OT-40 years ago 1968 Greatest Season of them all.

[!!WALDO!!]

On a partly cloudy day in the fertile San Joaquin Valley qualifying before 15,470 would be interesting as in practice 4 cars were lost to various problems. The only winner of an Indy Car race at Hanford came to grief with his Gerhardt in Turn 3. The #20 Turbine of Art Pollard broke a differential and Billy Vukovich may have taken care of the Phillipp-Jones Shrike once and for all with a large hit in Turn 3, he did have his Mongoose to fall back on. Rick Muther busted a piston in his Gerhardt Chevy number 44, the Boyce Holt car.
When it came to qualifying the first out would be #67 Jim Malloy his time would put him solidly in the field just off the record by a mile and hour. Billy V was up in the Mongoose and went a hair faster than Jim. USAC Midget Champion Mel Kenyon stayed focused and set the slowest time but right with Malloy. Anthony Joseph was up next in a brand new Coyote with the growling Turbo Ford and the only other winner of a Major USAC race at this track, a Stock Car 250 in 1964 sets fast time just under the Spring standard of 155.709 set by Bobby Unser. Lloyd Ruby was now up and the Mongoose sets another NTR now at almost 160MPH. National Championship Point leader, Mario Andretti blazes another NTR and the 160 barrier was now gone. Gary Bettenhausen goes almost as fast as Foyt but settles for 4 fastest so far. Bobby Unser was up in the 1968 Eagle and was a bit slower than Lloyd but still past his old Record. Al Unser in the 4 WD Lola gets going under the old record but 4th fastest so far. Sam Sessions made the grade but was slowest by a long shot and Carl Williams was next in the car that got destroyed in practice at Indy that he was assigned to, and was second slowest so far. Roger McCluskey was ready in the Hopkins Eagle and went under the 155.709 but not as fast as Bobby. The next was the San Jose driver in the #60 Turbine, Joe Leonard, The sky is blue and white, the car is DayGlo Red, the helmet is black and the flag green. Well, the 163 barrier went away and 163.093 was the new standard. For the third time a Turbine sets a new standard in qualifying and the second for Joe. Interestingly the Top 10 in qualifying at this point wouldn’t change so the race to fill the field and not get bumped was on. Johnny Rutherford takes to the track in the Michner Eagle Ford and gets a solid 11th fastest and would be safe and now the top 12 are locked into place. Ronnie Buckman gets the Weinberger Homes 1968 Eagle to scream but only loud enough for the slowest time so far. Wally Meskowski put the wrong gear in. Mike Mosley in the insurance policy puts the #90 in with no trouble and faster than two. Wally Dallenbach is up in the Vatis car and gets 13th fastest time so the top 14 are now locked in with 17 cars in. Bud Tingelstad drives to a 16th fastest time and locks down the top 16. Larry Dickson in the Bryant Vollstedt Turbo Ford make plenty of noise but times in 17th fastest. Sonny Ates who has been enjoying his time in the spare Federal Engineering cars goes faster than Buckman and with 2 dirt cars and a bunch of non-blown engined Rear engine cars looked safe. Minnesota’s Jerry Daniels is up in the Boyce Holt taped over #41 Turner-Chevy Dirt Car and posts the slowest time so far. Next up was the winner of a 1962 USAC Midget race at Hartford, MI, Keith “Porky” Rachwitz from the Los Angeles area and he gets the Lynch Mob 1965 Halibrand Offy going faster than Daniels. Max Dudley, having a good year in his own Chevy Gerhardt goes nearly as fast as Buckman and appears he will race. Greg Weld is up in the Joe Hunt Dirt Car, think about Greg. He was assigned to the #30 STP Turbine at Indy only to lose the ride when Spence was killed in it. He couldn’t get the Bryant #17 up to speed at Indy now trying to qualify a 7 year old Dirt car on a 1.5 mile track. Well he went faster than two guys. Now we were into the cars that scored no points this season and the first was Formula-A driver Norm Ellefson in a 1964 Brabham with a Chevy and he sets the slowest time so far out of 25 spots filled so far. Earl Smith, a sometime driver elected to qualify his own car when Bruce Jacobi felt his chances were better in another car posts the slowest time so far with three to go. George Benson in the 1966 Huffaker-Chevy Speedy Broasted Chicken car set 24th fastest time and bumps Smith from the field and will race. Jim McElreath in the newly redesigned Brawner Hawk of Mario’s in 1965 gets it finally going to 18th fastest. and Ellefson would wait another day. Last up was Bruce Jacobi in the Travelon Trailer 1965 Gerhardt Offy looking not much different than it did at Indy in 1965 when Ronnie Duman drove it and gets it to 23rd fastest time on his second lap and Daniels becomes the Alternate.

The Starting Line-up:
60 Joe Leonard STP-Vel’s Parnelli Jones-Agajanian 1968 Lotus-Turbine 4-WD 33.110 163.093MPH NTR
2 Mario Andretti ONA #64 1967 Hawk II-Turbo/Offy

25 Lloyd Ruby Gene White Firestone 1968 Mongoose-Turbo/Offy
3 Bobby Unser Rislone 1968 Eagle-Turbo/Offy

8 Roger McCluskey G.C. Murphy 1967 Eagle-Turbo/Offy
5 Al Unser Retzloff Chemical #24 1968 Lola-Turbo Ford 4WD

1 A.J. Foyt Jr. Sheraton-Thompson 1968 Coyote-Turbo-Ford
11 Gary Bettenhausen Thermo-King 1968 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy

98 Billy Vukovich Wagner-Lockheed 1968 Mongoose-Turbo/Offy
67 Jim Malloy Jim Robbins Seat Belt 1968 Vollstedt-Turbo/Offy

23 Johnny Rutherford Michner Petroleum 1966 Eagle-Ford
15 Mel Kenyon City of Lebanon 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy

54 Wally Dallenbach Valvoline 1968 Finley-Huffaker-Turbo/Offy
24 Carl Williams Retzloff Chemical #5 1967 Lola-Ford

90 Mike Mosley Leader Card Zecol-Lubaid 1968 Watson-Turbo/Offy
10 Bud Tingelstad Federal Engineering 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy

21 Larry Dickson Bryant Heating and Cooling 1968 Vollstedt/T-Ford
38 Jim McElreath Jack Adams Aircraft #83 1965 Brawner-Turbo Offy

14 Sam Sessions Quaker State-Caves Buick 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
31 Sonny Ates Federal Engineering 1966 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy

45 Ronnie Buckman Weinberger Homes 1968 Eagle-Turbo Offy
61 Max Dudley Dudley Trucking 1966 Gerhardt-Chevy

65 Bruce Jacobi Travelon Trailer 1965 Gerhardt-Offy
99 Greg Weld Joe Hunt Magneto 1961 Lesovsky D Offy

55 Keith Rachwitz Lynch Mob 1965 Halibrand Offy
34 George Benson Speedy’s Broasted Chicken 1966 Huffaker-Chevy

41 Jerry Daniels Boyce Holt Racing 1958 Turner-Chevy Alternate

[!!WALDO!!]

