James
McElreath (left) is joined by his father Jim after winning the USAC sprint car season
opener at Salem Speedway.
Salem, Ind. (March 20, 1977) – Young James McElreath led from start to finish to capture the United States Auto Club’s season opening sprint car show on the high banks of Salem Speedway.
McElreath, whose father, Indianapolis 500 veteran Jim McElreath, serves as chief mechanic, took the green flag from the inside of the front row and led all 50 circuits for his third career USAC sprint car win.
Pavement toughie Bob Frey followed McElreath across the finish line, while ’73 titlist Rollie Beale was third. Gary Irvin came home fourth and ’76 dirt champ Billy Cassella rounded out the top five.
The feature had only one yellow flag and that came on the 41st circuit when Sheldon Kinser, running third, lost control coming off the fourth corner and spun into the infield. Kinser and machine were okay and restarted.
Defending champion Duane “Pancho” Carter had fast time in qualifying but lost an engine in his heat race. Carter’s crew had the motor out and replaced in 35 minutes and Pancho went out and won the semi-feature. However, 10 laps into the feature, he dropped out with mechanical issues.
Gary Bettenhausen, who has been working all winter on a new upright design, got to run only hot laps before USAC officials disqualified his machine for having illegal fuel tanks.
Results –
1. Jim McElreath
2. Bob Frey
3. Rollie Beale
4. Gary Irvin
5. Billy Cassella
6. Bruce Walkup
7. Joe Saldana
8. Jerry Weeks
9. Bill Engelhart
10.Jim Hettinger
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