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.
1980 USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEW
Gary Bettenhausen and Pancho Carter, both the eldest sons of former great drivers, and both displaying awesome spirit and determination to overcome the lasting consequences of severe racing injuries, battled each other from start to finish for the 1980 USAC Dirt Car championship, expanded that year to eight races.
Bettenhausen elected to pass up one of the events but placed either first or second in all but one of the remaining seven to end up with the top honors. Carter, who started in all eight, missed the top-five on only two occasions and was never worse than 12th. He entered the last race only 15 points behind Bettenhausen and lacked a mere 65 when it was over. The pair, who are close friends, collected almost $64,000 between them for their 1980 Dirt Car performances.
Gary and Pancho established themselves as the drivers to beat from the beginning in the nationally televised 100-miler at the beautiful Du Quoin circuit on May 31. Gary took the lead from his arch Sprint rival of a decade ago, Larry Dickson, on lap seven and as the race wore on, it appeared that he would win comfortably over Carter. But Gary’s engine began to sour in the final stages and Carter reeled in the slack.
Pancho moved to the inside on the main straight of the final but came up a couple feet short of beating Gary’s smoking mount. No sooner had Gary climbed from the sweltering cockpit than he dunked himself thankfully into the inviting infield lake. Chris Economaki arrived with an ABC television camera moments after Gary had squelched up onto the grassy bank, and when Chris asked for a repeat performance for the benefit of television viewers, Gary was happy to oblige.
Bettenhausen did not compete in the 100-lap race on the half-mile Williams Grove Speedway but lost little ground as Carter gathered only a smattering of points for his lowest finish of the year, 12th. Sheldon Kinser had his hands full with Kramer Williamson at the Grove. Kramer, who knows those long straights and tight turns like the back of his hands, all but overhauled Sheldon in a dramatic last lap attempt.
Several weeks of dry heat and drought in Illinois came to an end in mid-August just in time to all but ruin the traditional 100-mile race named in memory of Gary Bettenhausen’s father at Springfield. It ended up being postponed twice and was eventually held three days later on a Tuesday afternoon. A faulty fuel pump eliminated Bettenhausen at the halfway mark while this thrillingly competitive series set the stage for its third straight wild finish.
Defending race winner and 1979 Dirt Car champion Bobby Olivero seemingly had the race won but Carter was able to do to Bettenhausen at Du Quoin and what Williamson had briefly failed to put over on Kinser at the Grove. Pancho dug the grinding rear tire into the cushion of Springfield’s fourth turn and rim rode around the disbelieving Olivero on the outside. Bettenhausen, who watched from the sidelines, became relegated to third place in the point standings as these two came weaving over the line, Carter ahead by inches.
Wild, last lap finish number four came five days later in Du Quoin’s second date. This one had a third participant, Rich Vogler, in the final scramble. Vogler was sandwiched between Bettenhausen and Carter taking the white flag and he decided to go for the lead entering turn one. It was a costly gamble as he slid wide, and not only lost ground to Gary, but gave Pancho enough room to dive beneath as he gathered it up.
Carter had 525 points to Bettenhausen’s 404 with 200 available to the winner of the September 6 Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Steve Chassey paced three-quarters of the Hoosier Hundred as Larry Rice, Olivero and Bettenhausen’s teammate for a day, A.J. Foyt, competing in his first Championship Dirt Car race in four years, each ran second only to drop out. Fading brakes began to hamper Chassey’s lap time and persistent Gary Bettenhausen was there to take advantage of the situation, grabbing the front position on the 77th lap.
Chassey held on for second and Carter, almost eliminated by a tangle with Rice, kept going for third and still retained the point lead. Bettenhausen contemplating more and more the decision to miss Williams Grove, had won three races in four starts and was still second to Carter.
Bettenhausen finally got the lead even if only by 15 points after placing second in a pair of 75-lappers on the half-mile dirt track of the Tulsa State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma. Rich Vogler and Billy Engelhart split the wins as Carter managed a fifth and a 10th.
When three days of rain turned the Terre Haute surface into an untraceable quagmire on October 19, it presented a series of interesting situation. To have postponed the event by one week would have meant that Pancho Carter would have been unable to participate due to a previous engagement to race in Mexico. Gary Bettenhausen announced that he would not return if he could not race Carter for the title.
In either case, Bettenhausen would have won it by default. It just so happened that the race organizer, Don Smith, was also the President of the First National Bank of Terre Haute which sponsors the Tim Delrose/Dale Holt-owned Dirt Car driven by Bettenhausen. Gary, both for sporting reasons and in sympathy with Smith’s promotional dilemma, all but insisted that Don postpone the race for two weeks so that Pancho could participate.
Thus, the race was held on November 2, but surprisingly with unseasonably fine weather. Carter lost three laps while changing a tire in the early stages but made one of them back up as he drove like a man possessed. But he ran out of time and was two laps and four positions short at the finish as Bettenhausen put a lock on the title with a convincing win.
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PIZZA HUT 100 PHOTO FINISH AT Du QUOIN GOES TO BETTENHAUSEN
Du Quoin, Illinois………Gary Bettenhausen and the Delrose-Holt Chevy captured the May 31 Pizza Hut 100 at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds in one of the most exciting finishes in USAC racing history.
