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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1976 USAC Championship Car Season (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1976)]] |
| |title=<center>1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic</center>
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| |image=1976trentontimesautoclassic1.png
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| |imagecaption=Gordon Johncock (pictured at the 1973 Indianapolis 500) won the event.
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic''''' (also known as the '''''1976 Trenton 200''''') was the eighth race of the 1976 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 15th August at the Trenton Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Gordon Johncock in a Wildcat-DGS, in an event shortened to 117 laps because of rain.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic'' was the eighth running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting just over 200 miles.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Trenton_200_%28August%29/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 20th Jun '22</ref> It was one of two 1976 USAC Championship Car Season races to commence at Trenton Speedway, the other being the Trentonian 200,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1976/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1976 USAC Championship Car Season schedule.] Retrieved 20th Jun '22</ref> [[1976 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)|which occurred on 2nd May and was won by Johnny Rutherford in a McLaren-Offenhauser]].<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Trentonian_200/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing results of the 1976 Trentonian 200.] Retrieved 20th Jun '22</ref> Trenton would host IndyCar races until 1979 before being dropped from the schedule, with the circuit being demolished in 1980.<ref>[https://www.racingcircuits.info/north-america/usa/trenton-speedway.html ''Racing Circuits'' detailing the history of the Trenton Speedway.] Retrieved 20th Jun '22</ref>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with A.J. Foyt winning the pole position in a Coyote-Foyt with a speed of 165.797 mph.<ref name="qualifying">[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/15/archives/foyt-wins-the-pole-position-for-todays-trenton-race-the-qualifiers.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Foyt winning the pole position.] Retrieved 20th Jun '22</ref><ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was Gordon Johncock, who was looking to redeem himself after having run out of fuel while leading at the Trenton 200,<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/16/archives/johncock-wins-race-at-trenton-johncock-captures-trenton-auto-race.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Johncock winning the race.] Retrieved 20th Jun '22</ref> with Parnelli-Cosworth's Al Unser lining up third out of 22 competitors.<ref name="qualifying"/><ref name="results"/> Among those who did not qualify was Eagle-Offenhauser's Bobby Unser, who missed his second consecutive Trenton race, this time because of an engine failure.<ref name="qualifying"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic commenced on 15th August.<ref name="results"/> Johncock shot into the lead on the opening lap, leading the next 13 laps before Foyt regained it on lap 14.<ref name="results"/> Foyt would then defend the first position for 29 laps, but during a caution period between laps 43-47, Johncock would be leading when the race resumed, holding it for the next 24 laps.<ref name="results"/> Foyt would again move back into first on lap 68, defending it for 22 laps.<ref name="results"/> On lap 90, Johncock achieved an overtake, but Foyt swiftly regained the lead a lap later.<ref name="results"/>
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| After 93 laps, Foyt attempted to pass Eagle-Offenhauser's Bill Simpson on the third curve, but his attempt ended in disaster when his car swerved into the wall.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> An angry Foyt retired from the spot because of a broken suspension, and blamed Simpson, stating "Simpson got me into the wall. The suspension of the car is too badly damaged to continue the race."<ref name="nyt"/> A caution period emerged, with Unser leading five laps, before Johncock took over before the start of the next green flag on lap 99.<ref name="results"/> For the final 20 laps, a duel between Johncock and Unser emerged, the latter providing significant pressure.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> However, Johncock remained in the lead by the time the race's final four laps were ran under caution because of rain.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> The race did not restart, meaning it was shortened by 17 laps.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Johncock therefore claimed his third Trenton victory and around $14,000 in prize money.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Unser took second, with McLaren-Offenhauser's Tom Sneva taking third.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''IndyCar on TV'', the race would be the first since the [[1966 Trenton 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)|1966 Trenton 150]] to be televised by CBS.<ref name="indycar">[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1976/1976-trenton-200-august ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the CBS broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 20th Jun '22</ref><ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1966/1966-trenton-150 ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the CBS broadcast of the 1966 Trenton 150.] Retrieved 20th Jun '22</ref> It received live flag-to-flag coverage, although the race's start was delayed by 30 minutes because CBS needed to finish its Republican National Convention coverage.<ref name="indycar"/> The broadcast has yet to resurface however, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available.
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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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| *[[1976 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1977 American Parts 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Michigan Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Texas Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1978 Coors 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy (partially found CBS and BBC One footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1979 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 California 500 (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 Gould Grand Prix (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1980 Miller High Life 150 (partially found footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Primera Copa Mexico 150 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1981 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (lost CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1996 Las Vegas 500K (partially lost footage of IRL Season race; 1996)]]
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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:Completely lost media]]
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