1960 – Foyt Takes Sun Valley Feature

A.J. Foyt is surrounded by his fans after winning the 50-lap USAC 110-Offy Midget feature at Sun Valley Speedway. 

Anderson, Ind. (June 10, 1960) – Charging from the seventh spot, A.J. Foyt of Houston, Tex., grabbed the lead on the 22nd lap and held it the remainder of the way to win the 50-lap feature race on the United States Auto Club 110-Offy speed show Friday night at Sun Valley Speedway.

Run under the co-promotion of Leroy Warriner and Gene Hartley, a couple of better-than-average chauffeurs themselves, the program marked the return of what was formerly called midgets but now are known as 110 Offies to the local speed plant.

John White of Warren, Mich., well known to race fans of this vicinity through his many appearances here with the All-American Racing Club's sprint cars in the “Little 500” classic, led from his pole position starting spot until passed by Foyt on the 22nd turn of Joe Helpling's quarter-mile, high-banked asphalt speed layout.

Then, on the 45th lap, Jim Packard of Indianapolis, who started eighth but jumped to third in 10 laps, got around White and hung on to grab runner-up money. White, staving off a desperate late bid by Jimmy Davies, held third and Warriner followed Davies home for fifth money.

Anderson's Jim McWithey and “Rapid Richard” Frazier of Muncie, both highly popular performers at the local track for a number of years, fared badly in the main event.

McWithey, after winning the third 10-lap heat race of the night, was forced out of the feature after 31 laps when his motor went sour and Frazier retired earlier, on the 11th turn of the track, with a broken rear axle.

Other than McWithey, heat races went to Warriner, Jim Hurtubise of Lennox, Calif., the “rookie of the year” for this year’s Indianapolis Memorial Day event, and Davies. Les Scott of Pacoima, Calif., won the 10-lap semi-feature race.

In the only accident of the night, Carl Williams of Kansa City spun going into turn three on the first lap of the second heat, hit the guardrail, bounced off and spun again, slid sideways on the high-banked turn, and then rolled over down the inclined turn. The car ended up on its wheels and William wanted to resume action on the restart but was checked by medical personnel. He did manage to return and finished eighth in the semi and 15th in the feature.


Results –


1. A.J. Foyt
2. Jim Packard
3. Johnny White
4. Leroy Warriner
5. Jimmy Davies