Gary, whose machine began belching smoke late in the race, nursed his car over the finish line inches ahead of Pancho Carter’s McCord Auto Supply Chevy.
Carter, who made a desperation slingshot attempt on the front straightaway on the last lap, came to the line side-by-side with Bettenhausen and neither was sure who had won.
Gary revived the Du Quoin tradition of jumping in the infield lake to cool off after pulling into victory lane, then told newsmen that he had “settled for second,” figuring Carter would pass him at the finish.
Bettenhausen’s old Sprint Car nemesis Larry Dickson started on the pole with Gary alongside and led the first six laps before engine problems sent him to the pits. He returned to the race 15 laps behind and spent the rest of the 100-miler pulling away from Bettenhausen. Gary admitted after his victory that Dickson probably would have won the race had he not been forced to stop.
Billy Vukovich, who won the August race at du Quoin last year, was unable to start this race because of engine problems.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: May 31, 1980 – Du Quoin State Fairgrounds – Du Quoin, Illinois – Pizza Hut 100
QUALIFYING: 1. Larry Dickson, 56, Gohr-33.323; 2. Gary Bettenhausen, 12, Delrose/Holt-33.913; 3. Rich Vogler, 49, Siebert-34.051; 4. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-34.063; 5. Ron Shuman, 55, Middleton-34.382; 6. Joe Saldana, 33, Johnson-34.449; 7. Mike Gregg, 27, Gregg-34.725; 8. Robert Smith, 18, Jo/Ol-34.732; 9. Bill Puterbaugh, 7, Linsmeyer-34.740; 10. Steve Chassey, 15, Kurtz-DiGeronimo-34.858; 11. Bobby Olivero, 1, Leader Card-34.956; 12. Eddie Leavitt, 29, Seymour-35.038; 13. Sheldon Kinser, 16, Smith-35.109; 14. George Snider, 59, LeFevre-35.193; 15. Larry Rice, 28, Weaver-35.593; 16. Dean Shirley, 81, Sohm-35.598; 17. Steve Cannon, 10, Aberle-35.651; 18. Lealand McSpadden, 17, Smith-35.698; 19. Larry Gates, 71, B.U.F.-36.171; 20. Gary Hieber, 77, Haller-36.765; 21. Bill Burks Jr., 37, Harris-36.770; 22. Bob Frey, 35, Rahn-36.866; 23. Mack McClellan, 20, Peterson/Niebel-NT; 24. Jerry Miller, 65, Hall-NT; 25. Frankie Schneider, 31, Mataka-NT; 26. Jerry Weeks, 48, Romine-NT; 27. Billy Vukovich, 4, Leyba-NT.
FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Gary Bettenhausen (2), 2. Pancho Carter (4), 3. Bobby Olivero (11), 4. Ron Shuman (5), 5. Steve Chassey (10), 6. Steve Cannon (17), 7. Dean Shirley (16), 8. Bob Frey (22), 9. Bill Burks Jr. (21), 10. Larry Dickson (1), 11. Larry Gates (19), 12. Gary Hieber (20), 13. Joe Saldana (6), 14. Mike Gregg (7), 15. Robert Smith (8), 16. Eddie Leavitt (12), 17. Lealand McSpadden (18), 18. Rich Vogler (3), 19. Sheldon Kinser (13), 20. Bill Puterbaugh (9), 21. Larry Rice (15), 22. Mack McClellan (24), 23. George Snider (14), 24. Jerry Miller (23), 25. Billy Vukovich (25).
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-6 Larry Dickson, Laps 7-100 Gary Bettenhausen.
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SHELDON KINSER BEATS WILLIAMSON IN THE GROVE’S DIRT CAR 100
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania………Sheldon Kinser drove the Seymour Enterprises Chevy to a narrow victory in the July 5 100-lap USAC Championship Dirt Car race at Williams Grove Speedway, the first Championship Dirt Car race on a half-mile dirt track in 21 years.
Kinser edged out local favorite Kramer Williamson who dogged Kinser the final six laps but was unable to pass.
The race was the first for the Dirt Cars at Williams Grove since 1959 and a good crowd was in attendance as Steve Chassey grabbed the lead at the start from his pole starting position. Chassey led 13 laps before Pancho Carter, working the high groove against the outer guardrail, slipped past.
Carter led until lap 64 in the McCord Auto Supply Chevy but finally relinquished the lead to the pressure of Ron Shuman, Chassey’s front row starting mate. Shuman and the Pizza Hut of St. Louis Chevy appeared in command until engine trouble developed with just 21 laps remaining and he pulled into the pits.
Kinser moved into the lead when Shuman retired, and Sheldon and Kramer Williamson diced to the finish after Pancho Carter’s slide into the first turn fence on lap 89 brought out the final yellow.