Well, it became race time and the purse was now over $43,090 and J.C. Agajanian was putting on the best face as this race was not a home run but a single. Bottom line put this race into the $20,000 range and he was doing the PIR show in weeks.
The cars actually aligned real well and the green came out and Andy and Parnelli must of let the soon to be doomed turbine go as Joe was gone and the race for second place began. Every one settled into a groove and the pit window would open up at 33 laps. The racing behind Joe was pretty good but Joe was worried about lapped traffic as Joe struggled it in and even more with this car. He needed to save the brakes. All of a sudden at the window Dickson is in the pits Dallenbach blows and Kenyon and Rutherford bounce off of each other and the wall too. The caution is out with 4 cars out of the race. The clean up will be slow and Foyt stops and gets fuel and is back out along with some tail runners. George Benson has his Chevy seize up and before the green is displayed Gary Bettenhausen is all done with a severe misfire. On the restart Buckman misses a shift and a dead Offy came from that and the Yellow was redisplayed.
Once Green Joe was back in control and look solid but would have to stop before the end of the race. Carl Williams made to lap 57 when his Lola sprung an oil leak and left 18 cars still racing 9 on the lead lap. At 67 Laps, Leonard, Andretti, Bobby Unser. Ruby, Al Unser, Foyt and McCluskey were on the lead lap, Malloy, now slowing, McElreath and Vukovich were a lap down.
On the 82nd lap Lloyd Ruby blew up and may have oiled the track but no caution but on the leaders 89th lap Porky hits the wall as he slid in some oil. The caution is out. Joe pits on the 93rd lap and Mario takes over. Mario leads under the caution as McCluskey and Malloy are trying to fix some ailments in their cars and Jacobi is out of his. Once green, Bobby jumps Mario and leads as neither car has pitted. At lap 100 Bobby leads, Mario, A.J. Al and Joe with Al, Joe and A.J. able to go the distance. Mike Mosley was 2 laps down but fueled, McElreath was 2 down also but not fueled in 7th with Vukovich, Tingelstad and Sessions able to go the distance but many laps down because of stopping on the green around 100 miles. Mario and Bobby were on top of each other as both may stop together. On the 105th lap, Al Unser is done as he suffers a Turbo failure and Sonny Ates joins the top ten. Mario sneaks past Bobby in traffic on the 115th lap to lead it and led the next 6 before Bobby got by on lap 121 to lead the next 11 and during that time both Joe and A.J. fell victim to being lapped but on lap 131 both Bobby and Mario stopped for a “splash and go” before such maneuver was even named. When the rejoined the race they were in 3rd and 4th with Foyt and Leonard in first and second, all 4 were on the lead lap with McElreath near L.A. in 5th.
Foyt was now in control and Joe was working to save his brakes. Mike Mosley blows his engine and is scored 13th as the race is between the top 4 and both Bobby and Mario are eating up the track catching Joe as Foyt is pulling away. With 25 miles to go both Bobby and Mario steam past the turbine and take over 2nd and 3rd. Joe has 4th unless he has a problem. McElreath is holding on to 5th 3 laps down, Vukovich is 4 down in 6th Tingelstad. Sessions and Ates are 6 back in 7th 8th , and 9th and Roger McCluskey 8 laps down in 10th. Jim Malloy, Max Dudley and Greg Weld were still running.
At 1:51:49 the 250.5 mile race ended with A.J. Foyt Jr. of Houston, Texas winning the 4 race of the season and the first for the Turbo Ford racing engine. His average speed was 134.416 was a record because of the distance and Bobby Unser finished second with Mario third. Mario’s point lead was down to 78 with 26 races complete. The Vel’s Parnelli Jones—STP—Agajanian—Firestone Lotus Turbine did all 250.5 to finish 4th for its highest finish on the Championship trail by a Turbine.
The following cars were running at the end of the race:
5. Jim McElreath Jack Adams Aircraft #38 (#83) 1965 Brawner-Turbo Offy -3
6. Billy Vukovich Wagner-Lockheed #98 1968 Mongoose-Turbo/Offy -5
7. Bud Tingelstad Federal Engineering #10 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -6
8. Sam Sessions Quaker State-Caves Buick 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -6
9. Sonny Ates Federal Engineering 1966 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -7
10. Roger McCluskey G.C. Murphy #8 1967 Eagle-Turbo/Offy -9
11. Jim Malloy Jim Robbins Seat Belt #67 (#27) 1968 Vollstedt-Turbo/Offy -13
12. Max Dudley Dudley Trucking #61 1966 Gerhardt-Chevy -17
14. Greg Weld Joe Hunt Magneto #99 1961 Lesovsky D Offy -34

[!!WALDO!!]

Drivers Points after Hanford:
1. Mario Andretti 3888**** 149.54 points per race.
2. Bobby Unser 3810***** -78 146.54 points per race
3. Al Unser 2474*****
4. Lloyd Ruby 2229**
5. Billy Vukovich 1990
6. A.J. Foyt 1860***
7. Mel Kenyon 1355
8. Jim Malloy 1265
9. Dan Gurney 1200**
10. Gary Bettenhausen 1195
11. Ronnie Buckman 1180*
12.Roger McCluskey 1168*
13. Gordon Johncock 1077**
14. Sam Sessions 1060
15. Wally Dallenbach 990
16. Bud Tinglestad 956
17. George Snider 905
18. Joe Leonard 850
19. Mike Mosley 820
20. Larry Dickson 790
21. Art Pollard 696
22. Johnny Rutherford 650
23. Jim McElreath 591
24. Sonny Ates 520
25. Ronnie Duman 400X
26. John Cannon 385
27. Max Dudley 305
28. Bill Puterbaugh 265
29. Bruce Walkup 240
30. Rick Muther 210
31. Mark Donohue 200
32. Arnie Knepper 194
33. George Benson 170
34. Bobby Grim 150
35. Carl Williams 150
36 Jerry Daniels 120
37. Bob Veith 100
38. Wib Spaulding 100
39. George Follmer 90
40. Chuck Booth 85
41. Keith Rachwitz 80
42. Lothar Motschenbacher 80
43. Tom Bigelow 80
44. Rollie Beale 80
45. Leon “Jigger” Sirois 75
46 Jack Eiteljorg 70
47. Bob Harkey 60
48. Chuck Hulse 60$
49. Bud Morley 50
50. Denny Zimmerman 50
51. Bob Hurt 45#
52. Ralph Liguori 40
53. Dempsey Wilson 30
54. Roger West 30
55. Bruce Jacobi 30
56. Al Smith 25
57. Ted Foltz 24
58. Wes Vandervoort 21
59. George Fejer 20
60 Paul Kleinschimdt 15
61. Malcom Brazier 12
62. Dr. Lou Sell 10
63. Bob Herring 9
64. Grier Manning 8
65. Ralph Bruning 6
66. Charlie Louderman 5

