1971 Miller High Life 500
The 1971 Miller High Life 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) event that took place at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California, USA.[1]
Summary
Two hundred laps were taken on a paved oval track spanning 2.500 miles (4.023 km).[1] The total time of the race was three hours, forty-three minutes, and thirty-six seconds.[1] This would be the first event to ever take place at Ontario Speedway. The day of the race was February 28, 1971.[1]
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).[1] There were five cautions for 21 laps and the margin of victory was 8½ seconds.[1] With an attendance of 78810 people, the race was well attended even by modern standards.[1] The top ten finishers were: A.J. Foyt (winner), Buddy Baker, Richard Petty, Bobby Isaac, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Ray Elder, Tiny Lund, Benny Parsons, and James Hylton.[1] Major sponsors participating at the event were Purolator and Coca-Cola.[1] In the 51-man entire racing grid, there were 50 Americans and only one Mexican (by the name of Pedro Rodríguez who finished in 47th due to an electrical fault).[1] It was the thousandth race ever to be raced in NASCAR history. Rodríguez would retire from the NASCAR Winston Cup Series after his race here. Marty Kinerk would also retire after this race.
The total winnings of the race were considered to be $180,200 ($1,355,719.97 in today's money) - making it the biggest non-Daytona purse during that era.[2] Manufacturers involved in the event included Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, Mercury, and Plymouth.[1] Other notable drivers included Elmo Langley, Fred Lorenzen, and Ron Hornaday, Sr. (whose son is a four-time Craftsman Truck Series champion).[1]
References
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