Kinser’s victory put him fifth in the Dirt Car standings behind leader Gary Bettenhausen who elected to pass up the Williams Grove race but remained in the number one position.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: July 5, 1980 – Williams Grove Speedway – Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania – Williams Grove 100
QUALIFYING: 1. Steve Chassey, 15, Kurtz/DiGeronimo-24.121; 2. Ron Shuman, 55, Middleton-24.250; 3. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-24.270; 4. Robert Smith, 18, Jo/Ol-24.483; 5. Joe Saldana, 33, Johnson-24.517; 6. Sheldon Kinser, 29, Seymour-24.534; 7. Rich Vogler, 49, Siebert-24.652; 8. Tom Bigelow, 56, Gohr-24.693; 9. Bobby Olivero, 1, Leader Card-24.794; 10. Kramer Williamson, 34, Amerling-24.828; 11. Duke Cook, 58, DePalma-24.966; 12. Greg Leffler, 43, Armstrong-25.013; 13. Bill Puterbaugh, 7, Linsmeyer-25.058; 14. Chris Cumberworth, 87, LaGrande-25.242; 15. Gary Hieber, 77, Haller-25.319; 16. Lennie Waldo, 71, B.U.F.-25.352; 17. Smokey Snellbaker, 54, Lloyd-25.366; 18. Steve Cannon, 10, Aberle-25.535; 19. Van May, 16, Smith-25.615; 20. Bill Tyler, 17, Smith-25.893; 21. Mack McClellan, 20, Peterson/Niebel-25.971; 22. Frankie Schneider, 31, Mataka-26.051; 23. Paul Pitzer, 45, Harmon-NT.
FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Sheldon Kinser (6), 2. Kramer Williamson (10), 3. Robert Smith (4), 4. Steve Chassey (1), 5. Rich Vogler (7), 6. Mack McClellan (21), 7. Lennie Waldo (16), 8. Bill Puterbaugh (13), 9. Gary Hieber (15), 10. Tom Bigelow (8), 11. Bill Tyler (20), 12. Pancho Carter (3), 13. Frankie Schneider (22), 14. Ron Shuman (2), 15. Duke Cook (11), 16. Steve Cannon (18), 17. Chris Cumberworth (14), 18. Joe Saldana (5), 19. Van May (19), 20. Bobby Olivero (9), 21. Greg Leffler (12), 22. Smokey Snellbaker (17).
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-13 Steve Chassey, Laps 14-63 Pancho Carter, Laps 64-79 Ron Shuman, Laps 80-100 Sheldon Kinser.
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PANCHO CATCHES OLIVERO IN FINAL TURN TO WIN BETTENHAUSEN 100
Springfield, Illinois………Pancho Carter is the new USAC Championship Dirt Car series point leader after a last turn pass on Bobby Olivero netted him the victory in the August 19 Tony Bettenhausen 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
Pancho trailed Olivero until the final turn of the final lap but he was able to grab hold of the outside cushion and rim-ride past Olivero coming down for the checkered flag to win by just one car-length in one of the greatest finishes in Springfield history
Carter and the McCord Auto Supply Chevy were running second behind Tom Bigelow when the race stopped at lap 74 for a three-car accident in turn three and assumed the lead on the restart when Bigelow’s Genesee Beer Wagon developed rear-end problems and could not restart.
Olivero caught Carter on lap 77 and led until the final turn.
Bill Puterbaugh’s engine quit entering turn three, triggering the three-car accident which found Mack McClellan smashing into him and Robert Smith also tangling with them. All three cars flipped during the melee, McClellan suffering an injury to his right hand and Puterbaugh a broken should blade. Smith suffered a mild concussion.
Larry Rice erased Jim McElreath’s 15-year-old track record when he qualified the Weaver Excavating Chevy at 109.622 mph. He then led the first 18 laps of the race before Bigelow caught him. Engine problems eventually forced Rice to the sidelines on lap 66.
Only six machines finished the grueling 100-mile race, Jan Opperman taking sixth in his first Dirt Car start since recovering from injuries suffered in the 1976 Hoosier Hundred.
Series point leader Gary Bettenhausen was threatening for the lead until a faulty fuel pump sent him to the pits on lap 43. His finish dropped him to third in the standings.
The race was originally scheduled to be run on August 16, but rains forced postponement to August 18 and again to August 19.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: August 19, 1980 – Illinois State Fairgrounds – Springfield, Illinois – Tony Bettenhausen 100
QUALIFYING: 1. Larry Rice, 28, Weaver-32.828; 2. Bill Vukovich, 4, Leyba-33.255; 3. Rich Vogler, 49, Siebert-33.639; 4. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-33.647; 5. Steve Chassey, 15, Kurtz/DiGeronimo-33.668; 6. Tom Bigelow, 56, Gohr-33.760; 7. Jack Hewitt, 58, DePalma-33.808; 8. Gary Bettenhausen, 12, Delrose/Holt-33.821; 9. Joe Saldana, 33, Johnson-33.909; 10. Mack McClellan, 89, Soubirou-33.922; 11. Robert Smith, 18, Jo/Ol-34.076; 12. Bobby Olivero, 1, Leader Card-34.133; 13. Jerry Miller, 65, Hall-34.186; 14. Steve Cannon, 10, Aberle-34.471; 15. Duke Cook, 17, Smith-34.691; 16. George Snider, 59, LeFevre-34.713; 17. Sheldon Kinser, 29, Seymour-34.839; 18. Larry Dickson, 69, McClure-34.885; 19. Lennie Waldo, 71, B.U.F.-35.089; 20. Bill Puterbaugh, 7, Linsmeyer-35.156; 21. Dean Shirley, 81, Sohm-35.199; 22. Larry Gates, 39, Fortune-35.316; 23. Tony Weyant, 38, Weyant-35.432; 24. Gary Hieber, 77, Haller-35.447; 25. Bill Tyler, 16, Smith-35.517; 26. Frankie Schneider, 31, Mataka-35.587; 27. Gary Irvin, 47, Higman-35.686; 28. Bill Burks Jr., 37, Harris-35.851; 29. Jan Opperman, 50, Miller-Vetzel-37.231; 30. Billy Engelhart, 42, Marcello-NT; 31. Rich Leavell, 20, Peterson/Niebel-NT; 32. Ron Shuman, 55, Middleton-NT; 33. Greg Leffler, 43, Armstrong-NT; 34. Paul Pitzer, 45, Harmon-NT; 35. Bob Frey, 35, Rahn-NT; 36. No Driver, 14, Delrose/Holt-NT; 37. No Driver, 34, Amerling-NT.
FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Pancho Carter (4), 2. Bobby Olivero (12), 3. Rich Vogler (3), 4. Joe Saldana (9), 5. Bill Tyler (24), 6. Jan Opperman (28), 7. Gary Irvin (26), 8. Lennie Waldo (19), 9. Tom Bigelow (6), 10. Bill Puterbaugh (20), 11. Mack McClellan (10), 12. Robert Smith (11), 13. Tony Weyant (22), 14. Larry Rice (1), 15. Bill Vukovich (2), 16. Larry Dickson (18), 17. Duke Cook (15), 18. Gary Bettenhausen (8), 19. Dean Shirley (21), 20. Jerry Miller (13), 21. Jack Hewitt (7), 22. George Snider (16), 23. Bill Burks Jr. (27), 24. Gary Hieber (23), 25. Steve Chassey (5), 26. Frankie Schneider (25), 27. Steve Cannon (14), 28. Sheldon Kinser (17).
**Bill Puterbaugh, Mack McClellan and Robert Smith flipped on lap 74 of the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-18 Larry Rice, Laps 19-73 Tom Bigelow, Laps 74-76 Pancho Carter, Laps 77-99 Bobby Olivero, Lap 100 Pancho Carter.
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GARY B. HANGS ON FOR TED HORN 100 AT Du QUOIN
Du Quoin, Illinois………Gary Bettenhausen held off challenges from three other drivers and won the Ted Horn 100 at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds on August 24 driving Delrose-Holt Chevy.
Pancho Carter’s second-place finish kept him in the point lead after the event.
George Snider, whose machine lost an engine on the backstretch before spinning into the inside guard rail, suffered second degree burns on both legs and was admitted to a Du Quoin hospital for treatment.
Rich Vogler, who started on the pole for the 100-miler, finished third. The win was the second at Du Quoin this year for Bettenhausen.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: August 24, 1980 – Du Quoin State Fairgrounds – Du Quoin, Illinois – Ted Horn 100
QUALIFYING: 1. Rich Vogler, 49, Siebert-33.426; 2. Gary Bettenhausen, 12, Delrose/Holt-33.728; 3. Bobby Olivero, 1, Leader Card-33.745; 4. Tom Bigelow, 56, Gohr-33.794; 5. Steve Chassey, 15, Kurtz/DiGeronimo-33.821; 6. Joe Saldana, 33, Johnson-33.917; 7. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-33.928; 8. Larry Rice, 28, Weaver-34.001; 9. Rich Leavell, 20, Peterson/Niebel-34.026; 10. George Snider, 59, LeFevre-34.037; 11. Larry Dickson, 69, McClure-34.046; 12. Ron Shuman, 55, Middleton-34.073; 13. Steve Cannon, 10, Aberle-34.282; 14. Jack Hewitt, 58, DePalma-34.298; 15. Jerry Miller, 65, Hall-34.525; 16. Sammy Swindell, 17, Smith-34.608; 17. Chris Cumberworth, 87, LaGrande-34.693; 18. Bill Tyler, 16, Smith-34.730; 19. Gary Irvin, 47, Higman-34.827; 20. Larry Gates, 39, Fortune-34.980; 21. Kramer Williamson, 34, Amerling-35.011; 22. Bill Burks Jr., 37, Harris-35.083; 23. Paul Pitzer, 45, Harmon-35.344; 24. Frankie Schneider, 31, Mataka-35.415; 25. Jan Opperman, 50, Miller/Vetzel-35.415; 26. Lennie Waldo, 71, B.U.F.-35.442; 27. Gary Hieber, 77, Haller-35.511; 28. Tony Weyant, 38, Weyant-NT; 29. Sheldon Kinser, 29, Seymour-NT; 30. No Driver, 14, Delrose/Holt-NT.
FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Gary Bettenhausen (2), 2. Pancho Carter (7), 3. Rich Vogler (1), 4. Larry Dickson (11), 5. Rich Leavell (9), 6. Chris Cumberworth (17), 7. Kramer Williamson (21), 8. Lennie Waldo (26), 9. Larry Rice (8), 10. Tom Bigelow (4), 11. Gary Hieber (27), 12. Steve Cannon (13), 13. Gary Irvin (19), 14. Frankie Schneider (24), 15. Jack Hewitt (14), 16. Jerry Miller (15), 17. Sammy Swindell (16), 18. Bill Burks Jr. (22), 19. George Snider (10), 20. Joe Saldana (6), 21. Paul Pitzer (23), 22. Steve Chassey (5), 23. Bill Tyler (18), 24. Larry Gates (20), 25. Jan Opperman (25), 26. Bobby Olivero (3), 27. Ron Shuman (12).
