Bobby Unser
Kaukauna,
Wis. (August 8, 1971) – Bobby Unser of Albuquerque, N.M., made his debut on the
fast half-mile tri-oval a memorable one as he scored a well-deserved victory in
the Miller High Life 250-lap national championship on Sunday before a crowd of
more than 11,000.
The
curly-haired veteran of 23 seasons in the speed wars drove a 1971 Plymouth Road
Runner engineered by Ray Nichels and owned by millionaire Chris Vallo.
Unser’s
winning time was 1 hour, 39 minutes and 24.40 seconds, a new track record.
Unser shared
the lead with Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the fastest qualifier of the
day at 22.13 seconds (81.337 mph). Eaker led from the drop of the green through
112 laps when he pitted for fuel and tires. Unser then led from lap 113 until
the 130th circuit when he pitted for fuels and fresh tires as well.
Eaker would
reacquire the lead and stay there until lap 156 when he made an unexpected stop
for more fuel. That gave the lead back to Unser on lap 159 and he held it the
rest of the way.
Eaker was
more than three-quarters of a lap behind after his second stop and drove hard
to make up the deficit. But when he started to close in on Unser just past the
200-lap mark, the USAC veteran stomped a little harder on the gas and pulled
away to a safe margin. As the checkers waved, Unser had a 6.3 second lead over
Eaker.
Results –
1. Bobby Unser, Albuquerque, N.M.
2. Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
3. Roger McCluskey, Tucson, Ariz.
4. Dave Whitcomb, Valparaiso, Ind.
5. Sal Tovella, Addison, Ill.
6. Louie Burmeister, Butler, Wis.
7. Duane Maraschall, Shakopee, Minn.
8. Bay Darnell, Deerfield, Ill.
9. Fred Zack, Milwaukee
10. Dick
Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
11.
Dick
Beinlich, Prairie View, Ill.
12.
Otto
Richardson, Hammond, Ind.
13. Bruce
Jacobi, Salem, Ind.
14. Dave
Paczkowski, Kenosha, Wis.
15.
Jack
Bowsher, Springfield, Ohio.
16. Bill
Nelson, Minneapolis
17. Mark
Dinsmore, Covington, Ind.
18. Norm
Nelson, Racine, Wis.
19. Don
White, Keokuk, Iowa
20. Paul
Feldner, Richfield, Wis.
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