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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1976 USAC Championship Car Season (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1976)]] |
| |title=<center>1976 Bobby Ball 150</center>
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| |image=1976bobbyball1501.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1976 Bobby Ball 150''''' was the final race of the 1976 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 7th November at the Phoenix International Raceway, the race would ultimately be won by Al Unser in a Parnelli-Cosworth, after overtaking Wildcat-DGS' Gordon Johncock on lap 89. Johncock's second place however was enough for him to secure his sole USAC Championship.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1976 Bobby Ball 150'' was the 27th running of the event, with the annual race lasting 150 miles.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Bobby_Ball_150/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 17th Jun '22</ref> It was one of two 1976 USAC Championship Car Season races to commence at Phoenix International Raceway, the other being the Jimmy Bryan 150,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1976/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1976 USAC Championship Car Season schedule.] Retrieved 17th Jun '22</ref> [[1976 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)|which occurred on 14th March and was won by Bobby Unser in an Eagle-Offenhauser]].<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Jimmy_Bryan_150/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing results of the 1976 Jimmy Bryan 150.] Retrieved 17th Jun '22</ref> The race, named in memory of AAA driver Bobby Ball,<ref name="bobby">[http://www.midwestracingarchives.com/2019/01/the-bobby-ball-memorial.html ''Midwest Racing Archives'' detailing the origins of the Bobby Ball race.] Retrieved 17th Jun '22</ref> would have ties with Phoenix events like the Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix, before Phoenix races were dropped from the IndyCar schedule after 2018 following low attendance.<ref>[https://eu.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2018/06/22/indycar-not-return-phoenix-2019/727625002/ ''IndyStar'' reporting on Phoenix races being dropped from the IndyCar schedule after 2018.] Retrieved 17th Jun '22</ref>
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| Heading into the event, McLaren-Offenhauser's Johnny Rutherford led the USAC Championship with 4,220 points.<ref name="previous">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Benihana_World_Series_of_Auto_Racing/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the points standings heading into the race.] Retrieved 17th Jun '22</ref> In second was Gordon Johncock, who was the only other driver that remained in contention.<ref name="previous"/> Standing with 4,000 points, Johncock required a turnaround of more than 220 points to secure the title.<ref name="previous"/> If he were to win the event and thus score 300 points, he needed Rutherford to finish eighth or lower.<ref name="results"/> If he finished second and scored 240 points, he needed Rutherford to finish 12th or lower.<ref name="results"/> Rutherford would become champion regardless of his performance at the race if Johncock finished third or lower.<ref name="results"/>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Bobby Unser winning the pole position with a speed of 141.287 mph.<ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was Johncock, with McLaren-Offenhauser's Mario Andretti lining up third.<ref name="results"/> Rutherford qualified sixth, while Al Unser started 10th out of 22 competitors.<ref name="results"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1976 Bobby Ball 150 commenced on 7th November.<ref name="results"/> Unser maintained his lead from the start, holding it for 15 laps before being passed by Johncock on lap 16.<ref name="results"/> Johncock led for the next 33 laps, with Unser retiring after 32 laps due to an engine failure.<ref name="results"/> During a caution period from laps 47-61, Johncock briefly lost the lead to Andretti following a pitstop, but regained it a lap later.<ref name="results"/> When the race resumed on lap 62, Johncock would defend the first position until Al Unser moved past on lap 89, in what proved to be the final lead change.<ref name="results"/>
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| Despite losing the first position, Johncock's chances of securing the title increased significantly when Rutherford retired after 111 laps because of a broken oil line.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/11/08/archives/dixie-500-auto-race-to-marcis.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Unser winning the race and Johncock winning the Championship.] Retrieved 17th Jun '22</ref><ref name="results"/> Thus, providing he remained in the top two, Johncock would be champion.<ref name="results"/> Ultimately, Unser claimed victory and $10,206 in prize money.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Johncock was able to hold off Andretti to finish second, thus claiming the title with a 20-point difference to Rutherford.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/standings/1976/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the final standings of the 1976 USAC Championship Car Season.] Retrieved 17th Jun '22</ref><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Andretti took third, being the only other driver on the lead lap.<ref name="results"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''IndyCar on TV'', the race was originally going to be televised live by ABC.<ref name="indycar">[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1976/1976-bobby-ball-150 ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 17th Jun '22</ref> However, ABC instead opted to broadcast 45 minutes on 4th December 1976 as part of its ''Wide World of Sports'', alongside the World Professional Skiing Championships.<ref name="indycar"/> The broadcast has yet to fully resurface, although over 11 minutes of it can be found on YouTube.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Video===
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| {{Video|perrow =1
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| |service1 =youtube
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| |id1 =wt0kPKO1I8s
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| |description1 =Part of the ABC broadcast.
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| }}
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1962 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1962 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1963 Trenton 100 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1963 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1964 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1965 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1965 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1966 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1966 Trenton 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1967 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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| *[[1968 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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| *[[1969 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1969 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1969 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1970 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Rocky Mountain 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1971 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Marlboro 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Michigan 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1972 Best Western Motels 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Trenton Times 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1973 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1973 Texas 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1974 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Trentonian 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1975 Bricklin 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost televised footage of IndyCar race; 1981)]]
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| *[[Indianapolis 500 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)]]
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| *[[Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
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| [[Category:Partially found media]]
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