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Rich Vogler, Laps 2-100 Gary Bettenhausen.
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BETTENHAUSEN WINS HOOSIER HUNDRED, CHASSEY 2ND
Indianapolis, Indiana………Gary Bettenhausen scored his biggest victory of the 1980 season on September 6, winning the 28th annual Hoosier Hundred Championship Dirt Car race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It was his first victory in the event.
Driving the Terre Haute First National Bank Chevy, Gary caught leader Steve Chassey on the 77th lap and led the rest of the way, with Chassey hanging on for second place. Steve had led for the first 76 laps after starting from the outside of the front row in the Kurtz-DiGeronimo Chevy.
Series point leader Pancho Carter managed to finish third and retain the point lead despite his near elimination from the race on the 69th lap. Larry Rice, running third at the time, lost an engine entering the third turn and Pancho couldn’t avoid his slowing machine. Carter’s car climbed up on Rice’s and the two headed for the outside wall. Before they reached the wall, however, Carter’s car became untangled from Rice’s and was able to continue in the race.
Ten cars were on the lead lap at the finish, with Billy Vukovich taking fourth and Chris Cumberworth grabbing a hard-earned fifth, his best-ever Championship Dirt Car finish.
Bettenhausen claimed $11,374 out of a total purse of over $51,000 as race organizer Bruce Walkup had a large crowd on hand to witness the event.
A.J. Foyt, who announced early in the week that he would drive in the Hoosier Hundred, performed well in the race after qualifying fourth fastest. He was running second when valve problems slowed his pace and forced his Terre Haute First National Bank Chevy to the sidelines on the 29th lap.
Pole starter Joe Saldana and defending winner Bobby Olivero were both victims of oiling problems and were black flagged from competition. Olivero was running second at the time although he was oiling excessively.
Lennie Waldo, ninth-place finisher in the race, earned the Rookie of the Race honors for his performance.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: September 6, 1980 – Indiana State Fairgrounds – Indianapolis, Indiana – Hoosier Hundred
QUALIFYING: 1. Joe Saldana, 33, Johnson-34.569; 2. Steve Chassey, 15, Kurtz/DiGeronimo-34.779; 3. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-34.966; 4. A.J. Foyt, 14, Delrose/Holt-35.107; 5. Jerry Miller, 65, Hall-35.107; 6. Billy Vukovich, 30, Kurtz-35.178; 7. Larry Rice, 28, Weaver-35.336; 8. Gary Bettenhausen, 12, Delrose/Holt-35.462; 9. Greg Leffler, 43, Armstrong-35.505; 10. Ron Shuman, 55, Middleton-35.605; 11. Jerry Weeks, 59, LeFevre-35.621; 12. Tom Bigelow, 56, Gohr-35.632; 13. Bobby Olivero, 1, Leader Card-35.712; 14. Smokey Snellbaker, 54, Lloyd-35.760; 15. Chris Cumberworth, 87, LaGrande-35.777; 16. Doug Wolfgang, 20, Peterson/Niebel-35.951; 17. Steve Cannon, 10, Aberle-35.972; 18. Larry Gates, 39, Fortune-36.003; 19. Sheldon Kinser, 29, Seymour-36.032; 20. Jim McElreath, 23, McElreath-36.071; 21. Gary Irvin, 47, Higman-36.099; 22. Robert Smith, 18, Jo/Ol-36.136; 23. Rich Leavell, 58, DePalma-36.466; 24. Bill Tyler, 16, Smith-36.538; 25. Karl Busson, 32, Johnson-36.635; 26. Jan Opperman, 50, Miller/Vetzel-36.777; 27. Kramer Williamson, 34, Amerling-36.934; 28. Lennie Waldo, 71, B.U.F.-37.107; 29. Larry Dickson, 69, McClure-37.259; 30. Tony Weyant, 38, Weyant-37.299; 31. Bill Burks Jr., 37, Harris-37.305; 32. Johnny Parsons, 17, Smith-75.024; 33. Duke Cook, 19, Siebert-NT; 34. Frankie Schneider, 31, Mataka-NT; 35. Mark Alderson, 77, Haller-NT; 36. Billy Engelhart, 42, Marcello-NT; 37. Paul Pitzer, 45, Harmon-NT; 38. Jim Hettinger, 96, Thomas-NT; 39. Rich Vogler, 49, Siebert-NT.
FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Gary Bettenhausen (8), 2. Steve Chassey (2), 3. Pancho Carter (3), 4. Billy Vukovich (6), 5. Chris Cumberworth (15), 6. Tom Bigelow (12), 7. Steve Cannon (17), 8. Kramer Williamson (27), 9. Lennie Waldo (28), 10. Gary Irvin (21), 11. Jim McElreath (20), 12. Bill Tyler (24), 13. Larry Gates (18), 14. Greg Leffler (9), 15. Rich Leavell (23), 16. Jerry Miller (5), 17. Joe Saldana (1), 18. Larry Rice (7), 19. Bobby Olivero (13), 20. Sheldon Kinser (19), 21. Robert Smith (22), 22. Smokey Snellbaker (14), 23. A.J. Foyt (4), 24. Tony Weyant (29), 25. Ron Shuman (10), 26. Jan Opperman (26), 27. Jerry Weeks (11), 28. Karl Busson (25), 29. Doug Wolfgang (16).
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-76 Steve Chassey, Laps 77-100 Gary Bettenhausen.
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VOGLER, ENGELHART SHARE TULSA TWIN 75’s
Tulsa, Oklahoma………Rich Vogler and Billy Engelhart shared victory in the Tulsa Twin 75’s on September 28 while Gary Bettenhausen’s consistency in the night’s events earned him the Championship Dirt car point lead entering the final event of the series.
Bettenhausen finished second to Vogler in the first 75 and Engelhart in the second 75 and came away with a 15-point lead over Pancho Carter (5th and 10th) with the M*A*B Paints 100 at Terre Haute, Ind. on October 19 to conclude the series.
Vogler drove the Siebert Olds Chevy to a convincing victory in the first 75-lapper over the half-mile dirt Tulsa State Fairgrounds Speedway and appeared headed for a clean sweep in the nightcap when a faulty magneto sent him to the sidelines after leading 41 laps. Engelhart and the Air Com Meal Products Chevy grabbed the lead on the 42nd lap and remained there to the checkered despite pressure from Bettenhausen in the closing laps.
Vogler established a track record during qualifications to earn the pole starting spot for the first race and dominated by leading all 75 laps. His victory was his first ever in the division and helped solidify his hold on third in the series standings.
Engelhart’s triumph was his first since the 1978 Hoosier Hundred. He had not previously started a Championship Dirt Car race this season with mechanical problems keeping him on the sidelines prior to Tulsa. Incidentally, he bashed the tail of the car during a trip into the outer wall during hot laps at Tulsa but it did not affect the handling of the car.
The race had originally been scheduled for Saturday night, September 27, but rain forced a one-day postponement.
Local drivers Emmett Hahn and Jerry Stone performed well before their hometown fans, Stone finishing eighth in the opener and Hahn taking sixth in the nightcap.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: September 28, 1980 – Tulsa State Fairgrounds – Tulsa, Oklahoma – Tulsa Twin 75’s
QUALIFYING: 1. Rich Vogler, 49, Siebert-22.617; 2. Billy Engelhart, 42, Marcello-22.708; 3. Joe Saldana, 33, Johnson-22.955; 4. Gary Bettenhausen, 12, Delrose/Holt-23.039; 5. Larry Rice, 14, Delrose/Holt-23.080; 6. Tom Bigelow, 56, Gohr-23.143; 7. Kramer Williamson, 34, Amerling-23.203; 8. Jerry Stone, 121, Stephens-23.264; 9. Bobby Olivero, 1, Leader Card-23.283; 10. Sheldon Kinser, 29, Seymour-23.472; 11. Duke Cook, 32, Johnson-23.495; 12. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-23.508; 13. Larry Gates, 39, Fortune-23.543; 14. Smokey Snellbaker, 54, Lloyd-23.609; 15. Mike Gregg, 27, Gregg-23.644; 16. Jerry Weeks, 59, LeFevre-23.827; 17. Chris Cumberworth, 87, LaGrande-23.935; 18. Rich Leavell, 20, Peterson-Niebel-24.134; 19. Ron Shuman, 55, Middleton-24.259; 20. Lennie Waldo, 71, B.U.F.-24.263; 21. Paul Pitzer, 45, Harmon-24.429; 22. Emmett Hahn, 16, Smith-24.493; 23. Bob Meli, 72, Speed Sport West-27.647; 24. Greg Leffler, 43, Armstrong-NT; 25. Larry Dickson, 58, DePalma-NT; 26. Steve Chassey, 15, Kurtz/DiGeronimo-NT; 27. Steve Cannon, 10, Aberle-NT.
FIRST FEATURE: (75 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Rich Vogler (1), 2. Gary Bettenhausen (4), 3. Billy Engelhart (2), 4. Joe Saldana (3), 5. Pancho Carter (12), 6. Tom Bigelow (6), 7. Mike Gregg (15), 8. Jerry Stone (8), 9. Sheldon Kinser (10), 10. Chris Cumberworth (16), 11. Paul Pitzer (20), 12. Smokey Snellbaker (14), 13. Emmett Hahn (21), 14. Larry Rice (5), 15. Kramer Williamson (7), 16. Larry Gates (13), 17. Duke Cook (11), 18. Lennie Waldo (19), 19. Rich Leavell (17), 20. Bobby Olivero (9), 21. Bob Meli (22), 22. Ron Shuman (18).
SECOND FEATURE: (75 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Billy Engelhart (3), 2. Gary Bettenhausen (2), 3. Tom Bigelow (6), 4. Smokey Snellbaker (11), 5. Mike Gregg (7), 6. Emmett Hahn (12), 7. Sheldon Kinser (9), 8. Chris Cumberworth (10), 9. Lennie Waldo (16), 10. Pancho Carter (5), 11. Rich Leavell (17), 12. Jerry Stone (8), 13. Larry Rice (13), 14. Joe Saldana (4), 15. Rich Vogler (1), 16. Larry Gates (15), 17. Bobby Olivero (18), 18. Kramer Williamson (14), 19. Ron Shuman (19).
