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{{short description|Auto race run in California in 1971}}
{{short description|Auto race held at Ontario Motor Speedway in 1971}}
{{NASCAR race season infobox
{{NASCAR race season infobox
| Type = CUST
| Type = CUST
Line 9: Line 9:
| Race_No = 5
| Race_No = 5
| Season_No = 48
| Season_No = 48
| Image =
| Image = Ontario Motor Speedway.png
| Caption = A [[Topography|topo]] view of what the Ontario Motor Speedway looked like
| Caption =
| Official name = Miller High Life 500
| Official name = Miller High Life 500
| Location = [[Ontario Motor Speedway]], [[Ontario, California]]
| Location = [[Ontario Motor Speedway]], [[Ontario, California]]
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}}
}}


The '''1971 Miller High Life 500''' was a [[NASCAR]] [[Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series|Winston Cup Series]] (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) event that took place at [[Ontario Motor Speedway]] in [[Ontario, California]].<ref name="1971mhl500">{{cite web | url = http://www.racing-reference.info/race?id=1971-05&series=W| title = 1971 Miller High Life 500 information | publisher = Racing Reference | date = | accessdate = 2009-10-21}}</ref>
The '''1971 Miller High Life 500''' was a [[NASCAR]] [[Winston Cup Series]] event that took place at [[Ontario Motor Speedway]] in [[Ontario, California]].<ref name="1971mhl500">{{cite web | url = http://www.racing-reference.info/race?id=1971-05&series=W| title = 1971 Miller High Life 500 information | publisher = Racing Reference | date = | accessdate = 2009-10-21}}</ref>

The race car drivers still had to commute to the races using the same stock cars that competed in a typical weekend's race through a policy of [[homologation (motorsport)|homologation]] (and under their own power). This policy was in effect until roughly 1975. By 1980, NASCAR had completely stopped tracking the year model of all the vehicles and most teams did not take stock cars to the track under their own power any more.


==Race report==
==Race report==
Two hundred laps were taken on a paved [[oval track racing|oval track]] spanning {{convert|2.500|mi|km}}.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> The total time of the race was three hours, forty-three minutes, and thirty-six seconds.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> This would be the first event to ever take place at Ontario Speedway. The day of the race was February 28, 1971.<ref name="1971mhl500"/>
Two hundred laps were raced on the paved [[oval track racing|oval track]] spanning {{convert|2.500|mi|km}}.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> The total time of the race was three hours, forty-three minutes, and thirty-six seconds.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> Held on February 28, 1971, this would be the first stock car event to take place at Ontario Motor Speedway.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> The only Cup race with a driver from Utah entered.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> Art Pollard was a DNQ and the sole Utahan to enter a national level NASCAR race until Michael Self's Xfinity starts 44 years later.<ref name="1971mhl500"/>


Average speed was {{convert|134.168|mi/h}} and the pole position speed was {{convert|151.711|mi/h}}.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> There were five cautions for 21 laps and the margin of victory was 8½ seconds.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> With an attendance of nearly seventy-nine thousand people, the race was well attended even by modern standards.<ref name="1971mhl500"/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/races/results/1971/ontario-motor-speedway/miller-high-life-500/1216| title = 1971 Miller High Life 500 information (third reference) | publisher = Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet | date = | accessdate = 2011-05-06}}</ref> Eleven notable crew chiefs were recorded as being a part of this event; including [[Paul Goldsmith]], [[Richard Elder]], [[Harry Hyde]], [[Dale Inman]], Lee Gordon and [[Paul Burchard]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.racing-reference.info/entrylist/1971-05/enwiki/w/C| title = 1971 Miller High Life 500 crew chief information | publisher = Racing Reference | date = | accessdate = 2017-06-17}}</ref>
The average speed was {{convert|134.168|mi/h}} and the pole position speed was {{convert|151.711|mi/h}}.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> There were five cautions for 21 laps and the margin of victory was 8½ seconds.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> With an attendance of nearly seventy-nine thousand people.<ref name="1971mhl500"/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/races/results/1971/ontario-motor-speedway/miller-high-life-500/1216| title = 1971 Miller High Life 500 information (third reference) | publisher = Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet | date = | accessdate = 2011-05-06}}</ref> Notable crew chiefs at this event included [[Paul Goldsmith]], [[Richard Elder]], [[Harry Hyde]], [[Dale Inman]], Lee Gordon and [[Paul Burchard]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.racing-reference.info/entrylist/1971-05/enwiki/w/C| title = 1971 Miller High Life 500 crew chief information | publisher = Racing Reference | date = | accessdate = 2017-06-17}}</ref>


