1977 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977): Difference between revisions

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(Wally Dallenbach wins his first USAC Championship race since the 1973 California 500, after overtaking Gordon Johncock with six laps remaining!)
 
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*[[1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic (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)]]
*[[1976 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
*[[1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]  
*[[1977 American Parts 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
*[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost televised footage of IndyCar race; 1981)]]  
*[[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)]]
*[[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 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)]]  
*[[Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)]]
*[[Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)]]

Revision as of 13:39, 4 July 2022

1977trenton2001.jpg

Program for the race.

Status: Lost

The 1977 Trentonian 200 (also known as the 1977 Trenton 200) was the fourth race of the 1977 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 30th April at the Trenton Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Wally Dallenbach, after overtaking fellow Wildcat-DGS driver Gordon Johncock with six laps remaining.

Background

The 1977 Trentonian 200 was the 16th running of the event, with the annual race lasting just over 200 miles.[1] The only 1977 USAC Championship Car Season race to commence at Trenton Speedway following the cancellation of the Machinists Union 150 because of rain,[2][3] the speedway would host IndyCar races until 1979 before being dropped from the schedule, with the circuit being demolished in 1980.[4]

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with previous year's winner and McLaren-Cosworth driver Johnny Rutherford winning the pole position with a speed of 168.961 mph.[1] Directly behind him was McLaren-Offenhauser's Mario Andretti, with Tom Sneva lining up third in a McLaren-Cosworth.[1] Wally Dallenbach qualified seventh out of 17 competitors.[5][1] The race was to occur on 24th April, but rain postponed it until the 30th.[6][7][1]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1977 Trentonian 200 commenced on 30th April.[1] Andretti shot into the lead on the first lap, holding it for the next 29 before Rutherford moved back into the first position on lap 30.[1] Rutherford then remained in front for 45 laps, Andretti meanwhile retiring after 37 due to an engine failure.[1] Rutherford would then be passed by Johncock, the latter leading for 11 laps, with Rutherford moving by again on lap 86 before Johncock retook it two laps later.[1] Johncock then controlled the next 41 laps, with Rutherford exiting the race after completing 104 laps following an engine failure that also triggered a caution period between laps 105-107.[1]

Johncock remained in front on the restart, but Dallenbach had climbed the order and proved to be the main challenger for the lead.[5][1] After being cut off by Johncock a few times on the straightaway, he ultimately achieved the final lead change on lap 129, when Johncock was forced to concede to avoid an accident on Turn 1.[5][1] Dallenbach successfully defended it for the final six laps to claim victory and $14,000 in prize money.[5][1] Johncock took second, with Eagle-Offenhauser's Mike Mosley finishing third.[5][1] Post-race, Dallenbach admitted his qualifying result might have limited his chances, stating "Starting that far back, I didn't think I had a chance."[5] He also detailed his gameplan against Johncock, explaining "Racing Gordy is sort of like having a four‐pound bass on the line, you just have to hope you can wear him down a little bit."[5] This also marked Dallenbach's first USAC Championship victory since winning the 1973 California 500.[5]

Availability

According to IndyCar on TV, the race received live coverage from ABC, with an airing originally being planned for 24th April prior to the postponement.[7] The broadcast has yet to resurface however, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available.

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Racing-Reference detailing the qualifying and race results of the event. Retrieved 24th Jun '22
  2. ↑ Racing-Reference detailing the 1977 USAC Championship Car Season schedule. Retrieved 24th Jun '22
  3. ↑ The New York Times reporting on the 1977 Machinists Union 150 being cancelled. Retrieved 24th Jun '22
  4. ↑ Racing Circuits detailing the history of the Trenton Speedway. Retrieved 24th Jun '22
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 The New York Times reporting on Dallenbach winning the race. Retrieved 24th Jun '22
  6. ↑ The New York Times reporting on the race being postponed because of rain. Retrieved 24th Jun '22
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 IndyCar on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the race. Retrieved 24th Jun '22
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