FIRST FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-75 Rich Vogler.
SECOND FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-41 Rich Vogler, Laps 42-75 Billy Engelhart.
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M*A*B PAINTS 100 DIRT CAR CHAMPIONSHIP TO BETTENHAUSEN
Terre Haute, Indiana………Gary Bettenhausen is the 1980 USAC National Dirt Car champion, capturing the crown by winning the November 2 M*A*B Paints 100 at the Terre Haute Action Track.
Bettenhausen drove the Terre Haute First National Bank Chevy owned by Tim Delrose and Dale Holt to victory in the final race for the series in 1980 and concluded the season 65 points ahead of Pancho Carter, the series runner-up.
Carter’s bid for the championship virtually ended with an early-race pit stop for a tire change which left him three laps behind the leaders. He regained one of those laps but finished two behind Gary at the checkered, in fifth place.
Bettenhausen shared the front row for the first-ever Dirt Car race at the Action Track with teammate Ken Schrader, who won the pole position in the second Delrose-Holt car after his originally assigned mount failed during practice.
USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: November 2, 1980 – Terre Haute Action Track – Terre Haute, Indiana – M*A*B Paints 100
QUALIFYING: 1. Ken Schrader, 14, Delrose/Holt-23.311; 2. Gary Bettenhausen, 12, Delrose/Holt-23.670; 3. Tom Bigelow, 56, Gohr-23.899; 4. Steve Kinser, 17, Smith-23.961; 5. Jim McElreath, 23, McElreath-23.977; 6. Pancho Carter, 21, Capels-24.005; 7. Steve Chassey, 15, Kurtz-DiGeronimo-24.017; 8. Joe Saldana, 33, Johnson-24.059; 9. Sheldon Kinser, 4, Leyba-24.117; 10. Bobby Olivero, 1, Leader Card-24.125; 11. Johnny Parsons, 58, DePalma-24.155; 12. Larry Dickson, 18, Jo/Ol-24.296; 13. Eddie Leavitt, 29, Seymour-24.313; 14. Larry Rice, 28, Weaver-24.315; 15. Steve Cannon, 10, Aberle-24.369; 16. Paul Pitzer, 45, Booth-24.477; 17. Billy Engelhart, 42, Marcello-24.497; 18. Larry Gates, 39, Fortune-24.507; 19. Chris Cumberworth, 87, LaGrande-24.617; 20. Rich Vogler, 49, Siebert-24.666; 21. Emmett Hahn, 16, Smith-24.771; 22. Kramer Williamson, 34, Amerling-24.874; 23. Jerry Weeks, 59, LeFevre-24.899; 24. Tony Weyant, 38, Weyant-24.953; 25. Mark Alderson, 77, Haller-25.051; 26. Jerry Stone, 121, Stephens-25.124; 27. Rich Leavell, 20, Peterson/Niebel-25.292; 28. Karl Busson, 32, Johnson-25.309; 29. Frankie Schneider, 31, Mataka-25.352; 30. Dean Shirley, 81, Sohm-25.398; 31. Ken Schrader, 71, B.U.F.-NT.
QUALIFYING RACE: (15 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Kramer Williamson, 2. Jerry Weeks, 3. Mark Alderson, 4. Emmett Hahn, 5. Rich Leavell, 6. Jerry Stone, 7. Frankie Schneider, 8. Tony Weyant, 9. Dean Shirley, 10. Karl Busson. NT
FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Gary Bettenhausen (2), 2. Johnny Parsons (11), 3. Ken Schrader (1), 4. Larry Dickson (12), 5. Pancho Carter (6), 6. Rich Vogler (20), 7. Larry Rice (14), 8. Sheldon Kinser (9), 9. Jim McElreath (5), 10. Tom Bigelow (3), 11. Steve Cannon (15), 12. Steve Chassey (7), 13. Jerry Weeks (22), 14. Larry Gates (18), 15. Billy Engelhart (17), 16. Joe Saldana (8), 17. Eddie Leavitt (13), 18. Steve Kinser (4), 19. Chris Cumberworth (19), 20. Bobby Olivero (10), 21. Paul Pitzer (16), 22. Kramer Williamson (21).
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-62 Gary Bettenhausen, Laps 63-87 Tom Bigelow, Laps 88-100 Gary Bettenhausen.
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1980 USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER POINTS
1. (832) Gary Bettenhausen, Monrovia, Ind.
2. (767) Pancho Carter, Brownsburg, Ind.
3. (456) Rich Vogler, Indianapolis, Ind.
4. (330) Steve Chassey, Clermont, Ind.
5. (314) Bobby Olivero, Lakewood, Calif.
6. (268) Tom Bigelow, Whitewater, Wis.
7. (216) Chris Cumberworth, Santa Ana, Calif.
8. (215) Larry Dickson, Marietta, Ohio
9. (188) Lennie Waldo, Columbus, Ohio
10. (188) Joe Saldana, Lincoln, Neb.
