West Allis, Wis. (September 10, 1978) - Bobby Unser, the hard-charging driver from Albuquerque, N.M., led much of the way Sunday and easily won the USAC-sanctioned Governor's Cup 250-mile stock car race as the event ended under the yellow flag at the Wisconsin State Fair Park track.
Unser, who hadn't won a stock car race since 1974, was leading Dave Watson, from Milton, by 13.5 seconds when the yellow flag came out seven laps from the finish on the paved one-mile oval. The victory earned Unser $7,885 - the winner's share of a record $41,400 purse.
A.J. Foyt, who leads the United States Auto Club point’s standings, finished third, one lap back. Foyt has 1,825 points for a 185-point lead over Terry Ryan going into the final race of the season in College Station, Texas, November 12.
Unser, in a 1978 Chevy Camaro, led 191 of the 250 laps, battling Foyt, who also drove a 1978 Camaro, in the early stages before Foyt was forced to make a series of pit stops because of tire problems. After that, Watson, in a 1977 Buick Skylark, challenged Unser through the middle stages of the race but could not take command.
Sal Tovella of Addision, Ill., was fourth, two laps back, in a 1977 Plymouth Volare, followed by Jim Sauter of Necedah, in a 1977 Dodge Aspen.
Unser said the race was especially satisfying for him because it had been so long since he'd been in a winner's circle.
"It was a very timely victory," Unser said. "It did me a lot of good. I know I'm a race driver, I've been a race driver for years, but I've had a hard time winning races lately. It always seems something's going wrong.
"I enjoyed the last race here, finishing second to Watson, because I was able to run all day," he added.
"And today I raced all day long, too. Winning this race did me a lot of good and the crew, too. We'd been fastest before, but couldn't stay together."
Results –
1. Bobby Unser
2. Dave Watson
3. A.J. Foyt
4. Sal Tovella
5. Jim Sauter
6. Bob Brevak
7. Bay Darnell
8. Gary Bowsher
9. Bob Schacht
10. Ramo Stott
11. Randy Ogden
12. Terry Ryan
13. Gordon Blankenship
14. Tom Schley
15. Rich Clement
16. Jack Bowsher
17. Rick O’ Brien
18. Eddie Wachs
19. Dale Koehler
20. Russ Peterson
21. Ken Miller
22. Charlie Glotzbach
23. Tom Meinberg
24. Terry Pearson
25. Carl Schultz
26. Ken Rowley
27. Gene Richards
28. Joe Ruttman
29. Don White
30. Rich Sundling
31. Fred Zack
32. Roger McCluskey
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