In the 51-man entire racing grid, there were 50 [[United States|American]]s and only one [[Mexico|Mexican]] (by the name of [[Pedro Rodríguez (racing driver)|Pedro Rodríguez]] who finished in 47th due to an electrical fault).<ref name="1971mhl500"/> It was the 1000th race ever to be accomplished in NASCAR history. Rodríguez would retire from the NASCAR Winston Cup Series after his race here. [[Dean Dalton]] would finish in last place due to being black flagged and disqualified on lap 2. The only car in the same league with Foyt was Freddie Lorenzen until Lorenzen's engine blew and he crashed on the front straight with a fire. At the end, Petty had a chance to win, but he missed his pit under the green flag and had to come back in and finished third. Foyt won the first two Ontario races.<ref name="1971mhl500"/>
In the 51-car racing grid, there were 50 [[United States|American]]s and one [[Mexico|Mexican]], [[Pedro Rodríguez (racing driver)|Pedro Rodríguez]] who finished in 47th due to an electrical fault.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> It was the 1000th race in NASCAR history. It would be Rodríguez' final NASCAR Winston Cup Series start. [[Dean Dalton]] would finish in last place due to being black flagged and disqualified on lap 2. The only car in the same league with Foyt was [[Fred Lorenzen]] until Lorenzen's engine blew and he crashed on the front straight with a fire. At the end, Petty had a chance to win, but he missed his pit under the green flag and had to come back in and finished third. Foyt won the first two Ontario races.<ref name="1971mhl500"/>


The total winnings of the race were considered to be $180,200 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|180200|1971|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation) - making it the biggest non-[[Daytona 500|Daytona]] purse during that era.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> Manufacturers involved in the event included [[Chevrolet]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Dodge]], [[Mercury (automobile)|Mercury]], and [[Plymouth (automobile)|Plymouth]].<ref name="1971mhl500"/> Other notable drivers included [[Elmo Langley]], [[Fred Lorenzen]], and [[Ron Hornaday, Sr.]] (whose [[Ron Hornaday, Jr.|son]] is a four-time [[Camping World Truck Series|Craftsman Truck Series]] champion).<ref name="1971mhl500"/> [[Marty Kinerk]] would also retire after this race along with Jim McElreath, Pedro Rodríguez and Johnny Steele.<ref>[http://www.race-database.com/results/results.php?year=1971&race=5&series_id=2 Drivers who retired after this race] at Race Database</ref>
The total winnings of the race were $180,200 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|180200|1971|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation) - making it the biggest non-[[Daytona 500|Daytona]] purse during that era.<ref name="1971mhl500"/> Manufacturers involved in the event included [[Chevrolet]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Dodge]], [[Mercury (automobile)|Mercury]], and [[Plymouth (automobile)|Plymouth]].<ref name="1971mhl500"/> Other notable drivers included [[Elmo Langley]], [[Fred Lorenzen]], and [[Ron Hornaday, Sr.]] (whose [[Ron Hornaday Jr.|son]] is a four-time [[Camping World Truck Series|Craftsman Truck Series]] champion).<ref name="1971mhl500"/> [[Marty Kinerk]], Jim McElreath, Pedro Rodríguez and Johnny Steele all made what would be their final starts in NASCAR's top series.<ref>[http://www.race-database.com/results/results.php?year=1971&race=5&series_id=2 Drivers who retired after this race] at Race Database</ref>