Car Owner Points after Hanford:
1. Andretti Racing Team #2 (#64) Brawner Ford 480 T/Offy 1150* 1630*
2. Andretti Racing Team #2 Brawner III-Ford 1600**
3. Rislone #3 1968 Eagle OffyTC 1400*
4. Agajanian #98 Mongoose Ford 180 Offy TC 1210 1390
5. Thermo King Auto Air Cond/ City of Lebanon #15 Gerhardt OffyTC 1355
6. Gene White #25 (#6) Mongoose OffyTC 835 Ford 420 1255
7. Olsonite #48 1968 Eagle Weslake 1200**
8. Gene White #25 Mongoose OffyTC 1200**
9. Rislone #3 1967 Eagle OffyTC 1200**
10. Retzloff Chemical #5 Lola Ford 1185
11. Johncock Racing Team #4 Gerhardt OffyTC 895** Ford 190 1085**
12. Retzloff Chemical #5 (#24) 1968 Lola-Ford 4-WD 1080****
13. Jim Robbins Seat Belt #67 Vollstedt FordTC 30 Ford 1000 1030
14. Leader Card #90 Watson Offy TC 1010
15. Quaker State #14 Gerhardt OffyTC 935
16. Rislone #3 (#79) 1966 Eagle Ford 890*
17. Valvoline #54 Huffaker-Finley OffyTC 870
18. Thermo King Auto Air Cond #11 Gerhardt Ford 205 Offy TC 665 870
19. Federal Engineering #10 Gerhardt OffyTC 840
20. G. C. Murphy #8 Eagle Ford 315 T/Offy 515 830
21. Sheraton-Thompson #1 (#84) Coyote Ford 800*
22. Leader Card #90 (#86) Watson Ford 730
23. Weinberger Homes #45 Eagle/Ford 700
24. Overseas National Airways #2 1951 Kuzma-Offy 640*
25. Olsonite #42 1968 Eagle Ford 600
26. Jack Adams Aircraft #36 Lola-Ford 570
27. Sheraton-Thompson #1 1968 Foyt/Meskowski-Offy 560**
28. Cleaver-Brooks #59 Brabham-Hayhoe Offy TC 550
29. Thermo-King #11 1964 Ward-Offy 520
30. Bryant Heating and Cooling #21 1967 Vollstedt-Ford 510
31. Wagner Lockheed #98 1960 Watson-Offy 500
32. Weinberger Homes #45(#8) 1968 Eagle Offy TC 500*
33. Sheraton-Thompson #1 Coyote Turbo/Ford 500*
34. Michner Petroleum #23 1966 Eagle- Ford 440
35. Vel’s Parnelli Jones--STP Oil Treatment #60 Lotus Turbine 425
36. Retzloff Chemical #5 1963 Dunlap-Offy 410*
37. Zecol-Lubaid #90 1963 Watson-Offy 360
38. Vel's Ford Sales #9 (#29) Mongoose Ford 350
39. Federal Engineering #31 Gerhardt OffyTC 350
40. G.C. Murphy #8 1959 Kuzma-Offy 320*
41. Weinberger Homes #45 1962 Blum-Offy 310
42. Dudley Trucking #61 Gerhardt Chevy 305
43. George R. Bryant #41 1967 Cheetah-Ford 270
44. California Speed Sport #87 1965 Halibrand-Offy 270
45. Jack Adams Aircraft #83 1965 Brawner-Turbo Offy 250
46. Ken Brenn #57 1960 Meskowski D-Offy 235
47. Jim Robbins Seat Belt #27 Vollstedt OffyTC 135 Ford 100 235
48. Midwest Manufacturing #84 1951 Kurtis 4000-Offy 220
49. STP Oil Treatment #20 1968 Lotus-Turbine 4-WD 210
50. Valvoline #94 Huffaker-Finley OffyTC 200
51. Sunoco #66 Lola-Chevy 200
52. City of Seattle #18 Eagle-Ford 180
53. Maxson #68 1959 Meskowski-Offy 170
54. Vargo Excavating #52 1960 Meskowski-Offy 150
55. Joe Hunt Magneto #99 Lesovsky D Offy 145
56. Ken Brenn #88 1966 Gerhardt-Ford 130
57. Wagner-Lockheed #98 (#97) 1966 Shrike-Ford 120
58. Valvoline #54 1959 Vollstedt-Offy 120
59. Bulldog Stables #36 1965 Gerhardt-Chevy 110
60. Thermo King Auto Air Cond #16 Gerhardt Offy TC 100
61. Jim Robbins Seat Belt #67 1967 King-Ford 255.1 100
62. MVS #19 1964 Ward-Offy 100
63. Cleaver-Brooks #59 Edmunds-Turbo/Offy 100
64. Federal Engineering #10 1961 Meskowski-Offy 100
65. Michner Petroleum #23 (#22) Lola Ford 90
66. S&D #20 1958 Meskowski-Offy 90
67. Boyce Holt Racing #44 1958 Turner D-Chevy 85
68. Lynch #55 Halibrand Offy 80
69. MVS #19 1967 Cecil-Ford 80
70. Vel's Ford Sales #9 Morris Ford TC 75
71. Debbie Drake #7 1966 Eisert-Chevy 70
72. Rislone #3 1960 Watson-Offy 60
73. Dayton Steel Wheel #77 1950 Silnes-Offy 60
74. McClure Plastic #31 1959 Vollstedt-Offy 60
75. Stewart-Warner Spl #71 1967 Marathon-Ford 50
76. Central Excavating #81 Gerhardt OffyTC 45
77. George R. Bryant #28 Cheetah Ford 40
78. T.D. Enterprises #58 1960 Lesovsky-Offy 40
79. E. R. E. Enterprises #96 Eisert Chevy 30
80. Greenman #51 Halibrand Chevy 30
81. Rislone #92 PP-Chevy 30*
82. Windmill Trucking #76 1950 Silnes-Offy 30
83. Steck 1966 Chenoweth Roadster-Chevy 25
84. Godwin Beverage #31 PP-Chevy 24
85. Rocky Mountain Paving #22 PP-Chevy 21
86. Chinook Mk VII #111 Chinook-Ford 20
87. Overseas National Airways #2 PP-Ford 18
88. Dayton Steel Wheel #77 Gerhardt Ford 15
89. Coors #4 PP-Cadillac 15
90. Gruenerwald Kearny Construction #61 PP-Buick 12
91. Wynn’s—Dick Smothers #39 1967 Eagle-Ford 10
92. Campo Construction #9 PP-Chevy 9
93. Agajanian Wagner Lockheed #98 (#97) Watson-Offy 8
94. Bruning Construction #26 PP-Ford 6
95. Bill Wynn #43 PP-Chevy 5

[!!WALDO!!]

