1970 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)
The 1970 Rex Mays Classic (also known as the 1970 Milwaukee 150) was the fifth race of the 1970 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 7th June at the Milwaukee Mile, the race would ultimately be won by Joe Leonard in a Colt-Ford, climbing the field after starting ninth.
Background
The 1970 Rex Mays Classic was the 21st running of the race, the annual event being held in honour of Rex Mays, a two-time AAA champion who saved fellow racer Duke Dinsmore's life during the 1948 Milwaukee 100.[1] It was one of two 1970 USAC Championship Car Season races to be held at Milwaukee Mile,[2] the other being the 1970 Tony Bettenhausen 200, which occurred on 23rd August and was won by Al Unser in a Colt-Ford.[3] Lasting 150 miles,[4] the Rex May Classic would commence on an annual basis until it was renamed from 1988 onwards.[5]
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Mario Andretti winning the pole position in a McNamara-Ford with a speed of 119.36 mph.[6][4] Directly behind him was Coyote-Ford's A.J. Foyt, with Al Unser lining up third in a Colt-Ford.[4] Joe Leonard started on the fifth row by qualifying ninth out of 24 competitors.[7][4]
The Race
With the starting order decided, the 1970 Rex Mays Classic commenced on 7th June.[4] Unser shot into the lead on the opening lap, holding it for 60 laps, while Foyt retired after 18 because of an oil leak.[4] On lap 61, Roger McCluskey assumed the first position in a Scorpion-Ford, maintaining it for the longest uninterrupted duration for this event at 81 laps.[4] However, Leonard climbed the order, and by lap 140, was able to challenge McCluskey for the lead.[7][4] He eventually achieved a lead change after 142 laps, edging out McCluskey and Unser to claim victory and $15,928 in prize money.[4][7] McCluskey finished second, while Unser held on to take third.[4][7]
Availability
According to IndyCar on TV, the full 2-hour race was televised live by the TVS Television Network, the network syndicating sports programs to 185 television stations.[8] But of twelve IndyCar races to have been televised by TVS, none are currently publicly available. Nevertheless, photos of the event remain viewable.
On March 10th, 2032, YouTuber IanPerez2000 uploaded a ten minute highlight of the race, having gotten it from user FormulaFox, who uploaded the "USAC Championship Cars 1970 Season Highlights" video.
Gallery
Video
Image
See Also
- 1962 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)
- 1962 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)
- 1963 Trenton 100 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)
- 1963 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)
- 1964 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)
- 1964 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)
- 1965 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)
- 1965 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)
- 1966 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)
- 1966 Trenton 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)
- 1967 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1967)
- 1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)
- 1968 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)
- 1969 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)
- 1969 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)
- 1969 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)
- 1970 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)
- 1970 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)
- 1970 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)
- 1970 Rocky Mountain 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)
- 1970 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)
- 1971 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)
- 1971 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)
- 1971 Marlboro 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)
- 1971 Michigan 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)
- 1971 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)
- 1971 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)
- 1971 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)
- 1972 Best Western Motels 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)
- 1972 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)
- 1972 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)
- 1972 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)
- 1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)
- 1972 Trenton Times 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)
- 1972 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)
- 1973 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)
- 1973 Texas 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)
- 1974 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)
- 1974 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)
- 1974 Trentonian 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)
- 1975 Bricklin 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)
- 1975 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)
- 1975 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)
- 1976 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)
- 1976 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)
- 1976 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)
- 1976 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)
- 1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)
- 1976 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)
- 1977 American Parts 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)
- 1977 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)
- 1977 Michigan Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)
- 1977 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)
- 1977 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)
- 1977 Texas Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)
- 1977 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)
- 1978 Coors 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)
- 1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)
- 1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy (partially found CBS and BBC One footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)
- 1978 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)
- 1979 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)
- 1979 California 500 (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)
- 1979 Gould Grand Prix (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)
- 1980 Miller High Life 150 (partially found footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)
- 1980 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)
- 1980 Primera Copa Mexico 150 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)
- 1980 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)
- 1981 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (lost CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1981)
- 1981 Pocono 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1981)
- 1996 Las Vegas 500K (partially lost footage of IRL Season race; 1996)
- Indianapolis 500 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)
- Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)
References
- ↑ Motorsports Hall of Fame detailing how the race was renamed in honour of Rex Mays. Retrieved 13th May '22
- ↑ Racing-Reference detailing the 1970 USAC Championship Car Season schedule. Retrieved 13th May '22
- ↑ Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1970 Tony Bettenhausen 200. Retrieved 13th May '22
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Racing-Reference detailing the qualifying and race results of the event. Retrieved 13th May '22
- ↑ Race Department noting the Rex May Classic name lasted from 1950 to 1987. Retrieved 13th May '22
- ↑ The New York Times reporting on Andretti winning the pole position. Retrieved 13th May '22
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 The New York Times reporting on Leonard winning the race. Retrieved 13th May '22
- ↑ IndyCar on TV detailing the TVS Television Network broadcast of the race. Retrieved 13th May '22