===Qualifying===
===Qualifying===
Line 106: Line 104:
# [[Elmo Langley]]
# [[Elmo Langley]]
# [[Marv Acton]]
# [[Marv Acton]]
# [[Jack McCoy]]
# [[Jack McCoy (racing driver)|Jack McCoy]]
# [[Bill Seifert]]
# [[Bill Seifert]]
# [[Carl Joiner]]
# [[Carl Joiner]]
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# [[Cecil Gordon]]
# [[Cecil Gordon]]
# [[Bobby Wawak]]
# [[Bobby Wawak]]
# [[Frank James]]
# [[Frank James (racing driver)|Frank James]]
# [[Ron Hornaday Sr.|Ron Hornaday]]
# [[Ron Hornaday Sr.|Ron Hornaday]]
# [[Earl Brooks]]
# [[Earl Brooks]]
# [[Dick Guldstrand]]
# [[Dick Guldstrand]]
# [[Harry Schilling]]
# [[Harry Schilling (racing driver)|Harry Schilling]]
# [[Ivan Baldwin]]
# [[Ivan Baldwin]]
# [[Dick Bown]]
# [[Dick Bown]]
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# [[Ray Johnstone]]
# [[Ray Johnstone]]
# [[Marty Kinerk]]
# [[Marty Kinerk]]
# [[J.D. McDuffie]]
# [[J. D. McDuffie]]
# [[Jim McElreath]]
# [[Jim McElreath]]
# [[Johnny Steele]]
# [[Johnny Steele (racing driver)|Johnny Steele]]
# [[John Soares, Jr.]]
# [[John Soares Jr.]]
# [[Bobby Allison]]
# [[Bobby Allison]]
# [[Red Farmer]]
# [[Red Farmer]]
# [[Bob England]]
# [[Bob England (racing driver)|Bob England]]
# [[Kevin Terris]]
# [[Kevin Terris]]
# [[Bill Champion (racing driver)|Bill Champion]]
# [[Bill Champion (racing driver)|Bill Champion]]
# [[Don Noel]]
# [[Don Noel]]
# [[G.T. Tallas]]
# [[G.T. Tallas]]
# [[Bill Osborne]]
# [[Bill Osborne (racing driver)|Bill Osborne]]
# [[Pedro Rodríguez (racing driver)|Pedro Rodríguez]]
# [[Pedro Rodríguez (racing driver)|Pedro Rodríguez]]
# [[Dick Kranzler]]
# [[Dick Kranzler]]
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{{Los Angeles Times 500}}
{{Los Angeles Times 500}}
{{authority control}}


[[Category:1971 in sports in California|Miller High Life 500]]
[[Category:1971 in sports in California|Miller High Life 500]]

Latest revision as of 14:50, 28 October 2024

1971 Miller High Life 500
Race details[1]
Race 5 of 48 in the 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
Date February 28, 1971 (1971-February-28)
Official name Miller High Life 500
Location Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California
Course Permanent racing facility
2.500 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804 km)
Weather Cold with temperatures of 60.1 °F (15.6 °C); wind speeds of 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
Average speed 134.168 miles per hour (215.922 km/h)
Attendance 78,810[2]
Pole position
Driver
Wood Brothers Racing
Time 118.646 seconds
Most laps led
Driver A.J. Foyt Wood Brothers Racing
Laps 118
Winner
No. 21 A.J. Foyt Wood Brothers Racing
Television in the United States
Network ABC
Announcers Jim McKay
Jackie Stewart

The 1971 Miller High Life 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series event that took place at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California.[2]

Race report

[edit]

Two hundred laps were raced on the paved oval track spanning 2.500 miles (4.023 km).[2] The total time of the race was three hours, forty-three minutes, and thirty-six seconds.[2] Held on February 28, 1971, this would be the first stock car event to take place at Ontario Motor Speedway.[2] The only Cup race with a driver from Utah entered.[2] Art Pollard was a DNQ and the sole Utahan to enter a national level NASCAR race until Michael Self's Xfinity starts 44 years later.[2]

The average speed was 134.168 miles per hour (215.922 km/h) and the pole position speed was 151.711 miles per hour (244.155 km/h).[2] There were five cautions for 21 laps and the margin of victory was 8½ seconds.[2] With an attendance of nearly seventy-nine thousand people.[2][3] Notable crew chiefs at this event included Paul Goldsmith, Richard Elder, Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Lee Gordon and Paul Burchard.[4]

In the 51-car racing grid, there were 50 Americans and one Mexican, Pedro Rodríguez who finished in 47th due to an electrical fault.[2] It was the 1000th race in NASCAR history. It would be Rodríguez' final NASCAR Winston Cup Series start. Dean Dalton would finish in last place due to being black flagged and disqualified on lap 2. The only car in the same league with Foyt was Fred Lorenzen until Lorenzen's engine blew and he crashed on the front straight with a fire. At the end, Petty had a chance to win, but he missed his pit under the green flag and had to come back in and finished third. Foyt won the first two Ontario races.[2]