Entry for the Bobby Ball 200 at PIR 11/17/1968
1 A.J. Foyt Jr. Sheraton-Thompson 1968 Coyote-Turbo/Ford
2 Mario Andretti ONA #64 1967 Hawk II-Turbo/Offy
3 Bobby Unser Rislone 1968 Eagle-Turbo/Offy
4 Gordon Johncock Gilmore Broadcasting 1968 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
5 Al Unser Retzloff Chemical #24 1968 Lola-Turbo Ford 4WD
8 Roger McCluskey G.C. Murphy 1968 Eagle-Turbo/Offy
10 Bud Tingelstad Federal Engineering 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
11 Gary Bettenhausen Thermo-King 1968 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
12 Rollie Beale Kilman 1961 Meskowski D-Offy
14 Sam Sessions Quaker State-Caves Buick 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
15 Mel Kenyon City of Lebanon 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
20 Art Pollard STP Oil Treatment 1968 Lotus-Turbine 4-WD
21 Larry Dickson Bryant Heating and Cooling 1968 Vollstedt/T-Ford
23 Johnny Rutherford Michner Petroleum 1966 Eagle-Ford
24 Arnie Knepper Retzloff Chemical #5 1967 Lola-Ford
25 Lloyd Ruby Gene White Firestone 1968 Mongoose-Turbo/Offy
26 Denny Zimmerman Bulldog Stables 1966 Gerhardt-Turbo-Offy
31 Sonny Ates Federal Engineering 1966 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
38 Jim McElreath Jack Adams Aircraft #83 1965 Brawner-Turbo Offy
44 Rick Muther Boyce Holt Racing 1965 Gerhardt-Chevy
51 Dempsey Wilson Greenman-Casale 1964 Halibrand Chevy
54 Wally Dallenbach Valvoline 1968 Finley-Huffaker-Turbo/Offy
55 Keith Rachwitz Lynch Mob 1965 Halibrand Offy
59 Norm Ellefson Hale 1964 Brabham-Chevy
60 Joe Leonard STP-Vel’s Parnelli Jones-Agajanian 1968 Lotus-Turbine 4-WD
61 Max Dudley Dudley Trucking 1966 Gerhardt-Chevy
65 Bruce Jacobi Travelon Trailer 1965 Gerhardt-Offy
67 Jim Malloy Jim Robbins Seat Belt 1968 Vollstedt-Turbo/Offy
69. Norm Nelson Martin Racing 1965 Huffaker-Chevy
90 Mike Mosley Leader Card Zecol-Lubaid 1968 Watson-Turbo/Offy
98 Billy Vukovich Wagner-Lockheed 1966 Shrike-Turbo/Offy
99 Greg Weld Joe Hunt Magneto 1961 Lesovsky D Offy
101 Earl Smith Earl Smith 1965 Gerhardt-Offy
118 Karl Busson Steck 1966 Chenoweth Roadster-Chevy

[Chris R]

Since Waldo has been banned, he asked if I could post the last several entries of this thread. I know it is a lot of detail - but it is pretty interesting stuff to see what happened 40 years ago (the year before I was born!!)..... next post will be the latest installment....

[Chris R]

With Richard Nixon elected at President weeks earlier, the North Korean trying to figure a way out of the Pueblo incident, there was an up beat mood in the U.S. This showed with over doubling of the 6900 in the Spring with about 15,000 in the stands, hills and infield. This brought the J.C. Agajanian Promotion to a $34,000 purse and about $30,000 to the good for the Los Angeles Garbage man.
In the pre race releases came the word that Andy Granatelli was going to install a 1 way radio in the #20 STP Oil Treatment 1968 Lotus-Turbine. This would be the first time a radio would be used in Auto Racing. Without an operating ignition system, Andy figured it would work in the turbine. (Ignition was off after firing.)
The pre-race practice was tough as the Norn Nelson car came off the trailer with an oil leak and was withdrawn. Firestone put up some money and gave it to Fred Gerhardt to bring the #16 car as an insurance policy for Mario and George Snider was assigned so we were a net of zero.
Norm Ellefson found the wall going into Turn 3 wrecking his car and Joe Leonard went low and either picked up debris or a rock and swallowed it bending a turbine blade. This was not repairable at the track but only in the shop so minus 2 more cars. This left 33 cars but 2 cars were dangerously slow in practice and were asked to withdraw. They were Earl Smith in the #101 and Karl Busson in the #118. Both appeared to be suffering from being way down on power. A third car, Max Dudley was in difficulty as it appeared the timing was way off and could qualify if they got the problem solved.
When qualifying for the 26 spots opened it was Lloyd Ruby in the real #25 Mongoose and the 1964 Winner of this race posts a safe time. A.J. Foyt Jr. hits the track with the Hanford winner and clocks in with the fast time in the Turbo-Ford powered Coyote. He is actually right at 29.01 the track record of Bobby Unser in April. Gary Bettenhausen post a very safe time and is the slowest of the three. Bobby Unser times in slower than Foyt but faster than Ruby so no record. Billy Vukovich is out in the Phillipp-Jones Shrike as the Mongoose is being prepped for Riverside and the Joe Pittman wrenched car goes almost as fast a Gary B. Jim Malloy, now 9th in the points sets a time just under that of Foyt.
Mario Andretti, the point leader was up next and on lap two bombs out a 28.640 and establishes a New Track Record. Al Unser in the 4-wd Lola Turbo Ford was up next and posts the 4th fastest time so far. The 1968 Midget Champion and 7th place in points, Mel Kenyon posts the 9th fastest time of the 9 cars. The next up was the 10th place car in Car Owner points, Arnie Knepper in the Al Unser backup Lola-Ford, #5 and gets it up to 7th fastest time. Now the Top 10 are down and it is time to fill the field. Bud Tingelstad and is the slowest of 11. Sam Sessions is up in the #14 Myron Caves Gerhardt surprise of 1968 and gets it going to 7th fastest at this point, another surprise. Another surprise is Gordon Johncock, a contender for the 1967 Title and an early contender for 1968 now in a free fall is 6th fastest. Bobby Unser insurance policy is now up and Mike Mosley post the slowest time so far but with some weaker cars it appears solid. Max Dudley is up but is missing and Roger McCluskey is up in the #8 and wrestles the year old Eagle to 6th fastest. Jimmy McElreath is now out in the Jack Adams Brawner Turbo-Offy and the 1966 Bryan winner and goes a little faster than Kenyon. So 16 cars in 10 spots to fill with 14 cars to fill them as Art Pollard hits the track in the #20 STP Treatment Turbine and with the track temperature climbing up the Turbine posts the second fastest time. This appears to lock down the first 5 rows starting positions as no other car appeared to have speed in practice. Ronnie Buckman works out a 12th fastest time now the first 8 rows are locked down. Wally Dallenbach another top 10 contender in a free fall gets his last ride in Tassi Vatis’ car and sets 17th fastest time. It is rumored that Wally is going to the Lindsey Hopkins team replacing Roger McCluskey. Johnny Rutherford who suffered burns at this track in the Spring gets the Pat Patrick car in but the slowest time so far as he was down on power. In the Boyce Holt Gerhardt-Chevy was Rick Muther and his time is the slowest by a great deal. He could be in trouble in making the field. Veteran Dempsey Wilson, the Piston maker, in the winning car of 1964 here, is real slow but is in at least for the moment. The 1968 USAC Sprint Car Champion, Larry Dickson gets the #21 Turbo-Ford out and is 17th fastest and locks in the first 10 rows so all battles to start will be behind that. 23 cars are in with 7 to go and Porky Rachwitz is up and gets the Lynch Mob Halibrand Offy into the field with their fingers crossed as he is 24th fastest. For Novi and Turbine driver and 1967 Sprint Car Champion, Greg Weld is out in the Joe Hunt Dirt Car and posts the 25th fastest time and looks like he will not make it. Sonny Ates is out in the #31 Federal Engineering car that he has had some success in 1968 and just posts a field filling time and appears to be safe. The last of the car with points is the late entry of George Snider and he puts the Thermo King #16 in the field bumping Greg Weld. Now up are three cars with no points and Bruce Jacobi is up and posts a slow time but fast enough to send Porky to the trailer. Next up is the Bulldog Stables #26 a two year old Gerhardt and he qualifies and bumps Dempsey Wilson. The last car out was Rollie Beale in the Kilman Dirt Car and it is too bad they weren’t starting 28 as he was 28th fastest. Thus qualifying is done and the best of USAC is done and the field is set.