11. (175) Sheldon Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.
12. (165) Steve Cannon, Danville, Ill.
13. (139) Billy Engelhart, Madison, Wis.
14. (125) Billy Vukovich, Coarsegold, Calif.
15. (123) Bill Tyler, Spring Harbor, Mich.
16. (115) Rich Leavell, Elwood, Ind.
17. (95) Gary Irvin, West Lafayette, Ind.
18. (88) Robert Smith, Gibsonton, Fla.
19. (86) Larry Rice, Brownsburg, Ind.
20. (84) Jan Opperman, Beaver Crossing, Neb.
21. (80) Johnny Parsons, Speedway, Ind.
22. (70) Ken Schrader, Fenton, Mo.
23. (69) Mike Gregg, Fort Collins, Colo.
24. (63) Mack McClellan, Dayton, Ohio
25. (59) Bill Puterbaugh, Indianapolis, Ind.
26. (53) Gary Hieber, Langhorne, Pa.
27. (50) Bob Frey, Elyria, Ohio
28. (47) Bill Burks, Jr., Marion, Ill.
29. (40) Jim McElreath, Arlington, Texas
30. (35) Larry Gates, Evansville, Ind.
31. (14) Jerry Miller, Albuquerque, N.M.
32. (11) Paul Pitzer, Loganville, Pa.
33. (10) Frankie Schneider, Flemington, N.J.
34. (10) George Snider, Bakersfield, Calif.
35. (9) Duke Cook, Sidney, Ohio
36. (8) Tony Weyant, Springfield, Ill.
37. (7) Greg Leffler, Winchester, Ind.
38. (5) Jerry Weeks, Anaheim, Calif.
39. (4) Kramer Williamson, Palmyra, Pa.
40. (3) A.J. Foyt, Houston, Texas
41. (2) Karl Busson, Northwood, Ohio
42. (1) Bob Meli, Temple City, Calif.
1980 USAC DIRT CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRANT POINTS
1. (832) Delrose-Holt Racing, Joliet, Ill. (#12)
2. (767) Johnny Capels-EMCEE, Indianapolis, Ind. (#21)
3. (456) Don Siebert, Edinburgh, Ind. (#49)
4. (330) Kurtz-DiGeronimo Brothers Racing, Independence, Ohio (#15)
5. (314) Leader Card Racers, Milwaukee, Wis. (#1)
6. (298) Gohr Distributing, Buffalo, N.Y. (#56)
7. (216) Doug Lang, Caledonia, Mich. (#87)
8. (208) B.U.F. Racing, Dayton, Ohio (#71)
9. (194) Mauri Amerling, Kingston, N.Y. (#34)
10. (165) Double A Racing, Jackson, Mich. (#10)
11. (155) Peterson Racing, Edinburgh, Ind. (#20)
12. (153) Ray Smith, Eaton, Ohio (#16)
13. (153) Louis Seymour, Marlboro, Mass. (#29)
14. (148) Joe Conroy & Ollie Feuerstein, Brunswick, Ohio (#18)
15. (139) Frank Marcello, Henderson, Colo. (#42)
16. (131) Richard Johnson, Bethany, Conn. (#33)
17. (130) George Middleton, Florissant, Mo. (#55)
18. (125) Del McClure, Portland, Ore. (#69)
19. (120) Transportation Computer Systems, Ontario, Calif. (#30)
20. (96) Ralph DePalma, Lima, Ohio (#58)
21. (95) Bob Higman, Lafayette, Ind. (#47)
22. (84) Miller-Vetzel Racing, Tampa, Fla. (#50)
23. (82) Lloyd Weaver, Toledo, Ohio (#28)
24. (77) Delrose-Holt Racing, Joliet, Ill. (#14)
25. (69) John Gregg, Boise, Idaho (#27)
26. (64) Gus Sohm, St. Louis, Mo. (#81)
27. (59) Jack Linsmeyer, Columbia City, Ind. (#7)
28. (57) Charles Lloyd, Highspire, Pa. (#54)
29. (57) Joe Saldana, Lincoln, Neb. (#33)
30. (53) George Haller, Langhorne, Pa. (#77)
31. (50) Lloyd Rahn, Tuscola, Ill. (#35)
32. (47) Jack & Roy Harris, Vergennes, Ill. (#37)
33. (40) Jim McElreath, Arlington, Texas (#23)
34. (30) Ben Leyba, South Bend, Ind. (#4)
35. (24) Cecilia Smith, Eaton, Ohio (#17)
36. (20) Richard Soubirou, Hatboro, Pa. (#89)
37. (15) David LeFevre, Lafayette, Ind. (#59)
38. (15) Glenn Fortune, Boonville, Ind. (#39)
39. (14) Norm Hall, Redondo Beach, Calif. (#65)
40. (11) Whitey Harmon, Blue Springs, Mo. (#45)
41. (10) William Mataka, Lebanon, N.J. (#31)
42. (8) Chuck Weyant, Springfield, Ill. (#38)
43. (7) Sherman Armstrong, Winchester, Ind. (#43)
44. (4) Robert Johnson, Indianapolis, Ind. (#32)
45. (1) Speed Sport West, Whittier, Calif. (#72)