1971 – Engelhart a Winner at Sun Prairie

 

Bill Engelhart waves to the crowd from victory lane after winning the 40-lap USAC midget feature. Legendary promoter A.J. Agajanian is on the right.

Sun Prairie, Wis. (August 29, 1971) – Bill Engelhart, formerly of Madison, showed race fans that he still knew how to drive the Angell Park Speedway clay oval by storming to first place in the United States Auto Club 40-lap midget feature on Sunday evening.

Engelhart, who cut his racing teeth at Angell Park, stole the lead from USAC midget point leader Danny Caruthers, Anaheim, Calif., on the 21st circuit and was never headed. The Brownsburg, Ind., transplant also won a heat race was second fastest in qualifying.

Engelhart abandoned his usual mount for a ride in D.J. Caruthers #1 car and he drove it with skillful abandon. He lapped several cars including his own red #6 which was driven by local favorite Lars Lein of Cambridge.

Milwaukee’s Mel Cornett, another Angell Park veteran, held the lead for the first 14 laps before Caruthers took over the top spot. Seven laps later, Engelhart flashed past Caruthers for the lead and never relinquished it.

The Caruthers racing team’s bid for a one-two finish died on lap 38 when Danny spun into the infield and collided with Merle Bettenhausen on a vain attempt to get back into the race.

All was not lost for Danny Caruthers, however, as he set fast time and won his heat race. Other heat winners were Cornett, and Tom Bigelow of Whitewater, Wis. Billy Shuman of Phoenix, Ariz., won the trophy dash and Gary Ponzini of Morgan Hills, Calif., won the semi-feature.


Results –


Time trials – Danny Caruthers (16.69)
Trophy dash – Billy Shuman
Heat #1 – Danny Caruthers
Heat #2 – Bill Engelhart
Heat #3 – Mel Cornett
Heat #4 – Tom Bigelow
Semi – Gary Ponzini
Feature –
1. Bill Engelhart
2. Bill Renshaw
3. Mel Cornett
4. Billy Shuman
5. Bob Lithgow
6. Jim McClean
7. Tom Bigelow
8. Al Moldenhauer
9. John Batts
10.Gary Ponzini