The Bobby Ball 200 Line-Up:
2 Mario Andretti ONA #64 1967 Hawk II-Turbo/Offy 28.640 125.698MPH NTR
20 Art Pollard STP Oil Treatment 1968 Lotus-Turbine 4-WD

1 A.J. Foyt Jr. Sheraton-Thompson 1968 Coyote-Turbo/Ford
67 Jim Malloy Jim Robbins Seat Belt 1968 Vollstedt-Turbo/Offy

5 Al Unser Retzloff Chemical #24 1968 Lola-Turbo Ford 4WD
3 Bobby Unser Rislone 1968 Eagle-Turbo/Offy

8 Roger McCluskey G.C. Murphy 1968 Eagle-Turbo/Offy
4 Gordon Johncock Gilmore Broadcasting 1968 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy

25 Lloyd Ruby Gene White Firestone 1968 Mongoose-Turbo/Offy
14 Sam Sessions Quaker State-Caves Buick 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy

24 Arnie Knepper Retzloff Chemical #5 1967 Lola-Ford
45 Ronnie Buckman Weinberger Homes #45 1968 Eagle Turbo/Offy

11 Gary Bettenhausen Thermo-King 1968 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
98 Billy Vukovich Wagner-Lockheed 1966 Shrike-Turbo/Offy

38 Jim McElreath Jack Adams Aircraft #83 1965 Brawner-Turbo Offy
15 Mel Kenyon City of Lebanon 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy

21 Larry Dickson Bryant Heating and Cooling 1968 Vollstedt/T-Ford
54 Wally Dallenbach Valvoline 1968 Finley-Huffaker-Turbo/Offy

10 Bud Tingelstad Federal Engineering 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
90 Mike Mosley Leader Card Zecol-Lubaid 1968 Watson-Turbo/Offy

16 George Snider Thermo King Auto Air Cond #16 Gerhardt Turbo/Offy
23 Johnny Rutherford Michner Petroleum 1966 Eagle-Ford

31 Sonny Ates Federal Engineering 1966 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
26 Denny Zimmerman Bulldog Stables 1966 Gerhardt-Turbo-Offy

44 Rick Muther Boyce Holt Racing 1965 Gerhardt-Chevy
65 Bruce Jacobi Travelon Trailer 1965 Gerhardt-Offy

51 Dempsey Wilson Greenman-Casale 1964 Halibrand Chevy First Alternate.

[Chris R]

Here's Waldo's next installment:

This race was named after Bobby Ball, a Phoenix driver that won the 1952 San Jose Century in 1952 and was critically injured at Mines Field Speedway in 1953 at a Midget race (Now Los Angeles International Airport) and died a year later. This race was a standard in November from 1950-1963 at the Arizona State Fairgrounds and from 1964-1986 at the Phoenix International Raceway.
J.C. Agajanian was looking at a few bucks as three of the last four promotions were his and he must have been at least smiling as all three were not great but came through in the end.
The command to start the engines was given as 26 engines came to life but when they rolled off one car did not. Denny Zimmerman’s car would not engage and was pushed into the pits to be worked on, thus no alternate. It appears the clutch may not be functioning as the field gets formed for the green.
The green is out and Art Pollard is off and into the lead. The STP Lotus Turbine is working flawlessly and is opening a lead over Mario, A.J. Al and Jim Malloy. A car is slowing on lap 5, it is Wally Dallenbach as he is smoking and heading for the pits in the west end of the track. All of a sudden in turn 2 all hell breaks loose as Mario and A.J. are wrecking on lap 7. Both cars are much wrecked and fuel is spilling all over the track. The caution is out and Mario is making a bee line to the pits but A.J. is shaken and will be transported for observation. The #16 car is brought to the pits and George Snider is out of the car and after some adjustments Mario is back in and loses two laps and is back out in time for the RED FLAG to be displayed.
Both Mario’s and A.J.’s cars fuel tanks were ruptured and almost 140 gallons had been dumped onto the track, during the clean up process the fuel got ignited and thus the red flag as the track was on fire. This incident helped clean up the track but took time to get back to racing. With Zimmerman, Dallenbach, Foyt and Andretti there would be only 22 cars to run the remaining 187 laps.
Finally the Green comes back out and the Turbine balks a bit and Al jumps him and leads lap 14 but the Turbine comes back to lead on lap 15 but the yellow is back out as Jim Malloy is officially wrecked. Jim lost it in the clean up area and bounced hard off the wall while running third.
This mess is cleaned up and off the Turbine goes to lead more laps with $10.00 per lap it was going to be some nice extra cash. As the race approached the 40 mile mark, the 4-WD Turbo-Ford was closing up on the Turbine and on lap 42 goes into the lead as it appears there is a problem on the #20. On lap 46 two cars come in, the 2 lap down Rick Muther car and the #20 with a broken universal joint and both car’s day was over.
At 50 miles Al Unser led, Bobby Unser, Lloyd Ruby, Roger McCluskey, Gordon Johncock, Ronnie Buckman and Arnie Knepper on the lead lap. Sam Sessions, Gary Bettenhausen and Jim McElreath were a lap down with 19 cars running and Mario was 18th in the #16.
Things were quiet until lap 63 when Bobby Unser’s engine and title hopes went by the wayside as he joined the rest out of the race. Bruce Jacobi came in 5 laps down and out of the race and got scored 18th. The most interesting race was Johnny Rutherford and Sonny Ates dueling each other while moving up in the field.
Bobby Unser was in the #90 pits but needed a caution to make the switch but at 75 miles it was still green. Al led Lloyd, Roger, Gordy, Ronnie, Arnie -1, Gary -1, Sam -2, Mel -2 and Sonny -2.
Well at the leaders 95th lap Sonny and Johnny wrecked each other in turn 3 but not bad as it appears the caution would be quick. Mike Mosley is in and Bobby Unser goes back out to the fight but down as the green comes out.
Al Unser’s Turbo-Ford did not like this and started to sour as Lloyd Ruby jumped him and took the lead. With 15 cars still running it was going to be a race to survive.
At 100 Miles:
5 Al Unser Retzloff Chemical #24 1968 Lola-Turbo Ford 4WD
25 Lloyd Ruby Gene White Firestone 1968 Mongoose-Turbo/Offy
8 Roger McCluskey G.C. Murphy 1968 Eagle-Turbo/Offy
4 Gordon Johncock Gilmore Broadcasting 1968 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
45 Ronnie Buckman Weinberger Homes #45 1968 Eagle Turbo/Offy
24 Arnie Knepper Retzloff Chemical #5 1967 Lola-Turbo/Ford -1
11 Gary Bettenhausen Thermo-King 1968 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -1
16 George Snider/Mario Andretti Thermo King Auto Air #16 Gerhardt Turbo/Offy -2
38 Jim McElreath Jack Adams Aircraft #83 1965 Brawner-Turbo Offy -2
14 Sam Sessions Quaker State-Caves Buick 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -2
98 Billy Vukovich Wagner-Lockheed 1966 Shrike-Turbo/Offy -4
15 Mel Kenyon City of Lebanon 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -4
90 Mike Mosley Leader Card Zecol-Lubaid 1968 Watson-Turbo/Offy -8
21 Larry Dickson Bryant Heating and Cooling 1968 Vollstedt/T-Ford -8
10 Bud Tingelstad Federal Engineering 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -12

