Monday, June 24, 2024

1973 – Jan, Kenny Give USACers ‘Lesson’


Jan Opperman



Mechanicsburg, Penn. (June 24, 1973) – It was another embarrassing night for the United States Auto Club sprint car regulars at Williams Grove Speedway on Sunday night as super sprint stars Jan Opperman and Kenny Weld gave a sterling 1-2 performance in the 40-lap main event.

Ironically, the best performance by any of the traveling USAC circuit drivers was by Billy Cassella, the young charger from Weirton, W.Va., who got his start on the mid-state super sprint circuit.

Opperman finished 5.7-seconds ahead of Weld, much to the delight of the area fans.

After Cassella came Rollie Beale of Toledo, Ohio, with Lee Kunzman of Guttenberg, Iowa, winner of last year’s Grove USAC race, finishing fifth.

Another Grove star, Lee Osborne of Lebanon, finished sixth.

It was the initial USAC success for Opperman, who passed Cassella on lap 14. One lap later, Weld got around Cassella foe second place and then gave Opperman a tough time until the lone yellow flag waved on lap 27. From there on, Opperman was in cruise control.

Opperman pushed his Bogar mount to a qualifying record of 23.73 seconds.


Results –


1. Jan Opperman
2. Kenny Weld
3. Billy Cassella
4. Rollie Beale
5. Lee Kunzman
6. Lee Osborne
7. Larry Cannon
8. Joe Saldana
9. Duane Carter
10.Don Nordhorn


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