The total winnings of the race were $180,200 ($1,355,719.97 when adjusted for inflation) - making it the biggest non-Daytona purse during that era.[2] Manufacturers involved in the event included Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, Mercury, and Plymouth.[2] Other notable drivers included Elmo Langley, Fred Lorenzen, and Ron Hornaday, Sr. (whose son is a four-time Craftsman Truck Series champion).[2] Marty Kinerk, Jim McElreath, Pedro Rodríguez and Johnny Steele all made what would be their final starts in NASCAR's top series.[5]

Qualifying

[edit]
Grid No. Driver Manufacturer Speed[6] Qualifying time[6] Owner
1 21 A. J. Foyt '69 Mercury 151.711 1:58.646 Wood Brothers
2 71 Bobby Isaac '71 Dodge 150.097 1:59.922 Nord Krauskopf
3 43 Richard Petty '71 Plymouth 149.630 2:00.297 Petty Enterprises
4 6 Pete Hamilton '71 Plymouth 149.256 2:00.598 Cotton Owens
5 99 Fred Lorenzen '71 Plymouth 149.048 2:00.766 Ray Nichels
6 11 Buddy Baker '71 Dodge 146.792 2:02.622 Petty Enterprises
7 96 Ray Elder '70 Dodge 146.443 2:02.915 Fred Elder
8 72 Benny Parsons '69 Mercury 145.645 2:03.588 L.G. DeWitt
9 39 Friday Hassler '69 Dodge 144.142 2:04.877 Friday Hassler
10 55 Tiny Lund '69 Mercury 143.712 2:05.250 John McConnell

Failed to qualify: Jack Roberts (#20), John W. Anderson (#57), Ben Arnold (#76), Sam Rose (#09), Walter Ballard (#30), Jerry Barnett (#55), D.K. Ulrich (#40), Earle Wagner (#01), Art Pollard (#94), Harold Pagon (#36), Larry Baumel (#68), Leonard Blanchard (#95), Frank Burnett (#43W), Scotty Cain (#1), Neil Castles (#06), Markey James (#31), Vic Irvan (#5), Paul Tyler (#95), Tru Cheek (#62), Marion Collins (#78), Chris Connery (#11W), Jim Danielson (#64W), Jack DeWitt (#17W), Paul Dorrity (#15), Vallie Engelauf (#65), Doc Faustina (#5), Glenn Francis (#33), Les Loeser (#40W), Ed Negre (#8), Bill Champion (#10)[6]

Finishing order

[edit]

Section reference:[2]

  1. A. J. Foyt
  2. Buddy Baker
  3. Richard Petty
  4. Bobby Isaac
  5. Dick Brooks
  6. LeeRoy Yarbrough
  7. Ray Elder
  8. Tiny Lund
  9. Benny Parsons
  10. James Hylton
  11. Elmo Langley
  12. Marv Acton
  13. Jack McCoy
  14. Bill Seifert
  15. Carl Joiner
  16. Friday Hassler
  17. Jimmy Insolo
  18. Jabe Thomas
  19. Cecil Gordon
  20. Bobby Wawak
  21. Frank James
  22. Ron Hornaday
  23. Earl Brooks
  24. Dick Guldstrand
  25. Harry Schilling
  26. Ivan Baldwin
  27. Dick Bown
  28. Hershel McGriff
  29. Henley Gray
  30. Fred Lorenzen
  31. Pete Hamilton
  32. Pat Fay
  33. Ray Johnstone
  34. Marty Kinerk
  35. J. D. McDuffie
  36. Jim McElreath
  37. Johnny Steele
  38. John Soares Jr.
  39. Bobby Allison
  40. Red Farmer
  41. Bob England
  42. Kevin Terris
  43. Bill Champion
  44. Don Noel
  45. G.T. Tallas
  46. Bill Osborne
  47. Pedro Rodríguez
  48. Dick Kranzler
  49. Ron Gautsche
  50. Frank Warren
  51. Dean Dalton

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1971 Miller High Life 500 weather information". The Old Farmer's Almanac. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "1971 Miller High Life 500 information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  3. ^ "1971 Miller High Life 500 information (third reference)". Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  4. ^ "1971 Miller High Life 500 crew chief information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  5. ^ Drivers who retired after this race at Race Database
  6. ^ a b c "1971 Miller High Life 500 qualifying information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
Preceded by NASCAR Winston Cup Season
1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
none
 Miller High Life 500 races
1971 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=1971_Miller_High_Life_500&oldid=1253911731"