From 101 laps on Ruby was on a rail and running away from the field as Al started to fall back and is in the pits on east side of the track on lap 121 with a blown engine. Knepper comes in right behind him. Arnie Knepper gets out at Al Unser is in. Then a bizarre thing occurs, the #5 car is pushed across the Start/Finish line to complete another lap, while its driver is completing the same lap in another car, another one of those Relief Driver incidents. Ronnie Buckman had been in the pits and lost time and went back out and back in and out of the race. Mel Kenyon’s day came to an end also with both completing 128 miles. Then Al Unser blew up the relief ride and got scored as completing 136 miles and getting scored in 12th. With the 20 points earned, Knepper got 12 and Unser got 8.
Many cars at this point were very sick, Tingelstad, Bobby and Larry Dickson have been in and out of the pits but the story was becoming the #16 car as he is running strong. On the 141st lap the second place runner Roger McCluskey blew his engine and got scored 11th.
At 150 Miles:
25 Lloyd Ruby Gene White Firestone 1968 Mongoose-Turbo/Offy
11 Gary Bettenhausen Thermo-King 1968 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -1
16 George Snider/Mario Andretti Thermo King Auto Air #16 Gerhardt Turbo/Offy -2
38 Jim McElreath Jack Adams Aircraft #83 1965 Brawner-Turbo Offy -3
4 Gordon Johncock Gilmore Broadcasting 1968 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -3
14 Sam Sessions Quaker State-Caves Buick 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -4
98 Billy Vukovich Wagner-Lockheed 1966 Shrike-Turbo/Offy -5
21 Larry Dickson Bryant Heating and Cooling 1968 Vollstedt/T-Ford -10
90 Mike Mosley Leader Card Zecol-Lubaid 1968 Watson-Turbo/Offy -12
10 Bud Tingelstad Federal Engineering 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -18
This race was Lloyd’s to win as he was a lap and a half ahead of Gary and over two ahead of Mario in the #16. Everyone else was just putting in laps to finish the race as high as they could.
At Lap 175 the results were Ruby, Gary -2, Andretti -3, Vukovich -6, Sessions, -7, McElreath -7, Johncock -9, Dickson -20, B. Unser -22 and Tingelstad -33. Shortly there after Ruby began to slow for some reason as he was signaling his pits that it appeared his left rear tire was deflating. The Dave Laycock crew got ready as Lloyd led lap 183 and in turn one the tire deflated. He slowly made his way to the east end of the pits. Gary is now down one lap and Lloyd is not in the pits yet. Once stopped, the crew is having difficulty getting the tire off and Gary is now on the lead lap and things are still not going well. Before Lloyd can get back out Gary is leading and up a lap on Lloyd and pulling away. Lloyd is able to maintain second as this was a three lap turn around and Mario was a lap down but just ahead of Gary Bettenhausen.
All Gary had to do was finish now 15 miles, a Sprint Car race and he would win his first race on the Championship Trail and would be the only driver this season to win in three divisions in 1968. (Sprints and Midgets)
Soon it was 10 miles as he is a lap and half ahead of Lloyd and Mario just in front of him. Then 5 miles as Gary’s car handling is going away as Lloyd is closing the distance to a lap and a quarter. With 2 miles to go there is a problem with the #11 Thermo King car as Lloyd is getting close to un-lapping himself.
White Flag and Gary is slowing way down as it appears he has multiple flat tires! Lloyd is back on the lead lap and is hustling. Gary is in turn three as Lloyd is entering turn two. In turn 4 Mario un-laps himself and is now on the lead lap.
Gary crosses the Finish line and stops as the only tire inflated was the right rear. Lloyd finished 2.5 seconds later and Mario 21 seconds behind Lloyd. Those were the only cars to finish the 200 miles and Gary averaged 104.972 as the caution flew once he came to a stop and then the red flag. Mario picked up 266 points, George 14 and Bobby got 40 points so Mario was now 304 points ahead with the second richest point race up next at Riverside.
Cars not finishing 200 Miles.
4. Billy Vukovich Wagner-Lockheed #98 (#97) 1966 Shrike-Turbo/Offy -3
5. Sam Sessions Quaker State-Caves Buick #14 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -4
6. Jim McElreath Jack Adams Aircraft #38 (#83) 1965 Brawner-Turbo Offy -4
7. Gordon Johncock Gilmore Broadcasting #4 1968 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -10
8. Larry Dickson Bryant Heating and Cooling #21 1968 Vollstedt/T-Ford -20
9. M. Mosley/Bobby Unser Leader Card Zecol-Lubaid #90 1968 Watson-Turbo/Offy -23
10. Bud Tingelstad Federal Engineering #10 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy -33

[Chris R]

Drivers Points after Phoenix:
1. Mario Andretti 4154****
2. Bobby Unser 3850***** -304
3. Lloyd Ruby 2549**
4. Al Unser 2492*****
5. Billy Vukovich 2230
6. A.J. Foyt 1860***
7. Gary Bettenhausen 1595*
8. Mel Kenyon 1355
9. Jim Malloy 1265
10. Sam Sessions 1260
11 Roger McCluskey 1208*
12. Dan Gurney 1200**
13. Gordon Johncock 1197**
14. Ronnie Buckman 1180*
15. Bud Tinglestad 1016
16. Wally Dallenbach 990
17. George Snider 919
18. Larry Dickson 890
19. Mike Mosley 860
20. Joe Leonard 850
21. Jim McElreath 751
22. Art Pollard 696
23. Johnny Rutherford 650
24. Sonny Ates 520
25. Ronnie Duman 400X
26. John Cannon 385
27. Max Dudley 305
28. Bill Puterbaugh 265
29. Bruce Walkup 240
30. Rick Muther 210
31. Arnie Knepper 208
32. Mark Donohue 200
33. George Benson 170
34. Bobby Grim 150
35. Carl Williams 150
36 Jerry Daniels 120
37. Bob Veith 100
38. Wib Spaulding 100
39. George Follmer 90
40. Chuck Booth 85
41. Keith Rachwitz 80
42. Lothar Motschenbacher 80
43. Tom Bigelow 80
44. Rollie Beale 80
45. Leon “Jigger” Sirois 75
46 Jack Eiteljorg 70
47. Bob Harkey 60
48. Chuck Hulse 60$
49. Bud Morley 50
50. Denny Zimmerman 50
51. Bob Hurt 45#
52. Ralph Liguori 40
53. Dempsey Wilson 30
54. Roger West 30
55. Bruce Jacobi 30
56. Al Smith 25
57. Ted Foltz 24
58. Wes Vandervoort 21
59. George Fejer 20
60 Paul Kleinschimdt 15
61. Malcom Brazier 12
62. Dr. Lou Sell 10
63. Bob Herring 9
64. Grier Manning 8
65. Ralph Bruning 6
66. Charlie Louderman 5


