) Mike Johnson, Martinsville, Ind. (#85)
16. (65) Wayne Miller, Albuquerque, N.M. (#68)
17. (63) Vatis Enterprises, New York, N.Y. (#93)
18. (53) David LeFevre, Lafayette, Ind. (#1)
19. (52) George Middleton, Florissant, Mo. (#55)
20. (50) Ray Smith, Eaton, Ohio (#16)
21. (50) Gary Hill, Hope, Ind. (#22)
22. (45) Glen Niebel, Edinburgh, Ind. (#61)
23. (37) Joe Conroy & Olly Feuerstein, Brunswick, Ohio (#18)
24. (33) T.D. Enterprises, Joliet, Ill. (#83)
25. (26) Don Siebert, Edinburgh, Ind. (#49)
26. (14) Larry Farno, Pleasant Hill, Ohio (#50)
27. (9) Roy & Jack Harris, Vergennes, Ill. (#37)
28. (9) Kurtz/DiGeronimo Brothers, Independence, Ohio (#15)
29. (8) Ralph DePalma, Lima, Ohio (#75)
30. (8) Louis Senter, Encino, Calif. (#25)
31. (8) Mauri Amerling, Port Ewen, N.Y. (#34)
32. (8) Sonny Heck/Jim Casci, Saint Paul, Minn. (#33)
33. (8) Leader Cards, Milwaukee, Wis. (#3)
34. (7) Leader Cards, Milwaukee, Wis. (#7)
35. (7) Jack Linsmeyer, Columbia City, Ind. (#24)
36. (7) Norm Hall, Redondo Beach, Calif. (#65)
37. (5) Boop’s Aluminum Special Corp., Millmont, Pa. (#78)
38. (5) Walter Beletsky, Bethany, Conn. (#58)
39. (4) David Hodson, Richmond, Ind. (#42)
40. (3) Doug Lang, Caledonia, Mich. (#88)
41. (3) Don Baker, Springfield, Ill. (#46)
42. (3) M.A. Brown, McKenzie, Tenn. (#44)
43. (2) Cecilia Smith, Eaton, Ohio (#17)