Car Owner Points after Phoenix:
1. Andretti Racing Team #2 (#64) Brawner Ford 480 T/Offy 1150* 1630*
2. Andretti Racing Team #2 Brawner III-Ford 1600**
3. Gene White #25 Mongoose OffyTC 1520**
4. Rislone #3 1968 Eagle OffyTC 1400*
5. Agajanian #98 Mongoose Ford 180 Offy TC 1450 1390
6. Thermo King Auto Air Cond/ City of Lebanon #15 Gerhardt OffyTC 1355
7. Thermo King Auto Air Cond #11 Gerhardt Ford 205 Offy TC 1065* 1270*
8. Gene White #25 (#6) Mongoose OffyTC 835 Ford 420 1255
9. Johncock Racing Team #4 Gerhardt OffyTC 1115** Ford 190 1205**
10. Retzloff Chemical #5 Lola Ford 1205
11. Olsonite #48 1968 Eagle Weslake 1200**
12. Rislone #3 1967 Eagle OffyTC 1200**
13. Quaker State #14 Gerhardt OffyTC 1135
14. Leader Card #90 Watson Offy TC 1090
15. Retzloff Chemical #5 (#24) 1968 Lola-Ford 4-WD 1080****
16. Jim Robbins Seat Belt #67 Vollstedt FordTC 30 Ford 1000 1030
17. Federal Engineering #10 Gerhardt OffyTC 900
18. Rislone #3 (#79) 1966 Eagle Ford 890*
19. Valvoline #54 Huffaker-Finley OffyTC 870
20. G. C. Murphy #8 Eagle Ford 315 T/Offy 555 870
21. Sheraton-Thompson #1 (#84) Coyote Ford 800*
22. Leader Card #90 (#86) Watson Ford 730
23. Weinberger Homes #45 Eagle/Ford 700
24. Overseas National Airways #2 1951 Kuzma-Offy 640*
25. Olsonite #42 1968 Eagle Ford 600
26. Jack Adams Aircraft #36 Lola-Ford 570
27. Sheraton-Thompson #1 1968 Foyt/Meskowski-Offy 560**
28. Cleaver-Brooks #59 Brabham-Hayhoe Offy TC 550
29. Thermo-King #11 1964 Ward-Offy 520
30. Bryant Heating and Cooling #21 (#17) 1967 Vollstedt-Ford 510
31. Wagner Lockheed #98 1960 Watson-Offy 500
32. Weinberger Homes #45(#8) 1968 Eagle Offy TC 500*
33. Sheraton-Thompson #1 Coyote Turbo/Ford 500*
34. Michner Petroleum #23 1966 Eagle- Ford 440
35. Vel’s Parnelli Jones--STP Oil Treatment #60 Lotus Turbine 425
36. Retzloff Chemical #5 1963 Dunlap-Offy 410*
37. Thermo King Auto Air Cond #16 Gerhardt Offy TC 380
38. Zecol-Lubaid #90 1963 Watson-Offy 360
39. Wagner-Lockheed #98 (#97) 1966 Shrike-Ford 360
40. Vel's Ford Sales #9 (#29) Mongoose Ford 350
41. Federal Engineering #31 Gerhardt OffyTC 350
42. G.C. Murphy #8 1959 Kuzma-Offy 320*
43. Weinberger Homes #45 1962 Blum-Offy 310
44. Dudley Trucking #61 Gerhardt Chevy 305
45. George R. Bryant #41 1967 Cheetah-Ford 270
46. California Speed Sport #87 1965 Halibrand-Offy 270
47. Jack Adams Aircraft #83 1965 Brawner-Turbo Offy 250
48. Ken Brenn #57 1960 Meskowski D-Offy 235
49. Jim Robbins Seat Belt #27 Vollstedt OffyTC 135 Ford 100 235
50. Midwest Manufacturing #84 1951 Kurtis 4000-Offy 220
51. STP Oil Treatment #20 1968 Lotus-Turbine 4-WD 210
52. Valvoline #94 Huffaker-Finley OffyTC 200
53. Sunoco #66 Lola-Chevy 200
54. City of Seattle #18 Eagle-Ford 180
55. Maxson #68 1959 Meskowski-Offy 170
56. Vargo Excavating #52 1960 Meskowski-Offy 150
57. Joe Hunt Magneto #99 Lesovsky D Offy 145
58. Ken Brenn #88 1966 Gerhardt-Ford 130
59. 59. Valvoline #54 1959 Vollstedt-Offy 120
60. Bulldog Stables #36 1965 Gerhardt-Chevy 110
61. Jim Robbins Seat Belt #67 1967 King-Ford 255.1 100
62. MVS #19 1964 Ward-Offy 100
63. Cleaver-Brooks #59 Edmunds-Turbo/Offy 100
64. Federal Engineering #10 1961 Meskowski-Offy 100
65. Bryant Heating and Cooling #21 1968 Vollstedt-Turbo Ford 100
66. Michner Petroleum #23 (#22) Lola Ford 90
67. S&D #20 1958 Meskowski-Offy 90
68. Boyce Holt Racing #44 1958 Turner D-Chevy 85
69. Lynch #55 Halibrand Offy 80
70. MVS #19 1967 Cecil-Ford 80
71. Vel's Ford Sales #9 Morris Ford TC 75
72. Debbie Drake #7 1966 Eisert-Chevy 70
73. Rislone #3 1960 Watson-Offy 60
74. Dayton Steel Wheel #77 1950 Silnes-Offy 60
75. McClure Plastic #31 1959 Vollstedt-Offy 60
76. Stewart-Warner Spl #71 1967 Marathon-Ford 50
77. Central Excavating #81 Gerhardt OffyTC 45
78. George R. Bryant #28 Cheetah Ford 40
79. T.D. Enterprises #58 1960 Lesovsky-Offy 40
80. E. R. E. Enterprises #96 Eisert Chevy 30
81. Greenman #51 Halibrand Chevy 30
82. Rislone #92 PP-Chevy 30*
83. Windmill Trucking #76 1950 Silnes-Offy 30
84. Steck 1966 Chenoweth Roadster-Chevy 25
85. Godwin Beverage #31 PP-Chevy 24
86. Rocky Mountain Paving #22 PP-Chevy 21
87. Chinook Mk VII #111 Chinook-Ford 20
88. Overseas National Airways #2 PP-Ford 18
89. Dayton Steel Wheel #77 Gerhardt Ford 15
90. Coors #4 PP-Cadillac 15
91. Gruenerwald Kearny Construction #61 PP-Buick 12
92. Wynn’s—Dick Smothers #39 1967 Eagle-Ford 10
93. Campo Construction #9 PP-Chevy 9
94. Agajanian Wagner Lockheed #98 (#97) Watson-Offy 8
95. Bruning Construction #26 PP-Ford 6
96. Bill Wynn #43 PP-Chevy 5

[Chris R]

Waldo's next installment:
This race would be the second biggest race of the 1968 in distance, 301.6, points 600 to win (4th at Indy) and 30 for 12th. So the entry list was a bit impressive. This race received a FULL FIA Sanction which allowed three drivers to enter on their F-1 or SCCA license. Jack Brabham brought the Jochen Rindt car from Indy and Skip Scott and Jerry Titus were driving “insurance policies” for Al Unser and Mario Andretti respectively.
The Rislone Team finally took delivery of the second car they bought that was kept by Dan Gurney at Indy. The AAR Team prepped the #42 car which was re-painted at the #3 Rislone Eagle-Ford. So Bobby Unser had a tool in his box as this car had not run other than filming for “Winning” since Denis Hulme ran fourth at the Speedway. With 600 points this car if it had a good day could help Bobby win the title and get into the Top 15 in Car Owner Points.
Bobby had a Leader Card two car effort that was confusing. The #90 car was really the #86 car and the #86 car was really the #90, with Mike Mosley and Don Brown up respectively.
Both Turbines were there for their swan song. USAC by cutting the intake annulus to 11.99 for 1969 from 15.99 would ruin this type of power. Andy was already announcing a new Stock Block effort for 1969 with Plymouth power.
John Mecom has announced he is selling his team after the season and getting out of the sport. A team that started in July 1965 with an ex-Agajanian Lola-Ford and Rodger Ward would win 7 races with Ward, Graham Hill and Al Unser plus one exhibition in Japan with Jackie Stewart. The Vel’s Parnelli Jones Team was buying the team and getting Al Unser and George Bignotti as part of the deal.

The Car Owners championship is wide open with anyone in the top 16 with a chance to win the title or share the title. With $100,000 to be split by the Top 25 and 600 points so anyone entered in the top 80 could get there and pick up a “grand”. If a Dan Gurney could repeat his 1967 win of this race and certain things were to happen he could move to 7th in the Driver Standings and win the Car Owners Championship with attending 4 weekends and 5 races.

Some new drivers making their first appearance were Bill Simpson in the #28 Cheetah-Ford and the surprise of Springfield, Joliet, Illinois’ Roger West in the Joe Hunt Dirt Car. With both cars having points will qualify before those scoring no points.

Entry for Riverside “Rex Mays 300”:
1. A.J. Foyt Jr. Sheraton-Thompson #84 1968 Coyote-Ford
2 Mario Andretti ONA 1968 Hawk III-Ford
3 Bobby Unser Rislone #42 1968 Eagle- Ford
4 Gordon Johncock Gilmore Broadcasting 1967 Eagle- Ford
5 Al Unser Retzloff Chemical 1968 Lola-Ford 4-WD
8 Roger McCluskey G.C. Murphy 1967 Eagle- Ford
9 John Cannon Vel’s Parnelli Jones #29 1967 Mongoose-Ford
11 Gary Bettenhausen Thermo-King 1968 Gerhardt- Ford
12 Mark Donohue Sunoco 1968 Lola-Chevy
14 Sam Sessions Quaker State-Caves Buick 1967 Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy
19 Arnie Knepper MVS 1967 Cecil-Ford
20 Art Pollard STP Oil Treatment 1968 Lotus-Turbine 4-WD
21 Wally Dallenbach Bryant Heating and Cooling 1967 Vollstedt-Ford
23 Johnny Rutherford Michner Petroleum 1966 Eagle-Ford
24 Skip Scott Retzloff Chemical #5 1967 Lola-Ford
25 Lloyd Ruby Gene White Firestone #6 1967 Mongoose-Ford
28 Bill Simpson Simpson Safety Equipment 1967 Cheetah-Ford
35 Jack Brabham Repco-Brabham 1968 Brabham-Repco
38 Jim McElreath Jack Adams Aircraft 1965 Brawner-Ford
39 Dr. Lou Sell Wynn’s—Dick Smothers 1967 Eagle-Ford
41 George Follmer George Follmer 1967 Cheetah/Ford
45 Ronnie Buckman Weinberger Homes Spl. 1967 Eagle/Ford
48 Dan Gurney Olsonite Eagle 1968 Eagle-Gurney/Weslake
50 Les Scott Navarro Injection 1964 Watson-Turbo/Rambler 6
51 Dempsey Wilson Greenman-Casale 1964 Halibrand Chevy
54 Rick Muther Valvoline 1968 Finley-Huffaker-Ford
55 Keith Rachwitz Lynch Mob 1965 Halibrand Offy
60 Joe Leonard Vel's Parnelli Jones--STP Oil Treatment 1968 Lotus-Turbine 4-WD
64 Jerry Titus ONA 1967 Hawk II-Ford
67 Jim Malloy Jim Robbins Seat Belt #27 1967 Vollstedt-Ford
69 Bud Morley Arcerio-Martin Racing 1965 Huffaker-Chevy
71 Don Schisler Stewart-Warner Spl 1967 Marathon-Ford
86 Don Brown Leader Card Zecol-Lubaid #90 1968 Watson-Turbo/Offy
88 Hamilton Vose Chevel Noir 1967 McKee-Chevy
90 Mike Mosley Leader Card Zecol-Lubaid #86 1967 Watson-Ford
93 Ludwig Heimrath Eisert Racing Enterprises 1966 Eisert-Chevy
96 Peter Revson Eisert Racing Enterprises 1968 Eisert-Chevy
98 Billy Vukovich Wagner-Lockheed 1968 Mongoose-Ford
99 Roger West Joe Hunt Magneto 1961 Lesovsky D Offy
101 Earl Dykes Earl Smith 1965 Gerhardt-Offy

[Chris R]

Waldo's note about Greg Weld:

(Current Notes)
One week ago, Greg Weld died of a heart attack in his native Kansas City, MO. He was 64 years old. He won 21 USAC Sprint Car races and was runner up by 2.5 points to Johnny Rutherford in 1965 Sprint Points and won the Title in 1967.
Drove Novis in 1966 at the Speedway but failed to qualify. Assigned and took a short ride in the #30 Turbine in 1968 just before Spence crashed that car to his death. He drove several races in 1968 and was in the Joe Hunt Magneto 1961 Lesovsky D Offy
in the PIR race.
In 1969 after Indy he qualified the #57 STP Gerhardt-Turbo/Offy at Milwaukee and survived the backstretch accident that wrecked nearly the whole field. It was started by teammate Art Pollard and since no laps were completed, Greg was taken out and restarted with Art Pollard and he went on to win the Mays 150. In 1968 he would have been credited with a win in 1969 because of zero laps it was like he wasn’t there. He drove a King/Plymouth Dirt Car at Springfield, DuQuoin, Hoosier 100 and Sacramento winning the pole for each race in the Day-Glo STP Entries.
He did qualify that car for the 1970 500 at the Art Pollard Auto Wash Spl but did not last long. He continued to try through 1973 but slid back to a successful wheel business.
Brothers Jerry drove Sprints and the first race at PIR and Kenny was the Pennsylvania Terror in Sprint Cars in the 1970s. They are now all dead and Weld Wheels was sold years ago.
He will be missed.